Masonic Orders Worked by Victorian Masons
(As Editor and a Freemason on the Internet, I am often asked what Masonic Orders are worked in the state of Victoria. Don was kind enough to help with the below. If there are additions or corrections to these - we would be more than willing, indeed keen, to publish a definitive list in a future Newsletter. Ed.)
There are many Masonic Orders that are worked in Victoria.
We in Lodge Devotion are part of what we call "The Craft" more formally known as the "Antient Free and Accepted Masons Of Victoria". There are over 300 Craft Lodges in the State.
In addition to this Order, the Mark (93 Lodges) and the Chapter (62 Chapters) are Orders specifically recognised in our Constitution.
The other Masonic Rites are worked in the following Orders:
The Royal Ark Mariners (RAM) 36 Lodges
Knights Templar (KT) 20 Preceptories
Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests (KTP) 6 Tabernacles
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (AASR)
There are two Constitutions
Council for Scotland (SC) 16 Councils
Supreme Council for Australia (AC) 5 Councils, 22 Chapters
Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS) 1 Club
Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) 8 Councils
Commemorative Order of St Thomas of Acon 5 Chapels
Grand Council of Knight Masons (KM) 2 Councils
Grand Council of Knight Masons (KM) 2 Groups
Order of the Secret Monitor (OSM) 23 Conclaves
Rectified Scottish Rite (RER) 2 Lodges
Red Cross of Constantine (RCC) 10 Conclaves
The Worshipful Society of Free Masons "The Operatives" 4 Assemblages
Royal and Select Masters (RSM) 19 Councils
Royal Order of Eri (ROEri) 1 Group
Royal Order of Scotland (ROSc) One Provincial Grand Lodge
Societas Rosicrucia in Anglia (SRIA) 7 Colleges
The Order of Athelstan 4 Groups
August Order of Light (AOL) 1 Temple
Despite often being called "Higher Orders" none of these Orders are superior to the Craft.
Financial membership of the Craft is an essential prerequisite to membership of all the other Orders. In most cases it is also a prerequisite to be an affiliated member of the Chapter, Mark or both and in one case to be members of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. For some, you simply need to be a Master Mason. Others are by invitation only.
In addition, there are Orders exclusively for ladies and Orders in which both males and females are eligible to seek membership. Examples of the latter are the Order of the Eastern Star, and the White Star of Jerusalem.
There is also an English Constitution Craft, Research, Mark, Arch, and Royal Ark Mariners Lodge working in Victoria.
The Masonic Guide provides more and current information. It is published in March and September each year by our Grand Lodge and costs $6.60 plus any postage.
Many thanks to the Lodge of Commerce for the below diagram of Other Orders Worked in Victoria.
Last updated January 2017