Ok so I know there are different branches once in freemasonry. My question is once one becomes a master mason,how do the opportunities open up to you (assuming your in good standings with your lodge.) Are there pamphlets? Does someone mention them? Do you have to ask your fellow brothers? I mean no disrespect if any is taken,I am simply curious. I haven’t been inside my local lodge as they have not investigated me yet. Any answers are appreciated!

If you have not even taken your 1st Degree in Blue Lodge yet, you are way ahead of yourself, but it does not hurt to ask so that you can have a tentative plan.  They “open up” to you simply by your being raised to Master Mason.  Being a Master Mason is one of the requirements for membership in the other bodies.  Even though there is no formal waiting period between getting your 3rd degree and joining the other bodies, Many long time members would recommend that you wait at least 1 year and become active in Blue Lodge first before joining the other bodies.  You join the other bodies, in much the same way you do Blue Lodge.  You first ask a member, submit a petition, then you are investigated and voted on, and finally you take the various degrees appertaining to the body you are joining.

Hope this helps.

It’s a combination of all the things you said.  There are pamphlets for Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shrine, and other appendant bodies.  You also find out about them from other brothers in your lodge who are members.  It varies for everyone.

I was actually participating in Shrine events before I was even a Mason, so for me, I actually found out about Masonry through the Shriners.

Brian0089 - 27 January 2012 12:12 AM

Ok so I know there are different branches once in freemasonry. My question is once one becomes a master mason,how do the opportunities open up to you (assuming your in good standings with your lodge.) Are there pamphlets? Does someone mention them? Do you have to ask your fellow brothers? I mean no disrespect if any is taken,I am simply curious. I haven’t been inside my local lodge as they have not investigated me yet. Any answers are appreciated!

Your question is important, and I wish more candidates for Freemasonry asked it. There are not so much as “branches” of Freemasonry, as you are asking. It is more accurate to say that there are “appendant and concordant bodies”. There are over 100 different organizations and clubs affiliated with Freemasonry. Once you are a Master Mason in good standing, you are eligible to apply for and participate in many of them. And there are pamphlets (and web sites) for nearly all of the appendant/concordant bodies. It is perfectly permissible to ask another Mason about any of the organizations that you are interested in.

Some of the groups are very well-known, like the Shriners. The Shrine is not a “masonic” organization. It is not controlled by the grand Lodge of the various states where it operates. A man must be a Master Mason in good standing to join the Shrine. Every Shriner is a Mason. There is a “wall of separation” between the Shrine and the Grand Lodge.

Some of the groups are very obscure. Like the “Society of the Blue Friars”, and the “Royal Order of Quetzcoatl”. These groups do not get much publicity, but they are part of the Masonic family, nevertheless.

Some of the groups are “invitation-only”. Example: The Royal Order of Jesters. The ROJ is composed of men who are Shriners. A member of the ROJ must ask you to join.

Some of the groups are “fun” organizations. Example: The Grotto “The Mystic Order, Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm”. The Grotto members wear a black fez, and have dinners and dances, and other fun events. Their principal charity is providing dentistry for handicapped children.

If you wish to learn more about the appendant/concordant bodies, you should get a copy of “The complete idiot’s guide to Freemasonry”. Many of the groups are described in that book.

You can also google “Masonic appendant bodies”, and get hundreds of hits.