Classification of Masonic Rites and Non-Masonic Rites can be a complex task due to the numerous variations and traditions within the fraternity. However, for the purpose of simplifying understanding and organization, the following categorization can be applied, strictly relevant to this website:
(a) Craft Masonry and Associated Rites/Orders: This category includes the traditional, entry-level form of Freemasonry, also known as the “Blue Lodge,” as well as related orders such as, but not limited to, the Royal Arch and Mark Masonry.
(b) Ancient & Associated Scottish Rite: This category encompasses the additional degrees and teachings of the Scottish Rite, which is considered to be an extension of Craft Masonry.
(c) Ancient & Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraim (Mizraim): This category includes the degrees and teachings of the Memphis-Misraim Rite, which is considered to be an independent system of Freemasonry and in some jurisdictions, as clandestine.
(d) Other Masonic Rites: This category includes other systems of Freemasonry that do not fit into the previous categories, such as Prince Hall, Co-Masonry (for Men & Women) and the Rite of Mithras.
(e) Defunct Rites: This category includes systems of Freemasonry that are no longer in active practice.
(f) Other Non-Masonic Rites: This category includes fraternal organizations that are NOT considered to be Masonic, such as the Illuminati (which are NOT Masonic).
• Craft Masonry, also known as the Blue Lodge, is the foundation of Freemasonry and is the first level of initiation. It is based on the medieval stonemasons’ guilds, and its members are referred to as “Craftsmen” or “Brethren.” The core teachings of Craft Masonry are centered around the principles of brotherhood, charity, and truth. The three degrees of Craft Masonry are the Entered Apprentice, the Fellowcraft, and Master Mason.
• The York Rite is a collection of separate Masonic degrees and orders that are grouped together under the York Rite name. It is one of two main branches of Freemasonry in the United States, the other being the Scottish Rite. The York Rite is divided into three branches: the Capitular, the Cryptic, and the Chivalric. The Capitular branch includes the degrees of Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch Mason. The Cryptic branch includes the degrees of Royal Master, Select Master, and Super Excellent Master. The Chivalric branch includes the orders of the Knight of the Red Cross, the Knight of Malta, and the Knight Templar.
• The Scottish Rite is a branch of Freemasonry that is focused on the philosophical, spiritual, and esoteric aspects of the fraternity. It is divided into two main jurisdictions in the United States, the Northern and Southern Jurisdiction. The Northern Jurisdiction, which is the larger of the two, is divided into 33 degrees, with the 4th to the 32nd degrees being conferred by a Lodge of Perfection, while the 33rd degree is awarded by the Supreme Council. The Southern Jurisdiction, on the other hand, is divided into 33 degrees, with the 4th to the 32nd degrees being conferred by a Lodge of Perfection, while the 33rd degree is awarded by the Supreme Council. The degrees in the Scottish Rite emphasize teachings on the principles of morality and the development of character, with a focus on the history, symbolism, and philosophy of the fraternity. Some of the most well-known degrees in the Scottish Rite include the Master of the Royal Secret, the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, and the Knight of the Sun.
• The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraim (Mizraim) is a form of masonry that is considered to be one of the “higher degrees” of Freemasonry as well as being ‘clandestine’ in some jurisdictions. It is based on the teachings of the Egyptian god Thoth and is sometimes considered to be an extension of the Scottish Rite. The Rite includes a total of 95, 97 or 99 degrees (depending on the jurisdiction), which are divided into three main sections: the first section, which includes the first 25 degrees, focuses on the teachings of Thoth and the Egyptian mysteries; the second section, which includes the next 25 degrees, focuses on the teachings of the ancient Egyptians and the mysteries of the pyramids; and the final section, which includes the remaining degrees, focuses on the teachings of the ancient Egyptians and the mysteries of the pharaohs. The Rite is also divided into two main jurisdictions.
• Non-Masonic rites refer to fraternal organizations that are not affiliated with Freemasonry but share similar characteristics, such as the use of ritual and symbolism. These groups may have originated from Masonic influences or may have developed independently. Examples of non-masonic rites include the Bavarian Illuminati, which was a secret society founded in Bavaria in the late 1700s. It was created by Adam Weishaupt, a professor of law at the University of Ingolstadt. It is important to note that the Bavarian Illuminati is not a Masonic Rite, as it is not a part of the fraternity of Freemasonry and its teachings and practices are not related to Freemasonry. These groups often have different beliefs, practices, and membership requirements than Freemasonry. It is worth noting that, while some non-masonic rites may have similar ritual elements to Freemasonry, they are not considered to be Masonic and have their own distinct history and traditions.
• Quick Note: The York Rite is commonly referred to as ‘Craft Masonry’. Why use the word Craft? One could say Craft is the skill developed, applied, and made manifest through practice and discipline of skill in the fabrication of a work of art or betterment of one’s self. It usually aligns with the perfectionism of skill or knowledge. And no, it does NOT mean witchcraft, just in case those pesky conspiracy theorists try to twist these words.
