There are numerous bodies, including some you may have heard about, in which Master Masons may become members. Known as "appendant bodies", these groups involve masonry in one form or another - only Master Masons can participate in Scottish Rite or York Rite Freemasonry; Master Masons, and the women related to them, can be involved in the Order of the Eastern Star; children are encouraged to participate in the DeMolays (boys) and Rainbow Girls (girls). Some of these Masonic bodies have degrees which are bestowed upon their members, but are not of greater rank; the degree of Master Mason is the pinnacle of Freemasonry.

Many appendant bodies support or contribute to various charities. The Scottish Rite supports and maintains several pediatic medical care facilities, including the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, Texas. The Shrine, known also for the Shriner Circus, supports and maintains the Shrine Burn Institute in Galveston, Texas. In York Rite masonry, the Knights Templar support the Eye Fund (KTEF) and scholarship, while the Royal Arch Chapter supports the Texas Masonic Retirement Center (TMRC).