WELCOME !
“ FURTHER LIGHT IN FREEMASONRY ”
PRESENTED BY
Miami York Rite Bodies
Lee Popham Sr., Illustrious Master
Adoniram Council No. 10, R.&S.M.
The York Rite of Freemasonry
• The Symbolic Lodge
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A Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons
A Chapter of Royal Arch Masons
A Council of Royal & Select Masters
A Commandery of Knights Templar
The Symbolic Lodge is the
Foundation
NO MORE COMPETITION
WE WORK TOGETHER,
OR WE SUFFER TOGETHER
A continuation of the Work
• The York Rite is
foundational in it’s
approach
• Many of the questions
from the Symbolic Lodge
are answered in the
Chapter & Council
Degrees
Masonic Light of the
York Rite
In the Beginning, God said
“Let there be light and
there was light!”
Masonic Light of the
York Rite
You represented Hiram Abif and received a Substitute Word
Continue the York Rite path of knowledge to find the
long lost Master’s Word
Who is Eligible To Join
Members in Good Standing
of our
Symbolic (or “Blue”) Lodges
Why the York Rite?
• Because one or more of the following describe
YOU ...
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I am a Master Mason – 6 months, or Proficiency
I Believe Freemasonry is a Progressive Science
I am a Respected Leader
I Possess High Standards of Integrity
I Support Worthy Causes
I have a Fraternal Belief in Principles
I am ready to Travel a Delightful New Road
I Believe in Continued Masonic Education
What is the
YORK RITE?
• A Series of Masonic Degrees and Orders
• Exemplifies and explains teachings not addressed
in the Symbolic Lodge:
– Historical Backgrounds
– Ancient Craft Customs
• Rich in pageantry and color
• Dramatically presented in full regalia/costumes
• No “Memory” or “Work” Lectures (at first!)
“Royal Arch
Masonry”
CHAPTER
• Four Capitular Degrees:
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Mark Master
Past Master (Virtual)
Most Excellent Master
Royal Arch
The Royal Arch Degree was maintained as a
part of the Craft until the 18th Century.
As Craftsmen you will learn how to collect your wages, assist in
the rebuilding of the Temple, find the Master’s Word, and learn
where it was placed before the death of our
Grand Master Hiram Abif.
A Chapter of Royal Arch
Masons
• Comprised of Four Degrees
– Mark Master
– Past Master
– Most Excellent Master
– Royal Arch Degree
Taken as a whole the theme of the Chapter Degrees may be
summarized in a single word
RECOVERY
The Mark Master Degree
• Considered by many to be one of the oldest
degrees in Masonry
• The Candidate represents a Fellow Craft Mason
The Degree teaches us to look for the value in all things and to
be mindful of the importance of the contributions of others
The Past Master’s Degree
Originally, the Royal Arch degree could only be
conferred upon those who served as Masters of
their Symbolic Lodge
The Degree now confers the symbolic title of Past
Master
First conferred in England in 1768
The Most Excellent Masters
Degree
Here we see the completion and dedication of the
Temple
The Royal Arch Degree
The Royal Arch Degree compliments the Master Masons
Degree
The Climax of Ancient Craft Masonry
Without the Royal Arch Degree the Master’s Degree Is
A song that is half sung, a tale partly told or a promise unfulfilled
Holiness to the Lord
“Cryptic Masonry”
COUNCIL
• Three Cryptic Degrees:
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Royal Master
Select Master
Super Excellent Master
– Although optional, is mandatory to hold office
Council of Royal & Select Masters
• Comprised of Two Degrees
– Royal Master
– Select Master
• Based on events that occurred before the Royal Arch
Degree and after the Third Degree of the symbolic Lodge
Taken as a whole the theme of the Council Degrees may
be summarized in a single word
PRESERVATION
Royal Masters Degree
• A young Craftsman named Adoniram is the
central character
• How the word will be preserved
This degree takes place prior to and shortly
following the Master Mason’s Degree
As a Royal Master you will have a discussion
with Hiram Abif about his mortality.
How and why was the word saved, what happened prior to its
discovery, by whom, and for what purpose?
The answers to these questions can be found as a
Select Master.
Select Master’s Degree
We must set a good watch over our words and
actions and attachment to duty thus the
principles of Masonry will result in advancement
in life and Masonry
The heart of this degree is
FIDELITY
“The Knights
Templar”
COMMANDERY
• Three Chivalric Orders
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Order of the Red Cross
Order of Malta
Order of the Temple
The Orders of a Commandery of
Knights Templar
• The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
• The Order of Malta
• The Order of the Temple
These Orders may be summarized as
CONTINUATION
Assist at the Rebuilding of the 2nd Temple.
What is the origin of the Knights Templar?
Be Dubbed and Created a member of the
Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple.
“Every Christian Mason Should be a Knight Templar”
The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross
• The First of the Commandery Orders
– Founded upon Truth
– Dramatizes the freeing of the Jewish captives after
70 years of slavery
Truth a Divine Attribute and the foundation of all
Virtues
The Order of Malta
• The first of the Masonic Degrees to apply the
precepts of Christianity
• Traces the history of the Knights Hospitaller
Also known as
Knights of St. John of Rhoades, and of Cyprus
The Order of the Temple
The Crowning Glory of the York Rite
“The most solemn and impressive experience in
Masonry”
The Order of the Temple
• The way of Jesus of Nazareth through
– His Life
– His Death
– His Resurrection
– His Ascension
“Every Christian Mason, should be a Knight Templar”
Be a Part of History
YORK RITE
Philanthropies
• Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons
– Royal Arch Research Assistance
– Masonic Medical Research Foundation
• Grand Council Cryptic Masons
– Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation
– Youth Groups, Masonic and Non-Masonic Support
– Miami and Florida Masonic History and Education
• Grand Commandery Knights Templar
– Knights Templar Eye Foundation
– Holy Land Pilgrimage/Endowment Fund
“YOU”
Are Cordially Invited to Join!
• We meet in Symbolic Lodge settings, with our own
distinct rituals – Dinner 6:30, Meeting 7:30
– Jericho Chapter No. 11 RAM – 3rd Monday, Odd Months
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Oleeta West Lodge, 145 S. Royal Poinciana, Miami Springs
– Adoniram Council No. 10 (RSM) – 3rd Monday, Even Months
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Hialeah Lodge, 150 W. 20 Street, Hialeah
– Miami Commandery No. 13 (Knights Templar)
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Fourth Monday, Monthly
Hialeah Lodge, 150 W. 20 Street, Hialeah
• Initiation Fees: $32 RAM, $32 RSM, $80 KT
• Annual dues: $36 RAM, $36 RSM, $56 KT
Action!
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A Special Time to Become a Member
Continued Masonic Education
Knighting in a New Century
Sign a Petition “Now” , Why Wait
You Will Not Be Disappointed!
Travel the road of
Further Masonic Light
YORK RITE MASONRY
The York Rite of Freemasonry
A journey waiting to begin
For more information please visit
www.flgyr.org
www.knightstemplar.org
Select
“Join Us”
“Grand Recorders”
Ask for a Petition
• Brought to you by the
– Jericho Chapter No. 11 of Royal Arch Masons
– Adoniram Council No. 10 of Cryptic Masons
– Miami Commandery No. 13 of Knights Templar
Grand York Rite of the State of Florida
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For More Information, Contact:
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A Masonic Leader you Respect, and/or
The Grand York Rite of Florida
» Steven Steele, Grand Recorder Emeritus
» P.O. Box 2740
» Lake Placid, Florida 33862-2740
» 863-465-0301
» gyrflorida@earthlink.net