York Rite or Scottish Rite

[Seeves]

Seeves, since you're based in Ohio, I would say go York Rite first. In the US, your craft lodge degrees are (almost always) going to be part of the Webb system that we call the York Rite. The transition from craft lodge to the YR appendant bodies is almost seamless and follows the story told in craft lodge.

SR is fantastic, but the story is much easier to understand if you've gone through YR first.

Thank you


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[Warrior1256]

SR is fantastic, but the story is much easier to understand if you've gone through YR first.

I have to agree.

 

[Keith C]

I told myself that since I was "in The Line" I wouldn't join any appendant body until I finished my year in The East.

The HRA Chapter that meets in my Blue Lodge building made me an offer I couldn't refuse. They are conferring the HRA Degree this weekend at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA, and by petitioning back in April I was able to get the 4th and 6th Degree done in May and June and be one of those to receive the 7th Degree there. (FYI, Chapter does not confer the 5th Degree here in PA, it is skipped.)

So far the Degrees have been awesome and I am happy I made the decision to join. I fear I may have to stay light on my feet and zig and zag to avoid getting dragooned into a Chair in Chapter!

I have been asked multiple times to join our local SR Valley, but I just do not have the time for it. THAT I will wait until I am almost done in the East in 2020!

 

[Warrior1256]

The HRA Chapter that meets in my Blue Lodge building made me an offer I couldn't refuse. They are conferring the HRA Degree this weekend at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA, and by petitioning back in April I was able to get the 4th and 6th Degree done in May and June and be one of those to receive the 7th Degree there. (FYI, Chapter does not confer the 5th Degree here in PA, it is skipped.)

Congratulations soon-to-be Companion!

I fear I may have to stay light on my feet and zig and zag to avoid getting dragooned into a Chair in Chapter!

I know the feeling! I was asked to take a chair in the Chapter, Council and KT upon joining while in the Blue Lodge line. I accepted and am very glad I did. However, I am retired and can devote a lot of time to these endeavors. I certainly understand that those that still have to work to make a living do not have this luxury.

 

[Bloke]

I told myself that since I was "in The Line" I wouldn't join any appendant body until I finished my year in The East.

The HRA Chapter that meets in my Blue Lodge building made me an offer I couldn't refuse. They are conferring the HRA Degree this weekend at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, VA, and by petitioning back in April I was able to get the 4th and 6th Degree done in May and June and be one of those to receive the 7th Degree there. (FYI, Chapter does not confer the 5th Degree here in PA, it is skipped.)

So far the Degrees have been awesome and I am happy I made the decision to join. I fear I may have to stay light on my feet and zig and zag to avoid getting dragooned into a Chair in Chapter!

I have been asked multiple times to join our local SR Valley, but I just do not have the time for it. THAT I will wait until I am almost done in the East in 2020!

So, when you are a Companion, what degree are you considered to hold ?
(Here, you simply join HRA which as 2 components, an advancement and an exultation done at 2 separate meetings)

 

[Keith C]

So, when you are a Companion, what degree are you considered to hold ?
(Here, you simply join HRA which as 2 components, an advancement and an exultation done at 2 separate meetings)

It is called The Holy Royal Arch Mason Degree here.

In PA the Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons confers 3 degrees - Mark Master Mason, Most Excellent Master Mason and Holy Royal Arch Mason. The York Rite bodies are directly under the control of the Grand Lodge here, and the Past Master Degree can only be conferred by the Blue Lodges, and there is no "Virtual" Past Master Degree.

 

[Seeves]

The York Rite bodies are directly under the control of the Grand Lodge here, and the Past Master Degree can only be conferred by the Blue Lodges, and there is no "Virtual" Past Master Degree.

I could be mistaken, but I though a brother from western pa told me that he took the “virtual” past master to join YR prior to running the chairs


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[Bloke]

It is called The Holy Royal Arch Mason Degree here.

In PA the Chapter of Holy Royal Arch Masons confers 3 degrees - Mark Master Mason, Most Excellent Master Mason and Holy Royal Arch Mason. The York Rite bodies are directly under the control of the Grand Lodge here, and the Past Master Degree can only be conferred by the Blue Lodges, and there is no "Virtual" Past Master Degree.

Ah. Right. Of course. Me Dumb. Thanks.

I've forgotten "York Rite" to us means a collection of degrees which are mainly worked under separate bodies, where in the States, it really often is a contained "Rite".

Mark Master Mason in our State is worked under a peak body, The United Grand Lodge of Master Master Masons of Victoria.
Holy Royal Arch in our State is worked under a separate peak body, Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Victoria.
Both peak bodies are separate, but acknowledged to exist in our Craft Const, and exclusion in any one means exclusion in the other two.

Like you, we do not have a conferred "Past Master Degree", PM being a term showing you have been installed as a Master of a Craft Lodge and served that term to its end. When you start that year, you are "Installed" and during that ceremony, a "Board of Installed Masters" is constituted, and everyone below PM (and WM) including MM is removed, and something goes on, then MMs are readmitted. The idea of "Virtual Past Master" makes sense to me, because I would imagine it would entail a MM being in our equivalent of a "Board of Installed Masters" but it is not regarded as Degree here, but part of the Installation Ceremony... but it certainly is used as a qualification for joining some Orders such as KTPs but is now a rare requirement.