Freemasonry Articles

Article / Updated 10-27-2021

In order to become a Freemason, you need some basic qualifications (specific qualifications vary from one lodge to the next, but some general rules apply). But if you meet the Freemason criteria, you still have to go through a process, from petitioning to becoming a full member. Basic qualifications The qualifications to join a lodge vary from one jurisdiction to another, but some basic qualifications are common to all regular Masonic lodges: You must believe in a supreme being. You must be joining of your own free will. Don’t let your dad, uncle, neighbor, or friend pressure you into joining. Join because you want to. You must be a man. You must be free-born. The term free-born is a holdover from the days when slavery, indentured servitude, and bonding were common. It means that a man must be his own master, and not be bound to another man. That’s not a problem these days, but the language is retained because of its antiquity and a desire to retain the heritage of the fraternity. You must be of lawful age. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. You must come recommended by at least two existing Freemasons from the lodge you’re petitioning. Masonry doesn’t care about your worldly wealth or social position. Both a bank’s president and janitor can apply for membership, and they’re considered equally qualified. Questions you might be asked You’ll be asked other important questions down the road before you’re allowed to join a lodge: Are you unbiased by friends and uninfluenced by any mercenary motives? Don’t apply for membership if you think you’ll be using your membership card to get out of a speeding ticket or to network for your business. Do you have a favorable opinion of Freemasonry? You should have a desire for knowledge and a sincere wish to be of service to mankind. If you’re merely curious about what goes on behind locked doors, just read the rest of this book. Do you agree to follow the rules? Nothing especially scary here. Health clubs and city parks have the same requirement.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 09-24-2021

Freemasons are part of an ancient tradition with rituals and symbols all their own. As a Mason, you can earn degrees, join esoteric and social organizations, and become privy to the language and abbreviations specific to Freemasonry.

Article / Updated 02-04-2020

The Freemasons use all kinds of symbols to represent the practices and beliefs of their order. Many of these Masonic symbols originate from the masonry trade and the Christian Bible. Scythe and hourglass: The scythe is to remind Masons of the ever-present danger of death that awaits us all. Like the scythe, the hourglass is an emblem of mortality. The Pythagorean theorem: The most useful mathematical equation for use in the building trade, the Pythagorean theorem was one of the biggest secrets of the early stonemasons. Jacob’s ladder: In the book of Genesis, Jacob dreamed that he saw a ladder stretching from Earth to heaven, and angels climbed up and down it. In Freemasonry, the ladder is described as having three main rungs, representing faith, hope, and charity. Other rungs include temperance, fortitude, prudence, and justice. Taken together, these rungs are the guiding virtues of Freemasonry. Anchor and ark: In the lectures of Masonry, the anchor and the ark are combined as symbols of a well-spent life. The anchor is a symbol of hope, and the ark (like Noah’s boat) is an emblem of faith. Sun, eye, moon, and stars: These images are combined to describe God, whom the sun, the moon, and the stars obey. The sun and moon are also to remind the officers of the lodge to govern the lodge with regularity. Lamb and lambskin apron: Moreso than any other other symbol, the lambskin apron is the universal badge of a Mason. Aprons, girdles, or sashes have appeared throughout history as symbols of honor, piety, or achievement. Slipper: This is a symbol relating to the way candidates are prepared for the degrees. The Masonic explanation comes from a Hebrew custom of removing one’s shoe and giving it to a neighbor to seal an agreement, as a promise of honor and sincerity. Point within a circle and parallel lines: This tiny symbol is one of the most confounding images in Freemasonry — no one really knows what it means. It's a circle, with a point in the middle. On top of the circle is a Bible or Volume of Sacred Law. On either side of the circle are two parallel lines. Pot of incense: Incense is not typically burned in a Masonic lodge, but the symbol of a pot of incense is used as an allegory for a pure heart (the pot or censer) and the prayers that arise from it to heaven, symbolized by the clouds of rising smoke. Beehive: Bees have long been a symbol of hard work and teamwork. To the Mason, the beehive is especially fascinating, because the honeycomb is a perfect geometric structure. Plumb: A device with a string and a weight at the bottom (called a plumb bob) to help a workman determine if a vertical wall or surface is level. The plumb line always points to both the center of the Earth and to the heavens. It's a symbol of justice, rectitude, uprightness, equity, and truth. Level: A building tool similar to the plumb, the level measures the levelness of horizontal surfaces. It reminds Masons that they’re all living their lives upon the level of time. The letter G: This letter represents the initial of God, or the Grand Architect of the Universe, as well as geometry, the basis of Freemasonry’s origins. Uniting the concept of God with geometry is a way of connecting the spiritual world to the physical world. Five-pointed star: The five-pointed star is another emblem representative of God. Naked heart and the sword: The heart has a sword pointing to it, while the symbols of God look down from above. The heart and the sword symbolize justice. Tyler’s sword and the Book of Constitutions: The Book of Constitutions is the code of Masonic laws that govern the operation of lodges. The Tyler’s sword across it is a caution to protect the institution of Freemasonry by guarding against unworthy thoughts, deeds, and words that may bring the fraternity into bad repute. Trowel: The trowel is an instrument that's used to spread cement or mortar, which binds bricks together. When joined together by the ceremonies and practices of Masonry, the individuals will work together to help each other and society as a whole. Handshake: A symbol of two hands shaking is representative of the grip or token of a Freemason, the way members may recognize each other in silence. Rough and perfect (or smooth) ashlars (quarry stones): The rough ashlar represents man in his rough, rude, and imperfect state. Masons are taught that by education, culture, discipline, and faith, they can become a more perfect person, like the perfect ashlar. Pillars: In the course of the Fellow Craft degree, the candidate passes between the two pillars on his symbolic way into the Middle Chamber of Solomon’s Temple. Individually, they represent strength and establishment. The coffin, shovel, setting maul, and sprig of acacia: The symbols of the grave remind Masons that everyone shall eventually die and turn to dust. The hearty acacia plant, which thrives in the Holy Land, can often seem to spring back to life from little more than a dead branch, and reminds us of the hope for immortality that unites all religions. 24-inch gauge and the common gavel: The 24-inch gauge is representative of the 24 hours of the day. The gavel is to remind Masons to endeavor to remove the rough edges from their own character, to become more like the perfect ashlar.

