Masonic Forum / The Appendant Degrees and Orders / General

Chapter and KT

New2Craft — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:47:26 GMT

Can anyone tell me why you have to be in Chapter to join KT? Is there a similar kind of continuity between Chapter and KT as there is between say Craft and Mark or Craft and Chapter?

The Appendant Degrees

BroPhil — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:50:54 GMT

Hello All,
I have been in Freemasonry now for coming on 7 years. I am a member of craft and Chapter and in the next few years (all being well) will be taking the chair in both.

This being the case I have started to think forward to my next move but have been stumped by not knowing what appendant degrees there are, and how they relate to one another. I gather that many lead from one to another and I would be intrigued to know if there are is any information out there on the possible routes you can take? Any takers? :)

S&F

The SRIA / SRIS

Eldmar — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:04:00 GMT

Brethren, having been a member of the Societas Rosicruciana In Anglia for almost 2 years now, I am still surprised by how relatively unheard of this beautiful Masonic Order is. When people ask me what Orders I am in at the festive board, I get many looks of complete incomprehension when I say SRIA, and I have been asked how I can be a member of Rose Croix when I hadn't been a Mason for long enough by one person. It amazes me, when we have so many discussions about the Royal Arch, or Mark Masonry, between large numbers of experienced brethren that the topic of the SRIA / SRIS rarely rears its head.

Bro Stephen and Bro Cora, do you have a version of the SRIA within LDH?

Are many members of this forum in the SRIA / SRIS?

Purely out of curiosity, as it seems that this excellent Order is passing by many brethren.

Best wishes.

New Companion:-)

Cora B — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:32:47 GMT

Well, it's been a rollercoaster ride to get here, with 3 cancellations due to ill health and a near-cancellation last night due to work commitments, but last night I passed through the veils and became a Companion of the Holy Royal Arch of Jerusalem.

I am truly, deeply, speechless - and what else could I be?

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here".

S&F,

Mark Cipher/Alphabet

Terry — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:02:21 GMT

I was is Sydney on Saturday at a supreme committee meeting and we are bringing a new mark ritual together, just by way of clarification, we have 2 (two) mark degrees, the NSW ( english) and the scotish.

The new ritual is nearly complete, and foolishly I gave a demostration of the Mark Cipher and suggested it be included in the new ritual. The 1st GP & GM and DGM have agreed to include it, and I now am charged with writing the new ritual.

Does anyone here have any info on this, I have a bit but would like somemore, any assistance would be appreciated.

Me and my big mouth:cool:

Joining Mark

zaf — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:58:38 GMT

Hi Brethren,

I'm interested in joining Mark in London (Where I work) - My mother lodge is in the North East (Craft).

What would be the best way to get the ball rolling - should I contact the secretary of the Mark lodge or make arrangement through my mother lodge for an introduction ?Unfortunately, I don't know any Mark members in London.

Thanks in advance

Zaf

Mark

Sparker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:09:48 GMT

Is it possible to obtain country membership of the Mark? Does it exist?

Tony.

York Rite Masonry in the US

Tom Cherup — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:30:02 GMT

Indiana's York Rite Masonry you tube video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwdP2Cf_knA

Chapter in West Australia

mick in aus — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 07:39:30 GMT

I am a Past Master of a Lodge in Lincolnshire, and Past J in Chapter. Having moved over to Australia from the UK 3 years ago, I decided it was time to get back into Masonry and joined my local Lodge. At my third meeting, I was asked if I would like to visit the local Chapter to see how things are done out here, with a view to joining. As I have always loved Chapter back in England, I was delighted to accept.

I have to say that I was a little disappointed with the ceremony, and the way in which the Chapter was set out. The thing which really struck me was the inclusion of a second name on the plate of gold. This name was on the triangle, and is supposed to be the correct way of pronouncing the name on the circle.

As this seems to be at odds with my obligation taken in England, I am wondering if I will be able to continue my Masonic journey out here.

I have searched the internet for information on the above word, and most of it is very negative, suggesting that it refers to gods from 3 different religions.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Chapter and Mark

New2Craft — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 12:09:54 GMT

I've noticed that both Chapter and Mark seem to be promoted as being the natural progression for a Master Mason. Most Mark Masons that i know don't seem to too keen on Chapter, they say Mark should come first because it was part of the Fellowcraft ceremony. UGLE seems to promote Chapter very heavily, but I'm told that is becaeu numbers have been falling in recent years and now Chapter has relaxed some of its rules.

