About Us
Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite, one the of the branches of Freemasonry continuing in the
tradition of
"Making Good Men, Better". Providing it's members:
INSPIRATION
CONVENIENCE
ENJOYMENT!
Why Scottish Rite?
One of the best things about
Freemasonry is that you can expand upon your knowledge of
Freemasonry. You took the necessary steps to become a Master
Mason. You earned the right to become a part of the oldest and
greatest fraternal organization in the world. You may approach a
32° Scottish Rite Mason to take the next step into the Scottish
Rite. Or he may approach you to suggest that you continue your
Masonic journey, which should be a never-ending path. There is
always room for improvement in our lives. Although there is no higher degree than that of
Master Mason, the 29 degrees of the Scottish Rite serve to enrich the
philosophy of the Symbolic Lodge. A Mason who chooses to further his
Masonic experience by becoming a 32° Scottish Rite Mason will be
expanding upon the fundamental principles of Freemasonry. The moral and
ethical lessons will allow him to be constantly reminded of his duty to
God, family, country and fellow man.
How Long Will It Take?
A Master Mason may become a 32°
Scottish Rite Mason in one or two day reunion, held in the Spring and
Fall each year. Each degree requires elaborate stage preparation,
so not every degree is presented in full form during a
degree-conferring session (reunion). The lessons for degrees not
performed are summarized for the candidates. Every 32° Scottish
Rite Mason should strive to witness in future years as many degree
presentations as possible. Each degree is performed at least once
within a six-year period.
Is Memorization Required?
A candidate is not required to commit the Scottish
Rite degrees, signs, passwords, tokens or grips to memory.
No
examinations are given either during the degree work nor for admission
to the meetings of other Valleys.
The Ineffable Degrees of the Lodge of Perfection
- The Lodge of Perfection
confers the Ineffable Degrees, from the 4th to the 14th
inclusive.
They are called Ineffable because they are concerned with the
ineffable or unutterable Name of God and with mans eager quest for the
true Name. The candidate will observe many references, scenes and
characters which recall and amplify the three Symbolic degrees. In
formal ritual and in drama, ten of these degrees, based upon Old
Testament Scripture and legends from the era of King Solomon, elaborate
the teachings of Symbolic Masonry and apply them to practical
situations which are faced in everyday life. The Fourteenth
Degree
summarizes what has been taught and is a moral and philosophical
climax.
- 4° - Master Traveler Here
is the introduction to Scottish Rite Masonry. This degree
provides us
with a preview of the moral truths we shall witness on our journey
through the Scottish Rite.
- 5° - Perfect Master This degree
teaches us that selfish thoughts and unworthy ambitions will corrupt
and destroy a man.
- 6° - Master of the Brazen Serpent We
learn from this degree that we must have faith in ourselves, faith is
each other, and faith in God.
- 7° - Provost & Judge Justice
should be impartial and tempered with mercy. This degree teaches
us that we should not judge hastily.
- 8° - Intendant of the Building We
are reminded in this degree that each new honor is a step toward moral
perfection. Each honor earned requires attention to a particular
duty.
- 9° - Master of the Temple The
message of this degree is that mutual belief in a Supreme Being should
bind all men together in a worldwide brotherhood.
- 10° - Master Elect We learn in
this degree that a person who violates his obligations, regardless of
his station in life, will not go unpunished.
- 11° - Sublime Master Elected This
degree dramatizes the importance of good citizenship, that honesty and
respect for others should be rewarded.
- 12° - Master of Mercy Exemplified
in this degree is the quality of forgiveness, not just to forego the
opportunity for revenge, but to cease to feel enmity or resentment
toward the transgressor.
- 13° - Master of the Ninth Arch This
degree teaches us that difficulties and dangers, however great, should
not deter us from progressing toward moral and ethical improvement.
- 14° - Grand Elect
Mason As the summit of Ancient Craft Masonry, this degree
impresses us with the holiness of God and the reverence due His Holy
Name.
The
Historical Degrees of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem
- The
Council of Princes of Jerusalem confers the 15° and 16°, which teach
lessons using the settings based on the Babylonian captivity of the
Hebrews and the building of the second Temple.
- 15° - Knight of the East This
lesson of this degree emphasizes the importance of loyalty to our
beliefs and fidelity to an obligation.
- 16° - Prince of
Jerusalem This degree exemplifies fidelity to duty and
devotion to truth.
The Philosophical Degrees of the Chapter
of
Rose Croix - The
chapter of Rose Croix confers two Philosophical Degrees and is the
spiritual heart of the Scottish Rite. The historical setting of
these
degrees is within the Christian era but without any prescribed
date.
These degrees teach that the only lasting Temple is in the soul of
man. Their message is universal; their fellowship may include all
men
who believe in one Supreme Being whatever their nation, race or creed.
- 17° - Knight of the East and West We
learn from this degree that we must seek truth in our way of life and
that we should learn from and avoid repeating the errors of the past.
- 18° - Knight of the
Rose Croix of H.R.D.M. The message of this degree reveals
the new law of love. We should prepare a Temple in our heart,
where God is worshiped.
The Chivalric Degrees of the Consistory
- The
Consistory confers the 19° - 32°. These lessons portray many
memorable
lessons that range in settings from the days of chivalry through the
20th century. Each Degree dramatized its own unique and
independent
message and applies it to a familiar life situation.
- 19° - Grand Pontiff This
degree dramatizes the perennial conflict between good and evil that
will end in the triumph of righteousness and peace in the hearts of
men.
- 20° - Master ad Vitam In
this degree we learn that the challenge of disloyalty and treason must
be confronted. We should condemn all who conspire against the
security
of the nation and the happiness of its people.
- 21° - Patriarch Noachite This
degree teaches that Freemasonry is not a shield for wrongdoing and that
justice is one of the pillars of our fraternity.
- 22° - Prince of Libanus The
dignity of honest labor, the nobility of work and the disgrace of
idleness is the subject of this degree.
- 23° - Chief of the Tabernacle Based
on the incident of The Four Chaplains, this degree teaches us that
faith in God will find expression in love for our fellow man, even to
the ultimate personal sacrifice.
- 24° - Brother of the Forest In
this degree we discover that a Scottish Rite Mason should not judge any
man by his race or by anything except his own acts.
- 25° - Master of Achievement Dramatizing
events in the life of Brother Benjamin Franklin, this degree shows us
that an industrious life benefits not only ourselves but also humanity.
- 26° - Friend and Brother Eternal From
a true incident during the American Civil War we learn that partisan
strife does not dissolve our Masonic obligations and that the virtues
of brotherhood give rise to good citizenship.
- 27° - Knight of Jerusalem The
lesson of this degree illustrates the importance of a free church in a
free state, each cooperating toward the common good.
- 28° - Knight of the Sun Reminding
us that Freemasonry provides a meaningful moral philosophy, this degree
points out the importance of overcoming the vices and superfluities of
everyday life.
- 29° - Knight of St. Andrew This
degree emphasizes the Masonic teachings of equality and toleration.
- 30° - Grand Inspector This
degree teaches us to be attentive, impartial, and equitable in judging
others.
- 31° - Knight Aspirant In this
degree we learn that service to humanity should be our response when
God calls us to labor.
- 32° - Sublime Prince of
the Royal Secret As
the culmination of Scottish Rite Masonry, this degree celebrates the
triumph of individual integrity and our obligation to serve humanity.
|
