The Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD)

Foundational Principles of the Allied Masonic Degrees

An Invitational Repository

The Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) represent a unique and scholarly branch of the Masonic fraternity, distinct in both purpose and structure from other Masonic bodies. The organization is not a singular, monolithic entity but rather a "Grand Council" or governing body established to serve as a repository for a collection of "detached degrees".

These degrees are often described as Masonic "waifs" or "side degrees"—rituals and ceremonies that were left without a central governing authority following the 19th-century consolidation of Freemasonry. After the 1813 formation of the United Grand Lodge of England, which standardized Craft Masonry, many of these "additional" degrees, which had previously been "conferred under Craft warrants," were left in a state of administrative limbo. Many "became dormant".

The fundamental purpose of the Allied Masonic Degrees was, and remains, to provide a stable, organized structure to "embosom, protect, and promulgate" these historically significant but organizationally "unclaimed" degrees, thereby saving them from extinction.

The Invitational Structure

A universal and defining characteristic of the Allied Masonic Degrees is its exclusive, "invitational" nature. Unlike the foundational "Blue Lodge" of Craft Masonry, a candidate cannot petition for membership. Admission is granted only by invitation, and it is predicated on a candidate already having achieved high standing in other, prerequisite Masonic bodies.

This exclusivity is further codified in the organizational DNA of the body. Subordinate bodies, known as "Councils," are strictly limited by law to twenty-seven members. This defining characteristic—the 27-member limit—is not arbitrary. It is a deliberate structural choice that dictates the entire function and atmosphere of the organization.

This limitation transforms the Council from a standard lodge, which often acts as a theater for ritual conferral, into an intimate "college" or seminar. The structure is functionally designed to foster the AMD's stated mission: to bring together "Freemasons who are interested in the advancement of all Masonry... through the medium of study and research". By design, the AMD is a "Masonic graduate school" for dedicated researchers and students of the Craft, and its structure reflects this scholarly mission.

The American jurisdiction notes two exceptions to this rule: the "Council of the Nine Muses," which is limited to nine members, and the "Grand Masters Council," which operates under a "roving charter" to provide a place of membership for brethren in areas without an organized Council.

A Tale of Two Grand Councils

The most critical and complex aspect of the Allied Masonic Degrees is the fact that the name is shared by two distinct, homonymous organizations that are jurisdictionally independent: one in England and Wales, and one in the United States. While they share a name, a historical impulse, and an invitational structure, their histories, philosophies, and—most significantly—the lists of degrees they govern are profoundly different.

The English Constitution (1879): An Incubator for Detached Degrees

The "Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees in England and Wales and the Colonies and Dependencies of the British Crown" was established in 1879. Its formation was a high-level administrative agreement between the Grand Secretaries of the primary Masonic bodies of the day: the Craft (United Grand Lodge of England), the Mark (Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons), and the Ancient & Accepted Rite. Its headquarters were established at Mark Masons' Hall, London, where they remain.

The initial purpose of this Grand Council was to bring all remaining detached degrees under a single, stable authority. This history reveals the Grand Council's original function as a form of Masonic incubator or steward, rather than a permanent collector.

The original 1879 body governed degrees that are now famous, sovereign Orders in their own right. For instance, the Grand Council initially included "one degree of the Secret Monitor" and the "order of Holy Wisdom (Knight Templar Priest grades)". However, the AMD's role was one of regency. Once these "orphaned" degrees were organizationally "mature" and capable of self-governance, the AMD released them. In 1923, a Grand College of Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests was formed, and the AMD "accordingly disclaimed control" of that large group of degrees. Similarly, in 1931, the Grand Council "agreed to cease working" the Secret Monitor degree, allowing it to become the independent, sovereign body it is today.

This philosophy of stewardship resulted in the modern, stable, and focused five-degree system that the English Grand Council governs today.