So, for those who have been in both, what seems to be the natural order? I've heard some say i should join Mark before Chapter.

I know I don't have to worry about this for at least a year, but am interested to see people's opinions.

Royal Ark Mariner

Terry — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:36:59 GMT

The RAM is part of the HRA here in NSW and we are told it nearly became the 3rd degree.

I now quote Rt Ex Comp AR Wall on this:

"It could well have been the ritual of the 3rd degree because it, like the legend of HAB, tells of death and destruction, attempts to recover from the death and destruction and a life eternal. Complete the RAM degree and you have just revised the Maters Masons degree".

"The Biblical story of Noah tells of death and destruction( caused by that great flood) of a search, almost by an aimless wondering through the flood waters, of unsuccessful attempts to overcome the destruction ( by the dispatch by Noah of the doves who returned so many times with no greenery) and finally the return to life when a dove returned with a sprig of accica and the eventual grounding of the ark on Mt Ararat.This degree goes one step further than the craft 3rd degree and illustrates everlasting life by the spreading of the children of Noah to all corners of the world".

" How ever could two stories, so different on the surface, be so alike when the true story, hidden by the allegorical nature of masonic stories, is discovered, unless they set out to tell the same hidden truth".

So Brethren, do you agree or not, I would like to hear your views

Rose Croix - Copy of Franken Manuswcript found

3GP441 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:27:26 GMT

A copy of the Franken manuscript has been discovered in Lahore, see details at:

http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/Francken-Manuscript.html

This should be of interest of all those interested in the history of the A&ASR

AASR

whistler — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:06:04 GMT

Please help the ignorant
What does AASR mean and how does it fit into the Malecraft Freemasony system

Mark Anthme

onescot — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:19:30 GMT

Hi all,

Was reading my ritual for the Mark degree yesterday and noticed that there is a spot for singing the Mark Anthem. After discussing it wiith a few of the brethren no one seemed to know it.

Does anyone know the words and tune?

FRaternally

Ian

How deep is the HRA

whistler — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:49:07 GMT

It is good not to consider the Masonic Origins of this degree, but to look with care at the symbols within - Is it a story of a people on a Journey as some Masonic writers suggest?
Look at the Hebrew Letters within the HRA - and remember that Hebrew is the oldest language still in use today - as we seek the hidden mysteries of our craft surely we will find some signposts in the HRA

Holy Royal Arch

Terry — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:49:11 GMT

First I apologise for being absent for a long period, what with work commitments, and then being invested in September as an Assistant First Grand Prinicipal (AGZ)( one of six) in HRA here in NSW, it is an administitive position and I have a fair portion of the state to cover, my furthest Chapter which I am expected to visit twice per year is a 12 hour drive one way, and apart from my own chapter, the nearest chapter is 1hour 15 minutes away.I would point out that I did not apply for the position, others attended to that, and basically went from past Z to a gold chain in one move.Upon completion of my two year appointment I will revert to a Past Z, then 1st GP & GM, will if I have done the job to his satisfaction,confer rank on me. I am also a member of supreme committee and will be actively involved in the direction and decisions of the HRA in this state.

Rose Croix Breast Jewel

Compass — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:06:04 GMT

Dear Brothers / Companions / Princes

When I visited the museum in Canterbury they had a fantastic collection of 18th Degree breast jewels which were absolutely stunning. I am assuming these are extremely rare but does anyone know where you might go about finding one? I have seen none advertised online!

S&F

Mark

Masonic degrees

BroPhil — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:03:41 GMT

Afternoon All,
I have started to get the bit between my teeth whilst looking through the appendant orders and wonder if anyone knows the answer tot his question. We are told (vaguely) that there are 33 degrees in freemasonry but have (and perhaps shouldn't have) any knowledge of what these degrees are and how they are conferred. Are they for instance linked to the appendant orders or are they administrated in some other manner?

Anyone?

S&F

Order of the Silver Trowel

Comfortably Numb — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:49:20 GMT

Just got my Freemasonry Today and noticed that someone has invented a new Order - Order of the Silver Trowel. No doubt they will say that it can trace its roots back to Adam and Eve. Yeah right.....

I don't understand this. Bearing mind the falling membership of the Craft doesn't this just squeeze a bit more out of the existing membership?

Thing is, if you are organising and outing, you wait until the first bus is full before getting a second one. And the Craft bus isn't full at the moment is it?

