Scottish Rite: The Masonic Journey Continues

Published on Jan 22, 2016


Welcome to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of Canada.

Men who are received into Freemasonry may soon realize that being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason is not the final destination of their personal Masonic journey. Freemasonry provides the opportunity for men of good character to become better: better contributing members of society, better husbands and fathers, better leaders, better friends and better neighbours.

Scottish Rite Freemasonry assists a Master Mason, who wishes to further examine Freemasonry, to continue his personal journey of exploration and contemplation on what it means to be a Freemason in today’s society. Scottish Rite Freemasonry provides the highway on which the Master Mason may travel throughout his lifetime.

The Scottish Rite is a system of Masonic degrees which elaborates and supplements the content of the three Craft degrees by ritual, dramas and allegory. It explores topics such as integrity, justice, brotherhood, duty, loyalty, generosity, toleration and commitment.
The history and philosophy of Masonry are developed in ceremony and drama. There is opportunity to read, to reflect and to respond - to acquire a deeper knowledge and understanding of Masonic ritual, values and symbolism.

This is the opportunity, the challenge and the reward, that the Scottish Rite presents to the Master Mason.

There are approximately 15,000 Scottish Rite Freemasons in 46 Valleys across Canada. The Scottish Rite seeks to develop in our members virtues and character which encourages men to improve their faculties for the good of the human race.

The Scottish Rite is comprised of three distinct bodies; Lodge of Perfection, Chapter of Rose Croix and the Consistory.

Lodges of Perfection confer the 4th to 14th degrees. It is to one of these lodges that a Master Mason applies for membership. The degrees continue the story of the building of King Solomon's Temple, and amplify and conclude the legend of the Master Mason degree.
Chapters of Rose Croix consist of the 15th to 18th degrees. The 15th and 16th degrees relate to the rebuilding of the Second Temple by Zerubbabel. The 17th degree is an approach to, and the 18th degree a recognition of the Christian ethic, but in universal terms, thus assisting in the building, in our hearts, of the Third Temple, not made with hands.

Consistories confer the 19th to the 32nd degrees. These degrees, often elaborate and highly dramatic, cover a variety of approaches to Masonic teaching. Some have the Crusades as a background. The 30th, 31st and 32nd degrees culminate the teachings of the Scottish Rite, and are conferred in full ritual form.

Application for membership in the Scottish Rite is open to members of any Canadian Craft Lodge who are Master Masons. Continued membership in a Craft Lodge is required to maintain membership in the Scottish Rite.

The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada (SRCF) has been funding medical research in universities and hospitals across Canada into ‘puzzles of the mind’, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neuro-degenerative ailments in the aging population and areas such as Dyslexia and Autism in children. Each year the SRCF donates approximately $400,000 to qualified researchers to continue their essential and worthwhile research across Canada.

In addition, the Foundation assists local organizations (Valleys) in starting Learning Centres for Dyslexic Children. These Centres provide free tutoring for children to help them overcome their reading difficulties and by training a growing cadre of highly skilled and dedicated tutors. Learning Centres have been licensed and are operational in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Barrie (includes Bracebridge), London, Windsor, Moncton and Halifax.

If you are a Master Mason in good standing and seeking more knowledge of the mission and symbolism of Freemasonry, a more complete interpretation of the teachings of the Craft degrees, as well as participation in a very special Fellowship and Brotherhood, we encourage you to contact us by speaking to Scottish Rite members in your Lodge, or by visiting our website at scottishritecanada.ca or call the Supreme Council Office at 905-522-0033.