33 Degrees of Masonry
The “33 degrees of masonry” refers to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, an appendant body of Freemasonry that confers honorary degrees from the 4th to the 32nd, culminating in the 33rd degree, the Sovereign Grand Inspector General. This final degree is not earned through service or study but is an honor bestowed by the Supreme Council upon members for outstanding contributions to the craft and humanity.
What it means to be a 33rd Degree Mason:
- It is an honorary title: You cannot apply for or work your way up to the 33rd degree; it is a prestigious award given by the Supreme Council.
- It recognizes outstanding service: Recipients are recognized for their selfless work and dedication to the fraternity and their communities.
- It is a leadership position: 33rd Degree Masons are given leadership roles within the Scottish Rite and serve as honorary members of the Supreme Council.
Key distinctions to remember:
- Not the “highest rank”: While an honorable degree, the 3rd degree (Master Mason) is the highest rank in the fundamental Masonic system, and the 33rd degree is an honorary title within an extension of Freemasonry, the Scottish Rite.
- It is not a prerequisite for any other rank: All degrees in the Scottish Rite, including the 32nd, are supplemental to the foundational three degrees of the basic Masonic system.
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a rite within the broader context of Freemasonry. It is the most widely practiced Rite in the world. In some parts of the world, and in the Droit Humain, it is a concordant body and oversees all degrees from the 1st to 33rd degrees, while in other areas it is deemed an appendant body with a Supreme Council that oversees the 4th to 33rd degrees.
It is most commonly referred to as the Scottish Rite. Sometimes, as in England and Australia, it is called the Rose Croix, though this is just one of its degrees, and is not to be confused with other Masonic related Rosicrucian societies such as the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia. Its name may vary slightly in various jurisdictions and constitutions. For example, the English and Irish Constitutions omit the word Scottish.
Master Masons from other rites may, in some countries, join the Scottish Rite’s upper degrees starting from the 4th degree due to its popularity. This Rite builds upon the ethical teachings and philosophy offered in the Craft (or Blue) Lodge through dramatic presentations of its individual degrees. The term “Blue Lodge” refers to the first three degrees of Masonry, regardless of the Rite being practiced. In the Scottish Rite system, the first three degrees are considered Blue Lodge degrees rather than “Red Lodge”.
