reply to post by Manasseh
You see, there is no "top" leader in Freemasonry. Note that your link said the Duke was the Grand Master in the U.K. He holds NO authority in the
U.S.A. or anywhere outside the U.K.
Indeed no one in the U.S.A. is over all of U.S. Masonry. Each individual state in the U.S. has it's own autonomous Grand Lodge who's presiding
officer is called the "Grand Master"
Here's a link to most of the U.S. Grand Lodges
bessel.org...
Here are the Grand Masters
bessel.org...
Again, each Jurisdiction (State) runs itself. It's in amity (called "recognition") with the others, but not governed by them.
The York Rite consists of three groups: The Chapter, Council and Commandery. Each of these has a presiding officer in EACH and EVERY U.S. State, none
of whom answer to the other.
There is a General Grand Chapter and a General Grand Council, but membership in these is optional and some state Grand Chapters & Councils do not
belong. The exception is that each Grand Commandery does belong to the General Grand Encampment
Whose presiding officer is shown here
www.knightstemplar.org...
(and you thought MY hat was humorous!)
The Scottish Rite (U.S.A.) is divided into two jurisdictions, each with it's own presiding officer:
www.srmason-sj.org...
www.supremecouncil.org...
And the other Masonic groups (Knight Masons, Rosicrucians, Allied Masonic Degrees, etc.) each have a Presiding Officer.
None of these men, however, even the Grand Commanders of the 33rd Degree "out-rank" a State Grand Master. This has been proven many times. The
Grand Master is the highest ranking (if you will) Mason who exists. And he, of course, operates under the Constitution and By-Laws of his particular
Masonic Jurisdiction (State)
To top all this off, this structure is similar but not exactly the same in countries outside the U.S.
So, that should give you a little understanding that there is no "top" Mason. When we say we "meet on the level" we really mean that.
[edit on 31-8-2008 by Appak]