Sounds a bit like Homer Simpson and the Stone Cutters to me.

SRIA

edwardcwmogwr1973 — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:43:30 GMT

Anyone in SRIA I am due to be raised to MM in October and was interest in in researching this one.:)

Other orders

Beeza — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:51:06 GMT

Evening Brethren, I am quite new here having only posted a few times, if you read my earlier posts you will see I have progressed to the sublime Degree of MM.

I have heard much talk of the side and appendant degrees, Mark, Chapter etc, I have now intention of following any of these at the moment but, what in your opinion should I consider as my next avenue of research.

Many thanks in advance,

Stan

30th degree

drewmc — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:38:35 GMT

I just had a very special evening as I completed the ceremony of the 30th degree. I'm looking for interpretations on the internet, because there was a lot of stuff in there and I think most of it kind of flew by me.

Are there any other Knights Kadosh who have any thoughts they'd like to impart to me via email?

Thanks.

Next Steps......

South London — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:11:02 GMT

Greetings bretheren, I was raised last week in a special dispensated meeting, it was a truly excellent day for all concerned.

However, I am somewhat "in the dark" as it were, as to what steps i should take Re: joining a chapter. I know I have to wait a minimum of 30 days to join, other than that, I dont know much else.

My lodge have recommended I wait for a while before joining chapter, but as im sure you can appreciate, at the tender age of 24, I have little patience and am very eager to "get my teeth stuck in"

Would appreciate some basic info surrounding the appendant degrees, namely, do I need to join a chapter that members of my mother lodge are associated with? any info on the HRA/mark master paths would be greatly appreciated.

The brothers in my lodge would be most helpful in this regard, however, due to the "holidays/break" (whatever you call it) I'm not due to see them for at least a couple of months, would be ideal if i had some prior knowledge before we reconvene!!

Regards,

The upside down pyramid

Iain — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 00:49:09 GMT

I dare say you have all seen the pyramid showing the steps of freemasonry with the blue lodge degrees as the first 3 steps, To me this is misinformation at its best. It appears to show higher ranks of freemasons and masonic degrees. There are other orders that you have to be a freemason to join but they shouldn't be seen as higher degrees of freemasonry. Today there seems to be a common terminology that masonic writers and even the Anti-Masons use, ( he was in the higher orders of or a 33rd degree freemason)

The highest order of freemason can only ever be a master mason, It is to be expected that the Anti-Masons or the conspiracy theorists will get this wrong but it is starting to appear in writings by masons which is alarming. American writers but masons none the less.

I would like to hear if anyone agrees or disagrees with this, Should the other orders be classed as higher orders of freemasonry.

Cheers Iain

"Master of their Lodge" .v. "..having passed the chair"

sjdobby — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:27:57 GMT

I have seen descriptions of Royal Arch Masonry that say things along the lines of:

"...developed into the Royal Arch and initially was used to distinguish Brethren who had presided as Master of their Lodge. However, with time this requirement was eased and reduced to 'having passed the chair', and this resulted in a rapid increase in the popularity of the Royal Arch in the 1750s"

Maybe I am just being dim, but can anyone tell me what the difference is between someone who has "presided as Master of their Lodge" and someone who has "passed the chair"? And when did Royal Arch become available to all Master Masons?

Regards

SRIA - 3rd Grade - 17 September 2009

wayne cowley — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:56:36 GMT

Got my summons for the next meeting of Brangwyn College last night and it appears that Eldmar and I will be among 13 candidates who will be advanced to the grade of Practicus.

Apparently the Supreme Magus, Most Worthy Frater John Paternoster will be in attendance

Wayne

The Lost Symbol

Rocket — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:01:39 GMT

Hi folks

Just wondered what you thought of the increased media interest into masonry as a result of this latest offering by mr brown.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8258575.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00mqltc/The_One_Show_17_09_2009/

Shame the one show had to ham it up at the end.

Rocket

Mark Well

Free State Boer — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:44:38 GMT

Hi Brethren

I just thought I would say I really enjoy the Mark degree, Happy we meet, happy we part and happy we meet again.

FSB

OSM in London

Dominic — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:30:32 GMT

Dear All,

I'm wanting to join an OSM conclave in central or south London.

I'm 32 and would like to a join a conclave with at least a few nearer my age. Can anyone recommend a conclave to me?

