York Rite FAQ

A Rite is a series of degrees that are conferred in a set order, each one building on the last. Every Rite rests on the same foundation: the three degrees of the Lodge (Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason), which every Mason receives first.

The York Rite is made up of four bodies that a Mason passes through one after another: the Lodge, the Royal Arch Chapter, the Cryptic Council and the Commandery of Knights Templar. Each body has its own theme, and taken together they carry on the story that begins in the Lodge, teaching its lessons through ritual and initiation.

Here in Lubbock, those bodies are Lubbock Chapter #248, Council #183 and Commandery #60.

Closely. The Lodge itself is counted as the first of the four York Rite bodies. Most Lodges in the United States work a ritual that descends from the work of Thomas Smith Webb, who also shaped the ritual of the Chapter and the Commandery. The Council degrees joined the system some years later. Because they share those roots, the Chapter degrees feel like a natural next chapter of the story you already know.

You must first be a Master Mason in good standing. From there, the first step is the Royal Arch Chapter: you fill out a petition and hand it to the Chapter’s Secretary. The easiest way to get started is to come by and visit us or email us, and we’ll get a petition to you and answer any questions along the way.

No. The Royal Arch Chapter and the Cryptic Council welcome Master Masons of every faith. The Commandery of Knights Templar is a Christian order, so it is the only one of the three that asks its members to profess the Christian faith.

It can be either. Some Chapters, Councils and Commanderies confer their work on one candidate at a time, much like your Lodge did. Others gather a class of candidates for a “York Rite Festival,” where several degrees are conferred over a day or a weekend. If you have a preference, ask us before you petition and we will tell you how and when the Lubbock bodies are conferring them.

Not here in Texas. Members of the York Rite in Texas are not required to return proficiencies or other memory work after receiving their degrees and orders.

Each body sets its own dues and degree fees, just as each Lodge does. For current amounts, email us and we will put you in touch with the Secretary or Recorder. Current members can pay online on the Chapter, Council and Commandery dues pages.

Two things above all. First, ritual that is moving and meaningful, and that fills in much of what the Lodge degrees only hint at. Second, friendship. York Rite bodies tend to be close-knit, and many of our members will tell you the bonds they have formed here are some of the strongest in their Masonic life. We think of ourselves as more than a fraternity. We are a family.

Each body holds its own business meetings and confers its own degrees or orders. In Lubbock, the Chapter and Council meet on the same evening, the fourth Thursday of the month (the second Thursday in November and December). The Commandery meets on the fourth Monday (the second Monday in November and December). For most members, the commitment is about the same as belonging to a second Lodge.

Both have a great deal to offer, and many Masons belong to both. If you plan to join both, we suggest starting with the York Rite. Its story picks up right where the American Lodge degrees leave off, and seeing it first will make the Scottish Rite degrees easier to follow when you get there.

The two differ in three main ways: where their rituals came from, how they are organized, and how their members learn.

Origins. The Scottish Rite degrees began in France, were first assembled into a Rite in Jamaica, and were later revised in the United States. The York Rite degrees came from England, France and the United States, and were also given their present form here.

Organization. The Scottish Rite is a single organization in each jurisdiction; in Texas it is called the Orient of Texas. The York Rite in Texas is made up of four separate grand bodies that are independent of one another but work together in harmony:

• The Grand Lodge of Texas
• The Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas
• The Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas
• The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Texas

Learning. In the Scottish Rite, much of the learning happens through personal study after the degrees are received, which gives it a more academic flavor. In the York Rite, members learn mostly by taking part: conferring the degrees and orders on new candidates and experiencing the ritual again and again.