Most Venerable
Sovereign Grand Master
On the Move, Around the World!!
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MV PSGMs, RV Grand Officers, RV Grand Superintendents, Venerable Brothers, and Brethren All,
Happy New Year!
I am pleased to share that the Allied Masonic Degrees are thriving in the United States of America at present! In this issue of the Allied Times, you will read about many examples of this. I am very proud of our constituent Councils and each of you!
Below are several highlights from my travels over the past few months:
In early August, I represented our Grand Council at the 65th General Assembly of the Sovereign York Rite College of North America. Our Deputy Grand Master presided and concluded his term of office as the Governor-General. It was clear by the many reports as well as the comments by those attending that our Deputy Grand Master had done a wonderful job in the York Rite College as well!
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Late last year, upon invitation from Most Worshipful Thomas Firth Johnson, Grand Master, I was pleased to accept an invitation to attend the Annual Meeting of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales.
Prior to making the trip, I also received invitations to attend several other meetings during my visit to England. Several of these are detailed below along with a few photographs. I appreciate the hospitality shown to the delegation from our Grand Council by the various Grand bodies and local units that we visited during the trip.
On October 20th, I met a number of Brethren from the United States at Heathrow Airport in London. We then traveled by train to Leicester where we enjoyed dinner with the Masonic Order of Athelstan.
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On October 21st, we attended the Annual Meeting of the Kings Council of the Ancient Order of Alfred the Great.
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On October 22nd, we attended the Grand Assembly of the Masonic Order of Athelstan in England, Wales and its Provinces Overseas. We then visited a local Hindu Temple and learned about the Diwali festival followed by a wonderful dinner at a local South Indian restaurant with Brethren from around the globe.
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On October 25th, I was pleased to be introduced, received, and to represent our Grand Council at the Annual Meeting of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales. The meeting was held in the beautiful Grand Temple located in Freemason's Hall (Grand Temple and Vestibules | United Grand Lodge of England (ugle.org.uk), 60 Great Queen St, London. The following other members from our Grand Council attended. I extend my gratitude to each of them for taking the time to make this most enjoyable trip.
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W. Berry Rigdon, Deputy Grand Master
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D. Allen Surratt, Past Sovereign Grand Master
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John A. Bridegroom, Grand Marshal
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Kevin B. Sample, Grand Tyler
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Christopher J. Gamblin, Grand Superintendent for Indiana
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Russell E. Bridges
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J. David Cashion
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R. Sean Gardiner
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Theodore H. Jacobsen
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William G. Snyder
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On October 28th, upon prior invitation of M. Dist. Companion Ian Currans, Grand Summus of the Ancient and Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord in the British Isles and its Districts and Consistories Overseas, I attended an Emergent Meeting of Hospes Consistory T.I. During this meeting, I was pleased to receive the Sixth Grand of the Order in full ritualistic form alongside RVB Kevin Brian Sample, Grand Tyler and two members of the English constitution.
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I am humbled, honored, and grateful to have had the opportunity to serve this Grand Council. During my time in office, it has become more clear to me than ever that this organization is active and successful because of the work of each of you. THANK YOU!
Finally, I hope to see many of you in person at the 131st Annual Convocation of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America on Saturday, February 11, 2023. Please visit https://amdusa.org/wp/masonic-week/ for full details regarding this event!
Fraternally,
Aaron
M. Ven. Bro. Aaron M. Shoemaker, KGC
Sovereign Grand Master
Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees
of the United States of America
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What Is Masonic Week?
By Rt. Ven. Bro. Clyde H. Schoolfield, Jr.
Grand Secretary
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Each year Freemasons from around the United States (and the world) gather together for what has become known as “Masonic Week.” Historically, this event was held in Washington, D.C., around the time of George Washington’s birthday, in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Conference of Grand Masters of North America and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association. The Conference of Grand Masters has long since moved on, leaving Masonic Week to what were quaintly referred to as the “Smaller Groups.”
The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the U.S.A. moved its Annual Communication from North Carolina to Washington, D.C., in 1938 and has met in the area ever since. As one of the larger of the “Smaller Groups,” the Allied Masonic Degrees has always taken a leadership role in organizing and administering Masonic Week.
The 2023 edition of Masonic Week is being held February 8th - 12th, 2023 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The seventeen organizations participating in the event include:
Allied Masonic Degrees
Athelstan
Blue Friars
C.B.C.S.
Grand College of Rites
H.R.A.K.T.P.
