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Endowed member of Tomball Lodge 1096. Haven't been to a lodge since my Dad passed away in 98' though. He was a Past Master and served as a DDGM. He was the Secretary of Tomball and a Grand Lodge Training Officer for several years. He loved Masonry. There were 300+ Masons at his funeral and they did a fantastic job with the ceremony. I get goose bumps just thinking about it. Love and miss ya Dad!

Hammerdown15 wrote:Past Master, 2010-2011, Port Neches #1163, Port Neches, Texas

Great thread. Plenty more CHL bretheren out there, just not members of this forum...yet.

Good to see another local!

Purplehood wrote:Fascinating article.

I am a little confused by the following:

Good men of other religions (Jews, Moslems, Hindus, etc.) believing in Deity may become Scottish Rite Masons.

I was under the impression that belief in a deity, period, was "sufficient". I got the impression that being a member of a particular religion was not a requirement of the Scottish Rite. Have I got that wrong?

No, you are correct. I suspect the religions listed were just used as examples.

I personally am a member of no church and was raised on September 29, 1977. Pasadena Lodge #1155, Pasadena TX

How long usually it would take to become of 3rd degree and how long to get to 32?

JNMAR wrote:I pretty much share your exact sentiments TAM. I asked one of my Great Uncles on my 21st birthday how I could become a Mason, he just happened to have a petition in his pocket. Went through the three degrees of the Blue Lodge early in 1967, followed by York Rite then Scottish Rite, then Shriners. I later had a dual membership in two blue lodges and was very active in all five for many years before I finally realized I couldn't serve two Masters much less six. But with that said, they're great organizations and do a tremendous amount of good stuff.

You think he might have had that petition ready for a while and was just waiting on you?

I'll take a stab at a few of your question but your friend would be a better source. Ask him when his Lodge has a guest night and go with him.

Beiruty wrote:Let me ask:
Why there are 2 rites? When the split if any happened, who are the shrines? I have heard about allied organizations? Who are those?

I'm only in Blue Lodge so I can't explain the 2 Rites. Shriner is a separate organization that require you to be a Master Mason to be a member and that is where the connection ends. History - http://www.shrinersinternational.org/en ... nings.aspx

Beiruty wrote:Why the york rites has to defend Christianity where the Scottish rite do not? Who is has the upper echelon in all those rites? Most likely there should be supreme figure over all the Masons.

Sorry can't answer but I believe some of the earlier post have some clarity on this.

Beiruty wrote:One member above mentioned Aribia and El-Mina (means port in Arabic)? Who are those Shriners?

The link about should answer a lot about Shriners

Beiruty wrote:I have interest in Masonry, since one of my best friend became a Mason. He is highly educated and intelligent person. A very loyal friend that helped me a lot. What still a Mystery for me is all the Conspiracy theories floating around Masons.

This makes for some great books and movies and ends there.

Beiruty wrote:And what is the relationship between Kinghts Templar who massacred hundreds of thousands in the Holy land a the time of crusaders and the York Rites?

NONE

Beiruty wrote:Are they the same organization under new name? Also, the new mass shooting in Oslao and most likely shooter is York Rite's Kinght or so he claims.

How one can better the good man when he resort to extreme violence (mass murder and terrorism)?

No. If one person belongs to an organization doesn't make the whole group bad. He's a nut case that went off the deep end.

Beiruty wrote:Let me ask:
Why there are 2 rites? When the split if any happened, who are the shrines? I have heard about allied organizations? Who are those?
Why the york rites has to defend Christianity where the Scottish rite do not? Who is has the upper echelon in all those rites? Most likely there should be supreme figure over all the Masons.

One member above mentioned Aribia and El-Mina (means port in Arabic)? Who are those Shriners?

I have interest in Masonry, since one of my best friend became a Mason. He is highly educated and intelligent person. A very loyal friend that helped me a lot. What still a Mystery for me is all the Conspiracy theories floating around Masons.

And what is the relationship between Kinghts Templar who massacred hundreds of thousands in the Holy land a the time of crusaders and the York Rites? Are they the same organization under new name? Also, the new mass shooting in Oslao and most likely shooter is York Rite's Kinght or so he claims.

How one can better the good man when he resort to extreme violence (mass murder and terrorism)?

Beiruty, what I was taught is that 3rd Degree Master Mason is the highest rank attainable in Masonry, and that the advanced degrees of the York and Scottish Rites were like having a post-doctoral research fellowship, to borrow an analogy from higher education. So extending that analogy, being an Entered Apprentice (1st Degree) was like a bachelor's degree; being a Fellowcraft Mason (2nd Degree) was like a master's degree; and being a Master Mason (3rd Degree) was like being a Ph.D. So just as there are no educational degrees higher than a doctorate, there are no degrees in Masonry higher than a Master Mason in the 3rd Degree. However, in education, one can go on to receive honorary titles and other recognitions for contributions to the advancement of one's educational field, such as honorary degrees, or the Nobel Prize for instance. So the way I understood it, the various advanced degrees in either the Scottish or York Rites are sort of like that. You have to be a Master Mason to enroll in either rite, and you will receive rankings that are relevant to those two rites according to the things you accomplish within their individual structures, but the highest degree you will ever be as a Mason is Master Mason in the 3rd degree..

I really don't know how the two rites started. I do know that Masonry in general is open to more than just the Judeo/Christian religions. One guy I went up through the ranks with was a Hindu.

I know my FIL is a Mason, but have no idea what lodge. I just asked my wife if she remembers what level he is and she thinks 32nd degree. Is that a Master Mason?

C-dub wrote:I know my FIL is a Mason, but have no idea what lodge. I just asked my wife if she remembers what level he is and she thinks 32nd degree. Is that a Master Mason?

He is a Third Degree Master Mason. The 32nd degree is a Scottish Rite degree. One must be a third degree master Mason before you can begin in the York or Scottish Rites.

Ditto to what others have said. There is no "higher degree" in Masonry than the 3rd degree, Master Mason. Someone else asled how long it takes to achieve that. It all depends on you, and your instructor. Most guys, at least in my experience, are able to complete it in less than a year. Took me about six months, IIRC.

River Oaks Lodge #1311

packina45 wrote:Ditto to what others have said. There is no "higher degree" in Masonry than the 3rd degree, Master Mason. Someone else asled how long it takes to achieve that. It all depends on you, and your instructor. Most guys, at least in my experience, are able to complete it in less than a year. Took me about six months, IIRC.

River Oaks Lodge #1311

Only six months? Wow you must be young and smart, it took me just over a year. Once I passed EA it seemed to get easier.

Brian Mobley wrote:

packina45 wrote:Ditto to what others have said. There is no "higher degree" in Masonry than the 3rd degree, Master Mason. Someone else asled how long it takes to achieve that. It all depends on you, and your instructor. Most guys, at least in my experience, are able to complete it in less than a year. Took me about six months, IIRC.

River Oaks Lodge #1311

Only six months? Wow you must be young and smart, it took me just over a year. Once I passed EA it seemed to get easier.

LOL 54 years old. My 70 year old uncle was my instructor and we got together about three times a week.

I guess what they teach is a secret like their meetings. No books available on the shelves.

3rd degree Master Mason and 32 degree Scottish Rite and York Rite
George B. Dealey # 1312

Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite only have to believe in a supreme Being. York Rite I strictly Christian based

Beiruty wrote:I guess what they teach is a secret like their meetings. No books available on the shelves.

No, the intent is to learn the material from a Brother Mason. It takes a while but most Masons in your Lodge want you to learn the material but you have to have the dedication. It is hard but worthwhile.