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Lodge of Perfection

The Degrees of the Lodge of Perfection are better known as the "Ineffable Degrees" of Scottish Rite Masonry because their principal purpose is the investigation and contemplation of the ineffable (unspeakable) name of Deity. We provide a brief statement of the moral teachings found within each degree.

	4° - Secret Master Duty, reflection and study are the gateway to opportunity. As such, one honors those relationships to God, family, country and Masonry. The apron of the 4th Degree is white and black, with a letter "Z" and all-seeing eye. The jewel of this degree is an ivory key with the letter "Z" on the wards. The duties are secrecy, obedience and fidelity.
	5° - Perfect Master The degree teaches Masonic honor; that honesty and trustworthiness is the cornerstone of the foundation of such. This virtue should be in all of our undertakings with mankind. The apron of the 5th Degree is white and green, with a cubic stone and a Hebrew YOD. The jewel is represented by a compass open on a segment of a circle, to an angle of sixty degrees. The duties are honesty, sincerity, good faith and industry.
	6° - Intimate Secretary In this degree one should expand their knowledge of duty, charity and toleration. We are instructed to reshape ourselves and our thinking into charity, self-control and success, i.e. to be a peacemaker. The apron of the 6th Degree is white and red, with Hebrew letters YOD HEH in the center and a small triangle containing the Hebrew letters (clockwise from top) BETH, NUN and SHIN. The gold triangle with the same three letters inscribed is the jewel that represents this degree. The duties are zeal, faithfulness, benevolence and to act the peacemaker.
	7° - Provost & Judge We learn that impartial justice protects person, property, happiness and reputation. We are instructed to judge with patience and impartially. The apron of the 7th Degree is white edged with red, with a key and five rosettes. The jewel is a golden key. The duty is justice.
	8° - Intendant of the Building We should strive for perfection by using the great principles of God's inherent love, charity, morality and kindness. The apron of the 8th Degree is white with red and green, with a balance, a nine-pointed star, and a triangle with the Hebrew letters BETH for Ben-Khurim; YOU for Jakinah; and ALEPH for Achar. The jewel of this Degree is a gold triangle with the same three letters. The duties are benevolence and charity.
	9° - Elu of the Nine (Elected Knight of the Nine) Truth, candor and generosity. The foundation of Scottish Rite Masonry is most reflected in this degree. We should use these truths to shape our lives and conduct. The apron of the 9th Degree is white, lined with black and sprinkled with blood, with an arm holding a dagger and a severed head held by the hair. The jewel of this degree is a dagger, hilt of gold and blade of silver. The duties are enlightenment of soul and mind, vigilance, tolerance and being on guard for fanaticism and persecution.
	10° - Elu of the Fifteen (Illustrious Elect of the Fifteen) This degree teaches us to be tolerant and respect the opinions of others. Freedoms of political and spiritual ideologies should be shared by all. The apron of the 10th Degree is white, with a black flap with three arch-shaped gates, over each a head on a spike. The jewel of this degree is a dagger as in the 9th Degree. The duties are enlightenment of soul and mind, vigilance, tolerance and being on guard for fanaticism and persecution.
	11° - Elu of the Twelve (Sublime Knight Elect of the Twelve) This degree teaches sympathy. We should be compassionate to our brother Masons and to all mankind as well. The apron of the 11th Degree is white, lined with black, with a flaming heart in the center. The jewel is a dagger suspended from a black cordon inscribed with the words "Vincere aut Mori" the pledge "that you will rather die than betray the cause of the people, or be overcome through your own fear or fault". The duties are to be earnest, true, reliable and a champion of the people.
	12° - Master Architect This degree teaches faith in morality, virtue and God. "Life is what each man makes of it; the optimist turns a trial into a blessing". The apron of the 12th Degree consists of a white outer shell lined with blue and gold, symbolizing the Craft Degrees, with a protractor, plain scale, sector and compasses. The jewel is a heptagonal medal of gold. The duty is to seek wisdom through knowledge.
	13° - Royal Arch of Solomon (Knight of the Ninth Arch) Liberty in our mind and hearts and motivated by duty and honor are the lessons of this degree. The apron of the 13th Degree is purple, bordered with white and with the "Enochian delta" (hexagram with inscribed Tetragrammation) in the center. The jewel comprises a circular medal of gold. The duties are to seek knowledge and to be motivated by duty and honour.
	VIRTUS JUNXIT MORS NON SEPARABIT "whom virtue unites death shall not separate" 14° - Perfect Elu (Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason) This degree teaches us to reflect and scrutinize ourselves. We should strive to be true to ourselves and our God. The apron being of white silk, bordered in gold with the Ineffable Delta in the Center, is truly emblematical of the degree. The jewel of the 14th Degree is split; one being a quadrant (compass open to ninety degrees) topped by a crown and with a nine-pointed star on the obverse; the other being a five-pointed blazing star with the Tetragrammaton on the reverse. The compass is opened on a segment of a circle inscribed with the numbers 3, 5, 7, 9. The duties are to assist, encourage and defend the brethren; to protect the oppressed and relieve want and distress; to enlighten the people and serve the common good.

