"Scottish
Rite"
THE SHORT TALK BULLETIN
The Masonic Service Association of the United
States
MAY 1937
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.
