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MASONIC DEGREES STRUCTURE
BLUE LODGE
(Craft Lodge or Symbolic Lodge)
This is starting point for all men who wish to become Masons. The Blue Lodge
confers the following degrees:
1.
Entered Apprentice
2.
Fellowcraft
3.
Master Mason
There are three branches of Freemasonry in which
a Master Mason (Third Degree) may proceed after he has completed the three
degrees of Symbolic or Blue Lodge Masonry. There are Masonic organizations
where their degrees are in addition to and in no way "higher" than
Blue Lodge degrees. Their work amplifies and elaborates on the lessons of the
Craft.
The 3rd Degree, that of the Master Mason, is the highest
degree the can be given in all of Freemasonry.
These bodies acknowledge also that interruption of a member's Symbolic Lodge
standing automatically interrupts his membership in these bodies whether his
rank or honors he may have.
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ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH
RITES
After the Blue Lodge, a Master Mason may receive
further teachings through the Scottish Rite. The Scottish Rite can confer an
additional 30 degrees to the Master Mason. They are divided as follows in the
Northern Jurisdiction of the United States. The Southern Jurisdiction is
organized differently and has a few different names for some of these degrees.
Northern Jurisdiction
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Southern Jurisdiction
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Lodge of Perfection
4° - 14°
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Degrees
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4° - Secret Master
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5° - Perfect Master
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6° - Intimate Secretary
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7° - Provost and Judge
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8° - Intendant of the Building
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9° - Master Elect of the Nine
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10° - Master Elect of the Fifteen
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11° - Sublime Master Elected
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12° - Grand Master Architect
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13° - Master of the Ninth Arch
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14° - Grand Elect Mason
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Lodge of Perfection
4° - 14°
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Degrees
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4° - Secret Master
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5° - Perfect Master
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6° - Intimate Secretary
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7° - Provost and Judge
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8° - Intendant of the Building
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9° - Elu of the Nine
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10° - Elu of the Fifteen
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11° - Elu of the Twelve
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12° - Master Architect
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13° - Royal Arch of Solomon
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14° - Perfect Elu
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Council,
Princes of Jerusalem
15° - 16°
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Degrees
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15° - Knight of the East or Sword
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16° - Prince of Jerusalem
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Chapter
of Rose Croix
15° - 18°
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Degrees
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15° - Knight of the East of the Sword
or of the Eagle
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16° - Prince of Jerusalem
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17° - Knight of the East and West
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18° - Knight of the Rose Croix
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Chapter
of Rose Croix
17° - 18°
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Degrees
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17° - Knight of the East and West
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18° - Knight of the Rose Croix of HR
D.M.
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Council
of Kadosh
19° - 30°
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Degrees
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19° - Pontiff
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20° - Master of the Symbolic Lodge
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21° - Noachite, or Prussian Knight
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22° - Knight of the Royal Ax, Prince
of Libanus
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23° - Chief of the Tabernacle
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24° - Prince of the Tabernacle
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25° - Knight of the Brazen Serpent
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26° - Prince of Mercy
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27° - Knight Commander of the Temple
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28° - Knight of the Sun, Adept
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29° - Scottish Knight of St. Andrew
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30° - Knight Kadosh or Knight of the
Black and White Eagle
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Consistory
19° - 32°
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Degrees
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19° - Grand Pontiff
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20° - Master ad Vitam
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21° - Patriarch Noachite
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22° - Prince of Libanus
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23° - Chief of the Tabernacle
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24° - Prince of the Tabernacle
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25° - Knight of the Brazen Serpent
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26° - Prince of Mercy
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27° - Commander of the Temple
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28° - Knight of the Sun
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29° - Knight of St. Andrew
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30° - Grand Elect Knight Kadosh
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31° - Grand Inspector Inquisitor
Commander
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| 32°
- Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret |
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Consistory
31° - 32°
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Degrees
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31° - Inspector Inquisitor
Commander
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32° - Master of the Royal Secret
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Honorary Achievement
33°
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Degrees
33° - Sovereign Grand Inspector General
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Honorary Achievement
33°
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Degrees
33° - Sovereign Grand Inspector General
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An honorary 33rd° is conferred annually to
certain 32nd° masons who have exemplified, in their daily lives, the true
meaning of the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. The recipient
must be at least 33 years of age and may not apply for the degree.
Although the Scottish Rite degrees are numbered,
it is not to imply that masons who have achieved these degrees are of
"higher" rank. The highest degree in Freemasonry is the sublime degree
of Master Mason or 3° which is given in the Blue Lodge.
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YORK RITE
The York Rite is another organization that can
give provide additional Masonic teachings and confer additional degrees. The
York Rite is Christian in nature and is organized as follows:
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Chapter
of Royal Arch Masons
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Degrees
Mark Master
Past Master (Some Areas)
Most Excellent master
Royal Arch
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Council
of Royal & Select Masters (Cryptic)
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Degrees
Royal Master
Select Master
Super Excellent Master
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Commandery
of Knights Templar
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Degrees
Order of the Red Cross
Order of the Knights of Malta
Order of the Knights Templar
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ANCIENT ARABIC ORDER OF NOBLES
OF THE MISTIC SHRINE
As of July 2000, any Master Mason can now
petition to join The Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, or
A.A.O.N.M.S.
The Shrine grew out of Freemasonry over a century
ago and is meant to provide additional fellowship to its members through its
various clubs and other functions.
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