BOOK OF THE SCOTTISH RITE 40 -32~ Adopted and authorized by The United Supreme Council of The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Prince Hall Affiliation) for the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States of America and The United Supreme Council of The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Prince Hall Affiliation) for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America Revision of 1946 INTRODUCTION This Book of the Scottish Rite is the result of a joint under- taking by the United Supreme Councils of the Ancient and Ac- cepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Prince Hall Affiliation) for the Northern and Southern Jurisdictions of the United States of America. It is a revision of the official ritual from the 40 to the 320, inclusive, heretofore adopted and used by these respective Jurisdictions. This revision is the work of a Joint Committee repre- senting both Supreme Councils. The purpose is to place in the hands of those officers of the subordinate bodies charged with the responsibility of conferring these degrees, a work better adapted to present day requirements. NOTE: This book is the property of the Supreme Council by This book is essentially an abridgment. Drastic innovations have whom it is issued. The officer to whom it is issued must sign and been avoided, and no violence has been done to the philosophy or send to the Secretary General a receipt for the same upon forms to the basic content of the degrees. Neither has ther~e been any furnished for the purpose. Such officer will be held to personal re- fundamental departure from the traditions of the Ancient and Ac- sponsibility for this book as long as his receipt for it is outstanding. cepted Scottish Rite. Allegories have been inLerpolated as addi- tional sections to certain degrees, the better to dramatize the lessons inculcated. The use of these interpolations, however, is optional. While strict adherence to this revised ritual will be obligatory in conferring the degrees, it is contemplated that the older work will continue to be a reference book to which recourse may be had for a fuller exploration of the degrees. A repetition here of certain official statements of the two Su- preme Councils concerned seems advisable: While the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite include the Entered Ap- prentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason; yet, in the United States, all authority over these degrees by Supreme Councils is waived, and they are exclusively administered by the Blue or Sym- bolic Lodges, working under the jurisdiction of Grand Lodges and the representative system. In some other countries, the first three degrees are given in Lodges of Perfection. The degrees conferred under the auspices and authority of these two Supreme Councils of the Prince Hall Affiliation begin with the Fourth Degree—Secret Master. Any regular and worthy Master Mason in good standing and having required residential qualifications is eligible to reception into the Scottish Rite series, beginning with that degree. [3J 4 INTRODUOT [ON The following formula is required in the declaration either of opening or closing an assemblage in the Ancient and 4ccepted Scottish Rite; or in the citation of authority to do any official act: “To the glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe—in the name and under the auspices of the United Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the 33d and last Degree, of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (Prince Hall Affiliation) to which this Body owes allegiance, and by virtue of the power invested in me as . I hereby declare,” etc. SECOND SERIES FIRST SERIES INEFFABLE DEGREES The symbolic degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft or or THZ Companion and Master Mason are conferred in a Symbolic Lodge in the United States, as already indicated, and reference to them ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE here is not deemed essential. 40 ~j40 4 [5] ‘4 FOURTH DEGREE—SECRET MASTER The Ineffable degrees are enumerated in the following order: 4. Secret Master; 5. Perfect Master; p. 6. Intimate Secretary; DIACRAM OF LODGE OF PERFECTION 7. Provost and Judge; 8. Intendant of the Building; 9. Elect of Nine; ~‘A I 10. Elect of Fifteen; iv I~iIicZ~ 11. Sublime Elect of Twelve; 12. Grand Master Architect; ~~i1c1’ 13. Royal Arch of Enoch; N47~ 14. Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason. Unless it is expressly stated to the contrary, the officers of a Lodge ~it~ilcr of the Ineffable degrees are: 4 1. Thrice Potent Master; 2. Deputy Master; ~:~ 3. Venerable Senior Warden; I’.