What are “appendant bodies” of Freemasonry?
Appendant bodies are what we call separate Masonic organizations that operate within the Masonic Fraternity. In order to belong to any of these groups, a man must first achieve the status of “Master Mason” (3rd degree), and after this point he may continue his Masonic involvement by joining these other organizations. There are two main apendant bodies of Freemasonry: the York Rite and the Scottish Rite. The York Rite Lodges operate very similarly to a Masonic “Blue” Lodge, but their initiation rituals are influenced more strongly by a religious subtext. The Scottish RIte is sometimes referred to as “the philosophical branch of Freemasonry”, and consists of 28 degrees, which operate like theatrical presentations– examining various moral and philosophical questions for Masons to contemplate.