Chapter of Rose Croix

The Chapter of Rose Croix attempts to provide the candidate with a deeper understanding of religion, philosophy, ethics and history though a variety of complex "historical degrees". The intellectual challenges presented in these degrees are numerous, at times overwhelming, and can take years to master. A thorough reading of the chapters related to them in Morals and Dogma and in Legenda and Readings is essential to achieve even a basic comprehension of their true meaning.

	15° - Knight of the East, of the Sword, or of the Eagle Fidelity to obligations and perseverance of purpose under difficulties and discouragement are the lessons of this degree. The striking crimson velvet apron of this degree is edged with green, having a bleeding head above two crossed swords and a triangle (top point to the left) with three interlaced triangles inside it. The jewel is three golden concentric triangles encompassing two crossed swords. The duty is to rebuild the Masonic Temple of liberty, equality and fraternity in the souls of men.
	16° - Prince of Jerusalem We learn of heroism of patience, the nobility of self-sacrifice and compassionate judgment; along with charity, fidelity and brotherhood. The crimson apron is edged in gold and aurora-color, with a square, shield, Delta with three YODs, balance and a hand of justice. The jewel is a mother-of-pearl lozenge with a hand holding a balance in equipoise; under it a sword with five stars surrounding the point. On the left is a Hebrew D, on the right is a Hebrew Z. The duties are to aid those who labor to build the Symbolic Temple; to judge equitably and fairly; to keep faith in the justice and beneficence of God and to press forward with hope for the persecuted and oppressed.
	17° - Knight of the East & West The wisdom of this degree is that loyalty to God is man's primary allegiance and that temporal governments not founded upon God and His righteousness will inevitably fall. The apron is of yellow satin with crimson and gold, with a sword and Tetractys of the Tetragrammaton on it. The jewel is a heptagon of half silver and half gold, with crossed swords on a balance on the obverse and a lamb on the Book of Seven Seals on the reverse. The jewel is hung from a double order - one black (left-to-right) and one white (right-to-left), representing good versus evil. A gold coronet is also presented. The duties are to work, reflect and pray; to hope, trust and believe; to teach the truths that are hidden in allegory and concealed by the symbols of Freemasonry.
	18° - Knight Rose Croix This degree emphasizes that life and its strength come from God. The rose signifies the dawn and the cross is a sacred symbol of antiquity in many cultures. One is also taught to be tolerant of other's errors and faults. The apron is of white leather or satin, bordered in red, with a skull and cross-bones, a red passion cross and three red rosettes. The grand jewel is a gold compass open a quarter circle. A rose-cross is between the legs of the compass and under it is a pelican, tearing its breast to feed its seven young on the obverse and an eagle with wings extended on the reverse. On the circle are the letters I.N.R.I. The duties are to practice virtue; to labor to eliminate vice; to purify humanity; to be tolerant of the faith and creed of others.

