History of the York continues to operate as an independent Grand body, choosing Rite in Pennsylvania to be unaffiliated with the General Grand Council of the United States

It is well known that the of America, and carries on its own of Free and Accepted Masons of traditions.

Pennsylvania is one of the oldest

Grand Lodges in the United States. Pennsylvania is recorded as

In the same manner, the of the first jurisdiction to form Pennsylvania can trace it’s roots and create a Grand

back to the formative years of Encampment of Knights . Templar in 1797. This organization soon dissolved, however, and in Your Masonic Journey The Grand Chapter of 1814 a new Grand Encampment was Continues Here Pennsylvania was originally created. Attempts were made to controlled by the Grand merge this Grand body together with Lodge and was formed in those of other states to create a 1795, being the first to operate national organization, but this did continuously into modern times. The not occur until 1854. Grand Chapter became independent in 1824, but the Grand Lodge Today, the York Rite in Pennsylvania retained control of the Past Master continues to offer leadership Degree, an arrangement that opportunities and further light to its continues to this day. The Grand members in local bodies in many

Chapter of Pennsylvania is one of towns throughout the state.

only a few Grand Chapters not to belong to the General Grand Chapter of the United States of America. An introduction to the

The Grand Council of York Rite of Pennsylvania was formed in Freemasonry in the early 1800’s to confer Pennsylvania the degrees of Cryptic Published by the Grand York Rite Bodies Masonry in the Commonwealth. The of Pennsylvania group flourished and established itself as an important member of the York Rite. Today the Grand Council

The American Royal Arch of

York Rite of Chapter

Freemasonry

You come to the degrees of As you cross into the Orders of The York Rite, as we know it, with Capitular Masonry as a Master Knights Templar, you will be the arrangement of the degrees of Mason, but it is here that you will greeted by your old friend King Capitular, Cryptic, and Chivalric truly learn the ways of the craft. You Darius, and taught the importance Masonry in this manner is an will labor in King Solomon’s quarry of truth. From there, you will American innovation, and one of in the Mark Degree, aiding in the encounter a Priory of the Knights of which many Masons are proud to be completion of the temple in the Most Malta, who will invest you a Knight a part. While the degrees were Excellent Master Degree. Following, of St. Paul and the Mediterranean initially created and worked in you will come upon the summit of Pass. Finally, your journey will England, it was in America that they Ancient Craft Masonry when you climax as you are greeted as a found their home. You will find York attain the degree of Royal Arch Christian pilgrim who seeks to join Rite Freemasonry in every state, Mason at the building of the second the valiant and magnanimous Order where it’s ideals, philosophy, and temple. of the Temple, thereby becoming a feelings of patriotism have made it a Knight Templar. permanent fixture on the American Council of Royal landscape. The York Rite is Your Rite!

& Select masters

The Journey of The Journey of

Having completed the temple, it It is the Commandery of Knights A Lifetime becomes appropriate for a Royal Templar of which you are probably Arch Mason to know of the secrets most familiar, as they appear in Serving in the chairs in your Lodge he has worked hard to keep. You local parades, and participate in is a rewarding experience that has continue your journey while on a patriotic activities in communities been proven to enhance a man’s walk with in the Royal around the Commonwealth. Upon character. In the same way the York Master Degree, after which you are completion of your journey you will Rite offers men the opportunity to taught a proper understanding of be a Sir Knight, and thereby entitled serve their fellow Masons in new Freemasonry in the Select Master to wear the uniform and chapeau of and exciting ways, all the while Degree. Your Cryptic journey comes a Knight Templar, and join your becoming an active participant in to a close in the Super Excellent fellow Fraters in these activities! it’s lessons and history. Master degree, where you will learn

of one of history’s most tragic

events.