ABOUT THE ORDER
The Order of Quetzalcoatl was founded on March 14, 1945 by the late Arthur J. Elian, longtime Recorder of Anezah Shrine Temple in Mexico City. He was an outstanding scholar of ancient Mesoamerican history and of Mexican lore. His efforts to create this order resulted from his study of Mexican legends, thought to be primarily derived from Sahagun’s 12 volume Historia de las cosas de Espana Nueva (Florentine Codex), and possibly other Spanish texts on Nahuatl legends and stories. His profound interest in Masonic affairs elevated him to many Masonic honors, including Grand Master of the Muy Respectable Gran Logia Valle de Mexico, Emeritus Registrar of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Mexico, coronation as a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Honorary Inspector General, and Recorder Emeritus of Anezah Temple. He was fondly regarded as Mexico’s “Mr. Mason”.
The Order of Quetzalcoatl was founded on March 14, 1945 by the late Arthur J. Elian, longtime Recorder of Anezah Shrine Temple in Mexico City. He was an outstanding scholar of ancient Mesoamerican history and of Mexican lore. His efforts to create this order resulted from his study of Mexican legends, thought to be primarily derived from Sahagun’s 12 volume Historia de las cosas de Espana Nueva (Florentine Codex), and possibly other Spanish texts on Nahuatl legends and stories. His profound interest in Masonic affairs elevated him to many Masonic honors, including Grand Master of the Muy Respectable Gran Logia Valle de Mexico, Emeritus Registrar of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Mexico, coronation as a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Honorary Inspector General, and Recorder Emeritus of Anezah Temple. He was fondly regarded as Mexico’s “Mr. Mason”.
The early history of the order in Mexico has not been fully documented, but it is known that Shrine temple visitors from Arizona and Southern California would make trips to Mexico City to learn of Elian’s historical research and the Masonic Order founded upon his learning. They witnessed the initiation of members into this new Order and some became members themselves. Carrying back this information and ritual to their respective temples in the Southwestern United States, they formed teocallis (lodges or chapters) in their respective temples and the Order took hold in this area of the country. It soon began to expand to other temples in other parts of the country and shortly afterwards a Supreme Teocalli was formed to administer this growing band of chapters. After Elian’s passing, the Order’s existence in Mexico fell away. However, in 2010, a new chapter or teocalli was formed in Mexico City with the name Mextli No. 1, thus starting a new beginning for the order in the place where it all began.
The Order of Quetzalcoatl is the only fraternal order of American origin which follows the masonic principles of brotherhood, charity and truth. One has to be a Mason and a Shriner to become a member and membership is by invitation to those members of a Shrine temple who are indeed the “hard workers”, distinguished by their service to their temple and to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Besides fun and fellowship, the Order maintains its high purpose of raising and donating funds to the Hospital transportation Fund of Shriners Hospitals for Children. These funds are used to help pay for the transportation of the children and their parents to and from the Shrine hospitals. In addition, members of local teocallis and officers of the Supreme Q often visit the hospitals and engage in other fundraising activities to support the hospitals. The Order’s prime charity is the Transportation Fund of the Mexico City Shriner’s Hospital to which is donated tens of thousands of dollars each year.
The ritual of the Order is divided into three distinct parts. Once accepted into membership, an individual is obligated as a Coate (tribesman). The new Coate then promises to avail himself to receive the two degrees of the Order within a set period of time. The Artisan degree must be obtained within one calendar year of initial membership. This full feathered ceremonial degree qualifies a Coate to become an Artisan of the Order. Within two years of becoming an Artisan the member must obtain the Master Artisan degree. This consecration degree can be obtained at the annual Feast of Fire held in mid-October of each year, at the site of a Supreme Q sponsored pilgrimage to the Temple of Quetzalcoatl in Mexico City or an authorized pilgrimage to El Castillo in Chichen itza. Other Master Artisan conferral sites may be authorized by Supreme Q from time to time. All Artisans and Master Artisans are encouraged to make a pilgrimage to the Temple of Quetzalcoatl in Teotihuacan, Mexico City and to visit the Mexico City Shriners Children’s Hospital regardless of where they obtained their degrees.
Any interested group of at least fifteen Shrine Masons residing in the same jurisdiction and in
good standing with their temple may petition Supreme Q for dispensation to form a new teocalli. Since the Order is independent of the Shrine it is not necessary to obtain the temple’s permission, although good practice dictates that the temple administration be informed of the proposed teocalli. To initiate an application for dispensation to form a new teocalli, go to the
Supreme Q website at supremeq.com or call toll free at 1-888-648-4912 or mail inquiries to: