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Allied Masonic Degrees?

Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
Yes, it is limited by the number of members (32 I believe), generally invitations are extended to men who are active in the fraternity and not looking for another membership card.
 

Traveling Man

Premium Member
I believe its also a York Rite organization as well?

Allied Masonic Degrees

An Honorary and Invitational Body Dedicated to Masonic Research

Membership in an Allied Council is limited by law to twenty-seven, and then only by invitation. It is predicated upon Royal Arch Masonry.

As to whether this qualifies as "York Rite" can be subjected to interpretation, as most UK Freemasons are RAM, but not Knights Templar.

When I first visited a UK lodge I was caught off guard but quickly recognized the RAM degree and gave the appropriate information...
 
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Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
Here is the history of the AMD and some more information, I was wrong it's 27 not 32, we currently have 32 but 5 of them are in emertius status:

The Allied Masonic Degrees are an invitational organization, and requires membership in the Royal Arch as well as the Symbolic Lodge. Membership is limited to 27 members per council.

Be it remembered that on August 5, 1933, this Grand Council took as its date of formation January 14, 1892, since this date was the beginning of the Allied Masonic Degrees in America with the formation of the Sovereign College of Allied Masonic and Christian Degrees at Richmond, Virginia, that on April 16, 1932, the subsequent establishment of a Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America occurred in Salisbury, North Carolina, and that the union of the two bodies was drawn up and entered into July 18, 1933, and was ratified by the North Carolina Grand Council August 5, 1933 and was ratified by the Sovereign College at Norway, Maine August 24, 1933, and became effective as of September 7, 1933.

The Allied Masonic Degrees are detached degrees some of which, many years ago, were conferred under Craft warrants and formed part of the then loosely governed Freemasonry of the period.

Many of these detached degrees became dormant in some places, although in others they were conferred as side degrees. In time, the better of these degrees were grouped together in an organized body under the title of Allied Masonic Degrees. The degrees comprising the system in our Jurisdiction in the U.S.A. are the Royal Ark Mariner, Secret Monitor, Knight of Constantinople, Saint Lawrence the Martyr, Architect, Superintendent, Grand Tilers of Solomon, Master of Tyre, Excellent Master, Installed Sovereign Master, Installed Commander Noah, Red Branch of Eri and Ye Ancient Order of Corks. They are conferred in the United States in Councils chartered by the Grand Council. Each Council is limited to twenty seven members, with two exceptions. One of these Councils is known as the Council of the Nine Muses and is limited to nine members. The other is Grand Masters Council, which has what is known as a roving charter. The purpose of the latter Council is to provide a place of membership in the Allied Masonic Degrees for brethren residing in localities where Councils have not been organized. Membership in every Council of Allied Masonic Degrees is by invitation, and is predicated on membership in the Royal Arch Chapter.

In addition to perpetuating these degrees, there is still another and equally important purpose. It is to bring together, in small groups, Freemasons who are interested in the advancement of all Masonry, preparing themselves to better serve the Craft through the medium of study and research. By limiting the membership in a Council and securing membership only by invitation, the result is a congenial group able to enjoy full fellowship when meeting together. Wherever there is an active Council of Allied Masonic Degrees, it exerts an influence for the betterment of Freemasonry in all the Masonic Bodies.

There is no intention on the part of the Allied Masonic Degrees to detract from any organized and established body of Masonry. On the contrary, you will find our members active, beyond the average, in all local Masonic bodies. The real purpose is to stimulate interest in Masonry in general and bring together in small groups those who are interested in the study of Masonic subjects. Thus they are better enabled to serve the Craft.
 

Smokey613

Registered User
It appears that the councils are located in the larger metro centers which would stand to reason, however as with most of Freemasonry the smaller rural areas are often forgotten. This in itself is interesting as Lufkin Lodge #669 is in the top 10 lodges in Texas in membership and it is in a town of only 35K residents.
 

Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
It appears that the councils are located in the larger metro centers which would stand to reason, however as with most of Freemasonry the smaller rural areas are often forgotten. This in itself is interesting as Lufkin Lodge #669 is in the top 10 lodges in Texas in membership and it is in a town of only 35K residents.

In most states the invitational bodies reside in the metro areas, mainly because that is where a lot of your most active brothers, white caps, erc live. The reason that San Antonio has so many is because of RW Bro Reese Harrison. Some invitational bodies still only reside in Dallas/Fort Worth. Given that a lot of these bodies only met once a year or twice a year I think that there are plenty of brothers from the rural areas that are members.
 

Christopher

Registered User
Here is the history of the AMD and some more information...

Yeah, but what do you guys actually do? Do ya'll just get together and practice these degrees? Is there an order in which they're conferred, or does a member pick and choose which ones to take and when?

