The contents of this collection in pdffiles the story of the scottish rite harold van buren voorhis the story of the scottish rite harold van buren voorhis ed. Pike wrote in victorian times and liberally included hebrew, greek, and roman mythology, as well as greek and latin phrases and biblical references that were readily understood in those days. Rodriguez, 32 kcch, pc updated effective october 1, 2008 believed to be originally edited by john e. The pen and ink watercolored illustrations preceding each degree depicting signs of the scottish. The book of the ancient and accepted scottish rite of. While in the scottish rite i am seeing that detail is the key to the learning of the truth behind the symbolism of the 432nd degrees and is extremely useful in bringing the initiate to the next set of questions. Scottish rite craft degrees my freemasonry freemason. Lets start with the fact that the attainment of the 3rd degree is the highest rank of degree in masonry. The scottish rite confers twentynine degrees, usually in dramatic allegory, from the 4th to 32nd, at what are called reunions. Ninth degree elu of the nine, the weapons of truth. The ancient and accepted scottish rite of freemasonry cedar city. The 31st degree is the judicial branch of the scottish rite. Additional degrees are presented as the duration of the reunion allows. In 2003, the valley of guthrie, oklahoma, established the college of the consistory to enhance the rites position as the university of freemasonry.
In 1922, frederick of prussia and the european setting of the 20 ritual were superseded by george washington and the american revolution. The scottish rite ritual monitor and guide scottish rite store. During the past 150 years the format of scottish rite degree rituals has been completely transformed. In the ninth degree of the scottish rite, ignorance, error, and intolerance the great enemies of mankind are symbolized by the black border of the apron and the black cordon. The book of the ancient and accepted scottish rite of freemasonry author. Masonic rites and degrees explained why the scottish has. The consistory degrees are very different from each other in form and content. Containing instructions in all the degrees, from the third to the thirtythird, and last degree of the rite by charles t. Scottish rite degrees the degrees of the scottish rite are oneact plays often staged with costume, scenery, special effects, and the full rigging of any production. The other branch is known as the york rite, consisting of royal arch masons, royal and select masters and the knights templar. For starters, the scottish is not the only one that has more than 3 degrees. This is the last degree of the lodge of perfection, which meets on the first thursday of each month to. This is the last degree of the lodge of perfection, which meets on the first thursday of each month to conduct the business of all four bodies.
The degrees continue the story of the building of king solomons temple, and amplify and conclude the legend of the master mason degree. The scottish rite is one of the two branches of freemasonry in which a master mason may proceed after he has completed the three degrees of symbolic or blue lodge masonry. The higher ranks, acquired in the scottish rite for example, represent appendant degrees, as. From there, the scottish rite will confer the 4th through 32nd degrees at a scottish rite reunion. The scottish rite degrees alexandria valley scottish rite.
A group of master masons talk about topics of masonic interesteach from their own unique perspective. Any master mason stands as an equal before every other master mason, regardless of position, class, or other degrees. The york rite degrees of freemasonry as a master mason, an overseer of the work, you are taught many moral lessons and prepared for the life to come, but the temple of life is not yet completed, and those faithful craftsmen who have labored so long. From the centre of the arch hangs an equilateral triangle in gold with the hebrew letter yod in black arranged in the form of a tetractys or pythagoras. Through all of these, people have tried to answer certain universal questions. The degrees of the scottish rite, southern masonic.
Cook collection americana digitizing sponsor brigham young university contributor harold b. Mcclenachan, 33 revised and enlarged edition, macoy publishing and masonic. The ancient and accepted scottish rite, in thirtythree degrees. Discussion in general freemasonry discussion started by widows son, nov 5, 2012.
But about this time the system was organized by a body of the. Jack kelly, 33, but origin of same is lost in the mists of time. The following is perhaps the more reliable and prob able history of the origin of the degrees of the ancient. The swedish rite has 10, and the old rite of memphis had 97 degrees back in the day. Freemason collection is one of the rare websites rated three stars maximum on. Rite degrees from the 4th to 32nd, circa 1815, are courtesy of. The first three of those are only conferred by scottish rite craft lodges of which there are very, very few worldwide with most unrecognized. The first degree of scottish rite freemasonry freemason. The higher ranks, acquired in the scottish rite for example, represent appendant degrees, as in lateral movement in the highest rank. The fourth degree emphasizes duty, fidelity, integrity, and the necessity for secrecy in all confidential relationships.
