"Scottish Rite Masons"

The two "Rites" of Freemasonry are generally recognized; the "York Rite", which many
think should more properly be called the American Rite (Royal Arch Chapters,
Councils of Royal and Select Masters, Commentaries) and the "Scottish Rite" of thirty
three degrees.

Both Rites have their roots in symbolic Masonry, and no man in the World may be initiated into either York or Scottish Rite who is not already a member of a Blue Lodge. While the Scottish Rite has thirty-three degrees, numbered from 1 to 33, the Supreme Councils of the English speaking countries do not assume any authority over the first three degrees where there exists a Grand Lodge which adheres to the Landmarks of freemasonry and continues regular, legitimate and duly constituted and which refrains from interfering with the administration of the Fourth to Thirty-third Degrees inclusive by the Supreme Council.

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite goes so deeply into the past for much of its
symbolism and philosophy that its origins are lost in the mists of antiquity from which
emerges history. In 1761 the first "secret" Constitutions was framed; in 1762, the
"Constitutions and Regulations", these, with the later Constitutions of 1786, are its
fundamental law.

The first Lodge of Perfection was established in this country in Albany, New York, as
early as 1767. The first council of Princes of Jerusalem was organized at Charleston,
South Carolina, in 1788. The first Sublime council of Princes of the Royal Secret (of
Twenty-five degrees; the 25 was then the highest of the Rite of Perfection) was
established at Charleston, South Carolina, in 1797. The real establishment of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite dates from 1801, when the first Supreme Council,
now the Mother Supreme council of the World, was established in Charleston.

Subsequently, under the provisions of the Grand Constitutions, a second Supreme
Council was formed and the original council took the name of "The Supreme Council
33, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America." It is the oldest
existing council and, therefore, the Mother Council of the World, from which all
Supreme Councils of the Rite hold, either immediately or immediately.

Thus the original Jurisdiction became two by act of the Supreme Council, which in
1813 established the Northern Supreme Council with, originally, fourteen States:
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan. At
that time the present State of Wisconsin was a portion of Illinois territory, becoming a
part of Michigan in 1818. Hence the Northern Jurisdiction now comprises fifteen States
of the Union.

The Southern Jurisdiction, retaining the rest of the United States and whatever territory
may become a part of it and also those countries where the Supreme council has or
may hereafter establish Bodies of the Rite, comprises thirty-three States; Alabama,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West
Virginia, and Wyoming; it also includes the district of Columbia, the Army and Navy
(shared with the Northern Supreme Council), China, Japan, Hawaii, Philippine Islands,
Puerto Rico, the Canal Zone and Alaska. These two Jurisdictions have always
worked, and now work, in complete harmony, the separation being geographic only.

In the Southern Jurisdiction the Lodge of Perfection confers the Ineffable degrees from
the 4th to the 14th; the Chapter of Rose Croix confers the Historical and Second
Temple degrees, 15th and 16th, and the Religious degrees, 17th and 18th; the Council
of Kadosh confers the Chivalric and Philosophical degrees, from 19th to the 30th
inclusive, and The Consistory completes the series by conferring the Official degrees,
31st and 32nd.

In the Northern Jurisdiction the Lodge of Perfection confers the 4th to the 14th,
inclusive; the Council of Princes of Jerusalem, the 15th and 16th; the Chapter of Rose
Croix, the 17th and 18th; and the Consistory the 19th to 32nd, inclusive. In Canada
there are but three Bodies, Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Rose Croix and Consistory.

The Thirty-third Degree of the Rite differs from others in that for it no one may ask; it
must be given. In the Southern Jurisdiction a brother receives first the distinction of
being named K.C.C.H. (Knight Commander of the Court of Honor). From those of this
rank the Supreme Council chooses those who may receive the 33, Inspector General
Honors. The Northern Supreme council does not award the distinction of K.C.C.H.

These honors are given for merit, long or distinguished service to the rite, the Craft or
to humanity, and are highly prized. those who have received the 33 wear a triple band
ring, sometimes plain, sometimes bearing a triangle with the figures 33 within it.

The Scottish Rite is wholly non-sectarian. It is deeply religious in character, but in the
same sense that Symbolic Masonry is religious - it teaches religion, not a religion.
Both Northern and Southern Supreme Councils observe the ceremonies of
Extinguishing and Relighting the Symbolic Lights; the first on Maundy Thursday
(Thursday before Easter), the latter either immediately following or upon Easter
Sunday. These ceremonies are perhaps as beautiful and impressive as any degree in
any rite, unforgettable by any who have ever seen or taken part in them.

Of religion in the Scottish Rite, Grand Commander James D. Richardson of the
Southern Jurisdiction (now gone to the Grand Consistory Above) wrote:

"Scottish Rite Masonry has not attempted to propagate any creed, save its own
simple and sublime one, of faith in God and good works; no religion, save the
universal, eternal and immutable religion, a religion such as God planted in the heart of
universal humanity. Its votaries may be sought and found alike in Jewish, Moslem and
Christian Temples. It is the teacher of the morals of all religions; it is the teacher of
good and not of evil, of truth and not error. As in the days of Dante, its mission is to
aid humanity in setting its foot upon despotism, and treading under foot spiritual
tyranny and intolerance."

