What is the Scottish Rite (32° Masons) ?

[MASON]

What is the Scottish Rite (32° Masons)


     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.

     Scottish Rite in the United States is organized into two Supreme Councils. The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction specifically covers the 15 states east of the Mississippi River and north of the Mason Dixon Line and the Ohio River, including Delaware. Its headquarters is in Lexington, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.

     The other Supreme Council in the United States is that of the Southern Jurisdiction. It has its headquarters at Washington, D.C., and covers the remaining 35 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories and possessions.

     Our degrees are in addition to and are in no way "higher" than the three degrees of the Blue, or Craft, lodges. Scottish Rite degrees amplify and elaborate on the lessons of the Craft Lodge.

     The four coordinate divisions in the Scottish Rite, and their associated degrees, are:

       • Lodge of Perfection, 4° - 14°

       • Council of Princes of Jerusalem, 15° - 16°

       • Chapter of Rose Croix, 17° -18°

       • Consistory of Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, 19° - 32°.

     The local unit of the Scottish Rite is known as a Valley. There are five Valleys in the state of Wisconsin, the local one being appropriately named the Valley of Madison. The other Valleys in Wisconsin are Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse and Milwaukee.

[Simsek]

You described it well brother. Scottish Rite is great way to achieve more light.