The "York Rite" as we are commonly referred to is a collection of several Masonic Bodies. The journey begins as a Master Mason in what we call the craft degrees. No one who is not a Master Mason can begin their journey in the appendant York Rite bodies of Capitular, Cryptic, or Templar Masonry. Each of the individual bodies is a fraternal organization of like-minded men who strive for excellence through charitable and benevolent men. Each of the bodies requires faith and a belief in God. To become a Knight of the Temple one must have a firm belief in the Christian religion. If you are not a Master Mason and would like more information about the Masons, you can visit our Grand Lodge website for more information or if you are local to the Alexandria area you may choose to contact one of our local lodges by emailing them.