Knight Masons
Knights Preceptor
Masonic Society
Nine Muses
Philalethes Society
Pilgrim Preceptors
St. Thomas of Acon
The Operatives
Y.R.S.C.N.A.
Order of the Bath
Order of Corks
Each of these organizations is quite distinctive and, as such, there will be a very diverse set of activities during the week. These will include such things as degree conferrals, banquets, educational presentations, festive boards, etc. For more information about Masonic Week 2023, including the schedule of events, registration information, and hotel information, visit:
Masonic Week | Allied Masonic Degrees (amdusa.org)
Note that some events will be open to all attendees, while others will be open only to members of a particular organization; please contact the individual organizations for details about their meetings.
The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the U.S.A. will convene for its Annual Communication at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 11th, 2023. While all A.M.D. members are welcome and encouraged to attend, the voting delegates will include the following officers of our constituent Councils: Sovereign Masters, Past Sovereign Masters, Senior Wardens, Junior Wardens, Secretaries, and Treasurers.
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The Plumb, the Level, the Square
. . . and the Skirrit?
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In some Masonic jurisdictions, additional working tools are discussed beyond the plumb, the level and the square. One of these is the skirrit, a device used to make sure the foundation of a building is straight by laying down rope or string as a marker. For Freemasons, it can symbolize the laying down of the foundation of life, keeping us on the straight and narrow thanks to our Masonic principles.
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PRESIDING OFFICER DEGREES
According to Article XVI, Section 6 of the Constitution of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the U.S.A., every Sovereign Master of a constituent Council must be invested with the grade of “Installed Sovereign Master.” This is an actual Masonic degree, which we have derived from Scotland, and not what we think of as the usual installation ceremony. The ceremony centers around the legend of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.
The Installed Sovereign Master degree will be conferred during Masonic Week at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, February 10th, 2023. The ceremony will be open to all current and past Sovereign Masters of constituent Councils. No registration or fee is required. However, a commemorative certificate will be available for purchase by those who wish to do so.
Every constituent Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees has “moored” to it a Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners. (See Article XIX of our Constitution.) The officers of the Royal Ark Mariner Lodge are the officers of the Council, with the Sovereign Master serving as “Worshipful Commander Noah.” In like manner to the Installed Sovereign Master degree, there is an “Installed Commander Noah” degree.
Furthermore, every constituent Council has attached to it a Conclave of the Order of the Secret Monitor. (See Article XXI of our Constitution.) The officers of the Secret Monitor Conclave are the officers of the Council, with the Sovereign Master serving as “Worthy Supreme Ruler.” And once again, in like manner to the Installed Sovereign Master degree, there is an “Installed Supreme Ruler” degree.
The Installed Commander Noah and Installed Supreme Ruler degrees will be conferred during Masonic Week at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, February 10th, 2023. The ceremonies will be open to all current and past Sovereign Masters of constituent Councils. No registration or fee is required. However, commemorative certificates will be available for purchase by those who wish to do so.
For more information about the conferral of the Installed Sovereign Master degree, visit:
Degree Conferrals | Allied Masonic Degrees (amdusa.org)
For more information about the conferrals of the Installed Commander Noah and Installed Supreme Ruler degrees, visit:
Degree Conferrals | Allied Masonic Degrees (amdusa.org)
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IOWA AMD 2022 INGATHERING
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The Iowa AMD Ingathering was held on December 10th. Most Venerable Sovereign Grand Master Aaron Shoemaker initiated five new members into Polaris Council #449. T.S. Parvin Council #290 conferred the Royal Ark Mariner degree and Polaris Council #449 conferred St. Lawrence the Martyr. Grand Superintendent Wade Sheeler and Brother John Klaus gave interesting presentations on St. Lawrence and the Royal Ark Mariner.
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RED BRANCH OF ERI
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The Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri is said to be derived from a very ancient Order in Ireland, consisting of Freemasons and said to have been erected and patronized by the Kings of Ireland. Legend has it that Bro. F. G. Irwin, while Worshipful Master of the Inhabitants Lodge No. 178 at Gibraltar in 1858, received the Order at the hands of the Captain of an American trading vessel, to whom it had been transmitted from father to son, dating back to 1757, when his Irish forbear emigrated to New York while a District Grand Master of the Order. Major Irwin is then purported to have restored and reorganized the degree in England. The Order eventually came under the control of Bro. John Yarker who, in 1933, granted the authority to confer the Order in America to the Allied Masonic Degrees.