Council of Kadosh

The word "Kadosh" is a Hebrew word meaning Holy. Although Pike identifies the Degrees of the Council of Kadosh as chivalric and philosophical, they are all intensely mystical with respect to the lessons conveyed and symbols employed. "Faith in moral principles, in virtue and in God is as necessary for the guidance of a man as instinct is for the guidance of an animal." - Albert Pike

	19° - Grand Pontiff We learn from the past and how it affects the present and the influence we live in the future in this degree. We as mortals strive to endure, produce and improve the world as it surrounds us. There is no apron, but the jewel is a gold parallelogram with a Greek Alpha on one side and an Omega on the other. The duties are to be content to labor for the future; to serve the cause of truth with patience and industry; and to destroy error, falsehood and intolerance with truth, honesty, honour and charity.
	20° - Master of the Symbolic Lodge This degree demonstrates liberty, fraternity and equality. These truths teach morals, religious and philosophical understandings. This degree helps one to comprehend Deity, the forces of nature and good and evil. The apron is yellow bordered in blue, with three concentric point-down triangles, with the Tetragrammaton (horizontal) and Fiat Lux (vertical) at the center forming a cross. Its triangular shape relates to the "fourth great light, which reminds us of the Deity and his attributes". The jewel is made of gold with the same three concentric triangles. The duties are to dispense light and knowledge and to practice Masonic virtues.
	21° - Noachite, or Prussian Knight The lessons to be learned from this degree are that arrogance, defamation and cowardice are unworthy attributes of a Mason; and that humility, modesty and courtesy are the true virtues of men and Masons. The apron is yellow and contains an arm holding a sword, a winged figure holding a key in the left hand and the right forefinger on the lips (the Egyptian figure of silence). The jewel can be described as a point-up triangle, with an arrow, point downward, an arm holding a sword and the motto "Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum". The duties are humility, modesty, trust in God and to be steadfast and courageous in the face of adversity.
	22° - Knight Royal Axe, Prince of Libanus This degree emphasizes work ethics. By doing good work we improve character and become better citizens. The apron of this degree is white, bordered in purple, and contains a three-headed serpent and a table with instruments and plans on it. The jewel is an axe and handle of gold. On the top of the handle are the initials of Noah and Solomon. In the middle of the handle are the initials of Libanus and Tsidun. On the blade are the initials of Adoniram, Cyrus, Darius, Zerubbabel, Nehemiah and Ezra on one side and Shem, Kham, Yapheth, Moses, Ahaliab and Betselal on the other. The duties are to respect labor for its own sake and to do work.
	23° - Chief of the Tabernacle We learn in this degree that the man who forgets his duty to God, family, country and himself will be in danger of moral and spiritual destruction by thoughts and unworthy ambition. The apron worn is white bordered with red, blue and purple ribbons. These colors, from the curtains of the Tabernacle, represent earth, fire, air and sea respectively, as well as the Lord's beneficence, glory, wisdom and power. On the apron is the golden seven-branched candlestick, representing the seven planets and virtues; the sun, faith, and aspiration toward the infinite; the moon, hope; Venus, charity; Mars, fortitude, "victory over rage and anger"; Mercury, prudence; Saturn, temperance; Jupiter, conqueror of the Titans and justice. The jewel worn is a small silver censer, or ornamented cup, held by a handle in the shape of an open hand. The duties are to be devoted to the service of God; to constantly endeavor to promote the welfare of man; to act with proper subordination to your superiors.
	24° - Prince of the Tabernacle A Mason must show evidence of compassion, piety and justice in this degree. After initiation he may "manifest faithfully the social virtues in order to receive the rewards", to serve humanity through our brotherhood. The apron is of white lambskin with scarlet green and blue. On it is a violet myrtle tree and a gold representation of an Arabian tent. The jewel worn is the Hebrew letter ALEPH, suspended from a violet ribbon. The duties are to labor incessantly for the glory of God, the honor of your country and the happiness of your brethren.
	25° - Knight of the Brazen Serpent This degree attempts to explain the conceptualities of celestial purity and the eternal soul of man. The apprentice is driven to look within his faith, life and God to get a clear look at his inner self. The apron is white, lined in black with gold stars on the white side (Pleiades, Hyades, Orion, Capella) and with silver stars on the black side (Perseus, Scorpio, Bootes). Also on it is a serpent (ouroboros) surrounding a scarab, a triangle in a glory with the Tetragrammaton in its center and the four initials of the stars Regulus, Aldebaran, Antares and Fomalhaut. The jewel is a gold tau cross (crux ansata) with a serpent entwined around it and the Hebrew words HLThI (he has suffered or been wounded) and NChShThN (the Brazen Serpent) on it. The duty is to fulfill your destiny and to re-create yourself by reformation, repentance and enlarging your knowledge.
	26° - Prince of Mercy, or Scottish Trinitarian In this degree we explore for "the rewards of the trinity of Gods attributes - wisdom or intelligence, force or strength, harmony or beauty". The apron is scarlet, bordered in white, with a green triangle (point-down) in the center. In the triangle are the initials of force, wisdom and harmony, and a flaming heart of gold with the initials I.H.S. (Jesus Hominum Salvator or Imperium, Harmonia, Sapientia). The jewel is gold and is the same triangle, suspended by a purple ribbon. The duties are to practice forgiveness and mercy; tolerance; to be devoted to the teaching of the principles of Masonry.
	27° - Knight Commander of the Temple This degree teaches the apprentice to scorn selfishness and to uphold the knightly virtues of charity, truth and honor. We should always strive to assist the poor, helpless and infirm. The apron is of scarlet lambskin, lined in black, with a Teutonic Cross (cross potent sable, charged with a smaller cross double potent or surcharged with the escutcheon of the Empire, the two-headed black eagle) and a black key surrounded by a laurel wreath. The jewel is the Teutonic Cross shown on the apron. The duties are to be a lover of wisdom and to be faithful to your promises made within Masonry.
	28° - Knight of the Sun, or Prince Adept We learn in this degree that our love for God manifests itself in our love for truth, justice and nobility of soul. The apron worn is white lambskin with a vermilion pentagram. The jewel is a gold five-pointed star. The duties are to be devoted to truth, honour, loyalty, justice and humanity.
	29° - Scottish Knight of Saint Andrew The virtues taught in this degree are love of God, loyalty to superiors, faithful adherence to promise and active resistance to unfair judgment. There is no apron. The jewel is a gold St. Andrew's cross ("X"), surmounted with a knight's helmet with a thistle of gold between the arms at the bottom. In the center of the cross is a Hebrew YOD and on its points, clockwise from bottom, the Hebrew letters N M I N. The duties are to reverence and obey God; to serve the truth; to protect virtue and innocence; to defend the people against tyranny.
	30° - Knight of Kadosh, or Knight of the White & Black Eagle The lesson of this degree is to be true to ourselves, to stand for what is right and to be just in our lives today with a belief in God, country and oneself. There is no apron, but the jewel is a gold Teutonic cross, enameled in red, with a silver double-headed eagle with wings spread pointing downward resting upon it. The duty is to labor unceasingly for the good of mankind.

Consistory

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° reviews the Degrees of the Lodge of Perfection, the Chapter of Rose Croix and the Council of Kadosh. In it we learn the very ancient roots of Masonic Truth - in the East! "Where Freemasonry flourishes, there will be found the highest type of citizenship and the best standard of living." - Albert Pike

31° - Inspector Inquisitor In this degree the apprentice learns prayerful self-examination. The mistakes today should not be committed tomorrow. Simply, the daily look at ones self to learn to live with the future. No apron is worn in the Supreme Tribunal, but the traditional apron displayed is of pure white lambskin with a Teutonic Cross of black and silver embroidered upon the flap. The jewel is a silver Teutonic cross. The jewel is suspended from a white collar, with a gold triangle with a "31" inside it. The duty is to judge yourself in the same light as you judge others, considering both actions and motives.

SPES MEA IN DEO EST "my hope is in god" 32° - Master of the Royal Secret The lessons taught in this degree are that genuine brotherhood requires mutual regard, opinion, esteem and charity. We always look for the good in all and make allowances for other's shortcomings. We trust the Supreme Architect to lead us to friendship, morality and brotherly love. The apron of this degree is white, lined in black, with a double-headed eagle and a plan of the Camp of the Princes. The jewel worn is a golden Teutonic Cross. In the center are the letters XXXII, surrounded by a green wreath. The cap of a Master of the Royal Secret is black silk with a black band trimmed in gold. In the center front is a double-headed eagle emblem with a rayed equilateral triangle above in gold. The triangle is red, has 32° in its center and is trimmed with gold. The duties are: a Soldier of the Light seeks truth and knowledge; a Soldier of Freedom demands for the people free vote and voice and attains freedom of voice, vote and opinion for himself; a Soldier of the True Religion combats spiritual tyranny with reason and truth; a Soldier of the People encourages men to be self-reliant and independent; a Soldier of Scottish Rite Masonry is zealous and ardent in the performance of his duties to God, his country, his family, his brethren and himself.