-’F71 I0I m 4. Venerable Junior Wardeu; I—I V [!i 5. Orator; L~J 6. Hospitaler; 7. Treasurer; 8. Secretary and Keeper of the Seal; 9. Master of Ceremonies; I~IIst 10. Captain of the Guard; 11. Organist; 12. Tyler. E~z A *~ This degree originated with King Solomon, immediately after the assassination of Hiram Abiff. King Solomon selected seven of ~ dJ the most worthy and expert Brothers from the Craft, and appointed .4 -Op them guardians of the Sanctum Sanctorum, and of the sacred furniture of the Holy place. They were called Secret Masters, and in due time were advanced to a higher degree, and as vacancies were thus created, others were elected to fill their places. [61 [7~ ¼ 4 S FOURTH DEGREE FOURTH DEGREE 9 DECORATIONS, OFFICERS, CLOTHING, ETC. K OPENING A Lodge of Secret Masters represents the Holy place or Sanctuary of 7’. P.—+ (C. of G. and M. of C. rise.) Brother Captain of the the temple, and is hung in black, strewed with white tears, and contains ‘-4’ 1 Guard, are all present Secret Masters? the brazen layer of water, with napkins and bunch of hyssop; tbe seven- 14 branch candlestick, which is lighted in the East. All the jewels are in C. of 0. examines and reports. erape, as the Lodge is in mourning for the Grand Master, Iliram Abiff. 1~3 The furniture also is draped in black. C: of G.—All present are Secret Masters, Thrice Potent. ~1t 7’. P.—Your station and duty? Within the Lodge is represented the Sanctum Sanctorum of King ~1 Solomon’s Temple, which contains the ark of the covenant, with its +‘4, 4 C. of G..—In the North, to see that the Holy place is duly furniture; the ten golden candlesticks; the tablets of? the law; the altar guarded. of incense; the table of shew-bread; the pillar of beauty, veiled; the 7’. P.—How are we guarded? Enochian pillar; a delta, etc. 4 Before the entrance to the Sanctum Sanctorum, are the two brazen C. of G.—By a Secret Master at the entrance to this Holy place. columns; at the door (which must have two leaves) are four small col- 7’. P.—Attend to your duties and inform the Guard that we are umns, to which wires are attached, on which run hangings of four colors— about to open a Lodge of Secret Masters. white, blue, purple and crimson. Over the East is a large circle enclosing three luminous triangles interlaced, forming nine beams, with a blazing C. of 0. stations his guard. star in the center; in the center of the star, a Yod; on the nine points ~t C. of G.—Thrice Potent, your order has been obeyed. of the triangles, the letters E, A, J, J, Y, A, 0, A, H, initials of Eloah, Adonai, Jehovah, Jahve, Yod, Achar, Osee, Alom, and Hagios. 7’. P.—Brother Master of Ceremonies, your place and duty? The Thrice Potent represents King Solomon; is dressed in black 111. of C.—In the North, to see that the brethren are duly clothed; rqbes, bordered with ermine, etc., and holds ~ scepter in his hand. He [9’ to prepare all candidates, and to conduct them to the Holy place. wears a wide blue ribbon from right to left, to which is attached a 7’. P.~4oI.u (Inspector rises.) Brother Adoniram, are you a triangle of gold. On thetable in front of him are the apron, collar, gloves Secret Master? and jewels of this degree, and a white robe; also a wreath of olive and [*1 I 1.—I have passed from the square to the compass extended to laurel. The Inspector (Senior Warden) is seated in the West. He wears a seven degrees. sword, cap, white robe, apron, collar, gloves, and jewel of the degree. 7’. P.—What are you taught as a Secret Master? All the officers are clothed the same as the Senior Warden, with their 1.—The duty of Secrecy and Silence. appropriate jewels. 7’. P.—What is the hour? Officers :—Thriee Potent Master; Inspector (Senior Warden); Master fl’ of Ceremonies; Secretary; Orator; Captain of the Guard; and Tyler. K 1.—The morning star has driven away the shades of niglit, and Clothing :—During a reception, all present except the officers wear tbe great light begins to gladden our Lodge. long black robes, with hood, and white gloves turned over, with black 14 7’. P.—As tbe morning star is the forerunner of the great light at th~’ wrists. which begins to shine on our Lodge, and we are all Secret Masters, Apron:—Triangular shape, white, bordered with black, with blue flap; IW’K it is time to commence our labors. on the flap a golden eye; on the apron the letter Z, within a wreath of ‘A olive and laurel. WI, Collar :—Wide white ribbon, bound with black, at the bottom a black rosette, to which is fastened the jewel. Jewel :—An ivory key, with the letter Z on the wards. Whoso draweth nigh to the contemplation of the Ineffable mys- Hours of Work :—From dawn to close of day.