The Allied Masonic Degrees

The Order of Allied Masonic Degrees, little known in continental Europe, is a rather unusual Masonic body, as its organisation varies considerably from country to country. The Allied Masonic Degrees have only five degrees in England, whereas in the United States and Canada there are many more. How can such great differences be explained between orders that all bear the same name of Allied Masonic Degrees? Where do these curious Allied Masonic Degrees come from, and what are they? That's what we're going to find out.

The Nature and History of the Allied Masonic Degrees 

The Order of Allied Masonic Degrees differs from other systems of Higher or Side Degrees in that it has no internal logic or set progression. The degrees can be conferred in any order, as they are not really linked. However, it is customary for the first degree conferred to be that of St Lawrence the Martyr, as this is where the Council usually meets.

The Order of Allied Masonic Degrees was founded in England in 1879 with the aim of bringing together and preserving what are known as detached degrees, i.e. Masonic degrees that do not belong to any system of higher degrees. The Order has no equivalent in Scotland, but a Treaty of Amity was signed in 2004 between the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales and the Grand Lodges of Scotland.

The Order was introduced in Canada in 1884, but this first form, of English origin, died out in 1894.

In the United States, the first Sovereign College of the Allied Masonic and Christian Degrees was founded in Richmond (Virginia) in 1892, and a second Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees was created in Salisbury (North Carolina) in 1932. The two bodies merged in 1933 to form the current Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America.

And it was from the United States that the Allied Masonic Degrees returned to Canada in its American form in 1963. And in 1984, the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of Canada was formed with the support of the American Grand Council. It was recognised by the English Grand Council in 1985.

Today, the Order of Allied Masonic Degrees is present in a number of countries : the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, France, Australia, India, Benin and the Congo.

The degrees of the Order of Allied Masonic Degrees 

As the Order of Allied Masonic Degrees brings together degrees that are not, in principle, linked to a particular system (which is not always the case), their list may vary from country to country. In Anglo-Saxon countries, the various Masonic bodies are not as systematically organised as in continental Europe. The same degree may stand alone in one country and be attached to an order or system in another.

The English Order originally had six degrees, but one of them, the Order of the Secret Monitor, split off to become an independent Order. The remaining degrees are :

The Order of St Lawrence the Martyr, the gateway to the Order, is undoubtedly based on old English operative customs ; this degree depicts the martyrdom of St Lawrence and teaches strength.

The Knight of Constantinople links Freemasonry to the Roman Emperor Constantine and teaches humility.

The Grand Tiler of Solomon takes up the theme of the Mason overhearing a conversation between Solomon, Hiram of Tyre and Hiram Abif. It is therefore related to the 6th degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and to the Chosen Master of the Cryptic Degrees.

The Knight of the Red Cross of Babylon relates the legend of Zorobabel and the rebuilding of the Temple. It is therefore close to many other degrees, such as the 15th degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, the Irish Knights Masons and certain aspects of the Royal Arch.

The Grand High Priest, close to the spirit of the Royal Arch, exalts the biblical and priestly figures of Melchisedec and Aaron.

The American version includes the Order of St. Lawrence the Martyr, the Knight of Constantinople and the Grand Tiler of Solomon. But there are several others:

Firstly, in the American Allied Masonic Degrees we find the Order of the Secret Monitor, which is no longer part of the English Order. The legend of this order refers to the unfailing friendship of David and Jonathan.

There is also the Royal Ark Mariner, which commemorates the figure of Noah and the story of the Flood. This degree also exists in England, but is integrated into the Grand Lodge of Mark Masonry. And in Scotland, it is under the Supreme Grand Chapter of the Royal Arch.

The Excellent Master, found in the American and Scottish Royal Arch, is also one of the American Allied Masonic Degrees.

There are also three degrees that relate to the legend of Solomonic architecture: the Architect, the Grand Architect and the Superintendent. These have analogies with various ancient degrees of Architects used in France and Germany in the 18th century, of which the 12th degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite is an example.

Next comes an original degree created in North Carolina, probably around 1932: the Master of Tyre, which has no equivalent in the world of higher degrees. It deals with the Tyrian dimension of Freemasonry, linked to Hiram of Tyre.

Finally, there are three orders that can be described as honorary : 

The Order of the Red Branch of Eri, an ancient Masonic organisation supposedly founded by the Kings of Ireland. In their present form, the rituals of this order appear to be the work of John Yarker (1833-1913), the initiator of the Memphis Rite in England and author of the Ancient and Primitive Rite in 33 degrees. The English form of the Order of Eri is attached to the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia.

The Order of the Scarlet Cord, which tells a legend linked to the biblical episode of the conquest of Jericho by the people of Israel. This order, of Dutch origin, has spread to England, where it is independent of the Allied Masonic Degrees.

Ye Ancient Order of Noble Corks, a sort of funny and parodic degree, recalling that Noah was the first to experience drunkenness. This order is particularly honoured in Scotland, where it has no connection with the Allied Masonic Degrees.

While the Allied Masonic Degrees practised in Australia and India follow the English five-degree model, the form taken by the Order in Canada and France is virtually identical to the American practice.