Degree Structure in the United States
and Canada
Attainment of the third Masonic degree, that of a Master Mason,
represents the attainment of the highest rank in all of Masonry. Additional degrees are sometimes referred to as
appendant degrees, even where the degree numbering might imply a hierarchy. They represent a lateral movement in
Masonic Education rather than an upward movement, and are degrees of instruction rather than
rank.
In 2000, the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction completed a revision
of its ritual scripts. In 2004, the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction rewrote and reorganized its
degrees.[29] Further changes have occurred in
2006.[30] The current titles of the degrees and
their arrangement in the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States remains substantially unchanged from the
beginning. The list of degrees for the Supreme Councils of Australia, England and Wales, and most other
jurisdictions agrees with that of the Southern Jurisdiction of the U.S. However, the list of degrees for the
Northern Jurisdiction of the United States is now somewhat different and is given in the table below. The list
of degrees of the Supreme Council of Canada reflects a mixture of the two, with some unique titles as
well:
The 18th Degree Rose Croix is the primary symbol of the Rosicrucian Degrees.
Degree Number |
Southern
Jurisdiction[31] |
Northern
Jurisdiction[32] |
Canada[33] |
4° |
Secret Master |
Master Traveler |
Secret Master |
5° |
Perfect Master |
6° |
Intimate Secretary |
Master of the Brazen Serpent |
Intimate Secretary |
7° |
Provost and Judge |
8° |
Intendant of the
Building |
9° |
Elu of the Nine |
Master of the Temple |
Elect of the Nine |
10° |
Elu of the Fifteen |
Master Elect[34] |
Elect of the Fifteen |
11° |
Elu of the Twelve |
Sublime Master Elected |
Elect of the Twelve |
12° |
Master Architect |
Grand Master
Architect |
13° |
Royal Arch of Solomon |
Master of the Ninth Arch |
Royal Arch of Solomon |
14° |
Perfect Elu |
Grand Elect Mason |
Grand Elect Perfect and Sublime
Mason |
15° |
Knight of the East, or
Knight of the Sword, or
Knight of the Eagle |
Knight of the East, or
Knight of the Sword |
16° |
Prince of Jerusalem |
17° |
Knight of the East and
West |
18° |
Knight Rose Croix |
Knight of the Rose Croix de
Heredom |
Knight Rose Croix |
19° |
Grand Pontiff |
20° |
Master of the Symbolic Lodge |
Master ad Vitam |
21° |
Noachite, or
Prussian Knight |
Patriarch Noachite |
22° |
Knight of the Royal Axe, or
Prince of Libanus |
Prince of Libanus |
23° |
Chief of the
Tabernacle |
24° |
Prince of the Tabernacle |
Brother of the Forest |
Prince of the Tabernacle |
25° |
Knight of the Brazen Serpent |
Master of Achievement |
Knight of the Brazen Serpent |
26° |
Prince of Mercy, or
Scottish Trinitarian |
Friend and Brother Eternal[35] |
Prince of Mercy |
27° |
Knight of the Sun, or
Prince Adept |
Knight of Jerusalem |
Commander of the Temple |
28° |
Knight Commander of the Temple |
Knight of the Sun, or
Prince Adept |
Knight of the Sun |
29° |
Scottish Knight of Saint Andrew |
Knight of Saint
Andrew |
30° |
Knight Kadosh,
or
Knight of the White and Black Eagle |
Grand Inspector |
Knight Kadosh |
31° |
Inspector Inquisitor |
Knight Aspirant |
Inspector Inquisitor Commander |
32° |
Master of the Royal Secret |
Sublime Prince of the Royal
Secret |
33° |
Inspector General |
In the United States, members of the Scottish Rite can be
elected to receive the 33° by the Supreme Council. It is conferred on members who have made major contributions to
society or to Masonry in general. In the Southern Jurisdiction, a member who has been a 32° Scottish Rite Mason for
46 months or more is eligible to be elected to receive the "rank and decoration" of Knight Commander of the Court
of Honour (K.C.C.H.) in recognition of outstanding service. After 46 months as a K.C.C.H. he is then eligible to be
elected to the 33rd degree, upon approval of the Supreme Council and Grand Commander.[36] In the Northern Jurisdiction, there is
only one 46-month requirement for eligibility to receive the 33rd degree, and while there is a Meritorious
Service Award (as well as a Distinguished Service Award), they are not required intermediate steps towards the
33°. A recipient of the 33rd Degree is an honorary member of the Supreme Council and is therefore called an
"Inspector General Honorary." However, those who are appointed Deputies of the Supreme Council that are later
elected to membership on the Supreme Council are then designated "Sovereign Grand Inspectors General." In the
Northern Jurisdiction a recipient of the 33rd Degree is an honorary member of the Supreme Council, and all
members are referred to as a "Sovereign Grand Inspectors General."
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