The American Constitution (1892/1933) the A Cabinet of Esoteric Curiosities

The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America (AMD-USA) has a more complex, twofold origin. The modern body dates its formation to January 14, 1892, which saw the establishment of the "Sovereign College of Allied Masonic and Christian Degrees" in Richmond, Virginia. Decades later, a separate body, the "Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States of America," was established on April 16, 1932, in Salisbury, North Carolina.

These two bodies were joined by a formal act of union, ratified in August 1933 and becoming effective on September 7, 1933, to form the single Grand Council that exists today.

In contrast to the English "incubator" model, the AMD-USA operates under a philosophy of aggregation and preservation. The American system is described as "more extensive" than its British counterpart, and its history is one of collecting degrees, not releasing them. For example, where the English body released the Secret Monitor, the American body retains it as a constituent degree. Furthermore, new degrees, such as the Solomonic trilogy (Architect, Grand Architect, Superintendent), were formally "attached" to the Grand Council as late as 1934.

The American body's purpose is to collect and curate. It functions as a "cabinet of esoteric curiosities" or a living archive, placing a wide array of detached degrees under one "umbrella" for its 27-member scholarly "colleges" to study, discuss, and exemplify.

Prerequisites and Table of Divergence

The differing philosophies are also reflected in the prerequisites for membership.

• England & Wales (E&W): A candidate must be a Master Mason, a Mark Master Mason, and a Royal Arch Mason. This reflects the close organizational ties to the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, which administers the AMD from Mark Masons' Hall.
• United States (USA): A candidate must be a member of a Symbolic Lodge (Master Mason) and a Royal Arch Chapter. The Mark Master Mason degree is not listed as a separate prerequisite, as in most American jurisdictions, the Mark degree is conferred within the Royal Arch Chapter and is therefore an implicit requirement of Chapter membership.

The fundamental differences between these two sovereign bodies are summarized below.

Comparative Analysis of Allied Masonic Degrees (E&W vs. USA)

The Degrees of the English Grand Council, the Core Five

The Allied Masonic Degrees in England and Wales is built upon a stable and focused system of five degrees. While some of these are also worked in the American system, in England they form the entirety of the Order.

1. St. Lawrence the Martyr

This is the foundational degree of the Order. It must be taken first, and all candidates are "Introduced, Received and Admitted" as a Brother of St. Lawrence.

• Role: This is the gateway and administrative degree. All administrative work of the Council, including the election and Installation of the "Worshipful Master," is conducted in a Lodge of St. Lawrence. A Lodge of St. Lawrence must be opened and closed at every meeting of the Council.
• Allegory: The degree is based on the historical martyrdom of St. Lawrence, a deacon in Rome, around AD 257-258 during the reign of Emperor Valerian. The Prefect of Rome, believing the Christian Church to be "rich beyond measure," demanded that Lawrence surrender its treasures. Lawrence, rather than betray his principles, gave his life. He was famously martyred by being burned to death on a gridiron.
• Lesson: The central, "understandable" lesson is fortitude. The degree also teaches the virtues of responsibilities, integrity, and humility.
• Regalia: The symbolism is direct: the Jewel is a silver gridiron. The Ribbon and Collar are colored with an orange center and royal blue edging. The Apron is white, with the same orange and blue border, and features a gridiron in the center.

This degree is considered a potential "fossil" from a critical period in Masonic history. It is "generally accepted to be the remnants of an old operative ceremony" from Lancashire and Yorkshire, with a history spanning over two centuries. It has been suggested that its original purpose may have been functional rather than purely moral: a ritual "intended to distinguish a genuine Craftsman from the 'new-fangled' Speculatives" when non-stonemasons began joining lodges. The AMD has thus preserved a ritual about this critical moment of Masonic identity-formation.

2. Knight of Constantinople

This degree is considered an "authentic 'side degree'", meaning it was often conferred informally by one brother upon another after a lodge meeting. Its origin is unknown, but it was being worked in America as early as 1831.