The scottish rite is one of three branches of freemasonry in which a master mason may proceed after he has completed the three degrees of symbolic masonry, better known as the blue lodge. The other is an allround workman, skilful in every kind of metal work, also in stone and timberconsequently. The traditional full form ritual, established by the french rituals of the mid1700s and no doubt based on the form of the symbolic lodge degrees, consisted of a ceremonial opening, followed by reception of the candi. Several noteworthy examples of radical revision of scottish rite degree rituals occurred during the first half of the 20th century. Scottish rite master craftsman essays my freemasonry. The 31 reveals the dynamic relationship that has existed for centuries between human law as a means of achieving justice, and divine justice as an ideal. We should use these truths to shape our lives and conduct. Their purpose is to examine different philosophies, ancient religions, and systems of ethics. They open a new development of masonic teaching and are a distinct departure and advance from the symbolism and teaching of the symbolic lodge and of the preceding scottish rite degrees. The york rite, or more correctly, the american rite, is based on the early remnants of craft masonry that were practiced in the early 1700s.
The seventeenth and eighteenth degrees, known as the philosophical and doctrinal degrees of the scottish rite, are conferred in a chapter of rose croix. You leave the degrees with a more manageable, why, and a starting point to locating the answers. Lodge of perfection 4th 14th degree 4th degree secret master. The formation of the first grand lodge of england in 1717 specified that the lodges were to confer only the degrees of entered apprentice, fellowcraft, and master mason, all other degrees being considered spurious. Liturgy of the ancient and accepted scottish rite, part iii 15th18th degree. Click on the degree graphics below to see a webpage about the regalia and further meaning of each degree opens in new window. See more ideas about freemasonry, freemason and masonic lodge. Some regalia designs are custom made and can take up 6 to 8 weeks to make and ship. Masonic rites and degrees explained documentarytube. The curriculum is centered around the scottish rite degrees, history, and organization. Scottish degrees ancient and accepted scottish rite of. The southern masonic jurisdiction smj of the scottish rite essentially uses the same rituals that were written by freemason albert pike in the 1860s. Scottish rite degrees ancient and accepted scottish rite of.
And each is addressed in the 29 degrees of the scottish rite. The 30th, 31st and 32 degrees culminate the teachings of the scottish rite, and must be conferred in full ritual form. Mcclenachan, 33 revised and enlarged edition, macoy publishing and masonic supply company, 4549 john st. The 4th through 32nd degrees are grouped together as follows. The york rite of freemasonry, georgia, york rite bodies petition for the capitular degrees, cryptic degrees andor orders of knighthood. Freemason collection is ranked in the most visited websites top 10 in the major masonic online magazine pietrestone. The book of the ancient and accepted scottish rite of freemasonry. The ancient and accepted scottish rite of freemasonry the northern masonic jurisdiction in the united states often omits the and, while the english constitution in the united kingdom omits the scottish, commonly known as simply the scottish rite or, in england and australia, as the rose croix although this is only one of its degrees, is one of several rites of freemasonry.
Scottish rite masons of this day have adopted the emblem of the fourteenth degree ring as a symbol that represents the sword, shield, and armor of the ancient brethren. Scottish rite masonic order, freemasonry, freemasonry publisher chicago, ill. And if you really like learning about freemasonry, join the scottish rite research society and the freemason network. Its is a structured approach to learning more about the new organization which you have just joined. The york rite degrees of freemasonry as a master mason, an overseer of the work, you are taught many moral lessons and prepared for the life to come, but the temple of life is not yet completed, and those faithful craftsmen who have labored so long, are deprived, by the wickedness of others, of that for. Incontrasttotheopinionthatprevailedinmanyother scottishritejurisdictions,johnsonbelievedthatritualexistedtoservethe rite,nottheotherwayaround. The scottish rite degrees scottish rite of freemasonry. The throne is placed under the centre of an arch rising from two pillars, and beneath a canopy of white. Symbolic or blue lodge symbolic degrees ancient craft entered apprentice fellow craft, or companion. The degree rituals of the northern masonic jurisdiction. The mandatory degrees presented during the reunions are the 4th, 14th, 18th, 30th, and 32nd degrees. For those reading who are not already scottish rite masons the degrees, as they are taught in the multitude of valleys across america today, suggest a link between the scottish rite teachings by degree to the teachings of mystical kabbalah, more precisely to the kabalistic tree of life, something brought to the attention of the scottish rite. There are four divisions in the scottish rite southern jurisdiction.
Apprentice, fellowcraft or companion, and master mason, all authority. The degrees of the scottish rite are oneact plays often staged with costume, scenery, special effects, and the full rigging of any production. The scottish rite degrees attainment of the third masonic degree, that of a master mason, represents the attainment of the highest rank in all of masonry. While the degrees of the ancient and accepted scottish rite commence with the entered. The traditional full form ritual, established by the french rituals of the mid1700s and no doubt based on the form of the symbolic lodge degrees, consisted of a.
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