There are currently six ranks of the Order awarded in America: Man-at-Arms, Esquire, Knight, Knight Commander, Knight Grand Cross, and Knight Supreme Grand Cross. A constituent Council may honor a member of its Council, for distinguished service to the Allied Masonic Degrees, by electing him to be awarded one of first four ranks listed above. (See Article XX of our Constitution.) The last two ranks listed above may only be awarded by the Grand Council. There are particular eligibility requirements for each of the ranks.
The Knight Commander rank will be conferred during Masonic Week at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, February 10th, 2023. The ceremony will be open only to Knight Commanders and nominees (candidates) for that honor. Registration and a fee are required. For more information visit:
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Thespian Council No. 464
Installs Officers
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On Friday, January 6th, the Officers of Thespian Council No.464 held their annual installation of Officers. Thespian Council was a unique Council design originally to travel the state and confer all of the degrees in the Allied Masonic Degrees system. It held its meetings in 4 separate locations throughout Indiana and drew its membership from across the entire state. Over its several years of existence, it did just that, conferring many of the degrees in full costume with all of the appropriate props. In recent years, it has settled in the town in which it was chartered, Lafayette Indiana. It still continues to do great work, and the officers are dedicated to working the degrees of AMD. This installation was assisted by the Grand Marshal of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees, Right Venerable Brother John A. Bridegroom, and the degree of Installed Sovereign Master was also conferred. Indiana has a very active AMD with 15 Council operating in its Jurisdiction, assisted by our Grand Superintendent, Right Venerable Brother Christopher J. Gamblin. Thespian Council will confer a degree at the Indiana In-Gathering happening this summer.
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ANCIENT AND MASONIC ORDER
OF THE SCARLET CORD
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The Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord is based on an earlier Order developed in the British Isles in 1889, which was itself derived from 18th Century documents from the Amsterdam Masonic archives. The rituals of the Order are taken from Old Testament times, commencing at the period of Joshua, the fall of Jericho, and the story of Rahab.
There are currently six grades of the Order: Ostiarius (or Doorkeeper), Lector, Fellow (or Healer & Exorcist), Councillor, Keeper of the Hidden Secret, and Prince of Jerusalem. The Ostiarius grade was first conferred in America during Masonic Week in 2009. Since then several of the grades have been conferred during Masonic Weeks and during regional In-gatherings around the country.
Any member of the Allied Masonic Degrees in good standing is eligible to receive the first three grades. Only members who have served as Sovereign Masters of a constituent Council are eligible to receive the fourth grade. (See Article XXII of our Constitution.)
The first three grades of the Scarlet Cord will be conferred during Masonic Week at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 11th, 2023. The ceremony will be open to all A.M.D. members. Registration and a fee are required. For more information visit:
Degree Conferrals | Allied Masonic Degrees (amdusa.org)
The fourth grade of the Scarlet Cord will be conferred during Masonic Week at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, February 11th, 2023. The ceremony will be open only to current and Past Sovereign Masters who have also received the first three grades of the Scarlet Cord. Registration and a fee are required. For more information visit:
Degree Conferrals | Allied Masonic Degrees (amdusa.org)
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Blackhorse and C.A. Sinclair Joint Meeting
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On September 29th, 2022, C.A. Sinclair Council No. 412 and Blackhorse Council No. 555 held a joint meeting at Manasseh Lodge No. 182. A candidate was received into C.A. Sinclair Council No. 412 and Venerable Master Joe Martinez presided during the Ceremony of Reception. Venerable Master Joe Martinez (Blackhorse Council No. 555) presided over the opening of the Council and Venerable Master Michael Huff (C.A. Sinclair Council No. 412) presided over the closing.
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Prior to the meeting, Right Venerable Brother John Bridegroom, Grand Marshal of the Grand Council, Allied Masonic Degrees, was introduced via a Zoom Conference Call. Brother Bridegroom presented an excellent and thought-provoking program on “Arts and Crafts”.
Presentation: Arts and Crafts
While we refer to this great fraternity as an art and a craft, we should explore the importance of our regalia, and other ephemera. Taking care to ensure the quality of all of the accoutrements of the craft has far reaching effects, both in our pride as members and in our value to the outside world. More than simple dressing to identify membership, these things have deeper motivations and may tell us a great deal about who we are and where we may be going.
John A. Bridegroom is a Past Master of Porter Lodge No.137 and the Founder of Crowned Martyrs Lodge No.771 in Indiana. He is a Past Potentate, Past Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Cryptic Masons and is currently serving as the Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of Indiana. Nationally, he is a Past Provincial Grand Secretary of the Masonic Order of Athelstan and is currently serving as the Deputy Grand Marshal of the Order of St Thomas of Acon and the Grand Marshal of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the USA.