S&F

Dominic

HRA

Cora B — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:47:55 GMT

I applied to join a Holy Royal Arch Chapter yesterday

HRA is a degree I have long looked forward to, more so because the Chapter I have petitioned counts some of my best beloved Brn:. as its members.

I believe the petition is taken to Council mid June, and we'll see what happens then.

S&F,

English Mark

3GP441 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:42:58 GMT

FG All,

Although not a member of the Mark, I thought those of you who are would be interested in the following.

My Craft mother Lodge is United Brothers 1069 in Hants and IOW. While perusing the centenary history of the Lodge I was suprised to read that in 1888 while visiting the now Phoenix Lodge rooms at High St, Old Portsmouth; our founding Master WBro. Mark Frost was horrified to see a number of books and manuscripts being consigned to a fire in the yard.

He quickly appraised the documents and carried many off to his home. Amongst the rescued paper, he found an old Minute book written entirely in cypher. He recognised the cypher as one that was extensively used in Mark. It was only subsequently that he was to learn that he had rescued Thomas Dunkerly's Minute Book.

After giving the book to a contemporary who was collating material for the history of the Phoenix Lodge group, that Lodge was able to put its records in order and record their Mark Lodge as the Oldest in the World!

Operative Masons ?

Free State Boer — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 18:12:13 GMT

Hi Guys

Well I was speaking to a friend of mine (brother) and he mentioned a Operative Assembly (Lodge). Any more information about it, all I know is you have to be a MMM and RA member.

FSB

RAM Song

jmvh — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:31:07 GMT

Brethren,
Would anyone avail the musical score of the RAM song starting with :

Ye seekers of Wisdom, desirous to learn
The Ark Mason secret, you here will discern;
Give but close attention, it soon will unfold,
Ark Masons at present, are like those of old.

They're Sons of fair Science, that join hand in hand,
To whom Nature's Laws, free and open doth stand
Unreveal'd to all, in this virtuous School,
Where each Brother's perfection is proved by a Rule.

Thanks
S&F
jmvh

Timeline

Iain — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:04:31 GMT

This is a handy timeline.

http://www.pgracfak.org.uk/timeline.htm

Cork Degree

mgreene1036 — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:56:03 GMT

On Saturday the 16th May i am taking my Cork degree in Perth, i am looking forward to it. How popular is the Cork outside of Scotland?

Best

Martyn

Hiararchy in HRA

martyn1970 — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 09:33:30 GMT

Hi

I was Exhaulted in October last year and have since seen an installation meeting. Last night I saw an exhaultation for the first time since my own and then spent the rest of the evening asking questions about what had happened.

The one question I never asked was the hiarachy in the lodge. In other words, when I come off of the stewards bench, what is the order of offices through to MEZ?

Many Thanks

Martyn

Swedish rite in Germany

Terry — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:53:16 GMT

Bros, this is a very interesting and enlightening article, enjoy

http://themagpiemason.blogspot.com:80/2009/04/swedish-rite-in-germany.html

Shriners

mgreene1036 — Mon, 11 May 2009 00:35:24 GMT

Are any of you members of the shrine? I am meeting a chap from London at an arch meeting at No. 2 on SAturday 30th May in Brig Allan to discuss joining.

I would appreciate thoughts

MArtyn

Royal and Select

wayne cowley — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:16:03 GMT

Had confirmation yesterday that I will be joining the Merthyr Tydfil Council (No 120) on Friday 12 June (first 2 degrees that night)

A good friend of mine will be joining the same night - neither of us knew when applying that the other had put a form in!

Looking forward to, what I understand, will fill in some of the gaps in the Hiramic legend

One slight downside - the number of PM members (or whatever they are in R&SM) is very high when compared to the total membership so have been warned that progression may be swift!

Wayne

KT or HRAKTP question

danielson23uk — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:37:21 GMT

Hey y'all!!!

Sorry I've been away for ages. The arrival of my youngest has kept me (and you) from hours of internet rambling.

Anyway, a friend of mine has just recently joined the craft and was told by a friend and brother that he [the friend and brother] was a member of the KT and was a 'Priest' so perhaps a member of the HRAKTP. He said to my friend that he was qualified in his position to conduct weddings and funerals! I don't mean bogus Jedi warrior funeral pyres but the real mcoy and was sanctioned by churches etc.

Now this sounded liked complete toffee to me but, not being in either, I thought I'd ask you all. What better place for masonic clarification than TFM.

I hope you're all well.

Dan