SCOTTISH RITE
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, Commanderies) and the "Scottish
Rite" of thirty three degrees.
Both Rites have their roots in symbolic Masonry, and no man in the United
States, Canada, England, Ireland or Scotland 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 mediately
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.
The Scottish Rite is sometimes called Continental Masonry because it had its
origin from the Rites practiced on the Continent of Europe which later
crystallized into the Scottish Rite through the constitutions of 1761, 1762 and
1786. It is also known and practiced on the Continents of Europe and North and
South America, in Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc.
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 names 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 the 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.
It is impossible, of course, to describe the degrees of the Scottish Rite.
Nor are the degrees the same in the Northern and Southern Supreme Councils. In
the latter, the rituals are largely the result of Albert Pike's revision and
spiritualization of older rituals. In the Northern Jurisdiction, while many of
the degrees follow the Mother Council's ritual in form, some of the ceremonies
are entirely different.
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 week.
Not all Bodies of the Rite put on all the degrees in any one Reunion. those
which are omitted are communicated, and often those not "worked" in one reunion
are staged in the next. In any "class" the final degrees in each of the four
bodies are invariably staged.
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"
connotating 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.
The Grand Commander in the Southern Jurisdiction if John H. Cowles, who is a
Past Grand Master of Kentucky. The Grand Commander in the Northern Jurisdiction
is Melvin M. Johnson, who is a Past Grand Master of Massachusetts. The Secretary
General of the Supreme Council, S. J. is Walter R. Reed, and of the Supreme
Council, N.J., Charles H. Spillman.
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.
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