You've taken the first three degrees in Masonry — and yet something may still feel missing. The York Rite completes, explains, and enriches everything we started in the Blue Lodge.
Introduction
York Rite is comprised of four bodies: Lodge, Chapter, Council, and Commandery. York Rite can be considered to have been founded in Delaware in 1765 when the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania chartered Lodge No. 5 at Cantwell's Bridge (present-day Odessa).
Brethren — you've taken the first three degrees in Masonry, you survived the lectures, you even learned some lines of ritual — and yet — something may still feel missing. So, let's talk about the graduate school of Freemasonry: the York Rite.
Royal Arch Masonry — Exalting the Plot Twist
The Royal Arch is the continuation and completion of the Master Mason degree. If the Craft degrees are a movie trilogy, the Royal Arch is that extra scene after the credits — the one that makes everything you saw suddenly click.
In Royal Arch Masonry you discover the lost word, restore what was lost, and complete the story — focusing on themes of the recovery of lost knowledge.
- Four degrees: Mark Master Mason, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason
- Characteristic color: red (Capitular Masonry)
- Prerequisite: Master Mason in good standing
- Charities: Royal Arch Research Assistance (CAPD) and Masonic Medical Research Institute
Cryptic Masonry — The Middle Chapters
Cryptic Masonry — Royal & Select Masters — is the prequel that explains how the Royal Arch treasure was planned, safeguarded, and preserved. If the Royal Arch tells you what was lost and found, Cryptic Masonry tells you how and why.
- Three degrees: Royal Master, Select Master, and Super Excellent Master
- Characteristic color: purple
- Prerequisite: Royal Arch Mason
- Charity: Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation (atherosclerosis / heart disease)
Commandery of Knights Templar — Chivalry in Action
The Commandery is where Masonry puts on the armor of virtue. You receive the Orders of the Red Cross, Malta, and the Temple — dramatic, symbolic, and inspiring ceremonies rooted in Christian faith and knightly honor.
- Orders include the Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, Mediterranean Pass, Order of Malta, and Order of the Temple
- Prerequisites: Royal Arch Mason and profession of the Christian faith
- Charities: Knights Templar Eye Foundation and Holy Land Pilgrimage for ministers
Why Join the York Rite?
You finally get the full Masonic story. You experience some of the most dramatic degrees anywhere. You meet brothers deeply committed to exploring the Craft — and you deepen your understanding of your Masonic obligations through scholarship, leadership, and service.
These bodies aren't just organizations. They are opportunities to grow, to learn, to serve, and to complete the journey you began when you knocked on the door of the Lodge.
Ready to Continue the Journey?
Are you ready to make your Mark and continue the journey as a York Rite Mason? Contact the Grand High Priest or visit a local Chapter to learn more about petitioning.