What is the Scottish Rite?
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, the
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.
{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 im
