degrees

Acacia Lodge #1
Ancient, Accepted and Esoteric Freemasons
A.·. A.·. & E.·. F.·.

The degrees one obtains in the local Lodge
1. Entered Apprentice
2. Fellowcraft
3. Master Mason

From the Blue Lodge, the next step is the choosing of one of two "Rites" or methods of progressing further. These are the York Rite and the Scottish Rite. The Master Mason may also elect to join the Swedenborg Rite, Cagliostro Rite, Esoteric Memphis-Misraim Rite or one of the other special degrees available only to Master Masons.

The degrees one obtains in the local Chapter
4. Mark Master
5. Past Master
6. Most Excellent Master
7. Royal Master

Then one enters the Council of Royal and Select Masters
8. Royal Master
9. Select Master
10. Most Excellent Master

From there comes the Commandery of Knights Templar
11. Order of the Red Cross
12. Order of Malta
13. Order of the Temple
14. Red Cross of Constantine

In the US, the Scottish Rite consists of the two Supreme Councils of northern Jurisdiction and southern Jurisdiction. In Canada, there is only one Supreme Council and the degrees are very similar to those of the US's northern Jurisdiction. The A:. A:. & E:. F:. is independent of these two Supreme Councils and uses degrees similar to those of the southern Jurisdiction. Our "Mother Supreme Council" is the southern Jurisdiction though they consider A:. A:. & E:. F:. to be a clandestine Masonic order because we have no restrictions as to race, religion, creed or gender.

Degrees are lessons taught through allegory in the form of plays. The lessons are taken from Biblical as well as more modern historical events with cast members using costumes and makeup to look like the characters who they represent. Candidates learn the lessons by observing the presentation. In the southern Jurisdiction which is the Mother Supreme Council of the World and covers 35 states and the District of Columbia in the Continental US as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, NATO Area of Germany, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Guam, and Okinawa, the additional degrees obtained through this group include:

Lodge of Perfection
4. Secret Master
5. Perfect Master
6. Intimate Secretary
7. Provost and Judge
8. Intendant of the Building
9. Elu of the Nine
10. Elu of the Fifteen
11. Elu of the Twelve
12. Master Architect
13. Royal Arch of Solomon
14. Perfect Elu

Chapter of Rose Croix
15. Knight of the east
16. Prince of Jerusalem
17. Knight of the east and west
18. Knight of the Rose Croix

Council of Kadosh
19. Pontiff
20. Master of the Symbolic Lodge
21. Noachite, or Prussian Knight
22. Knight of the Royal Ax, or Prince of Libanus
23. Chief of the Tabernacle
24. Prince of the Tabernacle
25. Knight of the Brazen Serpent
26. Prince of Mercy
27. Knight Commander
28. Knight of the Sun, or Prince Adept
29. Scottish Knight of Saint Andrew
30. Prince Kadosh

Consistory
31. Inspector Inquisitor
32. Master of the Royal Secret

In the northern Jurisdiction, which encompasses the 15 states east of the Mississippi River and north of the Mason-Dixon Line and the Ohio River including Delaware, the arrangement and titles of the degrees differ:

Lodge of Perfection
4. Secret Master
5. Perfect Master
6. Intimate Secretary
7. Provost and Judge
8. Intendant of the Building
9. Master Elect of the Nine
10. Master Elect of the Fifteen
11. Sublime Master Elected
12. Grand Master Architect
13. Master of the Ninth Arch
14. Grand Elect Mason

Council of Princes of Jerusalem
15. Knight of the east or Sword
16. Prince of Jerusalem

Chapter of Rose Croix
17. Knight of the east and west
18. Knight of the Eagle and Pelican

Consistory
19. Grand Pontiff
20. Master ad Vitam
21. Patriarch Noachite
22. Prince of Libanus
23. Chief of the Tabernacle
24. Prince of the Tabernacle
25. Knight of the Brazen Serpent
26. Prince of Mercy
27. Commander of the Temple
28. Knight of the Sun
29. Knight of Saint Andrew
30. Grand Elect Knight Kadosh
31. Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander
32. Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret

There is only one more degree for both Jurisdictions which few obtain and that is the 33rd degree of Inspector General. This degree is conferred annually, at the meeting of the Supreme Council, upon a select number of those who have obtained their 32nd degree. These Masons must have contributed outstanding service to Freemasonry or Scottish Rite or have exemplified, in their daily lives, the true meaning of the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of the Divine. A recipient must be at least 33 years of age and may not apply for the degree.

Once a Mason has completed the degree work in the York Rite he or she becomes eligible for membership in a number of Allied Masonic Degrees. Information on these Allied Masonic Degrees is available to members who complete the York Rite degrees.

Once a Mason has completed the degree work in either the York or Scottish Rites, he or she becomes eligible for membership in a number of One of these is the Shrine which in the world of Masonry is considered to be a partying fraternity for older men. In the A:. A:. & E:. F:. the Shrine is the Egyptian equivalent of the Commandery and 32nd degree Mason. Other Appendant Masonic Bodies will be revealed to the Mason at the appropriate time.