FAQ: What is the York Rite?
Larry the Mason from Holbrook
Version 1.0
August 2006
This Frequently Asked Question comes from the weekly USENET MASONRY FAQ, posted to alt.freemasonry every Friday at 08:00 Pacific. Please refer to the weekly FAQ for other resource and contact information.
03
What is the York Rite?
The York Rite, like the Scottish Rite, is an appendant body of
Masonry, and confers nine degrees beyond the Master Mason degree. The
Temple degrees, which comprise the top degrees of the York Rite are
specifically Christian. Or at least it can be stated that the oath is:
in some Grand Lodges in the US and abroad, one need not be a
Christian, but rather only be willing to take a Christian OATH. The
difference here is that there are some who would willingly swear to
defend the Christian faith on the grounds that they would defend any
man's faith. The Chapter (or Royal Arch) and Council Of Royal And
Select Masters (Cryptic Rite), which comprise the first two sections
of the York Rite, are not specifically Christian.
The York Rite does not exist as a unified order in England. Each of
the orders contained in the US York Rite Bodies is separate and
independent in England, and there is no progression from one of the
orders to the next. Beyond the Craft, written by Keith Jackson, gives
concise descriptions of all the orders in England.