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The local
Scottish Rite organization is called a "Valley." Each
Valley confers the 4th through 32nd degrees in
degree-conferring meetings. The Scottish Rite is
sometimes called the "College of Freemasonry," because
it uses extensive allegory and drama to emphasize the
message of its degrees. The degree work may, but not
necessarily, be completed at one time.
The
Scottish Rite shares the belief of all Masonic
organizations that there is no higher degree than that
of Master Mason. The degrees are in addition to, and in
no way "higher" than, those of Blue Lodge, or Craft
Lodge, Masonry. Scottish Rite degrees simply amplify and
elaborate on the lessons of the craft, providing further
knowledge of Masonry, the building of the Temple, and
ancient religions, with memorable lessons ranging from
the days of chivalry to modern times.
Scottish Rite
Degrees
The Degrees
of the Scottish Rite are one-act plays often staged with
costume, scenery, special effects, and the full rigging
of any production. Their purpose is to examine different
philosophies, ancient religions, and systems of ethics.
Through all of these, people have tried to answer
certain universal questions. The Degrees of the Rite do
not tell a person what he should think about these
questions. Instead, they tell him about what great
thinkers and civilizations of the past have thought, and
they try to create a situation in which the candidate or
Brother can gain insight. Agreeing with Socrates that
the unexamined life is not worth living, the Rite helps
with this self-examination by providing reference
points.
Theatre is the oldest known means of teaching,
especially of teaching abstract ideas. It was one of the
principal means of instruction in the Middle Ages as
well as in ancient Greece and Rome. Masonry borrows the
techniques of theatre to make its lessons more
impressive and to aid the candidate in forming the
beginnings of what it is hoped will be a lifelong
pattern of study and thought. Most of the Degrees are
set in ancient Israel because it is from the legends
surrounding King Solomon's Temple that Masonry takes
many of its parables and lessons. Ancient Egypt and
Medieval Europe also serve as Degree settings.
Almost
every Master Mason who is afforded an opportunity to
petition for the Scottish Rite Degrees naturally raises
the question in his mind, "Why should I take the
Scottish Rite Degrees?" It is a fair and quite
appropriate question for him to ask as it is of utmost
importance that the prospective initiate have a clear
and definite understanding of what the Rite stands for
and is endeavoring to accomplish. Here are a few
reasons.
The Scottish Rite Degrees give us a sense of historical
values and standards. Today is the child of yesterday,
and no one can understand the significance of the
epochal events that are shaking the world unless he sees
them from the vantage point of history. Out of the
crises of the past, man has discovered principles that
are as solid as the mountains, as enduring as the
stars.
The moral truths that prevailed in Jerusalem, Athens,
and Rome are just as valid, just as imperative in the
digital 21st century. In his confidence in the reality
of these principles, man has built his faith in the
permanent value of moral truth. Here is to be found the
basis of optimism, of faith in the free institutions,
and of confidence in a civilization resting on ethical
principles. No man can witness the Degrees of the
Scottish Rite and be either a cynic or a pessimist. They
renew his faith in God, in man, and in the process of
history.
The Scottish Rite Degrees put into picturesque but
explicit language the civic and social ideals implicit
in the Blue Lodge Degrees. For centuries, Freemasonry
has been a tremendous force for enlightenment, freedom,
and social progress in Europe and in the Americas. It
was neither caprice nor mere prejudice that caused the
Nazis and Fascists to proscribe Freemasonry. Why did the
Nazi oppressors hate Masonry? Why did they violate the
sacred emblems of the Craft? Why did they hunt down with
ruthless cruelty our Masonic leaders? Particularly, why
did the totalitarians persecute "Masons of all Degrees"?
They knew that tyranny is threatened wherever a Masonic
Lodge or Temple exists.
Freemasonry
is a compelling and conquering spiritual force, and the
reasons are revealed in the Scottish Rite Degrees.
