Masonic Rosicrucian 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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