In addition to perpetuating these degrees, there is still another and equally important purpose. It is to bring together, in small groups, Freemasons who are interested in the advancement of all Masonry, preparing themselves to better serve the Craft through the medium of study and research. By limiting the membership in a Council and securing membership only by invitation, the result is a congenial group able to enjoy full fellowship when meeting together.

Despite this explanation, it seems strange to me that a body entrusted with so much Masonic history and Light would keep such a tight leash on membership. I mean, there are multiple other York Rite invitational bodies which state a purpose of serving the Craft or the York Rite. Why not just have a body that existed to share the light in these degrees with whomever seeks it?

Sorry, Brother, not trying to sound hostile or attacking, just genuinely curious. As a member, what is your insight on the matter?

Christopher
 

Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
Yeah, but what do you guys actually do? Do ya'll just get together and practice these degrees? Is there an order in which they're conferred, or does a member pick and choose which ones to take and when?

An individual Council will choose what degrees it practices or confers; there is no order of the degrees unlike most other Masonic organization as the degrees are supplemental to the teachings of Freemasonry and emphasis certain tenets of both the Blue Lodge and RAM. Councils are free to learn and research as many or as few degrees as they wish. When a council is performing a degree other AMD members from other Councils are invited. The degrees here are meant to cause both the members putting on the degree and the "initiate" the same level of introspection that many of us have felt when giving the degrees and as the initiate, they aren't necessarily "new" because they are focused on things you should already be familiar with in Freemasonry, but are more of a supplement you take with you on your journey.


Despite this explanation, it seems strange to me that a body entrusted with so much Masonic history and Light would keep such a tight leash on membership. I mean, there are multiple other York Rite invitational bodies which state a purpose of serving the Craft or the York Rite. Why not just have a body that existed to share the light in these degrees with whomever seeks it?

As a self-proclaimed traditionalist I would think that you would appreciate the cap on membership, but I would be happy to explain. AMD invitations are based on a brother’s activeness in the craft, this is done so brothers don't simply apply to build a Masonic resume or get another dues card. AMD is unique from other invitational bodies in the York Rite that membership (in theory) is based off of ones activity in ritual and the study of Freemasonry versus their Masonic Pedigree (how many Past somethings they are). I am for instance a Past Nothing, I have never been a Warden (partially due to my service to this country and absence from my home), where as KYCH is only available to those that has sat in the east in all four York Rite bodies, and are deemed worthy of membership. To allow for maximum participation the number is kept low to allow all members to fully participate. Some councils will demit a member if they don't show for X number of meetings in a row for instance to allow other brothers to participate.

Our lodges are meant to be between 30-50 members, any more and you have brothers that aren't that engaged in Freemasonry, this is why Traditional Observance Lodges became so novel in the last four years, as TOs also only allow 30-50 members, while you can apply chances are the lodge is full, so you will have to go somewhere else. It wasn't until the boom of the 40's and 50's where our numbers grew entirely too large that some lodges became up to 1,000 members in urban areas.

Sorry, Brother, not trying to sound hostile or attacking, just genuinely curious. As a member, what is your insight on the matter?[/QOUTE]

No offense taken, I am sure it was just your “not-nearly-as-humble-as-it-probably-ought-to-be” way of asking a question.

-Bro Vick
 

usmc05

Registered User
Its almost like a research lodge. We meet twice a year do a degree and one of the more enlightened members does a lecture about the degree. Its not a formal lecture but one that he has wriiten himself. Hope that gives you a little info.


Chris Miller
Eastern Michigan #450 AMD
 

KSigMason

Traveling Templar
Site Benefactor
For those interested, I did a research article on the AMD:

The Allied Masonic Degrees is an invitational body within the York Rite that is dedicated to Masonic Research.

The Allied Masonic Degrees are detached degrees which, many years ago, were conferred under Craft Warrants and formed a part of the loosely governed Freemasonry which afterward eliminated all save the three Craft degrees and the Royal Arch.

History

The Allied Masonic Degrees are an invitational organization, and requires membership in the Royal Arch as well as the Symbolic Lodge. Membership is limited to 27 members per council (according to the Grand Council).

READ MORE
 

BroBill

Site Benefactor
Site Benefactor
Canceled this post- I inavertently responded to a question already answered....
 
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Bro_Vick

Moderator
Premium Member
I'm always interested in anything you or Brother Vick write. Keep it coming!

Thanks for the endorsement, but give it time. After a year you will soon not be as so enthusiastic, just ask those who have been here for a while.

S&F,
-Bro Vick
 

Bro. Stewart P.M.

Lead Moderator Emeritus
Staff Member
Thanks for the endorsement, but give it time. After a year you will soon not be as so enthusiastic, just ask those who have been here for a while.

S&F,
-Bro Vick

It is not the lack of interest Bro. Vick, it is more that it becomes harder to come up with NEW material.
 
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