Court of Honour

The Scottish Rite confers a number of honors upon members who have contributed extraordinary service to the Rite, to Masonry in general and to the world at large.

	Knight Commander of the Court of Honour The Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor is not a degree, but an investiture bestowed upon members deserving recognition for faithful services to the Rite, Freemasonry or to mankind. At the biennial session of the Supreme Council, certain Masters of the Royal Secret are chosen to be invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour. The respective Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, or Deputies, nominate members for this honor and they must also be unanimously approved by the Supreme Council. This Investiture is a prerequisite to receiving the Thirty-third Degree. The rank of K.∙.C.∙.C.∙.H.∙. may not be requested, and if requested must be refused. The cap of the Knight Commander Court of Honour is red with a darker red band trimmed in gold. In the center front is a representation of the Knight Commander Jewel, a Passion Cross, fitched, featuring in the center a trefoil embroidered in green encircled by "Kt.∙. Comm.∙. Court of Honour" embroidered in gold.
	DEUS MEUMQUE JUS "god and my right " 33° - Inspector General Honorary The Thirty-third Degree is conferred by the Supreme Council upon members of the Rite in recognition of outstanding work in the Rite or in public life. At its biennial session, the Supreme Council elects members of the Rite to receive the Degree. Members unanimously so elected become honorary members of the Supreme Council. The Thirty-third Degree may not be requested, and if requested must be refused. The Degree is granted solely out of recognition for outstanding services. These 33° Masons are Inspectors General Honorary and honorary members of the Supreme Council. The active members of the Supreme Council are chosen from among them. The cap for an Inspector General Honorary is white with a white band edged in gold, featuring the symbol for this honorary degree, a red slanting Patriarchal Cross.
	Grand Cross of the Court of Honour This is the highest individual honor that The Supreme Council bestows. It is voted, very rarely, to Thirty-third Degree Masons only for the most exceptional and extraordinary services. The Grand Cross cap is white with a blue band. On the front is a replica of the Grand Cross jewel, which is composed of a Teutonic Cross with an embroidered crimson rose with green leaves at its center.

Scottish Rite Cathedral (Indianapolis, Indiana)

The Scottish Rite Cathedral is a historic building in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It is owned by the Valley of Indianapolis Scottish Rite, an affiliated body of Freemasonry. It was built between 1927 and 1929 at the cost of $2.5 million.^[2] It was built with every measurement being evenly divisible by three (reflecting the three degrees in Freemasonry), with many being divisible by 33 (reflecting the degrees a member of the Scottish Rite can achieve).^[3]

The Cathedral is the largest Masonic building, and considered by many^[4] as the finest example of Neo-Gothic architecture, in the United States. The main tower features a 54-bell carillon and rises 212 feet (65 m) above Indianapolis.^[5] It also has a floating ballroom.^[4] Other features are patterned ceilings, ornate carved woodwork, and artistic stained-glass windows. The auditorium has 1200 seats, and has been called a beautiful testimony to craftsmanship.^[6] It also has a large pipe organ.

The main entrance is known as the Tiler's Room, which is a cube of 33 feet (10 m). It features both Masonic symbols and the signs of the Zodiac.^[7]

The ballroom again reflects the number 33 by being 99 feet (30 m) square, pillars defining the dancing area as 66 feet (20 m) square, and the white oak floor panels are 33 inches (840 mm) square. The chandelier has 200 lights and weighs 2500 pounds. The ballroom was done in Elizabethan architecture.^[8]

The Indianapolis Business Journal in 1996 ran a poll that had the Cathedral as the most popular historic building in Indianapolis, and second-most favorite overall. The last few years it has seen 100,000 visitors a year.^[9]

Guided tours are available on weekdays and the third Saturday of each month.

After blue lodges ....

Estructura la Masoneria

QQ:.HH:. y estimados lectores

Este diagrama llamado "Estructura de la Masonería" en realidad representa la estructura de los Grados en los Ritos de York Americano y Escoces. Es importante señalar que el Rito de York originalmente solo comprende 7 grados, los cuales siguen siendo practicados ademas de la version "Americana".

Aprovecho este Post para recordar que la Masonería tiene 3 Grados "Universales" dado que todos los ritos los presentan en sus estructuras. Estos 3 grados son llamados "Simbólicos" y son encontrados o practicados en lo que llamamos Logias "Azules" o "Simbólicas". Estos Grados son reconocidos por todas las Obediencias. El Mason que alcance el Sublime Grado de Maestro Mason puede continuar su perfeccionamiento por diferentes "caminos" que son los Ritos.

