Editing York Rite (section)

==York Rite bodies==

[[File:Yrladder.gif|thumb|York Rite Degree Ladder]]

Since the York Rite is actually a grouping of separate organizations joined in order, each body operates with relative autonomy. And though they are referred to as one rite it is common for individuals to be member of some bodies and not others. For example, in many jurisdictions [[Cryptic Masonry]] can be skipped allowing the person to be a member of just the Royal Arch and Knights Templar. It is also common for non-Christians to join only the Royal Arch and Council of Royal & Select Masters, as the Knights Templar require members to be willing to defend the Christian faith, if needed. Membership in the Royal Arch is always required and must be kept in order to maintain membership in the other two bodies.

Details on the individual bodies are as follows:

===Royal Arch Masonry===
[[File:Triple tau.svg|thumb|right|150px|The Triple [[Tau]].<br>(''Grand Emblem of Royal Arch Masonry'')]]
{{Main|Royal Arch Masonry}}
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Royal Arch Masonry is the first order a Master Mason joins in the York Rite. The '''Chapter''' works the following degrees:

* The ''Mark Master Mason'' degree is in some respects an extension of the Fellow Crafts' second degree. In some jurisdictions the degree is conferred in a Fellow Craft Lodge, that is, the second degree of the [[Blue Lodge]].
* The (Virtual) ''Past Master'' degree is conferred because of the traditional requirement that only [[Past Master (Masonic)|Past Master]]s of a [[Blue Lodge]] may be admitted to Holy Royal Arch. Because there are so many applicants for this degree, Virtual Past Master is required to qualify them for it in many U.S. jurisdictions. Other places, such as Pennsylvania and UGLE Masonry, do not have this requirement or procedure. Much of the work is the same given to install the Worshipful Master of a Blue Lodge.
* In the ''Most Excellent Master'' degree the building of King [[Solomon's Temple]], which figures so prominently in Blue Lodge, has been completed. In England the degree is conferred by the [[Order of Royal and Select Masters]], along with three other degrees.
* The ''Royal Arch Mason'' (or ''[[Holy Royal Arch]]'') degree is said by many to be the most beautiful degree in all of Freemasonry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org/royalarch/whatisra.html|title=What is the Royal Arch|last=Wine|first=Bill|website=www.yorkriteofcalifornia.org|access-date=2017-06-11}}</ref> Following a convocation of the Supreme Grand Chapter in England on November 10, 2004, there are currently significant ritual differences between what is worked in England and that worked in many U.S. jurisdictions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kcyorkrite.com/about-2/|title=About York Rite – The York Rite Bodies of Kansas City|website=kcyorkrite.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-11}}</ref> Fraternal inter-relations remain as before. Freemasons who reach this degree may continue to Cryptic Masonry or go straight to Knights Templar where permitted—requirements vary in different jurisdictions.

===Cryptic Masonry===
[[File:Council of Royal & Select Masters Emblem.svg|thumb|right|150px|One variation of the Royal & Select Masters' Emblem, of which there are many.]]
{{Main|Cryptic Masonry}}
Membership in the ''Council of Royal & Select Masters'' or the ''Council of Cryptic Masons'' is not required for membership in the Knights Templar in some jurisdictions, so it can be skipped. In others it is required.  It is called Cryptic Masonry or the Cryptic Rite because a [[crypt]] or underground room figures prominently in the legends told in the degrees.

*''Royal Master''
*''Select Master''
*''Super Excellent Master''

In some jurisdictions, a ''Most Excellent Master'' degree is offered between Select Master and Super Excellent Master, while other jurisdictions do not have the ''Super Excellent Master'' degree.

===Knights Templar (Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the U.S.A.)===
[[File:Knights Templar Logo (Freemasonry).svg|thumb|right|150px|A [[Cross and Crown|crowned Passion Cross]] laid upon the [[Cross pattée]] inscribed with "{{lang|la|[[In Hoc Signo Vinces]]|italic=no}}" resting upon crossed swords is often used in to represent the Knights Templar]]
{{Main|Knights Templar (Freemasonry)}}
The [[Knights Templar (Freemasonry)|Knights Templar]] is the final order joined in the York Rite. Unlike other Masonic bodies which only require a belief in a [[God|Supreme Being]] regardless of religion, membership in the Knights Templar is open only to [[Christianity|Christian]] Masons who have completed their Royal Arch and in some jurisdictions their Cryptic Degrees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knightstemplar.org/faq1.html#member |title=Faq/Info |access-date=September 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831070625/http://www.knightstemplar.org/faq1.html |archive-date=August 31, 2009 }} [Knights Templar FAQ – How to Become a Knight Templar]</ref> This body is modeled on the historical [[Knights Templar]] to carry on the spirit of their organization. Throughout history it has been claimed that Freemasonry itself was founded by the Knights Templar or that the Knights Templar took refuge in Freemasonry after their persecution. The Grand Encampment of the United States acknowledges the existence of these theories but states that there is no proof to justify such claims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knightstemplar.org/faq1.html#origin |title=Faq/Info |access-date=September 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831070625/http://www.knightstemplar.org/faq1.html |archive-date=August 31, 2009 }} [Knights Templar FAQ], accessed January 10, 2007.</ref>

A local Knights Templar division is called a [[Commandery (feudalism)|Commandery]] and operates under a state level Grand Commandery as well as The Grand Encampment of the United States. This is unique among Masonic bodies as most report to the state level alone. The Knights Templar confer three orders, and one passing order as opposed to the standard degree system found elsewhere in Freemasonry:

*''The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross''
*''The Passing Order of St. Paul (or the Mediterranean Pass)
*''The Order of the Knights of Malta'' (or simply ''Order of Malta'')
*''The Order of the Temple''

===Honorary Bodies===
In addition to the Capitular Degrees, Cryptic Degrees, and Chivalric Orders, there are several Honorary Bodies (sometimes called Invitational Bodies) that are associated with the York Rite and for which membership in a Royal Arch Chapter is requisite.  Membership is by invitation only and usually only extended to those who have contributed in some significant way to the York Rite. They consist of:

*''[[Allied Masonic Degrees]]''
*''[[Order of Knight Masons]]''
*''[[Order of Saint Thomas of Acon]]''
*''[[York Rite Sovereign College]]''
*''[[Knights of the York Rite Cross of Honor]]''
*''[[Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests]]''
*''[[Red Cross of Constantine]]''