In the Southern Jurisdiction two funeral services are used; the Rose Croix service, for
all brethren of the 18th whose families desire it, and the Knight Kadosh, sometimes
called the "Midnight" Service. both are conducted by trained teams, and both are
beautiful and impressive.

Scottish Rite degrees usually are, and always should be when possible, put on in
costume land by carefully trained casts. Many of the ceremonies are very elaborate,
requiring a small army of workers; when well done, they attract brethren from many
miles away. Indeed, so difficult are some of the ceremonies, and so extensive the
facilities and preparation required, that many are seen but once or twice a year, and in
but a few centers in any State. From this has arisen that custom which Scottish Rite
Masons know as the "Reunion" - a gathering of Scottish Rite Masons from all over a
State to see and take part in the degrees given to a "class"; such Reunions not
uncommonly last a weekend.

Elective and appointed officers in each of the bodies may take part in degrees, but do
not necessarily do so. The degrees are elaborate, costumed ceremonies, many of
them requiring a much larger cast than could be supplied from an official line. The
ceremonies are difficult and intricate, their scenic investiture large; they offer great
opportunities for workers who have talent and ability. Teams for the various degrees
frequently remain intact for long periods of time, the brethren perfecting themselves
from year to year until they are, literally, "Past Masters" in their work. The initiate
usually sees a spectacle "The degrees are put on before the candidates rather than
worked upon them) which is in the hands of trained experts, many of whom have done
the same part for years.

In the earlier degrees that "further light", which is hinted at in the Blue Lodge, is given
and questions which many Master Masons ask after they are raised to the Sublime
Degree are answered with solemnity and reverence.

Later, matters wholly new to Master Masons are taken up, and a wealth of philosophy,
religion, and knowledge made available for the postulant.

The fourth to the thirty-second degrees of the Scottish Rite, beautiful and inspiring as
they are, should not be, as they often are, called "Higher Degrees" connotation an
elevation, a superiority, over the first three degrees. "I'm only a Blue Lodge Mason - I
never went any higher" - how often is that semiapologic statement made!

The greatest authorities in the Scottish Rite are emphatic in the statement that neither
that Rite nor any other can make a man more of a Mason than he becomes in the
Blue Lodge. The degrees can, and frequently do, make him a better Mason, just as
the labor required to earn a college degree can, and often does, make a man a better,
but not more a citizen than he was before he passed through college. The Scottish
Rite degrees are numerically greater than the first, second and third, but not "higher".
To quote the greatest authority on Scottish Rite Masonry who ever lived, Albert Pike:

"It may be too late to change a common terminology. But, however we may refer to
these ancillary or appendant degrees, let us not make the mistake of pretending that a
33 degree Mason is 'Higher" than a Master Mason, much less the Master of a Lodge.
Let us by our conduct and our speech always acknowledge the Grand Master of
Masons in his own Jurisdiction to be the highest officer the world has ever known or
ever can know.

The Scottish Rite is governed by a Supreme Council in each Jurisdiction, just as
Symbolic Masonry is governed by a Grand Lodge in each Jurisdiction. But the
composition of a Supreme Council and a Grand Lodge is wholly different. The Grand
Lodge consists of the Masters and Wardens of Blue Lodges, and certain permanent
members (Past Grand Masters, Grand Officers, in some Grand Jurisdictions Past
Masters, etc.), Supreme Councils in this country are limited to thirty-three Active
Members (Southern Jurisdiction). Sixty-six Active Members (Northern Jurisdiction).
These Active Members (All having previously attained the 33 degree) are elected by
their fellows and for life.

In the Southern Jurisdiction the officers of the Supreme Council are elected for life; in
the Northern Supreme Council, for three years, but the principal officers are almost
invariably reelected, so that tenure is usually for life.

Scottish Rite Masons in many States have erected and occupy beautiful and
impressive buildings, especially designed and equipped for Scottish Rite work. One of
the most, if not the most, beautiful Masonic structure in the world is the "House of the
Temple" home of the Supreme Council S.J. in Washington, D.C. This magnificent
edifice, in which is also the Great Library, has a Supreme Council Chamber which for
lofty beauty and impressive dignity is exceeded by none. It is one of the "show places"
of the nation's capital. Sessions of the Supreme Council are held in it every two years.

Both Southern and Northern Supreme councils are devoted to interests affecting the
nation at large as well as their own particular Masonic labors; The Southern
Jurisdiction gave one million dollars to George Washington University to endow a
School of government; the Northern Supreme council supplies funds for education and
for conducting research into the cause, prevention and cure of dementia praecox, one
of the most malignant and prevalent diseases from which humanity suffers. Both
Jurisdictions are adherents to the cause of education and the public school. Both
Jurisdictions practice charity in a manner which makes all Scottish Rite Masons
proud. Both of them uphold, and command respect for, the dignity of all legitimate
Masonry.