{"id":16877,"date":"2021-07-05T15:53:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-05T22:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/?p=16877"},"modified":"2022-07-26T12:13:57","modified_gmt":"2022-07-26T19:13:57","slug":"masonic-ranks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/","title":{"rendered":"Masonic Ranks","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"16877\" class=\"elementor elementor-16877\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2ae77c9f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2ae77c9f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4cbadf6c\" data-id=\"4cbadf6c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bd862a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5bd862a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"732\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM-732x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-17063\" alt=\"Explaining the ranks of Masonry, from entered apprentice to Master Mason to 33rd degree Mason.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM-732x1024.jpg 732w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM-215x300.jpg 215w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM-768x1074.jpg 768w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM-1098x1536.jpg 1098w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM-1464x2048.jpg 1464w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 732px) 100vw, 732px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b5eeac6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"1b5eeac6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1334a07f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1334a07f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-xxl\">MASONIC RANKS<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-135d13ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"135d13ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\">A guide to the Masonic ranks and the Freemasons\u2019 degree system.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-78ed998c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"78ed998c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5029abf9\" data-id=\"5029abf9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ad8e61e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ad8e61e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>The craft <a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/what-is-freemasonry\/#slide-806137f\">lodges<\/a> of Masonry, where Masons begin their journey through Freemasonry, have three ranks, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dummies.com\/article\/body-mind-spirit\/religion-spirituality\/freemasonry\/freemason-blue-lodge-degrees-195566\/\">degrees<\/a>. Once they\u2019ve completed those, members are able to pursue further degrees through <a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/other-masonic-bodies\/\">\u201cappendant\u201d Masonic bodies<\/a> that offer even more ranks beyond that. What does it all add up to? Is there a system to putting Masonic ranks in order\u2014and if so, what\u2019s at the top?<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f37d028 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f37d028\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ea13415\" data-id=\"ea13415\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-448bb4b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"448bb4b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Three Craft Degrees of Freemasonry<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-8719485 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8719485\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-4ff4e51\" data-id=\"4ff4e51\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab7b8cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab7b8cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Throughout most of the world, Freemasonry is divided into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dummies.com\/article\/body-mind-spirit\/religion-spirituality\/freemasonry\/the-three-masonic-degrees-195609\/\">three stages of membership ranks<\/a>, or degrees:<\/p><ul><li>Entered Apprentice<\/li><li>Fellow Craft<\/li><li>Master Mason<\/li><\/ul><p>These levels correspond with members\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/californiafreemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/05\/CFM_AugSep2015_online_M01.pdf\">self-development<\/a> and increased knowledge of Freemasonry. As a member completes each phase of learning, the lodge holds a ceremony to confer the degree.<\/p><p>Degree names are taken from craft guilds: <a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/history\/\">In the Middle Ages<\/a>, to become a stonemason, a man would first be apprenticed. As an apprentice, he learned the tools and skills of the trade. When he had proved his skills, he became a \u201cfellow of the craft,\u201d and when he gained exceptional ability, he was known as a \u201cmaster of the craft.\u201d Today, Freemasonry\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dummies.com\/article\/body-mind-spirit\/religion-spirituality\/freemasonry\/the-basic-principles-of-freemasons-195589\/\">moral code<\/a> is told through the symbolic lessons of these degrees.<\/p><p>The highest rank in Freemasonry, then and now, is the third degree: Master Mason.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5f777b7\" data-id=\"5f777b7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d646fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2d646fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc7c531 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"fc7c531\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-education\/articles-about-freemasonry\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg elementor-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/IMG_4930.jpg);\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"IMG_4930\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__bg-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBACK TO ARTICLES ABOUT FREEMASONRY\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d5f85f elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2d5f85f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5b57e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"f5b57e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b1d48b2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b1d48b2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1def599\" data-id=\"1def599\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a112a61 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a112a61\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Honorary Degrees: The 33rd Degree and Beyond<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-f266a49 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f266a49\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5cebd81\" data-id=\"5cebd81\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98fd926 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"98fd926\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Once you\u2019re a Master Mason, you can choose to pursue supplemental degrees, also known as honorary degrees, through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Freemasonry\">appendant Masonic organizations<\/a> like the <a href=\"https:\/\/scottishrite.org\/\">Scottish Rite<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/yorkrite.org\/wp\/\">York Rite<\/a>, or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shrinersinternational.org\/en\">Shrine<\/a> (among many others).