• Role: The ritual "attempts to connect the legendary Constantine with the Masonic fraternity". It is not a historical degree, but a pedagogical play using the figure of the Emperor.
• Lesson: The degree teaches the "useful lessons of humility and universal equality". It instructs Masons to "hate arrogance and pride" and to remember that "those who occupy a lower station of life may have more intrinsic merit than ourselves".
• Regalia: The Jewel is a gold Maltese Cross, "surmounted by a Crescent", suspended from a green Ribbon. The Apron is white, trimmed with green, featuring the Maltese Cross and Crescent in the center. The regalia's jewel has drawn commentary; early 20th-century writer J.S.M. Ward observed this was "hardly a happy choice, for it suggests the triumph of the Crescent over the Cross", an observation that highlights the symbol's ambiguous nature.

3. Grand Tilers of Solomon

This degree is a variation of a theme found in other Masonic rites (such as the Cryptic Rite's Select Master) and was known by the early title "Select Masters of Twenty Seven".

• Role: The setting is a "vaulted chamber" or "Mystic Chamber" beneath King Solomon's Temple. The officers represent Solomon, Hiram of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff.
• Allegory: The legend concerns the "accidental and unmotivated discovery and entrance of a craftsman into the secret vault". The three Grand Masters, who are the only ones with legitimate access, must then determine the craftsman's fate.
• Lesson: The degree's central lesson internalizes the physical act of "tiling" (guarding the lodge) into a speculative, moral imperative. It warns of the "great danger of carelessness" and "hasty judgment" and teaches the "importance of careful tiling". The degree uses the "intruder" allegory not just to preach physical secrecy, but to admonish the candidate to become his own Tiler, to "Set a guard over our thoughts; A watch at our lips; And post a sentinel over our actions".
• Regalia: The Jewel is a black delta (triangle) edged with gold, containing the number "27" in Hebrew characters, with the Tetragrammaton on the reverse. The Sash is "fiery red" with "pale gray" borders. The Apron is black with a gold border, a gold crown in the center, and a hand grasping a sword on the flap.

4. Red Cross of Babylon

This is considered an "old and important" degree, "closely associated with the Holy Royal Arch" and the narrative of the rebuilding of the Second Temple.

• Allegory: The candidate represents Zerubbabel. The drama spans the end of the Babylonian captivity, from the time of King Cyrus to King Darius. A key feature of the ritual is an "intricate debate taken from the First Book of Esdras".
• Lesson: The degree's debate culminates in the establishment of the "profound maxim 'great is truth'". The lessons are Fidelity, Integrity, and Truth.
• Significance: This degree is a prime example of a shared "ancestor" ritual that was absorbed by multiple Rites. The AMD (E&W) works this degree. In Scotland, it is known as the "Babylonish Pass". In the American York Rite, a degree with the same name and story is "annexed to the Templar grades". It also forms the basis of the "Order of Knight Masons" in Ireland and America. The AMD (E&W) has preserved a version of this ancient degree in its "detached" form, providing a crucial "control group" for ritualistic historians. The colors of the degree are green and crimson.

5. The Holy Order of the Grand High Priest

This degree is the culmination of the English AMD system, described as carrying members to a "high realm of Masonic thought". It was one of the first Orders to place itself under the protection of the 1879 Grand Council.

• Allegory: The degree is "founded on the Blessing of Abraham" by Melchizedek, King of Salem, and the biblical consecration of Aaron. The candidate is "set apart with due ceremonial to the Holy office of Grand High Priest".
• Lesson: The candidate is "called upon to dedicate himself to the service of the Most High God and also to that of his fellow-men". The key phrase of the Order is "Holiness to the Lord".
• Philosophical Distinction: The E&W and American versions of this Order represent a fundamental difference in philosophy. In the American York Rite, the "Order of High Priesthood" is a separate body, and one must be elected as a High Priest of a Royal Arch Chapter to be eligible; it is an honorific tied to an office. In the English AMD, it is a speculative degree available to all qualified AMD members (i.e., Master Masons, Mark Master Masons, and Royal Arch Masons). The E&W philosophy is that the lessons and mysteries of the High Priesthood are valuable for the entire membership, not just those who have achieved the "chair" of a Chapter.

