I think what your teacher was referring to is an organization with an acknowledged head, and with "ranks". The Chinese have had signicant breaks (Different dynasties, and more recently a republic and then "Communism").
I'm unsure about the Masons or Pharisees fitting into that category. The Masons, probably, but how long have they been around?
As far as the longest running hierarchical organization from my POV? Shoot. Maybe the Roman Catholic Church, but what about the Eastern Orthodox? They follow the Patriarch of Constantinople...but I don't recall where they derive his power from, as I don't think it's Peter like the Catholics.
It's an interesting question. I'd wager that your teacher is Catholic
