L - R: James H. King - Most Excellent Grand High Priest, Timothy L. Owens - Most Illustrious Grand Master and George F. Brooks, Jr. - Right Eminent Grand Commander

The Grand York Rite Bodies of Kentucky want to welcome you to our website. We hope that you will find our site both informative and educational.

The York Rite of Freemasonry is a system of degrees which include those of the Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery, often referred to as American Rite Masonry. While most of the degrees of this rite were born and nurtured in England, yet it is in North America that they have attained their highest development, and it is in America that there is a regular arrangement of the degrees.

In the U.S., they are often referred to as “Ancient Craft Masonry” and in bringing them all under that heading, we see that they are related to the Symbolic Degrees conferred in the Lodge.  The York Rite can be viewed as an aggregate of four Bodies, forming one whole, and one cannot stop on the way and have a complete understanding of Ancient Craft Masonry.

If you are a Master Mason, all you have to do is petition the York Rite.  They will be glad to add you to their ranks.  The only restriction is that in order to receive the Order of the Temple, you must believe and practice Christian virtues and believe in Jesus Christ.  You will be glad that you received these degrees as they complete and amplify the degrees of the Symbolic Lodge.

The most common remark made by Masons who receive these degrees is that they wonder why they took so long to petition to receive them.  Remember, you were taught early in your Symbolic Degrees that Freemasonry is a progressive science, attained only be degrees.  You may not be able to be active in the work of the York Rite, but you will be glad that you took the degrees.  There are no lectures to learn before you progress, so the small amount of time it takes to receive these degrees is well worth the time. Consult your Lodge secretary or any member of the Chapter, Council or Commandery, or the Grand Secretary-Recorder listed below.

Contact the Grand Secretary-Recorder: