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Introduction to the Scottish Rite
by Jacques Huyghebaert, 33°
revised 27th Jan 2019
The origin of the Scottish Rite degrees has been and is still the subject of extensive
historical research and continues to be a source of heated debate among Freemasons, but it
is an indisputable fact that the "Higher Degrees", also called "Additional" or "Side"
degrees, have played a considerable role in European Freemasonry from the 1750's
onwards.
Scottish Rite Masonry, which represents the most developed and widespread system of
"Higher Degrees" in the world, counts today about 150,000 members in the United States
alone. In Europe and in Latin America these Scottish Rite degrees, ranking from the 4th
to the 33rd degree, are also very popular and are considered as the natural itinerary for all
those who are interested in perfecting their Masonic education.
In “the Bridge to Light” published in 1988, by the Supreme Council of the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Bro. Rex R. Hutchens, 33°, wrote :
" Modern speculative Freemasonry did not spring full blown upon the
historical stage at a London pub or tavern meeting in 1717. The
operative Masons had already contributed a long legacy of symbolism
and tradition that continues to enrich the Craft to this day."
"There are persistent references in the Masonic ritual, especially in the
Scottish Rite degrees, to relationships with Rosicrucians, Illuminati,
Gnostics, Essenes, Persians, Hindus, Alchemists, Hermeticists,
Kabbalists, Occultists, etc.
"The main question studied by 18th and 19th Masonic historians was
whether these presumed relations demonstrate either a continuous
heritage, going back to Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, to the cults
of Isis, Mithra and Zoroaster, even to the biblical patriarchs :
Tubalcain, Enoch and Noah, as well as to Moses and king Solomon, of
which modern Freemasonry would be the linear successor, or if they
should simply be regarded as masonic legends forming an
inexhaustible source of masonic symbolism.
"Whatever the truth of history, the contributions to the symbolism of
Freemasonry by the religions, philosophies, mythologies and occult
mysteries of the past lie upon its surface for all to see."
Rather than being a secret society, Scottish Rite Freemasonry is a
revealer of knowledge.
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The great truths of ancient man were, in their time, also great secrets
and few were admitted into the sanctuaries where these truths were
taught.
"Today Freemasonry teaches these truths to all worthy men who ask to
learn them."
"Many of these truths are taught in the three degrees of the Craft Lodge;
but many more and deeper truths are taught in the Scottish Rite degrees."
What is the Scottish Rite?
Henry C. Clausen (°1905 - †1992), Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council,
33rd and last degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Mother Supreme Council
of the World, as well as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California, summarised the
history of the Scottish Rite as follows :
" Historically, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry evolved from the Rite of Perfection more
than 250 years ago on the continent of Europe under the Constitutions of 1762. Later the
Grand Constitutions of 1786 were enacted and became the creative and derivative laws
for all descendant Supreme Councils of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.The first
Supreme Council was organized at Charleston S.C., in 1801, as the Mother Supreme
Council of the World, and hence all regular and recognized Supreme Councils throughout
the world must trace their pedigree to it."
Tracing the roots of the Scottish Rite is a romantic and exciting quest for adventure in the
realm of the mind and the spirit. It is a superb story of success - more intriguing than the
storied search for the Holy Grail and more rewarding than a successful probe for the
philosopher's stone.
Our teachings and symbols preceded our formal organizations by thousands of years.
They go deep into ancient ages.
The signs, symbols and inscriptions come from across long, drifting centuries and can still
be observed from the tombs and temples of India to those of Nubia, through the valley of
the Nile in Egypt down to its delta, as well as in what was then known as Mesopotamia,
Chaldea, Assyria, Persia, Greece, Rome and even in Mexico, Yucatan and the Andes.
The Scottish Rite, therefore, is a treasure house in which there is stored the ageless essence
of immutable laws, the accumulation of thousands of years of human experience and
wisdom.
Specific moral lessons are attached to the ritual of each degree, assisting thus the recipient
to climb step by step the degrees of the Scottish Rite in order allow him to discover little
by little the content and the mission of the Scottish Rite.
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The Scottish Rite teaches its members the highest ethics, the wise expositions of
philosophy and religion in a spirit of the widest tolerance, and fervently recommends the
practice of charity.
The Scottish Rite code of conduct stems from the precepts of Chivalry, the Ten
Commandments and the Golden Rule. The Scottish Rite reveals truly the wisdom of the
Lesser and Greater Mysteries and their symbols of words and phrases long considered lost.
These were the truths that Plato, Pythagoras, Socrates, Homer and other intellects of the
ages held in high esteem, that have reappeared in later religions, and that never were
disclosed until after timely preparation of selected and trusted Initiates.