Lo importante de este diagrama es que muestra claramente que sea cual sea el camino tomado en la Masonería todo converge a un solo punto: el G:.A:.D:.U:. .

Es realmente lamentable que algunos credos consideren a la Orden Masonica como incompatible u opuesta a ellos. En repetidas ocaciones me han peguntado si un Mason podia profesar alguna religion, a lo cual siempre he respondido positivamente. Probablemente sea el hecho que la Masoneria es adogmatica lo que puede ser considerado como "negativo" por muchas religiones ... pero eso es tema para otro Post de este Blog. ¿Y tu H o estimado lector, que opinion tienes?

(click on image)

R.·.E.·.A.·.A.·. - De sus origenes

by Le Trinosophe

Tras su formación en 1717, la Gran Logia de Londres tomó rápidamente una importancia considerable. Incorporó a personajes de relieve y desplegó una gran actividad incluso más allá de los limites de Inglaterra. Bajo sus auspicios, los masones de Irlanda fundaron una Gran Logia en 1729 y los de Escocia constituyeron en 1736, la Gran Logia de San Juan de Escocia. Para los interesados en la historia de la Masonería española, recordaremos que la primera Logia constituida fuera de Inglaterra, de acuerdo con la Constituciones conocidas como de Anderson y con Carta Patente de la Gran Logia de Londres, fue la Logia Matritense o de las Tres Flores de Lis, constituida en Madrid, por el duque de Wharton, el 15 de febrero de 1728. Recibiría la Carta Patente un año más tarde y figura en el registro de la Gran Logia Unida de Inglaterra con el número 50 y el nombre de Logia French Arms. Se conserva el Acta de fundación en el museo de la Gran Logia Unida de Inglaterra.

A pesar de la fundación de la Gran Logia de San Juan de Escocia, la Logia Real de Kilwinning, que existía desde 1150, continuó su vida independiente. Sin embargo, luego de roces con la Gran Logia de San Juan de Escocia, la Real de Kilwinning trasladó en 1743 su sede a Edimburgo, donde se estableció bajo el título de Gran Logia Real y Gran Capítulo Soberano de la Orden de Heredom de Kilwinning y de los Caballeros Rosa Cruces, fundando a su alrededor Logias y Capítulos bajo su obediencia.

Esta escisión entre las dos Grandes Logias de Escocia, tuvo una gran importancia, pues marca la separación en dos ramas de la Francmasonería: Por una parte el sistema inglés con sus tres grados, tal como era practicado en la Gran Logia de Inglaterra y sus fundaciones; por otra parte el de la Gran Logia Real de Kilwinning, cuyo sistema de grados formará más tarde la rama de la Masonería que se ha convenido en llamar Escocismo, y del que el Rito Escocés Antiguo y Aceptado toma sus verdaderos orígenes y la mayor parte de sus grados.

Kilwinning es un pequeño poblado y un mercado de Aijrshire, situado sobre la ribera derecha del río Garnock, 24 millas al sudoeste de Glasgow. Ahora en ruinas, la abadía había sido una de las más ricas de Escocia. Fundada hacia 1140 por monjes benedictinos de la Orden de Thirion, llamados por Hugues de Morville, Lord de Cunningham; estaba dedicada a San Winnin que había vivido en esa región en el siglo VIII, dando su nombre a la villa cercana.

Kilwinning, según la tradición, es la cuna de la Francmasonería escocesa; la primera Logia fue fundada allí por los "canteros" venidos desde el extranjero para edificar la abadía; se la considera como la Logia Madre de Escocia.

En la época del rey Robert de Bruce, hacia 1314, esta Logia admitió como "masones aceptados" a los Caballeros Templarios que huían de la persecución desatada por el rey de Francia y el Papa Clemente V. Caballeros que, como ya quedó dicho antes, contribuyeron a la victoria del rey Robert I en Bannockburn, siendo premiados con la creación de la Orden de San Andrés del Cardo, que, más tarde, se fusionó con la Orden de Heredom, adquiriendo la Logia la consideración de Logia Real.