<\/p><p>For example, you may have heard about \u201c33<sup>rd<\/sup> degree Masons,\u201d a designation that\u2019s earned celebrity status partly thanks to its (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dummies.com\/article\/body-mind-spirit\/religion-spirituality\/freemasonry\/the-lost-symbol-truth-or-fiction-195449\/\">not entirely accurate<\/a>) role in Dan Brown\u2019s 2009 bestseller <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Entertainment\/dan-browns-lost-symbol-released-stores-today\/story?id=8580871\"><em>The Lost Symbol<\/em><\/a>. This refers to the honorary <a href=\"http:\/\/www.aasrnyc.org\/bodies#consistory\">33<sup>rd<\/sup> degree<\/a> awarded by the <a href=\"https:\/\/scottishrite.org\/\">Scottish Rite<\/a>, a Masonic organization that\u2019s an extension of Freemasonry. Other Masonic organizations have their own supplemental degrees, which provide additional ways for members to study the lessons of Freemasonry.<\/p><p>These degrees are certainly high honors, but within the Masonic system, <a href=\"https:\/\/scottishritenmj.org\/faq\/scottish-rite-degrees-higher-than-master-mason\">they aren\u2019t considered any higher in rank or prestige<\/a> than the Master Mason degree.<\/p><p>In other words: No matter how many additional degrees a member might pursue, the highest rank in Freemasonry is always the third degree of Master Mason.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-43d1070\" data-id=\"43d1070\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12da779 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"12da779\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a0bf19 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9a0bf19\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/discover-masonry\/connect\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"240\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/learn-more-web-ads-for-freemason.org-120x4002-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-17743\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/learn-more-web-ads-for-freemason.org-120x4002-1.jpg 240w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/learn-more-web-ads-for-freemason.org-120x4002-1-90x300.jpg 90w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-064bd00 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"064bd00\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-de427e4\" data-id=\"de427e4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8dac02a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8dac02a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Level Look at Masonic Ranks<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f1a016 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1f1a016\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It\u2019s tempting to assume it\u2019s somehow \u201cbetter\u201d or more prestigious to be a Master Mason than a Fellow Craft, better to earn 32 appendant degrees than 14, and better to be the grand master of a huge jurisdiction than a new applicant at the local lodge.<\/p><p>But in Freemasonry, there are no such hierarchies. That\u2019s partly because one of Masonry\u2019s core values is equality. Members vow to treat each other with equal respect and <a href=\"https:\/\/californiafreemason.org\/2019\/04\/01\/the-bonds-of-a-lifelong-brotherhood\/\">friendship<\/a> across all stations in the lodge and all stations in life. Members who have earned additional degrees or achieved <a href=\"https:\/\/californiafreemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/05\/AugSept-2013.pdf\">leadership<\/a> ranks are no \u201cmore a Mason\u201d than any other\u00a0Master Mason.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-915ec89 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"915ec89\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6f45b9b\" data-id=\"6f45b9b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d43cae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8d43cae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Further Reading<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e48ab20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e48ab20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/californiafreemason.org\/2019\/04\/01\/a-friend-and-brother\/\"><strong>A Friend and Brother<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/californiafreemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/05\/CFM_AugSep2015_online_M01.pdf\"><strong>The Journey East: Each Brother\u2019s Path to Wisdom<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/californiafreemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/05\/CFM_AprMay_2016_M01.pdf\"><strong>The Power of Initiation<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/californiafreemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/05\/OctNov-2013.pdf\"><strong>Seven Ways to Examine Your Existence<\/strong><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/californiafreemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/04\/17-MOC-056_CFM_MayJune.pdf\"><strong>300 Years of Freemasonry: Yesterday (1717\u20131940)<\/strong><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a20c789 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a20c789\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e246462\" data-id=\"e246462\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efc8bf5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"efc8bf5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">Related Articles<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d4e0c2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d4e0c2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5477974\" data-id=\"5477974\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17775ab elementor-grid-5 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-posts--thumbnail-top elementor-widget elementor-widget-posts\" data-id=\"17775ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;classic_columns&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;classic_columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;classic_row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:35,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;classic_row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"posts.classic\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-posts-container elementor-posts elementor-posts--skin-classic elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-32475 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-articles\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/is-freemasonry-a-religion\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/europechurch-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-32492\" alt=\"Masonic temple and house of worship. What religion are the Masons? Is Freemasonry a religion? Can Catholics be Masons? The answer is both simple and, for many, a source of confusion.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/europechurch-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/europechurch-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/europechurch-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/europechurch-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/europechurch.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/is-freemasonry-a-religion\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tIs Freemasonry a Religion?\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/is-freemasonry-a-religion\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Is Freemasonry a Religion?