Why Does Freemasonry Look So Much Like a Religion?

Why Does Freemasonry Look So Much Like a Religion? October 8, 2024

Freemasonry is not a single organization. Freemasonry is not a religion, although it looks a lot like one.

In our last article, we explored the world of Freemasonry and its many orders and organizations.  In that article, we concentrated on the Blue Lodge, the basic unit in Freemasonry.

In Blue Lodge Masonry, there are three earned degrees.

  • Entered Apprentice
  • Fellowcraft (Fellow of the Craft)
  • Master Mason

There is no higher degree in Masonry.  There are, however, higher numbered degrees which, in the U.S., either follow the Scottish Rite or the York (English) Rite.

The Scottish Rite Emblem is a double-headed eagle
The Scottish Rite Emblem is a double-headed eagle Gemini Image generated by William T. Orr, Jr.

The degrees of both rites are numbered 4th through 32nd and each degree depicts an event from either history or mythology and legend that teaches a moral lesson.

The higher numbered degrees confer wisdom, not rank.   They are not seen as advancement but as higher Masonic education.

In this article, we will focus on the Scottish Rite, known formally as Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

What is Scottish Rite Masonry?

When a Mason in the U.S. has completed the work to earn the final Blue Lodge degree, Master Mason, he may choose (or not) to further his Masonic education by receiving the degrees of either the Scottish Rite or the York (English) Rite.  Either of these two organizations will provide the Mason with 29 additional degrees which will increase his Masonic knowledge and provide him with moral lessons which will benefit him in his life.

The Scottish Rite has a long and storied evolution and history which is explained in fine detail by the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction.

A less detailed but accurate account is found in Wikipedia.

Although most of the thirty-three degrees of the Scottish Rite existed in parts of previous degree systems, the Scottish Rite did not come into being until the formation of the Mother Supreme Council at Charleston, South Carolina, in May 1801 at Shepheard’s Tavern (the tavern had been the location of the founding of Freemasonry in South Carolina in 1754). The Founding Fathers of the Scottish Rite who attended became known as “The Eleven Gentlemen of Charleston” and included, John Mitchell, first Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, Frederick Dalcho, Alexandre Francois Auguste de Grasse, Jean-Baptiste Marie de La Hogue, Thomas Bartholemew Bowen, Abraham Alexander, Emanuel de la Motta, Isaac Auld, Israel de Lieben, Moses Clava Levy, James Moultrie and Isaac Da Costa.

Da Costa in particular had been commissioned to establish Morin’s Rite of the Royal Secret in other countries; he formed the constituent bodies of the Rite in South Carolina in 1783, which in 1801, became the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. All regular Scottish Rite bodies today derive their heritage from this body. Subsequently, other Supreme Councils were formed in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) in 1802, in France in 1804, in Italy in 1805, and in Spain in 1811.

On May 1, 1813, an officer from the Supreme Council at Charleston initiated several New York Masons into the Thirty-third Degree and organized a Supreme Council for the “Northern Masonic District and Jurisdiction”. On May 21, 1814, this Supreme Council reopened and proceeded to “nominate, elect, appoint, install and proclaim in due, legal and ample form” the elected officers “as forming the second Grand and Supreme Council…”. Finally, the charter of this organization (written January 7, 1815) added, “We think the Ratification ought to be dated 21st day May 5815.”

Masons meet in buildings called lodges
Masons meet in buildings called lodges Gemini Generated Image by William T. Orr, Jr.

How is the Scottish Rite organized?

In the United States, the governing organization is the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction.

There is a corresponding Northern Jurisdiction.  In addition, there is a Prince Hall Scottish Rite organization.

Within the jurisdictions, the regional and local areas are organized into Orients and Valleys.

Locally, Scottish Rite Masons meet in what are referred to as Temples, with a nod to the Temple in Jerusalem from the building of  which provides Masonry with its central allegory.

What are the Scottish Rite degrees?

The 29 Scottish Rite degrees are organized into groups:

  • 4-14 Ineffable Degrees
  • 15-18 Chapter Degrees
  • 19-30 Council Degrees
  • 31-32 Consistory Degrees

It is important to note that the names of the degrees have evolved over time and each jurisdiction has made small differences in the ritual work for each degree.  The degrees are presented to the candidates by Scottish Rite Masons who have learned by rote, the ritual work of each degree lesson.

Temple
Ancient Temple Gemini Generated Image by William T. Orr Jr.j

Why does Masonry look so much like a religion?

Much of the ritual work in the degrees is derived from Biblical sources. 

This might be why Masonry looks from the outside so much like a religion.

