What is the York Rite
During 2008 and 2009 Prather York Rite held a number of meetings to talk to our Members and Officers in an effort to answer some questions about our Organization including:
"Why does the York Rite exist?"
"What is our Purpose?"
"Why do Masons join the York Rite?"
"Why do Members get Active with the York Rite?"
These questions led to the development of the Prather York Rite Mission Statement which describes who we are and what our purpose is.
Prather York Rite is the
"Continuation of the Masonic Journey Through Ritual and Fellowship"
We found that the main reason Masons join the York Rite is to learn the rest of the Masonic Story and our ritual is an important part of who we are. However the reason our members come back and participate is for the Fellowship that is provided by a group that brings together Masons from a number of Lodges in the area and gives them the opportunity to get to know one another.
For us at Prather York Rite we feel that we are an Organization that provides Masonic Education through outstanding ritual and a wonderful Fraternity that gives its members the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
Structure of the York Rite
The York Rite is made up of three separate bodies, each having a separate Statewide or Grand Body, and having authority over a number of Degrees or Orders. On the local level these three Organizations work together as one "Prather York Rite" to accomplish the task of creating new York Rite Masons.
The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Indiana granted a Charter to Prather Chapter #157 in 1922 and it is though this Charter we are able to confer the first four Degrees of the York Rite.
Mark Master
Past Master
Most Excellent Master
Royal Arch
In these four degrees we learn of the events that lead up to the completion of King Solomon's Temple, the rebuilding of the Second Temple, and finally the climax is the recovery of the Master's Word.
The Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of the State of Indiana charted Prather Council #100 in 1924 granting us permission to confer the Council Degree.
Royal Master
Select Master
Super Excellent Master (Optional)
The Royal and Select Master Degrees provide a prequel to the Degrees of the Blue Lodge and the Chapter by giving us knowledge of how preparation was made for both the loss of and ensuring the recovery of the Master's Word.
The optional Super Excellent Master Degree illustrates the destruction of the Temple and the loss of the Word.
The Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Indiana granted a Charter to DeMolay Commandery #62 in 1922. Commandery #62's Charter has moved around and the name of it's Commandery has changed a number of times but in 1995 Trinity Commandery #62 was united with Prather Chapter and Council. In 2009 Commandery #62 was Re-Chartered and Re-Dedicated as Prather Commandery #62 and as such confers the following Orders as part of the Prather York Rite.
Order of the Red Cross
Order of Malta
Order of the Temple
The Orders of the Commandery provide a history lesson on the connection that exists between the ancient stone Masons and the Knights Templar which bridges modern Masonry with that of ancient times. This is also one of the only Masonic Organization that require of its members believe in the Christian Religion.