\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-16843 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-articles\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/female-freemasons\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/190302_Anne-Marie_Moody_Masons_CA_portrait_FINAL_2-2-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-17136\" alt=\"Portrait of a female Freemason. Women&#039;s Freemasonry, mixed Masonry, and coed Masonry have a long and distinguished history in California, the United States, and especially in Europe and Latin America. In addition, Masonic orders like the Order of the Eastern Star also serve women in Masonry.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/190302_Anne-Marie_Moody_Masons_CA_portrait_FINAL_2-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/190302_Anne-Marie_Moody_Masons_CA_portrait_FINAL_2-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/190302_Anne-Marie_Moody_Masons_CA_portrait_FINAL_2-2.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/female-freemasons\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tFemale Freemasons\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/female-freemasons\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Female Freemasons\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-16863 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-articles\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/freemasonry-symbols\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"210\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/FMH-First-Degree_Ashley-and-Newman-210x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-17074\" alt=\"Explanation of the symbols of Masonry. From the square and compass and the dollar bill pyramid to the trowel, learn all about the many emblems of Freemasonry.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/FMH-First-Degree_Ashley-and-Newman-210x300.jpg 210w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/FMH-First-Degree_Ashley-and-Newman-716x1024.jpg 716w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/FMH-First-Degree_Ashley-and-Newman-768x1099.jpg 768w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/FMH-First-Degree_Ashley-and-Newman-1073x1536.jpg 1073w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/FMH-First-Degree_Ashley-and-Newman-1431x2048.jpg 1431w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/FMH-First-Degree_Ashley-and-Newman.jpg 1726w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 210px) 100vw, 210px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/freemasonry-symbols\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tFreemasonry Symbols\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/freemasonry-symbols\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Freemasonry Symbols\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-16908 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-articles tag-articles tag-education tag-prince-hall-masonry\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/prince-hall-masonry\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MS026_B11_1245-scaled-e1657053527410-300x202.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-16971\" alt=\"Prince Hall Masons pose in this archival photo. Prince Hall Masonry (also called Prince Hall Freemasonry) is a centuries-old Black fraternal order that today partners with the Masons of California.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MS026_B11_1245-scaled-e1657053527410-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MS026_B11_1245-scaled-e1657053527410-1024x689.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MS026_B11_1245-scaled-e1657053527410-768x517.jpg 768w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MS026_B11_1245-scaled-e1657053527410-1536x1034.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/MS026_B11_1245-scaled-e1657053527410-2048x1379.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/prince-hall-masonry\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tPrince Hall Masonry\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/prince-hall-masonry\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Prince Hall Masonry\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-16894 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-articles tag-articles tag-masonic-education tag-other-masonic-bodies\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/other-masonic-bodies\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1723_Anderson_frontispiece-225x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-16995\" alt=\"Frontispiece of James Anderson&#039;s 1723 Constitutions of Freemasonry. Learn more about other Masonic bodies and organizations, including the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Knights Templar, and the Shrine.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1723_Anderson_frontispiece-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1723_Anderson_frontispiece-768x1025.jpg 768w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1723_Anderson_frontispiece-1151x1536.jpg 1151w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1723_Anderson_frontispiece-1535x2048.jpg 1535w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1723_Anderson_frontispiece-scaled.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/other-masonic-bodies\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tOther Masonic Bodies\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/other-masonic-bodies\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Other Masonic Bodies\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<article class=\"elementor-post elementor-grid-item post-16508 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-articles\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail__link\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/famous-freemasons\/\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__thumbnail\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/george-washington-freemason-238x300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-16699\" alt=\"George Washington Freemason, famous freemasons, famous masons\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/george-washington-freemason-238x300.jpeg 238w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/george-washington-freemason-768x966.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/george-washington-freemason.jpeg 814w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 238px) 100vw, 238px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post__text\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-post__title\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/famous-freemasons\/\" >\n\t\t\t\tFamous Freemasons\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t<a class=\"elementor-post__read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/famous-freemasons\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Famous Freemasons\" tabindex=\"-1\" >\n\t\t\tRead More \u00bb\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400;\">The craft lodges where Masons begin their journey through Freemasonry have three ranks, or degrees. Once they\u2019ve completed those, they\u2019re able to pursue further degrees through &#8220;appendant&#8221; Masonic bodies that offer even more ranks beyond that. What does it all add up to? Is there a system to putting Masonic ranks in order\u2014and if so, what\u2019s at the top?