En el seno de la Masonería operativa anglo escocesa se forma la Orden de los Maestros Escoceses de San Andrés, que agrupa a los partidarios de los Reyes Estuardo que han sido recibidos como masones aceptados, núcleo que se mantendrá prácticamente secreto, pero que será el foco del que irradiarán las futuras Logias Militares de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, bajo Jacobo II.

En 1660 Carlos II sube al trono de Inglaterra gracias al golpe de Estado del general Monck. En 1662 crea la famosa Royal Society, derivada del Invisible College.

Jacobo II, su hermano, anteriormente duque de York, nació en Londres en 1633 y murió en Saint-Germain-en-Laye en 1701. Capturado en 1646 por las tropas de Cromwell, consiguió escapar y huir a Holanda. De 1648 hasta 1660, fecha de la restauración de los Estuardo, vivió en Francia. Durante su exilio, en Saint Germain en Laye, los oficiales y suboficiales de los regimientos escoceses e irlandeses que le han seguido fielmente, crearán las primeras Logias Militares, fuente de la Francmasonería francesa y una de las raíces del Rito Escocés Antiguo y Aceptado. Será la célebre Masonería Jacobita o Masonería Estuardista. En esta pequeña corte, gentilhombres afiliados a la Orden de los Maestros Escoceses, constituida en Londres en 1659, fundaran, bajo el patronato real, la Orden de los Maestros Escoceses de San Andrés, exteriorización ya abiertamente masónica de la Orden de San Andrés del Cardo, creada por Robert de Bruce tres siglos y medio antes. El ritual que usaban, de doble sentido, simbolizaba la reconstrucción del templo de Jerusalén por Zorobabel, pero también la restauración de los Estuardo.

Es bajo el benigno gobierno de la Gran Maestría en Francia de el Conde de Clermont, Luis de Borbón, príncipe de sangre real y nieto de Luis XIV (1743-1771) que hicieron eclosión en Francia los grados escocistas o del Escocismo. Todo indica que el Maestro Escocés, aparecio en Francia en 1743, venía de Inglaterra. En efecto, desde 1733 había aparecido dentro de la Gran Logia Inglesa, una Logia de Scotch Mason's trabajando en Londres y de la que se sabe no estaba compuesta por escoceses; en 1735 aparece en Bath una logia de Scotch Masters, que derivó al Real Arco en 1744, del que se dice aquella era una forma rudimentaria. En tanto en el continente, habría derivado hacia el Maestro Escocés y su descendencia.

No puede dejar de citarse al Caballero Ramsay, preceptor de Carlos Estuardo y Gran Orador de la Orden en Francia. Su célebre discurso es considerado como un testimonio fundamental sobre el pensamiento esotérico existente en los "altos grados" del Escocismo de la época, al punto que se ha llegado a atribuir al discurso el origen de éstos grados, y no sólo ser la expresión de una corriente ya existente.

Un personaje poco conocido contribuyo a la creacion del rito escoces: Etienne Morin (17171 - 1771). Morin llega a Santo Domingo en 1763 con un Patente de la Gran Logia de Francia la cual le permite crear altos Grados. Es entonces que Morin adapta y modifica un sistema de 25 Grados derivado de diferentes Grados practicados en Europa. Este Rito es conocido como Rito de Perfeccion. El ultimo Grado de este Rito era el de "Sublime Principe del Real Secreto", siendo el Grado 32 del REAA hoy en dia. Cabe aclarar que este rito jamas fue precticado en Francia. El sistema creado por Etienne Morin sera modificado hasta generar el sistema de los 33 Grados del Rito Escoces Antiguo y Aceptado (REAA)

En Francia, en la terminología del siglo XVIII, una Logia Escocesa era lo que hoy llamamos una Logia de Perfección, o sea, una Logia de grados superiores al 3º del Rito Escocés Antiguo y Aceptado. En aquel entonces los miembros de estas Logias debían formar parte de una Logia Regular simbólica (grados del 1º al 3º) y, también, haber ocupado uno de sus tres cargos principales. Es por aquel entonces cuando se tomó como costumbre designar a las Logias ordinarias como logias azules o inglesas, lo primero por el color del cordón de maestro, mientras que el color de los maestros escoceses es el rojo XX.

