What is the Scottish Rite?

The Scottish Rite is an appendant body of Masonry. It requires that a man be a Master Mason before joining and it confers the 4th through 32nd degrees.  more

The Supreme Council, 33°, is the governing body of the Scottish Rite. With its headquarters in Lexington, Massachusetts, the Supreme Council is governed by 49 "Active Members" who come from the 15 states comprising the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. Each of the 15 States has a "Deputy", who is the executive officer for the Rite within his state, and he is supported by the remaining Active members. There is a least one "Active" in addition to the Deputy in each state. Some states have as many as five Active Members. The Supreme Council meets on an annual basis, at which time the business of the Rite is transacted and the 33° conferred on those who have been elected to receive this honor.  more

{From the web page of the Supreme Council, our national governing body} Introduction Service to others—service to you. These are the twin goals of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. In our more than 165 RiteCare Childhood Language Clinics, Centers, and Programs in our 37 Orients (states), including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, children with communication disorders are taught to speak, read, and learn. Each year at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, many victims of accident or disability are restored to active, happy lives. In homes for the aged, centers for youth and, in cases of natural disaster, support from the Scottish Rite Foundation relieves the worried and counsels the troubled. Through local scholarships grants and patriotic programs, the Scottish Rite benefits your community in direct and dynamic ways every day of the year. We are rightly proud of these achievements. They are the culmination of generations of Scottish Rite Brethren working to strengthen and ...  more

It is a branch of Freemasonry designed to supplement and amplify the philosophical teachings of the first three degrees. The Scottish Rite claims to build upon the ethical teachings and philosophy of Blue Lodge Masonry through dramatic presentation. The Scottish Rite is sometimes called the "University of Freemasonry" because it uses extensive allegory and drama in its Degrees to explore the philosophy, history, ethics and ultimate truths that guide Freemasons' lives. HOW DOES THE SCOTTISH RITE ELABORATE ON THE CRAFT LODGE DEGREES? It presents in degrees from the fourth to the thirty-second an interpretation of the lessons of the Craft degrees by the use of drama and lectures appealing to both the ear and eye to teach the great truths which Freemasonry professes. HOW MANY DEGREES ARE THERE IN SCOTTISH RITE? There are 29 Scottish Rite regular degrees, which follow the three degrees conferred in craft lodges. The 33˚ is conferred only by the Supreme Council, the governing body of ...  more

The Scottish Rite is a Masonic organization that continues a Master Mason’s education of the first three degrees. Other examples of Masonic affiliated organizations are: The Shrine (Shriners); York Rite; Grotto; Eastern Star, DeMolay International, Job’s Daughter’s, International Order of Rainbow for Girls and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. The Scottish Rite consists of the 4th through 32nd Degree and an honorary 33rd, which is awarded for exceptional service.

The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (AASR) is an appendant body of Masonry, meaning that it is not part of Craft Masonry but it is closely associated. It requires that a man be a Master Mason before joining and confers the 4th through 32nd degrees (remember, a Master Mason has received three degrees). The degree work may be, but is not necessarily, completed at one time. The degrees of the Scottish Rite continue the symbolism of the first three Masonic degrees. For a discussion of the 33rd degree, see question 11 in this section. In England this order is known as "Rose Croix." While it is slightly different, it still has a 33-degree system. The Rectified Scottish Rite, which exists both in UGLE-recognized and non-recognized Masonic bodies in Europe.  more

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 other branch is known as the York Rite, consisting of Royal Arch Masons, Royal and Select Masters, and Knights Templar. The Scottish Rite includes the degrees from the 4° to the 32°. The use of the word "Scottish" has led many Masons to believe that the Rite originated in Scotland. There was also a false belief which persisted for many years, that a man had to go to Scotland to receive the 33°. Neither of these statements is true. Actually, the first reference to the Rite appears in old French records where the word "Ecossais," meaning Scottish, is found. During the latter part of the 17th Century, when the British Isles were torn by strife, many Scots fled to France and resumed their Masonic interests in that country. It is believed that this influence contributed to the use of the word "Scottish." In 1732, ...  more

The Scottish Rite is an appendant body of Masonry, meaning that it is not part of the Blue Lodge per se, but closely associated with Masonry. Although the Scottish Rite possesses its own version of the first three degrees, in the United States these are usually not conferred (although they are done in several states, under the authority of the York Rite Grand Lodges). The Scottish Rite Supreme Councils confer the 4th through 32nd degrees. The degree work may be, but is not necessarily, completed at one time. Any Master Mason is eligible to join the Scottish Rite. The degrees of the Scottish Rite continue the symbolism of the first three Masonic degrees. For a discussion of the 33°, see section 1.11. The above refers to the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (AASR), not the Rectified Scottish Rite (Régime Ecossais et Rectifié), which exists both in UGLE-recognized and non-recognized Masonic bodies in the Europe.  more

The Scottish Rite is an appendant body of Masonry, meaning that it is not part of the Blue Lodge per se, but closely associated with Masonry. It requires that a man be a Master Mason before joining the Scottish Rite. The Scottish Rite confers the 4th through 32nd degrees. The degree work may be, but is not necessarily, completed at one time. Any Master Mason is eligible to join the Scottish Rite. The degrees of the Scottish Rite continue the symbolism of the first three Masonic degrees. For a discussion of the 33rd degree, see question 9 of this section.  more

• A series of 29 degrees, teaching by drama, the moral and religious philosophies of Masonry.  more