Article / Updated 02-04-2020

The word lodge really has two meanings to a Freemason. It is both a place where Masonic meetings are held, and a collective term for the members who meet there. So, as weird as it sounds, you could say that a lodge meets in a lodge. In fact, many different lodges can meet at different times in the same lodge building. This practice is common in larger cities, where one building may have many rooms for lodge meetings and dozens of lodges that share them. Masonic lodges are named by their original founding members. They can be named after the town they're in, a historical figure, a famous Mason, or even a symbolic word or phrase. The name of the lodge is always followed by a number, such as Washington Lodge #13 or Ancient Landmarks Lodge #319. The number is issued by the governing Grand Lodge and designates the order in which lodges have been chartered in that jurisdiction. The older the lodge, the smaller the number. Many of the details in a lodge room are patterned after aspects of King Solomon's Temple, as described in the Bible and other historical records. A Freemason teaches by symbolism, and much of that symbolism is based upon the accounts of Solomon's Temple. The Temple was built in the 10th century B.C. on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. Solomon built it as a temple to God and to store the sacred Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses. The details of Solomon's Temple are described in the Bible in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. In its time, the temple's magnificence was known all over the ancient world. Early stonemasons claimed their guilds originated with the great construction projects of the Bible, to give themselves a long, proud, and sacred pedigree. When Freemasonry became a philosophical organization in the 1700s, the Masons who developed the ceremonies and practices of the fraternity seized on the symbolism of Solomon's Temple to help teach moral and spiritual ideas. A lodge room contains much that is based on interpretations of descriptions of Solomon's Temple. There are many variations throughout the world, depending on differences in customs, rituals, and rules, but in general, lodge rooms are arranged in a very similar fashion. Here's how a typical modern lodge may look like: The modern Masonic lodge is a rectangular room, with seating around the perimeter. The ceremonies of the lodge take place in the center of the room, so everybody has a good view. Lodge rooms are usually oriented east to west. Ancient temples were constructed this way to be aligned with the east-to-west path of the sun. Even if a Masonic building actually faces north and south, when you walk into the lodge room, you're symbolically facing the East. There is an altar where the Bible (or other holy book sacred to that lodge's members) is opened. This book is referred to as the Volume of Sacred Law. In U.S. lodges, the altar is in the center of the room. In other parts of the world, the altar may be directly in front of the Master's chair. Three candles are placed in a triangular position next to, or surrounding, the altar, to illuminate the Volume of Sacred Law. Officers have chairs in specific positions in the room. The Master is in the east, on a raised platform of three steps. The Senior Warden is in the west on a platform of two steps, and the Junior Warden is in the south on one step. The steps symbolize the progression of life: youth, manhood, and age. There are two tall pillars with globes on the top, patterned after two bronze columns that were prominent architectural features of Solomon's Temple. The pillars are usually on either side of the Senior Warden, or sometimes next to a doorway leading into the lodge. An illuminated letter G is suspended over the Master's chair in the east, or sometimes over the altar. It represents both God and the science of geometry, which was the secret knowledge of the original stonemasons. All the ceremonies and rituals of Ancient Craft Freemasonry (the most basic brand of Masonry practiced in local lodges all over the world) are conducted in rooms similar to this. Lodge buildings can be large or small, and so can lodge rooms. In some parts of the world, lodge rooms typically seat no more than 30 or 40 members, whereas many lodge rooms in the United States were built for hundreds. Often the difference is whether many small lodges meet in the same building or if one large lodge dominates the area. Most buildings generally have a dining room and, perhaps, other social rooms. Until recently, it was common for a lodge building to be called a Masonic temple. Because of a public misunderstanding about the role of religion in Freemasonry, as well as the accusation that Freemasons actually go to their lodges to "worship," many jurisdictions have asked lodges to remove the word