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The Masonic Family
The masonic family is a loosely defined grouping of those bodies with practices and beliefs
complementary to Freemasonry that also either restrict their membership to regular freemasons in good standing or to relatives of regular freemasons in good standing. Those organizations restricted to freemasons are generally termed concordant while those restricted to relatives, or requiring a freemason as sponsor, are generally termed appendant. There is little agreement on the use of these terms; in the narrowest sense only the York Rites are styled concordant while the Shrine and Grotto, not conferring degrees, would be defined as masonic clubs. American usage is often to refer to all of them as appendant. Adding to the confusion, some Craft Grand Lodge jurisdictions will recognize those bodies by
The Scottish Rite is one of two largest concordant bodies of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed The Scottish Rite, sometimes called the “College of Freemasonry”, uses extensive dramatic plays and allegory In the Scottish Rite a Master Mason may become a member of three bodies — Lodge of Perfection, Rose Croix,
Membership in the Royal Order of Scotland is by invitation only.
The York Rite is the other major concordant body of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed to Within the York Rite, a Master Mason may become a member of three bodies — a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, The York Rite takes its name from the old English city of York. It is said that Athelstan, a British king, The term “York Rite” refers to a substantially different administrative system as it is practiced in North
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Order of the Red Cross of
Constantine
The Order of the Red Cross of Constantine is a concordant body of York Rite masonry. Membership in this body
is by
invitation only. The order was established in England in 1865.
Order of the Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests
The Order of the Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests (for Canada), administered by a Grand College
headquartered
in York, England. There are two Tabernacles meeting in B.C.— Victoria Tabernacle, meeting at the Fisgard
Street Hall
in Victoria, and Fraser Tabernacle, meeting in Abbotsford. Admission to the Order is by invitation only to
freemasons who are Past Masters in good standing, Royal Arch members and Knights Templars. It consists of 33
degrees.
Order of the Secret Monitor of Canada
The Order of the Secret Monitor of Canada has two conclaves in B.C. — B.C. & Yukon Conclave No. 7 and
Vancouver
Island Conclave No. 9 — the former meeting at various places around
Vancouver’s
Lower Mainland (though its charter permits it to meet anywhere in B.C. or Yukon) and the latter based in
Victoria
with the authority to meet anywhere on Vancouver Island. The ritual tells the biblical story of the
friendship
between David and Jonathan. There are three degrees; admission is by petition from Master Masons in good
standing.
An organization based on interest and ability in Masonic research and scholarship. Membership is by
invitation and
is open to Companions who have completed the Chapter degrees. The local bodies are styled “Councils”, and
the
national supervisory body is the Grand Council. Councils are presided over by a Sovereign Master, who is
assisted by
eight other officers. The maximum number of active members of any Council is limited to 27. Papers and
discussions
of Masonic and related topics are typically held at Council meetings. The AMD controls ten degrees, but
which ones
(if any) are actually “worked” is decided by each Council for itself.
Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
Founded by Dr. Walter M. Fleming in 1870 in New York, since 1920 the Shrine has been actively
supporting what
has become known as the
“World’s Greatest Philanthropy,” Shriners Hospitals for Children. Strictly speaking, the Shrine is not
an
appendent order but is a club for freemasons.
Shriners are distinguished by an enjoyment of life in the interest of philanthropy. The approximately
660,000
member organization has a buoyant philosophy which has been expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance,
hospitality without rudeness and jollity without coarseness.” The most noticeable symbol of the Shrine
is the
distinctive red fez that all Shriners wear at official functions.
Shriners are freemasons who enjoy life. They enjoy parades, trips, circuses, dances, dinners, sporting
events
and other social occasions together. Every effort is made to be sure a Shriner has a variety of
activities from
which he may choose.
Men from all walks of life and all levels of income find fun, fellowship and relaxation in their
individual
Shrine Clubs and Units. There are 191 Shrine Temples located in Canada, the United States, Mexico and
the
Republic of Panama.
he Grotto—originally styled the Fairchild Deviltry Committee—is a social group for Master Masons
founded
10 September 1889 by LeRoy Fairchild in Hamilton, New York. It originated in a series of informal
meetings,
where Master Masons gathered for relaxation and laughs. Promoting the Golden Rule and good fellowship,
their
full title, the Mystic Order of Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm, was adopted 13 June 1890.
here are Grottoes throughout the United States and Canada whose principle charity is the aiding of the
cerebral
palsy child.
Women’s organizations
Order of the Eastern Star is
the largest fraternal organization, for men and women, in the world. Started in the mid 1800s, today there
are
over two million members worldwide, with approximately 7,500 members in British Columbia and the Yukon.
Membership in the Eastern Star is open to women who are related to Master Masons. The members of the Eastern
Star are dedicated men and women who sincerely reflect the spirit of fraternal love and the desire to work
together for good. The moral and social purposes of the order are designed to build character, to promote
friendship and harmony among members, and to practise charity.
The Order of the Amaranth was officially organized June 14th, 1873, in New York City. The Amaranth takes its
theme from Queen Christina of Sweden, who in 1653 combined a group of “Sir Knights” and “Ladies” together to
have “gala” parties. She called this group the Order of the Amaranth. Today it is one of the few social or
fraternal orders that the Royal family takes part in. This order meets every other year and holds a ball. It
is
completely separate from the North American institution of the same name; the Swedish Order of the Amaranth
has
no ties to Freemasonry.
Under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Council, the Amaranth have 43 Grand Courts, located in Canada, the
United
States, Australia, England, the Philippines and Scotland; there are also subordinate Courts in Hawaii, New
Zealand and Ireland.
Formed in 1913, The Daughters of the Nile is an international, non-profit organization, comprised of women
who
are wives, widows, mothers, sisters or daughters of men who are Shriners. The purpose of the order is to
assist
the Shriners with their charitable work; to promote social, friendly fellowship within the order; and to
advance
and elevate the standard of Womanhood. The Order has grown to 148 Temples within Canada and the United
States,
with approximately 75,000 members.
The Ladies of the Oriental Shrine of North America was organized in Wheeling, West Virginia, on February 14,
1903. The order now has 97 Courts in North America, two of which are located in Canada, and extends to
Hawaii
and Okinawa.
This Court was formed for the purpose of extending good fellowship among families of Shriners. However each
Court assumes an obligation to extend financial support and assistance to the Shriners Hospitals for
Children
with the emphasis on the hospital fund, hospital sewing and special projects. There are no active courts in
BC
at this time.
An invitational order, the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem was incorporated in 1894.
Youth organizations
Founded in 1919 by Frank S. Land in Kansas City, Missouri, The Order of DeMolay is a fraternity for
young
men between the ages of 13 and 21. Visit British Columbia DeMolay’s website at bcdemolay.ca
The name DeMolay is taken from Jacques DeMolay, a Grand Master of the mediaeval Knights Templar. DeMolay
teaches leadership and values which make these young men better citizens and better prepared for
tomorrow’s
challenges. Some DeMolay alumni include: Walt Disney, John Wayne; newsmen Dan Rather, Walter Cronkite,
John
Cameron Swayze, Willard Scott and Chet Huntley; entertainers Dick and Tommy Smothers, Buddy Ebsen, Burl
Ives; and authors John Steinbeck and William Shirer.
Job’s Daughters International
Job’s Daughters International is one of today’s outstanding character building organizations for young
girls, 10 to 20 years of age. Character building, developing self-confidence, and learning leadership
qualities as well as social skills are but a few of the qualities that J.D.I. teaches. Visit British
Columbia Job’s Daughters’ website at bcjd.org