<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":19,"featured_media":17063,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"13568,5835,2699,883,905,919","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Masonic Ranks &#8212; Masons of California<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about the ranks of Freemasonry, including the first three &quot;craft&quot; degrees, and higher Masonic degrees.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Masonic Ranks\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn about the ranks of Freemasonry, including the first three &quot;craft&quot; degrees, and higher Masonic degrees.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Masons of California\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MasonsofCalifornia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-07-05T22:53:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2022-07-26T19:13:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1536\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"2148\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Masons\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@MasonsofCA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@MasonsofCA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Masons\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Masons\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/83011a353fa0d16e4cbde18b4a48249a\"},\"headline\":\"Masonic Ranks\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-07-05T22:53:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-07-26T19:13:57+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":543,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/Millar-MM.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Articles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/\",\"name\":\"Masonic Ranks &#8212; Masons of California\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/Millar-MM.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-07-05T22:53:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2022-07-26T19:13:57+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn about the ranks of Freemasonry, including the first three \\\"craft\\\" degrees, and higher Masonic degrees.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/Millar-MM.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/07\\\/Millar-MM.jpg\",\"width\":1536,\"height\":2148,\"caption\":\"Explaining the ranks of Masonry, from entered apprentice to Master Mason to 33rd degree Mason.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/masonic-ranks\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Masonic Ranks\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/\",\"name\":\"Masons of California\",\"description\":\"Together we make a profound difference\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"The Masons of California\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Masons-of-California_logo_Trans.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2020\\\/06\\\/Masons-of-California_logo_Trans.png\",\"width\":1158,\"height\":324,\"caption\":\"The Masons of California\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MasonsofCalifornia\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/MasonsofCA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/83011a353fa0d16e4cbde18b4a48249a\",\"name\":\"Masons\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/200c6c6d0247e6dfb35dd20b9cd8e82fd2fcf8768b1cd5726f9951ebae6d7ad6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/200c6c6d0247e6dfb35dd20b9cd8e82fd2fcf8768b1cd5726f9951ebae6d7ad6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/200c6c6d0247e6dfb35dd20b9cd8e82fd2fcf8768b1cd5726f9951ebae6d7ad6?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Masons\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/freemason.org\\\/author\\\/jdale\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Masonic Ranks &#8212; Masons of California","description":"Learn about the ranks of Freemasonry, including the first three \"craft\" degrees, and higher Masonic degrees.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Masonic Ranks","og_description":"Learn about the ranks of Freemasonry, including the first three \"craft\" degrees, and higher Masonic degrees.","og_url":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/","og_site_name":"Masons of California","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MasonsofCalifornia","article_published_time":"2021-07-05T22:53:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2022-07-26T19:13:57+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1536,"height":2148,"url":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Masons","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@MasonsofCA","twitter_site":"@MasonsofCA","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Masons","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/"},"author":{"name":"Masons","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#\/schema\/person\/83011a353fa0d16e4cbde18b4a48249a"},"headline":"Masonic Ranks","datePublished":"2021-07-05T22:53:00+00:00","dateModified":"2022-07-26T19:13:57+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/"},"wordCount":543,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM.jpg","articleSection":["Articles"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/","url":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/","name":"Masonic Ranks &#8212; Masons of California","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM.jpg","datePublished":"2021-07-05T22:53:00+00:00","dateModified":"2022-07-26T19:13:57+00:00","description":"Learn about the ranks of Freemasonry, including the first three \"craft\" degrees, and higher Masonic degrees.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Millar-MM.jpg","width":1536,"height":2148,"caption":"Explaining the ranks of Masonry, from entered apprentice to Master Mason to 33rd degree Mason."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/masonic-ranks\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Masonic Ranks"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/","name":"Masons of California","description":"Together we make a profound difference","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#organization","name":"The Masons of California","url":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Masons-of-California_logo_Trans.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Masons-of-California_logo_Trans.png","width":1158,"height":324,"caption":"The Masons of California"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MasonsofCalifornia","https:\/\/x.com\/MasonsofCA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/#\/schema\/person\/83011a353fa0d16e4cbde18b4a48249a","name":"Masons","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/200c6c6d0247e6dfb35dd20b9cd8e82fd2fcf8768b1cd5726f9951ebae6d7ad6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/200c6c6d0247e6dfb35dd20b9cd8e82fd2fcf8768b1cd5726f9951ebae6d7ad6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/200c6c6d0247e6dfb35dd20b9cd8e82fd2fcf8768b1cd5726f9951ebae6d7ad6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Masons"},"url":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/author\/jdale\/"}]}},"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16877"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16877\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17918,"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16877\/revisions\/17918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freemason.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}