Working together to promote Masonry
There are several bodies of Freemasonry of which a Master Mason may become a member after he has been raised a Master Mason. Some of these bodies you may have already heard of, but didn’t know they were comprised entirely of Masons, such as the Scottish Rite or York Rite.
In addition to those listed, there are several other Masonic appendant bodies that fall within the above organizations, as well as other individual organizations. Not all Masonic bodies are recognized in the grand jurisdiction of Nebraska. Please check with the Grand Lodge of Nebraska for more information.
York Rite
The York Rite is one of the appendant bodies of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed to supplement and amplify the Blue Lodge degrees, affording historical background on the work and meaning of Freemasonry. The York Rite takes its name from the old English city of York. The York Rite is not a religion in itself, it does, however, develop themes based on the Medieval Crusades. The York Rite degrees are characterized as the Royal Arch, Cryptic Council and Knights Templar. These bodies provide opportunities for additional contemplation of the lessons taught in Craft Masonry, but a brother who progresses through all the bodies in Freemasonry is no “more a Mason” than one who is only a Master Mason.
Grand York Rite of Nebraska or York Rite Freemasonry
Scottish Rite
The Scottish Rite is a Masonic organization that continues a Master Mason’s education of the first three degrees. It is a more recent evolution, and developed as additional lessons to those taught in the York Rite. Unlike the York Rite, Scottish Rite degrees are simply numbered 4°–32° and an honorary 33°, which is awarded for exceptional service. Moreover, as in the York Rite and as all Masons understand, a 32nd or 33rd Degree Mason is again no “more a Mason” than any other
Alliance Valley
Hastings Valley
Lincoln Valley
Omaha Valley
Order of the Eastern Star
The Order of the Eastern Star is the world’s largest fraternal organization to which men and women may both belong. There are over one million members of the order worldwide who fall under the governance of the General Grand Chapter. Only men who are Masons are eligible, and only women with specific Masonic affiliations may be members.
Order of the Eastern Star – Nebraska
Shrine
There are approximately 340,000 members from 195 temples (chapters) in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the Republic of Panama, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Europe and Australia. Among its many public and charitable functions, the Shrine is especially noted for its operation of the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children®, providing innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education in four specialized areas of care – orthopedic, burn, spinal cord and cleft lip and palate.
Sesostris Shrine Center
Tangier Shrine Center
Tehama Shrine Center
Abu Bekr Shrine Center
National Sojourners
National Sojourners is an Appendant body of Freemasonry, formed to serve and support Master Masons who have honorably served or are currently serving in the uniformed forces of the United States (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). As such, the purposes of National Sojourners is to organize current and former members of the uniformed forces of the United States and Honorary Members who are Master Masons and U.S. citizens into Chapters for the promotion of good fellowship among its members, for assisting such as may be overtaken by adversity or affliction, for cultivating Masonic ideals, for supporting all patriotic aims and activities in Masonry, for developing true patriotism and Americanism throughout the nation, for bringing together representatives of the uniformed forces of the United States (past and present) in a united effort to further the military need of national defense and for opposing any influence whatsoever calculated to weaken the national security. To support these purposes, National Sojourners conduct various patriotic and Americanism programs for Lodges, Appendant Bodies, and Civic Groups. Within National Sojourners is the Order of Heroes of ’76, a separate degree reserved for distinguished National Sojourners. There are Chapters in nearly every U.S. Grand Lodge Jurisdiction, and Nebraska currently has a Chapter in Omaha and another in Lincoln.
National Sojourners, Inc.
Youth Groups
There is a Masonic organization for every member of the family. For example, DeMolay is for boys, and Job’s Daughters and Rainbow Girls are for young ladies.
DeMolay – Using timeless principles and practical, hands-on experience, DeMolay opens doors for young men ages 12 to 21 by helping them develop the civic awareness, personal responsibility, and leadership skills so vitally needed in our society today. DeMolay takes a fun approach to this serious mission by building important bonds of friendship among members in more than 1,000 chapters worldwide.
Job’s Daughters – Job’s Daughters is a Masonic youth organization for girls ages 10 to 20 who are relatives of Master Masons. Job’s Daughters offers the qualities that today’s young women want and need from organizations that earn their commitment: fun, friendship, helping others and the chance to learn organizational and leadership skills.
Rainbow for Girls – The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a character building organization for girls ages 11 to 20. The supreme effort of Rainbow is to create strong effective leaders and individual character. By precept and example, it continually emphasizes to every Rainbow Girl the lessons taught and symbolized by the colors of the Rainbow, including church membership (of their choice), patriotism and love of country, love of home and family, dignity of character, effective leadership, and service to humanity and the community.