temple from their buildings. Lodges meet at regular intervals throughout the year. Most assemble once a month for a business meeting, where communications are read, bills are paid, proposed members are voted on, and the members catch up on each other's lives. Often, guest speakers are invited, or a member will give a presentation on the ritual, history, philosophy, or symbols of Masonry. Other special meetings are held to initiate new members and perform the various ceremonies to advance them to full membership. These ceremonies are called degrees. Because the primary goal of Freemasonry is fellowship, a meal is usually served before or after the meeting, either in the lodge building or at a nearby restaurant. Depending on the traditions, formality, and finances of its members, meals can be as simple as pizza or bologna sandwiches or as sumptuous as a seven-course feast, in the old English Festive Board tradition of a banquet and ceremonial toasting. Masons also gather for the somber purpose of conducting funeral services for their deceased members.

Article / Updated 02-04-2020

One of the unshakable tenets of regular, recognized Freemasonry is that it's an organization for men only. Beginning in the mid-1800s, several groups for women related to Freemasons were created, with varying degrees of success. The Order of the Eastern Star The Order of the Eastern Star (OES) was created to be a Masonic-style organization open to women, without simply being a copy, parody, or rip-off of the Masonic degrees. The ritual of the OES is similar in structure to the ceremonies of the Masonic lodge, yet different enough that it can’t be called a simple rewrite. The Order of the Eastern Star is open to men who are Master Masons and female relatives, spouses, and descendants of Master Masons. The Order’s teachings use characters from both the Old and New Testaments, and it is essentially a Christian-based organization, although non-Christians are certainly welcome to join. Like Freemasonry, only a belief in a Supreme Being is required. The Order of the Eastern Star’s principal symbol is the inverted five-pointed star. Each star point represents a different heroine of the Bible and degree of the Order, and each one represents a different virtue: Adah: Adah is the first point; its color is blue, and its symbols are the sword and veil. Adah represents obedience and self-sacrifice. Ruth: Ruth is the second point; its color is yellow, and its symbol is a sheaf of wheat. Ruth represents the ideals of loyalty and friendship. Esther: Esther is the third star point; the color is white, and the symbol is a crown and scepter. Esther represents honor and courage. Martha: Martha is the fourth point; the color is green, and the emblem is a broken column. Martha represents devotion to the home, as well as a belief in the immortality of the soul. Electa: The fifth star point is Electa, named for the eklekte kuria, “the elect lady” of the Apostle John’s Second Epistle; the color is red, and the symbol is a cup. Electa represents the ideals of fervent love and faith. The Order of the Amaranth The symbol of the Order of the Amaranth is an amaranth wreath, with a crown and sword in the center. This order began in conjunction with the Order of the Eastern Star, but they have since become separate organizations. The original Order of Amarantha (founded in Sweden) had nothing to do with Freemasonry, but founder James Taylor was so impressed with what he read about it that he copied many of the symbols and terms he found — even the name. The White Shrine of Jerusalem Despite its name, the International Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem isn't a whites-only group, nor is it affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. It is a completely independent group. It’s open to Master Masons and their female relatives, and it's an overtly Christian organization. Members must profess a belief in Christianity and a willingness to defend it. White Shrine’s symbol is a star, a shepherd’s crook, and a cross, with the Latin motto, In Hoc Signo Spes Mea (“In This Sign Is My Hope”). Members refer to each other as Sojourners. The Social Order of the Beauceant The Social Order of the Beauceant (pronounced bo-see-ont) is unusual in American Masonry, because it doesn't require or even admit men. It's an organization of women limited to the wives and widows of Knights Templar. The Social Order was founded in Denver, Colorado, in 1890 as a support group for the local Templar Commandery, and the ladies never disbanded. They continued to meet to help their husbands and just to enjoy each other’s company. In 1913, they decided to change the name to something more templary, and decided on the Social Order of the Beauceant, using the same initials. Beauceant is a French term for the banner carried by groups of medieval knights.

Article / Updated 02-04-2020

There is no international administrative or controlling authority over Freemasonry. There's no office anyone can call to get the official, worldwide policy position of Freemasons, because there is no such policy. In the United States, each state has its own Grand Lodge. But there are basic beliefs common to all regular, mainstream Masonic organizations. The beliefs of Freemasonry can be boiled down to those three simple concepts. Masons are taught to believe in: Brotherly love: Love for each other and for all mankind Relief: Charity for others and mutual aid for fellow Masons Truth: The search for answers to the universal questions of morality and the salvation of the soul that only a man's individual faith and his relationship with God can provide Brotherly love Simply put, Masons believe in the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is part of every great world religion, so it qualifies as the single, unifying theme of all faiths. Its most basic concept is the cornerstone of Freemasonry, no matter how it is phrased: Buddhism: "In five ways should a clansman minister to his friends and families; by generosity, courtesy, and benevolence, by treating them as he treats himself, and by being as good as his word." Christianity: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Confucianism: ÒWhat you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others." Hinduism: "Men gifted with intelligence . . . should always treat others as they themselves wish to be treated." Islam: "No one of you is a believer until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." Judaism: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Taoism: ÒRegard your neighbor's gain as your own gain, and regard your neighbor's loss as your own loss." Relief Masons do not teach, and have never taught, that good works on Earth are a means of salvation in the afterlife. Masonic charity is practiced to improve the lives of men here and now. Many people who are familiar with Freemasonry but are not members are aware of some of the fraternity's philanthropic and charitable contributions to society. A common statement is made that, internationally, Freemasons provide $3 million every day to charity — $2 million in the United States alone. Three centuries of encouraging good works in its members have resulted in large, institutional charities supported by Freemasons. These include scholarships, relief for natural disasters, and donations to schools and to destitute families. Masons have provided retirement homes for their own members, as well as schools and homes for orphans, and they participate in a dizzying list of community and social programs. Especially notable are the many medical philanthropies supported by Masons, which range from neuromuscular, dental, and eye care, to the world-famous Shriners Hospital program for children. Although these charities make an enormous contribution to and have a tremendous impact on society, Masons do not perform such services to mankind to receive gratitude or recognition. Individual Freemasons are encouraged to participate in all forms of charity and benevolence for society, not just the ones that get on the evening news or in the morning paper. Masonic charity does not just mean writing a check or throwing coins in a basket. It means giving a part of one's self and one's time — commodities that are always in short supply. By participating in improving the life of a whole community or a single human being, by example, they hope to encourage others to do the same. Truth Masonic truth is a little more difficult to explain, because it means something different to every man. When a new initiate enters the lodge, aspects of the ritual ceremony seem unusual. For example, he is blindfolded. Blindfolding is done for a variety of reasons, but the primary symbolism of being blindfolded is that the candidate is seeking light. Light in a Masonic lodge is a symbol of spiritual truth and knowledge, and every candidate must discover that light on his own. To be in darkness is to be ignorant and unaware. No lodge ceremony or Masonic lesson can pretend to provide "ultimate" truth for a Mason, but Masonry seeks to inspire the individual to search for knowledge on his own.

