[Saurus]

I just stumbled across an amazing flowchart which shows exactly how the orders fit together, and thought it was worth sharing:

http://www.cumbwestmasons.co.uk/main/orders.shtml

I, as a fairly new mason, have always struggled to see how things fit, but this is crystal clear. Hope you find it useful...

[Peter Taylor]

That is how things stand in England. However , it is not like that everywhere, for example:

Structure of Freemasonry in Scotland

The Grand Lodge of Scotland (Craft Masonry, Blue Lodge)
1 Entered Apprentice
2 Fellowcraft
3 Master Mason – from here you are eligible to become a member of the AASR, ROoS and OSM
4 Mark Master Mason – part of the Royal Arch Chapter degrees but can be conferred in Blue Lodge
5 Installed Master

The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland
Royal Arch Series (Chapter)
1 Mark Master – if conferred in Blue Lodge it is necessary to affiliate to the Mark Master Lodge held with the body of the Chapter - now eligible to join the Squaremen
2 Excellent Master
3 Royal Arch Mason – from here you are eligible to become a member of the CC, RAM, KTs, RCC
4 Installed 3rd Principle
5 Installed 2nd Principle
6 Installed 1st Principle
7 Installed Mark Master
The Cryptic Rite Series (Cryptic Council, CC)
1 Royal Master
2 Select Master
3 Super Excellent Master
4 Thrice Excellent Master
Lodge and Council (Mariners, RAMs)
1 Royal Ark Mariner
2 Commander Noah
3 Babylonish Pass or Red cross
a. Knight of the Sword
b. Knight of the East
c. Knight of the East and West
4 Chief and President
The Order of the Cork
1 Cork Degree

The United, Religious and Military Orders of the Temple and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta, (must be a RA Mason)
The Order of the Temple, (KT)
1 Esquire
2 Knight
The Order of Malta
1 Knight of St Paul or Mediterranean Pass
2 Knight of St John of Jerusalem and Malta

The Imperial, Religious and Military Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine, Holy Sepulchre and St. John the Evangelist. (Conclave) (must be RA Mason)
1 Knight of Rome
2 Knight of the Red Cross of Constantine
3 Knight of the Holy Sepulchre
4 Knight of St John the Evangelist

The Royal Order of Scotland – usually by invitation only, Master Mason is the only requirement
1 The Royal Order of the Heredom of Kilwinning
2 The Knighthood of the R.S.Y.C.S

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Scotland (AASR) – invitation only Master Mason is the only requirement.
1st step is the 18th degree: lectures on degrees 4 -17 are given together before
1 4th degree - Secret Master
2 5th - Perfect Master
3 6th - Intimate Secretary
4 7th - Provost and Judge
5 8th - Superintendant of Buildings
6 9th - Master Elect of Nine
7 10th - Master Elect of Fifteen
8 11th - Knight Elect
9 12th - Grand Master Architect
10 13th - Royal Arch of Enoch
11 14th - Scottish Knight of Perfection
12 15th - Knight of the Sword or Knight of the East
13 16th - Prince of Jerusalem
14 17th - Knight of the East and West
15 18th - Knight of the Eagle and Pelican, Sovereign Prince Rose Croix of H.R.D.M
2nd step is the 30th degree; lectures on the 19th to 29th are given together
16 19th - Grand Pontiff
17 20th - Venerable Grand Master
18 21st - Noachite or Prussian Knight
19 22nd - Prince if Libanus or Knight of the Royal Axe
20 23rd - Chief of the Tabernacle
21 24th - Prince of the Tabernacle
22 25th - Knight of the Brazen Serpent
23 26th - Prince of Mercy
24 27th - Sovereign Commander of the Temple
25 28th - Knight of the Sun or Prince Adept
26 29th - Knight of St Andrew of Scotland
27 30th - Grand Elected Knight Kadosh

28 31st - Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander

29 32nd - Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret

30 33rd and Last Degree - Sovereign Grand Inspector General

The Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest or Order of the Holy Wisdom, (must be an Installed Master, RA Mason and a KT)
1. Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest

The Order of the Secret Monitor or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan, (OSM) (Master Mason is the only requirement for admission)
1 Induction
2 Admission
The order of the Scarlet Cord
1. Scarlet Cord

Ye Corporation of Squaremen (must be a Mark Master Mason)
1 Squareman
_________________
Regards,
The Laird O' Glencairn
IPM, PZ, AASR (30th), ROoS, KT, KTP, OSM, RCC, RAM, CC, SRIS, □

[Saurus]

Thanks, Peter - that's useful information!

I didn't know those RA degrees could be conferred in Scottish craft lodges.

When you say "Invitation only", does this mean a MM cannot petition for these degrees?

Are the 4° and 5° degrees automatic for MMs after raising?

[Peter Taylor]

Yes indeed "invitation" means just that! You must be invited... that is not to say that you cannot express and interest in a particular Order.

The 4th degree, (I think you are referring to) is the Mark Master Mason Degree. It is not exactly automatic but the vast majority of Master Masons usually progress to the Mark in their mother Lodges. Their are many however, that take their Mark in the RA Chapter.

The 5th Degree, awaits you,..... if you are Installed into the Chair of KS as Master of your Lodge. Strictly speaking it is not a Degree, but usually referred to as the "Ceremony of Installed Master".
_________________
Regards,
The Laird O' Glencairn
IPM, PZ, AASR (30th), ROoS, KT, KTP, OSM, RCC, RAM, CC, SRIS, □

[Bondi]

Can a Scottish order invite a brother from another jurisdiction?

[Peter Taylor]

As long s that Brother is a member if a GL or geverning body that is in amity with the Scottish Order or GL, then yes!

BTW, welcome to TMC!
_________________
Regards,
The Laird O' Glencairn
IPM, PZ, AASR (30th), ROoS, KT, KTP, OSM, RCC, RAM, CC, SRIS, □

[Bondi]

Thanks Peter, for both answer and welcome
_________________
Fraternally

Freemason Bondi

Freemasonry Universal

[Prometheus]

Welcome Brother Bondi!
_________________
Indocti Discant, Ament Meminisse Periti.
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