Allied Masonic Degrees

The Allied Masonic Degrees are a series of Masonic degrees conferred by Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees. They are side degrees that can be conferred only by invitation. The bodies exist in both Britain and the United States.

The American system

In the United States, a national Grand Council charters local councils, which confer their degrees on selected Royal Arch Masons. Most councils are limited to twenty-seven members, but the Council of the Nine Muses is limited to nine authors (the new Sovereign Master must read a new essay), and the Grand Master's Council has no limit, either numerically or geographically. [ [http://www.yorkrite.com/gcamd/history.html History ] ]

The officers of a council have mostly the same titles as the officers of a Masonic lodge, with the president being the Sovereign Master. The councils also study Freemasonry with a view to improving service in it. The Grand Council has created some internal honors, the most notable being "Knight Grand Cross".

The degrees in United States Freemasonry

*Royal Ark Mariner
*Order of the Secret Monitor
**Brotherhood of David and Jonathan: Induction
**Brotherhood of David and Jonathan: Admission of a Prince
**Installed Supreme Ruler (OSM chair degree)
*Knight of Constantinople
*Order of Saint Lawrence the Martyr
**Installed Worthy Master (OSLM chair degree)
*Architect
*Grand Architect
*Superintendent
*Grand Tiler of Solomon
*Master of Tyre
*Excellent Master
*Installed Sovereign Master (AMD chair degree)
*Installed Commander Noah (RAM chair degree)
*(honorary) Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri and Appendant Orders, including
**Man-at-Arms
**Esquire
**Knight
*Ancient Order of Corks (recreational; special rules apply) [ [http://txamd.albertpikedemolay.org Texas Council No. 335 A.M.D ] ]

The degrees in UK Freemasonry

The entry degree is the Order of Saint Lawrence the Martyr. This is the requisite for participating in Council meetings. The other four degrees, which can be taken in any order or not at all, are Knight of Constantinople, Grand Tiler of Solomon, Grand High Priest, and Red Cross of Babylon. In Britain, the Order of the Secret Monitor, once part of the AMD, now has its own independent conclaves. [ [http://www.thefreemason.com/forum/topic.asp?topic_id=6392 The Freemason Masonic Forum ] ]

References