There's More To Masonry Than 3 Degrees

Interested in Learning About More Light in Masonry?

The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is commonly known as the Scottish Rite it is one of several groups that are part of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. The Scottish Rite is the largest and most widely practiced Masonic Rite in the world and employs a Lodge system.

It is our mission to improve its members and enhance the communiites in which they live by teaching and emulating the principals of Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth while actively embracing high soical, moral, and spiritual values inclding fellowship, compassion, and dedication to Gold, family and country.

There's A Lot More.

While there is no Masonic degree more important than that of Mason Mason, there is a long tradition - almost as old as Freemasonry - of "high degrees" that expand upon and elaborate the teachings and lessons of the first three degrees. The Scottish Rite degrees teach a series of moral lessons culminating in the 32°, Master of the Royal Secret.

The Scottish Rite continues a Master Mason's education in many ways:

  • 4°-32° Degree work
  • Leadership conferences
  • Publishing Masonic books
  • Speakers at meetings
  • Scottish Rite Journal
  • Scottish Rite Research Society

The Scottish Rite is a Masonic organization that continues a Master Mason's education of the first three degrees. We are known as the University of Freemasonry. The Scottish Rite consists of the 4th through 32nd Degree.

Scottish Rite Creed

Human progress is our cause,
liberty of thought our supreme wish,
freedom of conscience our mission,
and the guarantee of equal rights to all people everywhere our ultimate goal.

Mission Statement

It is the mission of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ, to improve its members and enhance the communities in which they live by teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth, while actively embracing high social, moral, and spiritual values, including fellowship, compassion, and dedication to God, family, and country.

Our Requirements

To join the Scottish Rite you must:

  • Be a Master Mason in good standing in a regular lodge
  • Complete a petition and include the appropriate fee
  • Attend a "Reunion" where the Scottish Rite Degrees are conferred
There's more in Masonry than 3 Degrees

What are Supreme Council, Orients & Valleys?

The governing body of the Scottish Rite is the Supreme Council. It is composed of active and deputy members of the 35 states and several overseas jurisdictions that make up the Southern Jurisdiction.

Each state or jurisdiction that belongs to the Southern Jurisdiction is called an Orient. The local Scottish Rite body is called a Valley. Each Valley has up to four Scottish Rite bodies, and each body confers a set of degrees.

In the Southern Jurisdiction these are:

  • Lodge of Perfection (4°-14°)
  • Chapter of Rose Croix (15°-18°)
  • Council of Kadosh (19°-30°)
  • Consistory (31°-32°)

the Supreme Council confers the 33rd Degree of Sovereign Grand Inspector General.

North Carolina Scottish Rite Valleys

The Scottish Rite is one of the appendant bodies of Freemasonry that a Master Mason may join. North Carolina is home to nine Scottish Rite Valleys.