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COUNCIL OF THE NINE MUSES
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In 1934 the Grand Council chartered its first “roving” Council under the name and number “The Council of the Nine Muses No. 13.” The charter members were: J. Edward Allen (North Carolina), William Moseley Brown (Virginia), Ray V. Denslow (Missouri), Charles C. Hunt (Iowa), Henry V. A. Parsell (New York), J. Ray. Shute (North Carolina), Walter L. Stockwell (North Dakota), J. Hugo Tatsch (Massachusetts), and Harold V. B. Voorhis (New Jersey). The Council was formed for purely literary purposes and its membership is restricted (even to this day) to nine Masonic authors.
The Council of the Nine Muses traditionally holds its Annual Meeting during Masonic Week and this year is no exception. This year’s meeting will be held on Saturday, February 11th, 2023 beginning at 1:15 p.m. The event will feature a presentation on “Hermetic Philosophy and Freemasonry” by Ven. Bro. William B. Brunk.
The featured speaker William B. Brunk, D.D.S., is Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of North Carolina, Past S.G.I.G. of the Scottish Rite in North Carolina, and Chancellor Emeritus of Wilkerson College (North Carolina's College of Freemasonry). He is currently serving as Sovereign Master of the Council of the Nine Muses No. 13.
Immediately following the Nine Muses meeting, the Grand Council will convene for its Annual Communication at 2:30 p.m. Both meetings are open to all A.M.D. members in good standing.
For more information visit:
Masonic Week | Allied Masonic Degrees (amdusa.org)
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THE PHILALETHES SOCIETY
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Since its founding in 1928, the Philalethes Society has been an association “for Freemasons who seek Light, and those who have Light to impart” and may be best known for its excellent quarterly Journal. The Society has been a regular participant in Masonic Week for many, many years.
The Philalethes Society will be holding its 95th Annual Meeting during Masonic Week on Saturday, February 11th, 2023 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Immediately following at 12:00 noon, the Society will host a luncheon which will feature a presentation on “21st Century Conversations About Freemasonry” by W. Bro. John W. Bizzack.
The featured speaker John W. Bizzack, Ph.D., is the author of fourteen popular books about Freemasonry, along with dozens of essays, commentaries, and other papers about the Craft. His other books and writings address the subjects of leadership, criminal investigation, police standards, and the behavior of organizations and their administration. He speaks nationwide on a variety of issues related to Freemasonry, the Fraternity, the criminal justice system, and critical thinking. He is currently serving as the Third Vice President of the Philalethes Society.
The luncheon and presentation are open to all Masonic Week attendees and their ladies. For more information visit:
Masonic Week | Allied Masonic Degrees (amdusa.org) |
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The Masonic Society was established in 2008 as a Masonic research organization with the stated goal to “not just to look backward at the history of Freemasonry, but to foster the intellectual, spiritual and social growth of the modern Masonic fraternity.” The Society publishes a well respected quarterly Journal.
The Masonic Society will be holding its annual dinner meeting during Masonic Week on Friday, February 10th, 2023 beginning at 7:00 p.m. This popular event saw record attendance during last year’s Masonic Week. Following the dinner, there will be a presentation entitled “It’s About Me” by Most Ven. Bro. Robert Dupel, who is currently serving as the Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of Canada.
The dinner and presentation are open to all Masonic Week attendees and their ladies. For more information visit:
Masonic Week | Allied Masonic Degrees (amdusa.org) |
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M∴V∴B∴Aaron M. Shoemaker, K.G.C.
Sovereign Grand Master
Grand Council of the
Allied Master Degrees
of the United States of America
aaron@moamd.org
www.AMDUSA.org
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Right Venerable Brother
Clyde H. Schoolfield, Jr., KGC
Grand Secretary
Venerable Brother
J. Robert Mullis
Publications Committee Chair
Brother
Adam L. Buffington
Editor
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Allied Times is the electronic newsletter of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America. Copyright © 2022. All rights reserved. Articles published in Allied Times articulate the understandings only of their writers, and not the Grand Council or any other organized Masonic body. The writers are free to publish their own articles elsewhere, but attribution, identifying Allied Times as the original publisher, is requested. Having work published in Allied Times in no way bestows or promises membership in the AMD or in any other Masonic body. Submit copy and art to the editor here. Receipt of submissions by the editor is not a guarantee of publication, and submissions are edited for length, style, and content.
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