Appendant
Degrees
Appendant or Higher degrees are honorary branches of the masonic order to which a member may proceed after completing the principle symbolic degrees. Higher degrees allow members to continue their education to amplify and elaborate the proceeding principle degrees. The two major concordant bodies of masonry are The Scottish Rite and The York Rite systems. The higher degrees that can be attained in this Supreme Council are listed below for both men and women.
The Royal Arch Chapter gives a Master Masons further opportunities for personal improvement. The Chapter uses biblical allegories to extend and complete the many facets of the Master Mason degree. Through their many charities, the Royal Arch Masons exemplify the tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth in their daily lives.
The Order of Knights Templars is founded upon the Christian Religion and the practice of Christian virtues. The order is is made up of these degrees: The Order of the Red Cross, the Knights of Malta, and the Order of the Temple. The Order of the Red Cross has been seen as the prerequisite for the chivalric degrees, and its found in both York and Scottish Rites. The Orders of the Temple and Knight's of Malta are founded upon the traditions of the Chivalric Orders of Knighthood from the middle ages, which these degrees are known as the Chivalric degrees.
First Step into the Scottish Rite from Master Mason. The Lodge of Perfection confers the 4° through the 14°. These are commonly referred to as the Ineffable Degrees. In the 11 lessons, the candidate will observe many references, scenes, and characters which recall and amplify the three Symbolic degrees
The Chapter of Rose Croix attempts to provide the candidate with a deeper understanding of religion, philosophy, ethics, and history through a variety of complex "historical degrees". The intellectual challenges presented in these degrees are numerous, and at times overwhelming and can take years to master.
The Consistory Degrees are very different from each other in form and content. The 31° reveals the dynamic relationship that has existed for centuries between human law as a means of achieving justice and divine justice as an ideal. The 32° is a review of the degrees of the Lodge of Perfection, the Chapter of Rose Croix and the Knight's of Kadosh.
The 33° is Honorary. Those who are elected to membership of the Supreme Council are all recipients of the 33rd Degree and are honorary members of the Supreme Council, and all members are referred to as a "Sovereign Grand Inspectors General." The head of the Supreme Council is called "Sovereign Grand Commander Inspectors General." He is the highest ranking Scottish Rite officer in the Supreme Council.
Order of the Amaranth is a fraternal organization composed of Master Masons and wives, mothers, daughters, widows, sisters, nieces, aunts, or from the Order of the Eastern Star. In its teachings, the members are emphatically reminded of their duties to God, to their country, and to their fellow beings. They are urged to portray, by precept and example, their belief in the "Golden Rule" and by conforming to the virtues inherent in TRUTH, FAITH, WISDOM, and CHARITY they can prove to others the goodness promulgated by the Order.
The Heroines of Jericho is an androgynous degree conferred to Royal Arch Masons, their wives, mothers, widows, sisters, and daughters. The court derives its name from a biblical heroine of Jericho known as Rahab, who hid Israelite spies from the soldiers and thus kept her family safe when the walls of Jericho fell. The purpose of the organization is help the destitute widows and the helpless orphans; to relieve worthy distressed female travelers.
They are referred to as Dames or Ladies of Knights. Although medieval chivalry generally excluded women from most knightly chivalric Orders, the historical record proves that women actually had significant participation within the Order of Knight's Templar. Perhaps more importantly, Templar Knights and Dames were also visible public role models of tradition, culture, spirituality, ethics and humanitarian values. Through setting an example by active leadership, all of these qualities they caused to become famously known worldwide as the character of Chivalry.
This Honorary Degree is for sisters who have passed the Eastern Star, Heroines of Jericho, Ladies of Knights, and Daughters of Sphinx degrees. Those who are elected to membership of the Supreme Council can be recipients into the College of the Roses. All members are referred to as "Rose." The head of the College of Roses is referred to as "The Supreme Most Excellent Rose".
Thirty Third Degree
The Thirty Third Degree or 33° is an honorary award bestowed upon Scottish Rite Freemasons who have made major contributions and dedication to society or Freemasonry. At its annual session, the Supreme Council unanimously elects members to receive the degree. The head of the Supreme Council is referred to as The "Most Prussiant Sovereign Grand Commander"