In order to understand the Scottish Rite, it is first important to understand how lessons are taught. The Scottish Rite uses extensive drama and allegory to explore a variety of philosophical, social, and moral issues, hence, although the Scottish Rite might initially appear to draw extensively from Christian principles, in actuality, it incorporates teachings from a diverse array of religious and philosophical sources. Freemasonry is not a religion itself; instead, it employs teachings from various religions – along with moralistic, philosophical, and astrological sources – to enrich lessons within each degree, making them engaging.

Teachings from Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Mithraism, Zoroastrianism, and numerous other ancient religions can be found within Freemasonry’s tenets. Nevertheless, it does not promote religious adherence. Instead, the emphasis is placed on the lessons rather than the religion itself. This inclusive approach is why Freemasonry accepts candidates from all religious backgrounds. Therefore when one reads the following information, one must keep the above-mentioned in mind, to benefit from all information provided and appreciate the context.

The Origins of the Scottish Rite

The name “Scottish Rite” is somewhat of a misnomer as the rite was not founded in Scotland. The degrees of the Scottish Rite trace their roots to several different Masonic sources, primarily French.

The origins of the Scottish Rite are sometimes difficult to pinpoint due to missing, incomplete or damaged records. However, it is generally accepted that the Rite evolved from older Masonic Rites over a period of time in the 18th and 19th centuries.

There is however, evidence of “Scotch Masons’ Lodges” dating back to 1733 in England. This is an earlier reference than the mid-18th-century establishment of the Rite of Perfection in France, and suggests that some of the ideas and traditions that later found their way into the Scottish Rite were being developed in these lodges.

Moreover, there’s a reference to a lodge named “Scotts Masons Lodge, No. 115,” which met at the Devil Tavern in Temple Bar, London, first appearing as “Scotch Masons’ Lodge” in Dr. Richard Rawlinson’s manuscript list of lodges in 1733. This lodge continued to appear in engraved lists of lodges until 1736. However, it’s unclear what degrees or rituals were worked in this lodge, and how directly it contributed to the development of the Scottish Rite.

We should also note that one of the precursors of the Scottish Rite was the Rite of Perfection, also known as the Order of the Royal Secret, which was organized in France in the mid-18th century. This Rite consisted of 25 degrees, the highest of which was known as “Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.” It is believed that this Rite was introduced to the New World (North America) by French Masons and evolved in the United States into the Scottish Rite.

The Rite of the Philosophical Scottish Rite (Rite of Heredom) – This rite was developed in France around the same time as the Rite of Perfection. It originated from Scotland in the early 1740s and was then taken to France by the Jacobite supporters of the Stuart claim to the English throne. The rite, with its strong Templar and Rosicrucian elements, could have had an influence on the Scottish Rite as it was developed in France and exported to the Americas.

The term “Ecossais,” which means Scottish in French, appears in old French records, further suggesting a connection between Masonic activity in Scotland and the development of what became known as the Scottish Rite. Additionally, during the 17th century, many Scots, fleeing strife in the British Isles, moved to France and resumed their Masonic activities there. This historical migration might have had an influence on the development of Masonic rites in France.

Another rite mentioned in the records is the “Adonhiramite Rite” (circa 1781) as a predecessor to the Scottish Rite. The Adonhiramite Rite was a French Masonic rite of the 18th century that was known for its high degrees. Some of these degrees might have influenced the later development of the Scottish Rite’s degree system.

John Mitchell and Frederick Dalcho, two Freemasons in South Carolina, are credited with the establishment of this first Supreme Council. They expanded the existing system of 25 degrees of the Rite of Perfection to 33, creating the structure of the Scottish Rite that exists today.

Influence of Albert Pike

A crucial figure in the development of the Scottish Rite in the 19th century was Albert Pike, a 33rd degree Mason. He revised the rituals of the Scottish Rite, making them more uniform, and also expanded upon the philosophical, moralistic and symbolic interpretations of the degrees, through his most notable work being “Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,” published in 1871.