Get ready to embark on an exciting journey as we delve into the captivating realm of Masonic Rites and Regalia. So, pour yourself a drink, kick back, and let’s begin.
ANTIENT & ACCEPTED 1ST° DEGREE – the entered apprentice
In Craft Masonry, there are 3 main degrees:
• The 1st° degree which is named “The Entered Apprentice”.
• The 2nd° degree is named “Fellow Craft” and
• The 3rd° degree which is named the “Master Mason”.
The 1st° degree – “The Entered Apprentice”.
Coming from the darkness, you have been accepted into Freemasonry, and it’s now time for you to officially be initiated. You go through the 1st Degree initiation ceremony, after which you will be an Entered Apprentice. At this point, you are now a Freemason of a Junior rank.
Kabbalistic and Esoteric Interpretation of the 1st° Degree
• An ‘Initiation’, or ‘rebirth’
• Blind-folded, you were led around the Lodge, after assenting to a few questions, you took an obligation
• Hoodwink removed, transitioning from a state of internal
darkness and external light to that of light all over!
• This was your symbolic re-birth: an “initiation”
• The first objects to which your attention was directed were
the three great, emblematical Lights in Freemasonry
• You were imparted lessons of morality, primary duties, and
responsibilities
• This phase is youth when you acquire useful knowledge to set you on a path of fulfillment
• In 1st Degree, Divine Spirit, Soul, and Body represented by 3
equally-paced knocks, show the separation of the Soul from the Spirit and the absence of union between the Soul and Body
Duties are:
• Understand the meaning of the (Symbolic) working tools.
• The working tools are (a) the 24 Inch Gauge and (b) the Common Gavel.
Work to be done:
• Divide your day into the following time frames
(a) Eight hours for the service of God and a distressed worthy brother;
(b) Eight for your vocation (work), and;
(c) Eight for refreshment and sleep.
Important Symbols:
• The 24 Inch Gauge and;
• The Common Gavel.
‘The Entered Apprentice’
To consider:
The Common Gavel: An “Ashlar” is a stone. The Common Gavel was used by Entered Apprentice operative (real) stone masons to break the corners off of a rough stone (rough ashlar) to better craft them to the builder’s purpose…to lay a true and correct foundation of a building.
Without “perfect ashlars with which to lay your personal foundation, your building cannot be laid out on the square (horizontally), nor be perfectly plumbed, upright (vertically).
Each and every foundation (whether it be an actual building, or that building not made with hands…which is You), must use both the square and the plumb (in perfect alignment with each other) or it will be viewed as shoddy work and subject to falling back down into a pile of rubble.
As an Entered Apprentice Mason, you will begin to remove these rough edges and shape your character so as to “divest your heart and conscience of all the vices and superfluities (excesses) of life”.
The 1st Degree Tracing Board
The tracing board, first and foremost, presents before our eyes the working Temple itself viewed, importantly, from a particular location within the entrance to the Lodge: the South-West. Each time that we open the tracing board is also a sign that the Temple is open for the Lodge to work as Freemasons.
In essence, the Ruapehu Lodge of Research writes:
“While the Tracing Board today, is looked upon on as an ornament in the Lodgeroom, which has various designs for the Brethren to moralize upon, the main aim of a Tracing Board as used by operatives was to lay out the plan and design for the building to be constructed. We find they were in use in the old Middle East countries long before King Solomon’s Temple was planned and constructed. For example, when called upon to erect a building, Persian craftsmen worked out their scheme for the building, on a sectional lined tracing board, divided into squares by horizontal and vertical lines, each square representing either one of the four bricks”.
“The Persians used to construct their bricks in a square shape, not in oblongs as we know bricks today. Their Tracing Board was laid on the floor of their workroom so that it was possible to erect a workable model before construction on the main building commenced. If the plans were sufficiently valuable to preserve them, they were copied on a stiff paper or parchment and done up into a roll which sometimes extended out as far as 20 feet. The roll was then finished off with a piece of leather with a thong attached, this thong being long enough to bind around the roll several times and then to be tied. This type of roll seems to have been used for both the ease of carrying or for the ease of hiding should the occasion arise”.
“Parchments do not appear to have been made into books until Roman times. A System of squared boards appears to have been passed on to the Egyptians, who were great builders in stone, particularly in the construction of pyramids, and that great wonder of the world, the Sphinx. Not only did the Egyptians use the Boards for sculpture and stonecutting, but also for their form of painting. There is also evidence that a similar method of recording plans was used in India”.
Sources:
http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/first-degree-tracing-board.html
http://lodgeofresearch.com/papers/18_david.html
https://www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/