The Scottish Rite Degrees reflect the dedicated and patient work of sincere disinterested
Brethren during many years, the culling of hundreds of volumes in order to transmit and
share with us the knowledge they have thus acquired for our common benefit, rather than
wasting a lifetime engaged in vain efforts to attain eminence or riches and hoard
superfluous wealth, which anyway they will not be able to carry with them when called to
the Grand Lodge above.
Our members therefore receive a gift of the greatest value. They gain access to a most
comprehensive heritage of knowledge. In fact it depends only on themselves and the
personal efforts they are willing to put, to take advantage of the rich sources of history,
philosophy, religion and morality, that our predecessors have generously handed over to
us.
They will thus be in a better position to understand their relationship to their Creator, their
country, their community, their friends, their family and themselves.
It will help them in discovering their own identity and acquire the clarity of mind, energy
and determination that is so necessary to propel them toward personal success in life.
The Scottish Rite carries its mission in a series of spiritual, charitable and moral programs.
We hope that our members will be able to participate actively in achieving the mission of
the Scottish Rite, in contributing in its spiritual, and moral actions and programmes as well
as in dispensing charity with generosity and without regard to race, colour, or creed, while
showing a manly determination in opposing spiritual despotism, political tyranny and every
force or power that would seek to suppress freedom or crush human dignity.
The last degrees of the Scottish Rite are inspired by the ideals and principles of the
mediaeval Orders of Chivalry in the Holy Land and some episodes of the Crusades, as well
as by the legends related to the suppression of the ancient Order of Knights Templar and
its assumed survival within the modern Order of Freemasonry.
Chivalric ceremonies have been adopted for the rituals of the Scottish Rite for their power
to illustrate and explain further the same moral, spiritual and Masonic truths, which we
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already have been taught in Craft Masonry, and the universal value of which extends to all
mankind and all cultures without distinction.
It should strongly be emphasised in this respect that insufficient evidence or proof is
available in order to establish the possibility of a direct link between the old Chivalric
Orders in the Holy Land and the Masonic Higher Degrees.
To avoid any misunderstanding, it must be stressed therefore, that whenever our ritual says
that "Masonic Tradition reports ..." such statement is not meant to signify to us that the
events, portrayed or referred to in the Scottish Rite ceremonies which they allude to, are
historically true.
As much as in Craft Masonry, any Brother who has understood anything about
Freemasonry,will know that he should not look upon the story of the building of King
Solomon's Temple as depicted in the Masonic ritual, as a true account of historically
established facts, nor start digging as a stupid archeologist on and about Mount Moriah to
try recovering the lost Master's word, so likewise the Scottish Rite ritual is built upon
legendary and poetic narratives, the moral and spiritual content of which, is far more
important for Masons than any presumed facts, upon which the ceremonies are based.
Using a distinctive method of teaching, which it has in common with the Mysteries of
Ancient Egypt and Greece, Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite, through their solemn
ceremonies, convey a spiritual message veiled in allegories and symbols, meant to address
the heart rather than the intellect, and which in order to be transmitted properly require
from its recipients personal participation, patience and perseverance.
The Scottish Rite rituals span a long period of human history, covering episodes some of
which are supposed to have taken place thousands of years ago in Ancient Israel, Egypt or
Babylon, others at the time of Jesus Christ, others during the Crusades, and still other which
provide the legendary link between Knights Templar and Speculative Masonry.
The Masonic ritual in the Scottish Rite Degrees, performed like a theatre play, with each
actor performing his part, reinforced by attractive music, the use of dazzling costumes,
elaborate paraphernalia, fantastic decorations and dramatic light effects, where the
unprepared, ignorant candidate is himself part of the cast, and is made to play a central role
in the ceremony, greatly contributes in creating that favourable emotional climate whereby
the recipient is most likely to best feel and understand the secret message which each
degree is meant to convey.
In opposition to the Craft Lodge ritual, which is as simple and stately as the Gothic style
of Medieval Cathedrals, so is the ritual in the Scottish Rite Degrees as rich, varied and
ornate as the 18th century Baroque Architecture.
Truth is one but can be reached from many sides, it is like the many facets of a diamond.
Craft Masonry, Scottish Rite and York Rite are like different roads leading to the same
place.
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Masonic ceremonies have but one aim : to maintain our enthusiasm, to excite our
intellectual curiosity, and to awaken our reflections, in order to help us to understand and
assimilate those important spiritual truths and moral virtues, which extend beyond the
grave, beyond time and space, through the boundless realms of eternity ...
Are we not indeed, very tiny creatures living in a vast world and universe, that exceed by
far our intellectual capacity and the limits of our short lives as mortals ?
Jacques.huyghebaert@gmail.com