Allied Masonic Degree

The Allied Masonic Degrees are a collection of five degrees that were once conferred within Craft Lodges.

Historically, these were known as "Side Degrees." It was a common practice for a small group of Masons to take a brother aside after a Craft meeting and perform a brief ceremony, complete with passwords and grips, to confer one of these degrees. While the "Antients" permitted any Craft Lodge to work any Masonic degree, the formation of the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813 restricted Craft Lodges to only the three Craft degrees and the Royal Arch.

However, many of these other degrees continued to be practiced, and some, like Mark Masonry, even formed their own governing bodies. To organize and oversee a number of the remaining degrees, the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees was established in 1879.

The five degrees governed by this council are:

• St. Lawrence the Martyr

• Knight of Constantinople

• Grand Tylers of Solomon

• Red Cross of Babylon

• Grand High Priest