Beyond the Craft: Initiate's Guide to the Appendant Bodies of Freemasonry

Members of our society often say that we are not a secret society but rather a society of secrets. In reality, there are secrets to our fraternity, many of which hide in plain sight. The Craft lodge is the doorway to a plethora of social organizations, family-oriented bodies, and concordant and appendant orders. In this discussion we will come to understand the historical significance of why many of these orders exist and what their purpose is. We will explore why these appendant organizations are relevant to the modern Mason and perhaps we may find that what lies beneath the surface may very well be an initiatic path for aspiring adepts and philosophers.