Hi,

First, let me thank you for the great website.  It has answered numerous questions, many of which I didn’t even now I had until I read them here!

Having read both the “For Dummies” and “Complete Idiot’s Guide to” (taking the very good advice of skipping the spoiler parts) I’d like some Masons’ opinion on appendages to the 3rd degree.

How many Masons in a lodge end up joining appendage(s) (Rites/Shriner/Grotto/Cedars/Etc)?

Is there a stigma/expectation that a Blue Lodge is only/just a stepping stone?

And please forgive this question if it comes off as rude, its merely uninformed.

Why does a Blue Lodge not provide enough of X for a Brother to feel the need to go elsewhere to get it?
Do you see Blue Lodges changing in the (near) future to keep more Masons “at home”?

Or if I am way off, please correct me.

PS.  Hopefully getting raised to EA in September as my (soon to be) lodge went dark for the summer.

Hi there and thanks for the thoughts on the Site.
As for your questions, the quick blackberry answer is there is no expectation that a Mason join any appendant body.
And you never leave your Blue Lodge. That’s your “mother ship”
The other bodies are Extra for those who have the time and want to branch out. In fact, the Majority of Masons never go beyond the Blue Lodge.

Bob Heruska
Forum Administrator.

Dear [soon to be] Bro. Hill,

Firstly, congratulations on being accepted in our Fraternity. I’m sure you will enjoy Masonry as much as all of us do.

To address your questions:

1. The percentage of lodge members who are members of appendant bodies varies very much from place to place and from lodge to lodge. Firstly, rural lodges not located at convenient distance from the meeting places of the appendant bodies naturally have fewer members joining them. In other lodges, there are quite a few members who belong to either the York Rite or the Scottish Rite plus the Shrine and the new member encounters more-or-less heavy pressure to join whichever Rite is dominant in his lodge, plus the Shrine. There are also lodges which, for some reason (usually lost in the mists of time), have a traditional aversion to the appendant bodies and few members join them. The membership statistics in each of the appendant bodies is available and could be compared with the total Blue Lodge membership, but I don’t have these figures available. I would offer an estimate that statewide in Maryland roughly 25% to 35% of lodge members also belong to either the York Rite or Scottish Rite, and about 35% to the Shrine, with a somewhat higher percentage in the two metropolitan areas (Baltimore and Cumberland) and in the area adjacent to Washington DC. I’m sure that other members of the Forum will give different figures for their locations.

2. There used to be a lot of members who regarded the Blue Lodge as a stepping stone to the Shrine, which meant that the YR and the SR were also stepping stones. Since the Shrine eliminated the requirement of membership in the YR or SR, this attitude has mostly disappeared. Curiously enough, in this area the Shrine’s new policy hasn’t resulted in a big increase in members; in fact, Shrine membership continues to decline and YR membership is rising; SR staying about the same, but not in healthy numbers. This means that even fewer members than ever join lodge with their sights set on the Shrine.

3. You seem to be under a misapprehension regarding the relationship between Blue Lodges and the Grand Lodges vs. the appendant bodies. It is rare nowadays that Lodges or Grand Lodges view the appendant bodies as rivals. Indeed, if anything, the opposite is true. In my jurisdiction, the Grand Lodge and nearly every Blue lodge have cordial relations with the appendant bodies, and members are cautiously encouraged to join them if they wish. You also will find that Blue lodges and the appendant bodies are different from each other and have different practices, customs and goals. This brings us to

4. the answer to which is: Never. The content of Blue Lodge Masonic teaching and ritual is by now carved in stone and will not be changed to any substantial degree. The YR and SR contain additional opportunities to receive Masonic light which the Blue Lodge does not have to give; and they, along with the Shrine, offer additional opportunities to meet and join with brothers from other lodges and enjoy more social activities. The Lodges know this very well and they are not going to play dog in the manger and try to keep their members at home, as you put it. The appendent bodies, on the other hand, also know very well where their members have to come from, and they all encourage their members to attend and take part in their Blue lodges. In fact, they frequently help out Blue Lodges in any way the can, realizing that if the Blue lodges are failing, they themselves are doomed.

I should have known Brother Young would have had the down low on that one. Thanks Bob.
I do think it’s a great topic.

You pose some interesting questions. I am in agreement with the responses posted here, but I will add my own take, as well.

1. The number of Craft Masons, who choose to participate in the appendant/concordant bodies, varies from place to place. Oklahoma City has a big Scottish Rite community, a large percentage of Craft Masons, participate in Scottish Rite. The state of Florida, traditionally has had a large Shrine community. The Grotto is very popular in Ohio and Pennsylvania. So you see, there is no definitive answer here. When you get involved in Masonry, it is always good to ask around, and see which appendant bodies are popular in your area.

2.I think of the Craft Lodge, not as a “stepping stone”, but more of an “anchor”. The appendant and concordant bodies, require that a man is already a Craft Mason. (With the exception of the co-educational groups and the youth groups). I also think of our Masonic family of organizations, as a “cafeteria of organizations”, where a man can pick and choose the types of activities which appeal to him.

3. The Blue Lodge has a specific set of goals and objectives. These are generally well-defined.  In order for a man to find his own particular “niche” in Freemasonry, we have all of these appendant and concordant bodies. In my experience, participation in the appendant bodies, often has the effect of enhancing a man’s Masonic experience. Obviously, the Blue lodge cannot be “all things to all people”.

$. I do not forsee Craft Masonry changing in its goals and objectives. I can foresee some administrative changes, and new programs and initiatives, as we progress into the 21st Century.

Gentlemen,

Thank you very much for your answers!

PHill….. first of all I want to congratulate you on your joining. I believe you will enjoy. I dont have any more to add to what my more seasoned Brotheren have offered, I am a new Brother myself. On that note, my OCD is pushing me to make a small correction….. when one takes their EA they are “Initiated”......then “Passed” to the FC and then “Rasied to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason”...... so in September, you will be Initiated as an EA. Best of Luck and Welcome. BTW, this is a GREAT place to learn from some GREAT Brotheren.

Congratulations on joining the fraternity!  Like Steve has said, the sequence goes like this:

You get initiated as an Entered Apprentice (1st degree).
You get passed to Fellow Craft (2nd degree).
You get raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason (3rd degree).
——-That’s it within the Blue Lodge——-

You once you become a Master Mason, you could consider submitting a petition to join the appendant bodies.

Scottish Rite
York Rite
Shrine

It is all up to you though.  Some people have been Masons for 35-40 years and stayed within their Blue Lodge and never joined one of the appendant bodies.  Others, have joined soon after being raised a MM.  I got raised a MM back in March, and have no interest (yet) in joining an appendant body.  I want to learn more about my Blue Lodge, become a valuable member in one of the chairs, and overall lend a hand however I can.  As it stands right now, I am a Senior Steward and help prepare new candidates and present them at the door for initation.  I am also learning the Junior Deacon’s role, and have learned that by next year, my lodge wants me to be the new JD!!!!

Freemasonry is a lot of fun, and a lifelong learning experience.  You will have a great time and I wish you the best!

Popped back in to wish everyone a happy 4th of July.  Thanks again for your answers and correcting me on the proper terminology.  Your answers have really strengthened my desire to be a Freemason.