The Degrees of the American Grand Council the Esoteric Collection

The AMD-USA governs a "more extensive" and diverse collection of degrees, reflecting its philosophy as a "cabinet of curiosities" for Masonic researchers. This collection includes the first three degrees of the English system (St. Lawrence, Constantinople, Grand Tilers) but adds a significant number of others.

The Solomonic Trilogy (Unique to USA)

This is a series of three degrees, attached to the AMD-USA in 1934, which are "not practiced or sanctioned by the English Masonic bodies". They are described as "Continental in character" and are sourced from the "Early Grand Rite of Scotland," "expanding upon the Solomonic lessons of architecture".

These degrees appear to be artifacts for study rather than performance. The rituals are described as "unworkable" and "cumbersome," involving "excessive circumabulations and floorwork" and requiring "extensive paraphernalia and properties" in "large auditorium settings". Given the AMD-USA's structure of small, 27-member Councils focused on "study and research", it is likely these degrees were "attached" as literary or academic artifacts. Their "flaws" are their purpose, allowing them to be preserved for scholars to read, analyze, and discuss.

• Architect: The first of the trilogy. Regalia: Jewel is a flaming star with the letter "G" in a triangle; Apron is white edged in deep red; Sash is deep red.
• Grand Architect: The continuation. Regalia: Jewel is a double triangle (formed by compasses and a level); Apron is white edged with blue; Sash is blue.
• Superintendent: The "climax" of the trilogy. Regalia: Jewel is a Triangle; Apron is white edged in purple; Sash is purple.

The Noachite Degrees (The Sacred and the Profane)

The AMD-USA's "cabinet of curiosities" model is perfectly illustrated by its curatorship of both a "high" sacred degree based on the legend of Noah, and its "low" satirical counterpart.

• Royal Ark Mariner (RAM): This degree, which is a major, sovereign Order in England (governed by the Mark Grand Lodge) and Scotland (governed by the Royal Arch), is preserved in the USA as a constituent degree of the AMD. The legend is of Noah, the Deluge, and the Ark, and the ritual is described as "both beautiful and instructive". The regalia includes a jewel featuring a dove and/or rainbow and an apron bordered with a rainbow.
• Ye Antient Order of Corks: This is a "fun" and "social" degree that is an informal part of the AMD-USA. The ritual is "satirical" and "tongue-in-cheek", but it is also based on Noah and the Flood. It is aptly described as a "kindly and affectionate spoof of Royal Ark Mariners". Its purpose is to have fun and raise money for children's charities.

The AMD-USA provides a unique academic environment where its members can experience both the "high" ritual of the RAM and the "low" (but historically significant) "fun" ritual of the Corks. This demonstrates a sophisticated approach to preservation, recognizing that Masonic culture includes not just solemn ritual but also its traditional, boisterous parodies.

Key Jurisdictional Conflicts (Preserved in the USA)

The AMD-USA collection includes several degrees that highlight the jurisdictional divergence from England.

• Secret Monitor: This is the clearest example of the divergence. Based on the legend of David and Jonathan, this Order was "released" by the English AMD in 1931 to become a sovereign, independent Grand Council. In the USA, it remains a constituent, detached degree of the AMD.
• Excellent Master: A degree described as "as old as... Royal Arch Masonry" and "almost necessary to the Royal Arch". This degree, which was "abandoned almost everywhere", is preserved by the AMD-USA, which uses the "Scottish work, unchanged". It teaches "reverence for holy things" and that a human life "can not be completed until it is dedicated". Its regalia features a gold Pentagram and scarlet ribbon/apron.
• Master of Tyre: This degree is unique for its "Tyrian connection" to Masonry, focusing on the contributions of Hiram, King of Tyre, as one of the three original Grand Masters. Its main lesson is duty. Its regalia is highly distinct, featuring an apron in the "form of a triangle" and colored royal purple.

Honorary Degrees (The AMD-USA Honors System)

The AMD-USA also includes an internal honors system, further distinguishing it from its English counterpart.

