What Came ye here to do? Did You Know? * All Grand Lodges are York . To expand upon, perfect and complete your knowledge of The stated purpose of the Masonic Fra- * The lessons of the com- plete the unfinished story as ex- Masonry make your goal... ternity is to “make good men better.” plained in the Symbolic Lodge. Along those lines the purpose of the York Rite could be stated to “make * The story of King Solomon's Temple good Masons better Masons.” encompasses the Symbolic Lodge, The Royal Arch Chapter, the Council

of Royal and Select Masters, and Further While not necessarily just a charitable the of Knights Tem organization, the Rite does participate plar. Light in three major charities * Candidates experience the degrees and orders through individual and Royal Arch Research Assistance

small group participation. Cryptic Masons Medical Research

Foundation * The York Rite can usually be com-

pleted in several months. Eye Foundation

* There is no memorization required Although the York Rite is not a to attain advancement in the de- charitable organization it does pro- grees and orders. vide an opportunity to be charita- ble to your fellow man, helping to * Many opportunities exist for family participation in the activities within fund research into hearing, heart the York Rite Bodies. Through the and vision problems. * Each body has its own application More information about the York process allowing a new Royal Ach Rite maybe found at: member to decide when and how YORK RITE ! www.yorkritemaryland.org many bodies he would like to join. For More Information and How to Join Visit: www.yorkritemaryland.org What is the York Rite? In the York Rite of during Symbolic Masonry the Chapter Degrees the word is found and communicated to you. Entered Apprentice As a Master Mason you were obligated and brought to “Light.” As a Mason in Chapters of Royal Arch Masons were Fellow Craft search of light, more light and further light (and still are in England) connected to the Master Mason you are invited to continue your Masonic Blue Lodge. The Sublime Degree of the Holy

Education by joining and participating in the Royal Arch is the completion of the Mas- York Rite. ter’s degree in which the WORD is found Capitular Masonry and restored to the Craft. By joining a Chap- The degrees and orders of the Rite will ter the Brother becomes a member of one Mark Master “fill in the blanks” and complete your of the oldest organizations in the Masonic search. Past Master . When you joined the you Most Excellent Master The York Rite is continued with the were given a word. This was a substitute Royal Arch Council of Royal and Select Masters in word devised to be used “until future gen- which the Companion learns how the word erations would find out the right.” This sub- was preserved and how it came to be in the stitute word allows you to visit Masonic place where it was found. The Royal and Lodges and identify yourself as a Master Select Master’s degrees are some of the Royal Master Mason. most impressive in Freemasonry. Select Master Did you ever wonder what the real The Orders of the Commandery provide word was? Super Excellent Master (optional) a connection between Ancient Craft Ma-

sonry and Christianity. The Orders are said

by some to be the most impressive in Free- Orders of the Commandery masonry. Once you have been knighted you Order of the Red Cross will never forget the most impressive cere- monies of the Order of the Temple. Order of Malta Order of the Temple