Here are the names and basic lessons of the degrees:

  • 4 Secret Master – the teachings of Masonry are to be taken seriously
  • 5 Perfect Master – life is uncertain; death can occur at any time
  • 6  Confidential Secretary – fidelity to duty is always rewarded
  • 7  Provost and Judge – all actions have consequences
  • 8  Intendent of the Building – benevolence and charity demand that we correct our own faults
  • 9  Elu of the Nine – ignorance is the principal enemy of human freedom
  • 10  Elu of the Fifteen – ambition can create tyranny and despotism
  • 11   Elu of the Twelve – life is a school in which we are continuously learning
  • 12  Master Architect – wisdom is a gift from God and should be preferred over wealth
  • 13  Royal Arch of Solomon – moral character is a habit
  • 14  Perfect Elu –  Perfect Elus are bound by obligation and free from prejudice
  • 15  Knight of the East or of the Sword or of the Eagle – fidelity to trust, honor and duty
  • 16  Prince of Jerusalem – to build Temples for the living God in our hearts
  • 17  Knight of the East and West – teaches about martyrs of Faith
  • 18  Knight Rose Croix – to have faith in God, mankind and ourselves
  • 19  Grand Pontiff – good will eventually triumph over evil
  • 20  Master of the Symbolic Lodge – teaches truth, justice and tolerance
  • 21  Noachite or Prussian Knight – the downfall of evil is certain
  • 22  Knight of the Royal Axe – dignity of work
  • 23  Chief of the Tabernacle – simple faith is wiser than vain philosophy
  • 24  Prince of the Tabernacle – the power of faith
  • 25  Knight of the Brazen Serpent – man is composed of flesh, soul and intellect
  • 26  Prince of Mercy – Trinity belongs to no single religion
  • 27   Knight of the Sun – Masonry is practical and requires
  • 28  Knight Commander of the Temple – nature reveals power and wisdom
  • 29  Knight of St. Andrew – the cycle of time brings change
  • 30  Knight Kadosh – we should arm ourselves with faith in God
  • 31  Inspector Inquisitor – a good man can display himself positively
  • 32  Master of the Royal Secret –  the human is ever interlaced with the divine.

In addition, there is a 33rd Honorary Degree which is not regularly conferred but is conferred only by the Supreme Council for extraordinary service.

There is more detailed information here.

What is the religious imagery and metaphor of the degrees?

I believe it is easy to see why Freemasonry is often confused with religion.

Much of the imagery is drawn from Christian and Jewish Biblical sources.

Degrees 16, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29 and 30 employ Biblical names and reported events for the degrees and several others are Biblical in their ritual work.

Degree 16 refers to the Temple in Jerusalem which is a part of the central  legend of Freemasonry.

Degrees 23 and 24 refer to the Tabernacle which was a tent and was a part of the holy equipment carried throughout the wanderings of the children of Israel by the Leyite priests.  The Tabernacle was the place where sacrifices were made before the Temple was built.

Degree 25 refers back to an incident during the wanderings of the children of Israel when the people were being punished by YHWH for their lack of faith by being bitten by venomous snakes.  YHWH agreed with Moses that if Moses would construct a brazen serpent and place it upon a pole, YHWH would protect any person who gazed at it.

Hundreds of years later, King Hezekiah destroyed a bronze serpent (Moses’s serpent?) in his reform efforts and to continue a disagreement among priests that lasted for hundreds of years, as well.

Degree 26 refers to Trinity which is a specifically Christian concept developed in the second and third century CE.

Degree 28 refers to the Jerusalem Temple, a part of the central legend of Freemasonry.

Degree 29 refers to St. Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland.

Degree 30: Kadosh is a reference to the Temple as the holy place, set aside for worship.

So, is the Scottish Rite a religious Rite?”

While it employs imagery and legends from Judaism and Christianity in its ritual work, Freemasonry, and specifically the Scottish Rite is NOT a religion.

The beliefs of individual Freemasons vary wildly.

It is entirely understandable that people often see Freemasonry as a religion.

Well, what is it?

It would be disingenuous of me to say, however, that the Scottish Rite is NOT a religious organization.

By many definitions, clearly it is just that.  It is most certainly an organization that draws its allegory and symbolism from Christianity and Judaism.

Beyond that, Freemasonry is nor accurately defined as a religion.

I hope and look for readers to comment.  I would appreciate hearing from you whether you have a comment or idea to share.

 

 

About William T. Orr, Jr.
William T. Orr, Jr. is a retired educator, most recently the principal of a high school named in the Top 10 in the nation by Newsweek magazine. Orr has a B.A. in English Language and Literature, a M.Ed. in Education Administration and Supervision, and an Ed.D. in Education leadership. He’s also completed Postdoctoral study at Yale Divinity School and Dallas Theological Seminary. You can read more about the author here.
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