In 1813, the United Grand Lodge of England recognized the legitimacy of the Scottish Rite, which helped to promote the growth of the Rite globally. In 1855, Pike was elected to the office of Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite’s Southern Jurisdiction. He held this office until his death in 1891. His influence over the Scottish Rite was so profound that he is often considered the Rite’s seminal figure.

The Influence of Other Rites – It’s worth noting that the Scottish Rite has absorbed ideas and symbols from a wide array of other Masonic rites and orders, as well as non-Masonic sources. These include the Knights Templar, the Royal Arch, and many others. The Scottish Rite degrees are, essentially, a synthesis of Masonic thought and symbolism, designed to offer members a comprehensive Masonic education.

The Initial Rites and Degrees

Initially, the Scottish Rite was formed from the following Rites and provided the relevant degrees:

1. Rite of Perfection: The Scottish Rite, as we understand it today, evolved from a system known as the Rite of Perfection.
2. Ecossais Lodges: These lodges are also an integral part of the Scottish Rite’s heritage. They worked high degrees in the mid-18th century, including the Knight of St. Andrew or the Ecossais Master of St. Andrew.
3. Rite of Strict Observance: This was another rite influential in the development of Scottish Rite Freemasonry.

The Rite of St. Andrew, or more fully, the Order of the Knights of St. Andrew, was a chivalric order reputedly established by King Robert Bruce of Scotland after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, although historical verification of this is difficult. In a Masonic context, the “Ecossais” or Scottish lodges in France in the 18th century were working a degree named after St. Andrew, known as the “Ecossais” or Scottish Master of St. Andrew. This was a chivalric degree, continuing the tradition of Masonic knighthood that began with the Templar degrees.

In terms of how this degree and rite contributed to the formation of the Scottish Rite, we need to understand that the development of Freemasonry in the 18th century was not a systematic or centrally organized process. Rather, it was characterized by a creative explosion of degrees and rites, often drawing on chivalry and symbolism, as well as the operative stonemason traditions of Scotland and England, and the philosophical ideas of the Enlightenment.

Several rites and degree systems of this period included a degree of “Ecossais” or Scottish Master, which may have been influenced by the Rite of St. Andrew. Here is an elaborate description of the above 3 rites mentioned above:

1. The Rite of Perfection (Order of the Royal Secret): This rite included an “Ecossais” degree as the 22nd degree of its system. This rite was established in the French West Indies and then brought to the mainland of North America, where it played a significant role in the development of the Scottish Rite.
2. The “Ecossais” lodges of France: These lodges were working a variety of high degrees in the mid-18th century, including degrees of “Ecossais” or Scottish Master. Some of these degrees may have later been incorporated into the Scottish Rite.
3. The Rite of Strict Observance: This was a chivalric and Templar-focused rite that had a significant influence on European Freemasonry. It included a degree of Scottish Master, which again might have influenced the later development of the Scottish Rite.

It’s important to note that these rites were not necessarily standardized or consistent in their degree work. Two lodges both working an “Ecossais” degree might have had very different rituals. Moreover, the process of how these degrees were adapted and incorporated into the Scottish Rite is not clearly documented and is a topic of ongoing Masonic historical research.

Finally, the Scottish Rite as we know it today didn’t come into existence until the early 19th century, when the first Supreme Council was established in Charleston, South Carolina in 1801. This body took existing degrees, including those from the Rite of Perfection and likely others, and compiled them into a system of 33 degrees that includes a wide range of philosophical, moral, and symbolic teachings.

When the first Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite was founded in Charleston, South Carolina in 1801, these rites and degree systems were integrated into a cohesive system of 33 degrees, thus forming the Scottish Rite. They are as follows:

The 33 degrees of the Scottish Rite are generally grouped into four + one bodies:

1. Lodge of Perfection (4th to 14th degree)
2. Chapter of Rose Croix (15th to 18th degree)
3. Council of Kadosh (19th to 30th degree)
4. Consistory (31st to 32nd degree)
5. Honorary (32nd KCCH + 33rd Degree)

Each of these bodies covers a different set of philosophical and moral teachings, and members progress through them sequentially. The honorary degrees are just that… Honorary.

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