• The Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri (RBE): This is not a degree that is "worked" or exemplified in a Council. It is an honorary degree or decoration conferred by a Council "for outstanding and meritorious service to the Allied Masonic Degrees". It is limited to no more than two members per Council per year. The Order also includes higher ranks, such as "Knight Grand Cross" (KGC), for past and present Grand Officers. The AMD-USA obtained permission from English authorities in 1933 to establish the Order, "using the 19th century English ritual as copied from the John Yarker Manuscript".

The existence of the RBE as a formal, internal honors system solidifies the AMD-USA's status as a sovereign and self-contained Masonic body. It provides a method of rewarding dedication, akin to the 33rd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.

Regalia

The regalia of the Allied Masonic Degrees is not uniform; each "detached" degree retains its own unique, historical apron, jewel, and colors, which is a primary method of preserving their individual identities.

• St. Lawrence the Martyr:
  • Jewel: Silver gridiron.
  • Ribbon/Apron: Orange (center) and royal blue (edging).
• Knight of Constantinople:
  • Jewel: Gold Maltese Cross surmounted by a Crescent.
  • Ribbon/Apron: Green, with three poignards on the ribbon/flap.
• Grand Tilers of Solomon:
  • Jewel: Black delta (triangle) edged with gold, with Hebrew "27".
  • Sash/Ribbon: Fiery red (center) with pale gray (borders).
  • Apron: Black with gold trim, a gold crown (center), and a hand grasping a sword (flap).
• Red Cross of Babylon:
  • Colors: Green and crimson.
• Architect (USA):
  • Jewel: Flaming star with "G" in a triangle, in gold.
  • Sash/Apron: White apron edged in deep red; deep red sash.
• Grand Architect (USA):
  • Jewel: Double triangle (compasses and level).
  • Sash/Apron: White apron edged with blue; blue sash.
• Superintendent (USA):
  • Jewel: Triangle.
  • Sash/Apron: White apron edged in purple; purple sash.
• Excellent Master (USA):
  • Jewel: Gold Pentagram.
  • Ribbon/Apron: Scarlet.
• Master of Tyre (USA):
  • Jewel: Square and Compasses with a crown.
  • Apron: Uniquely triangular, royal purple edged with gold.
• Royal Ark Mariner (USA):
  • Jewel: Often a dove with an olive branch.
  • Apron: White with a rainbow border.
  Signature

The Purpose of the Allied Masonic Degrees

The Allied Masonic Degrees, in both their English and American manifestations, represent a critical preservationist movement within the complex tapestry of Freemasonry. They emerged in the late 19th century as a direct and scholarly response to the administrative "tidying" of the fraternity, a process that left numerous beautiful, instructive, and historically significant rituals "detached" and in danger of being lost to history.

The two primary Grand Councils evolved with distinct, though complementary, philosophies to address this problem.

The English Grand Council (1879) acted as a steward or incubator. It provided a stable and authoritative home for "waif" degrees, nurturing them until they were organizationally strong enough for self-governance, as seen with the Knight Templar Priests and the Secret Monitor. This process of stewardship has resulted in the modern, focused, and stable five-degree system it governs today.

The American Grand Council (1892/1933) acts as a curator or archive. It has aggregated a "more extensive" collection of degrees, preserving them in a single repository. Its purpose, as explicitly supported by its own materials, is to function as a "Masonic graduate school." By strictly limiting its Councils to 27 "students of the Craft", it creates an academic environment for the "study and research" of these rare rituals, from the "unworkable" Solomonic trilogy to the "affectionate spoof" of the Corks.

The Allied Masonic Degrees, therefore, is not a "progressive" rite in the typical sense—it does not demand a linear progression toward a single summit. It is, rather, an academic and archival body. It is a fraternity designed for the Masonic scholar, the ritualistic historian, and the dedicated member seeking to understand the full, complex, and often-lost "side degrees" that complete the intellectual and esoteric tapestry of Masonic thought.

Article By Antony R.B. Augay P∴M∴