The Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) are a series of Masonic degrees conferred by Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees. The Allied Masonic Degrees form an appendant order of Freemasonry that exists in some Masonic jurisdictions; its degrees are conferred only by invitation. Councils of the Allied Masonic Degrees exist in Great Britain, the United States, Canada, France, Australia, India, Benin and Congo, and their members also educate one another by presenting research papers on Freemasonry.
The degrees in the UK
England and Wales
The position of the Allied Masonic Degrees among the Masonic appendant bodies in England and Wales
In England and Wales the entry degree for all members is the Order of Saint Lawrence the Martyr. This is the prerequisite for participating in Council meetings. Four other degrees follow, which can be taken in any order, according to the programme of the member's local Council, although the degree of the Grand Tilers of Solomon is often taken last by a candidate. The full set of degrees in England and Wales is:
In 1865 a Council of Knights of Constantinople was formed in Devonport, Plymouth, leading to an independent branch of the Order. In 1910 the three remaining councils submitted to the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees, but on condition of retaining the right to wear their own distinctive apron, and the privilege and exclusive right to confer the degree as practised by the Plymouth Councils since 1865. Only Christian brethren are eligible to join the Plymouth Working.[2] All three Plymouth Councils continue to work, and are today numbers 33, 34, and 35 on the roll of the Grand Council.
Scotland
In Scotland, there is no direct equivalent of the Allied Masonic Degrees, nor are the degrees for which it is responsible carried out under the auspices of any of the Scottish masonic bodies, although the 'Red Cross of Babylon' is a truncated version of the Scottish 'Babylonish Pass' degree under the control of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland. There is no reciprocal agreement on intervisitation in the 'Lodge & Council' degrees between the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland and the Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees.[3] Nonetheless, The Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees of England and Wales and Districts and Councils Overseas has been recognised since 2004 as a 'Masonic Body in Amity with The Grand Lodge of Scotland'[4]
The degrees in the US
In the United States of America, a national Grand Council charters local councils, which confer their degrees on selected Royal Arch Masons. Most councils are limited to twenty-seven members, but the Council of the Nine Muses is limited to nine authors (the new Sovereign Master must read a new essay), and the Grand Master's Council has no limit, either numerically or geographically.[5][6]
The officers of a Council utilize many of the same titles as the officers of a Masonic lodge, with the presiding officer being denominated 'Sovereign Master." The Councils are given wide discretion as to choose how frequently they meet and what programs to pursue. Generally speaking, Councils study or discuss Freemasonry in some way at each meeting. The Grand Council has created some internal honors, the most notable being "Knight Grand Cross".
The degrees conferred in the United States are:
Royal Ark Mariner
Order of the Secret Monitor
Brotherhood of David and Jonathan: Induction
Brotherhood of David and Jonathan: Admission of a Prince
The Order of the Scarlet Cord (special rules apply)[8]
Royal Order of the Red Branch of Eri and Appendant Orders (honorary) [9]
Man at Arms (optionally included with basic membership)
Esquire (optionally provided as an honor)
Knight (optionally provided as an honor)
Knight Commander (available to a member who has completed a term as Sovereign Master of his Council)
Knight Grand Cross (a Brother who has served as a Grand Officer in the Grand Council)
Supreme Grand Cross (a Brother who has been installed as Sovereign Grand Master)
Organisation
The structure is very much like that of the craft lodges, with the exception that the offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined in some councils.