Scottish Freemasonry is the foe of intolerance,
fanaticism, and superstition. It battles every form of
racial and sectarian prejudice and bigotry. It is a
mighty exponent of freedom in thought, religion, and
government. Thus, the Scottish Rite is a rite of
instruction. It interprets the symbols and allegories of
Masonry in the light of history and philosophy using the
words of the supreme prophets of humanity, ceremonies of
the great religions of the world, and significant
episodes from history to point the moral and adorn the
tale.
The Scottish Rite makes application of the doctrines of
Freemasonry to every realm of human activity. The
individual Mason is taught to put into practice in his
personal life and thought the lessons learned in the
Blue Lodge.
Socially,
the Scottish Rite is Freemasonry Militant, not in the
sense of propaganda and agitation, nor by endorsing
specific causes or sponsoring particular political
movements, but by showing through illustrations from
history and human evolution how the Mason may make his
influence felt for the principles of free thought, free
government, free education, and free religion. The
Scottish Rite Mason is the foe of intolerance, bigotry,
and ignorance in all their forms. That is what the
Scottish Rite Degrees are all about.
The degrees
of the Scottish Rite are divided into six sections,
originally there were seven, but the 15th and 16th
Degrees (originally a section to itself called the
Council of Princes of Jerusalem) were merged with the
Chapter of Rose Croix.
There are four
coordinate bodies within the Scottish Rite Southern
Jurisdiction:
- Lodge of Perfection, 4°-14°
(presiding officer - Venerable Master)
- Chapter of Rose Croix, 15°-18°
(presiding officer - Wise Master)
- Council of Kadosh, 19°- 30°
(presiding officer - Commander)
- Consistory, 31°- 32°
(presiding officer - Master of Kadosh)
Some Valleys may
not have all four divisions. In these cases, their
candidates receive Council, Chapter or Consistory work
in neighboring Valleys.
In addition, we have additional
degrees which we call The Court of Honor.
1.
Knight Commander of the Court of Honor,
K:.C:.C:.H:.
The
Scottish Rite confers a number of honors upon members
who have contributed extraordinary service to the Rite,
to Masonry in general, and to the world at large. The
first of these is the Rank and Decoration of a Knight
Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH), which may be
conferred after a minimum of 46 months of membership
(usually much longer) and is strictly limited in
numbers. A KCCH may, after 46 months at that rank (but
usually longer), receive the 33rd degree, Inspector
General Honorary. This award is even more limited in
numbers than the KCCH.
2.
Inspector General Honorary, 33o
All
Scottish Rite jurisdictions nominate a select few
members to receive the 33rd Degree, Inspector General
Honorary, in recognition of outstanding service to the
Rite, or in public life, to the principles taught in the
degrees. In the Southern Jurisdiction, the Supreme
Council chooses 33rd degree members from among those who
have previously received the rank and decoration of
Knight Commander Court of Honor. The KCCH is bestowed in
a Ceremonial of Investiture in recognition of
outstanding service to the Rite, or in public life, to
the principles taught in the degrees.
3.
Grand Cross of the Court of Honor
Finally, a
very small number of 33rd Degree Inspectors General
Honorary may be recognized with the Grand Cross of the
Court of Honor; at the present time, there are perhaps
an average of three or four GC's per state. These honors
are voted on biennially at the Session of the Supreme
Council and conferred in various locations around the
country in groups. The Supreme Council of the Southern
Jurisdiction consists of no more than 33 Active 33rd
Degree Scottish Rite Masons, known as Sovereign Grand
Inspectors General, no more than one per state/Orient.
As there are more than 33 Orients, some will be governed
by a Deputy. The Supreme Council is governed by a
Sovereign Grand Commander. Unlike the Grand Master in
Symbolic Masonry, these appointments are for life,
although there are some provisions for retirement at
advanced age. Replacements for these positions are made
at the biennial Session of the Supreme
Council. |
