Greetings To All:

I am the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Regular Grand Lodge of Illinois, Ancient and Accepted Rite. We practice ancient craft freemasonry. Many brethren that visit this website are unaware that there exist other rites in freemasonry besides York Rite and Scottish Rite. There are quite a few Grand Lodges that are claiming these rites with out the complete credentials and lineage to these rites. The Regular Grand Lodge of Illinois is a sovereign Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons that practice the Ancient and Accepted Rite. This rite was bestowed upon our jurisdiction in 2006 by the Regular Grand Lodge of England who reclaimed this rite in 2005.

Many masons may label our jurisdiction as clandestine without knowing the meaning of that word. Clandestine means that you are secretly pretending to be something that you are not and the word rite is defined as ceremonial or solemn acts. A lot of masons just repeat words that they hear without knowing the definition of them. Freemasonry is not a monopoly; to be clandestine we would be practicing or claiming someone else's rite without their permission. York Rite is primarily practiced in the United States. Scottish Rite originates from Europe and was reconstituted in 1801 in Charleston South Carolina. Although York and Scottish Rites are very beautiful and extremely educational rites of freemasonry the Regular Grand Lodge of Illinois does not practice or claim these rites.

As freemasons in this state of Illinois, this country of the United States of America and throughout the world we come to our brethren of different rites with open arms of embracement. We do not wish to have closed fists for battle. Let's meet, act and part as freemasons with the respect and understanding that this fraternity is bigger than our own Grand Lodges.

Feel free to visit the Regular Grand Lodge of Illinois website, and to all my brethren travel with Brotherly Love and Peace.

Most Worshipful Brother Derrick Jefferson Sr.
Most Worshipful Grand Master
Regular Grand Lodge of Illinois
Ancient and Accepted Rite