Article / Updated 02-04-2020

An overwhelming number of the world’s best and brightest have been or are Freemasons. These groups give you far from a comprehensive list — they're just a sampling: Founding fathers: America’s most famous Freemason, George Washington was initiated in 1752, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Other founding fathers who were also Masons include Benjamin Franklin, Marquis de Lafayette, Robert R. Livingstone, John Hancock, and Aaron Burr. U.S. presidents: Fourteen U.S. presidents are definitely known to have been Freemasons: George Washington, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James Polk, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, James Garfield, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Gerald R. Ford. Explorers and adventurers: Freemasons who blazed new trails include Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie, Sam Houston, Christopher “Kit” Carson, Lewis and Clark, Charles Lindbergh, and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin. Science and medicine: Many Freemasons have played an important role on the scientific and medical frontiers, among them Edward Jenner (discoverer of the cure for smallpox), Joseph Lister (the man who pioneered the concept of antiseptics in medicine), and Alexander Fleming (won the Nobel Prize for his discovery of penicillin). Actors and entertainers: The entire entertainment industry has had its share of Masons, including the Ringling Brothers, jazz great William "Count" Basie, John Wayne, Harry Houdini, Richard Pryor, and Mel Blanc. Athletes: Famous athletic Masons include “Sugar Ray” Robinson, Jack Dempsey, John Elway, and Scottie Pippin. Businessmen: Henry Ford, a titan of American industry, was a Freemason. Ford shared the ties of Masonic brotherhood with Walter P. Chrysler, Nathan Meyer Rothschild and John Jacob Astor, Charles Hilton, Colonel Harland Sanders, and Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple Computer). Statecraft: Masons have made great world leaders. Among them are Sir Winston Churchill, Fiorello Laguardia, Kalakaua (King of Hawaii), and many English kinds (including William IV, Edward VII, Edward VIII, George IV, and George VI). U.S. Civil Rights leaders: Masons who’ve been active in the quest for equal rights for all citizens of the United States include Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, Thurgood Marshall, and Medger Evers. Arts and letters: The world of art, music, and literature wouldn't be the same if it weren’t for the contributions of the Masons Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Aleksander Pushkin, Jonathon Swift, Oscar Wilde, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Alex Haley, and Mark Twain.

Article / Updated 07-24-2016

Dan Brown's book, The Lost Symbol, invites much curiosity — and speculation — about a brotherhood of secrets and symbols. So, what's the truth behind the storytelling? Here are a few facts revealed: Did the Masons build Washington DC? The Freemasons of Virginia and Maryland conducted ritual ceremonies for the first foundation marker stone of Washington D.C., as well as the cornerstones for the President's Mansion (the White House) and the Congress House (the Capitol building). George Washington and engineer Pierre L’Enfant were Freemasons, and consulted with non-Mason Andrew Ellicott, who finished designing the street plan of the city after L’Enfant was fired from the project. Masons really did lay the cornerstone of the Washington Monument, along with contributing a series of commemorative stones that appear inside of the obelisk. Have most U.S. Presidents been Freemasons? Only 14 of them (the first was George Washington, and the most recent was Gerald Ford). Do 33rd degree Scottish Rite Masons drink out of a skull? Dan Brown cribbed the ceremony in the first pages of The Lost Symbol from an anti-Masonic exposé written in the 1870s to embarrass the Masons. It's NOT accurate. Is the "Chamber of Reflection" real? Yes, although Dan Brown took some liberties with it. Some Masonic lodges and appendant groups place initiates into a Chamber of Reflection to meditate on their past life and future mortality before certain degree ceremonies, but it is not a uniform practice. It is far more prevalent outside of the U.S. However, Masons do not have private rooms like this in their homes or businesses (like the basement of the U.S. Capitol building). Do Masons accept members from all religions? The first requirement for membership in the Masons (along with being for men only) is the belief in a Supreme Being," but a man's religion is considered his own business. Is the House of the Temple a real place? Yes, it is the headquarters of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction in Washington D.C. Just as Brown said, it is located at 1733 16th Street NW, and it can be toured by the public. And it is pretty much as described in The Lost Symbol, except that human sacrifices do not take place in it. The George Washington Masonic Memorial is also a very real place in Alexandria, right across from the King Street Metro stop. Are pyramids a Masonic symbol? No, this is fiction created by Dan Brown. Pyramids do not appear in regular Masonic ritual or symbolism, and the Masons did not put the "unfinished pyramid and the all-seeing eye" on the back of the U.S. dollar bill. These are myths. Do Masons really have a universal distress signal? Yes, it is a combination of words and hand signals. Do Masons have a secret cipher code? Yes, although it's no secret now that Brown told everybody about it. Just for the record, there are variations of it that he didn't reveal.