Las Grandes Constituciones, de 1786, del Rito Escocés y Aceptado, en su parte introductoria y declaratoria, que culmina con Federico de Prusia, establecen lo siguiente:

"Estas razones y otras, no menos graves, nos impelen a reunir en un solo cuerpo Masónico a todos los Ritos del Rito escocés, cuyas doctrinas son admitidas generalmente en lo esencial, como las antiguas instituciones que se dirigen a un centro común y que no son sino las ramas principales de un mismo árbol, difieren tan solo en sus fórmulas, harto conocidas ya y que tan fácilmente pueden reconciliarse. Estos Ritos son los conocidos bajo los nombres diferentes del Rito Antiguo, el de Heredom o Hairdom, el del Oriente de Kilwinning, San Andrés, Emperadores de Oriente y Occidente, Príncipes del Real Secreto o de Perfección, el Rito Filosófico, y el más moderno de todos, conocido como Rito primitivo. Adoptando pues, como base de nuestra reforma conservadora, el título del primero de esos ritos y el número de grados de la jerarquía del último, declaramos que ahora y en adelante, están y permanecerán unidos en una sola Orden, que profesando el dogma y la doctrina pura de la antigua Masonería, comprende todos los sistemas del Rito Escocés reunidos en uno, bajo el título del Rito Escocés Antiguo y Aceptado." Cabe sañalar que este Rito toma su importacia y su sentido real a partir del Grado 4°, posterior al Grado de Maestro.

El Rito Escoces Antiguo y Aceptado nace oficialmente en Charleston, Carolina del Sur, el 31 de mayo de 1801, cuando se funda el Primer Supremo Consejo de los Soberanos Grandes Inspectores Generales del XXXIII y último grado del Rito Escocés Antiguo y Aceptado. En 1802, este Supremo Consejo emitió una circular, también conocida en el mundo masónico como el "discurso de Dalcho", por ser el Dr. Frederick Dalcho quién presidió la comisión de redacción, con el apoyo de John Mitchell, sobre las bases de las Grandes Constituciones de Federico de Prusia.

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En la actualidad, en cada pais el REAA esta dirigido por un solo Supremo Consejo (SC), sin que exista un Supremo Consejo Mundial del REAA, por lo que cada SC es soberano en su jurisdicción. Este punto es interesante dado que en la Masoneria Regular no existe un Grado superior al Grado de Maestro, razon por la cual se considera que los grados mas alla del Grado de Maestro son llamados Grados de Perfeccionamiento por lo que no confieren autoridad ni poder. Esto permite que los tres primeros Grados sean universales, confiriendo igualdad de derechos a todos los Maestros.

Los 33 Grados del REAA (haciendo click en el rombo rojo se puede ver el escudo de cada Grado=

Logias Simbolicas (Masoneria Azul)
1. Aprendiz
2. Compañero
3. Maestro

Logias de Perfeccion (Masoneria Roja - Grados Capitulares)
4. Maestro Secreto
5. Maestro Perfecto
6. Secretario Intimo
7. Preboste y Juez
8. Intendente de las Construcciones
9. Maestro Elegido de los Nueve
10. Maestro Elegido de los Quince
11. Sublime Caballero Elegido
12. Gran Maestro Arquitecto
13. Arco Real
14. Gran Escocés de la Bóveda Sagrada

Capitulo (Masoneria Roja - Grados Capitulares)
15. Caballero de Oriente o de la Espada
16. Príncipe de Jerusalén
17. Caballero de Oriente y de Occidente
18. Soberano Príncipe Rosa-Cruz

Areopagos (Masoneria Negra - Grados Filisoficos)
19. Gran Pontífice o Sublime Escocés
20. Venerable Gran Maestro de todas las Logias
21. Noaquita o Caballero Prusiano
22. Hacha Real o Príncipe del Líbano
23. Jefe del Tabernáculo
24. Príncipe del Tabernáculo
25. Caballero de la Serpiente de Bronce
26. Príncipe de Misericordia
27. Soberano Comendador del Templo
28. Caballero del Sol, Príncipe Adepto
29. Gran Escocés de San Andrés
30. Gran Elegido Caballero Kadosh

Consistorio (Masoneria Blanca - Grados Sublimes)
31. Gran Inquisidor, Soberano Comendador
32. Sublime Príncipe del Real Secreto

Supremo Consejo del Grado 33 (Masoneria Blanca - Grados Sublimes)
33. Soberano Gran Inspector General