Article / Updated 07-24-2016

Freemasons encourage young people to become involved in their rituals. Over the years Freemasons have started several groups for young people. You need to have a Masonic connection to join the Order of DeMolay or Job’s Daughters, but a girl of any race, creed, or religion can join the International Order of the Rainbow. Masonic youth groups are in the following list: Order of DeMolay (for boys): DeMolay confers initiation and knighthood on boys, followed by awards of merit. Its members hold office and conduct the ritual and business of the chapter, teaching boys leadership skills, financial responsibility, civic awareness, and public speaking. Today, membership is open to boys between the ages of 12 and 21. Job’s Daughters (for girls): The purpose of the order is to band together young girls for character building through moral and spiritual development, teaching a greater reverence for God and the Bible, patriotism, and respect for parents. The International Order of the Rainbow (for girls): Although its teachings are based on Christian writings used to show basic values integral to many religions., the order is open to girls of all religions.

Article / Updated 07-24-2016

Freemasons are generally a social bunch who want more and more people to join in their love for their rituals. The mid-1800s saw the addition of more groups joining the Masonic family, including groups for female relatives of Masons, as well as their children. Called appendant bodies, some of these groups developed to confer more-involved, Masonic-style degrees. Others satisfied the desire for military-style drill teams. Still others were created to allow wives and children to take part in the lodge experience. The following list lays out the groups for adults affiliated with Freemasonry: The York Rite: York Rite is actually a descriptive term used for three cooperative groups (which include the Knights Templar) that confer a total of ten degrees in the United States. The degrees making up the York Rite are considered concordant to the first three Masonic degrees, meaning they confer additional Masonic degrees that enlarge and expand on the first three lodge degrees. You must already be a Master Mason before you can join the York Rite. The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (or the Scottish Rite): Perhaps the most visible and least understood appendant body of Freemasonry, the Scottish Rite isn’t particularly ancient, and it didn’t come from Scotland. It is technically a concordant body, because some of its degrees continue the story of the building of Solomon’s Temple started in the first three lodge degrees. The Scottish Rite appears in a major role in Dan Brown's novel, The Lost Symbol. Shriners international: The Shrine has often been called the “playground of Freemasonry.” Shriners wear red fezzes, ride little cars in parades, sponsor circuses, and do other wacky things to raise money for their 23 children's hospitals in North America. The Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (simply and affectionately known as the Grotto): Over the years, the Grotto has unfairly earned the unflattering nickname “the poor man’s Shrine,” but built on the premise that men would be better Masons if the solemn teachings from the lodge could be interspersed with a little socializing and fun. The Order of the Eastern Star (OES): Created to be a Masonic-style organization open to women, without simply being a copy, parody, or rip-off of the Masonic degrees. The Order of the Eastern Star is open to men who are Master Masons, and female relatives, spouses, and descendants of Master Masons. The Order of the Amaranth: A group for both Masons and their spouses and female relatives, it’s open to all faiths. The Social Order of the Beauceant: Unusual in American Masonry because it does not require or even admit men. It is an organization of women limited to the wives and widows of Knights Templar. The Ancient Egyptian Order of SCIOTS: Its motto is “Boost One Another.” They’re dedicated to social activities and helping each other in their personal and business lives. High Twelve: An organization for Master Masons who generally meet for an hour once a week to enjoy fellowship and to support Masonic and patriotic causes. National Sojourners: An organization designed especially for Freemasons who have served in active duty of the armed forces of the United States. The Tall Cedars of Lebanon: Founded as a fraternal organization to promote “fun, frolic, and friendship,” and to standardize its ritual. Local chapters are called forests, and members are called tall cedars. Its adopted headgear is a pyramid-shaped hat with a tassel. The degree is purely for fun.