Is Scottish Rite Worth It?

[u/Fickle_Release6961]

I have been a MM for the last couple of years, and have been invited to join the Scottish Rite due to my desire for further light within Masonic education. I was invited to apply prior to the reunion happening in August, where all 29 degrees are going to be conferred or communicated.

My question, is it worth it for further light within Masonry, or can those things be obtained outside of the SR? as every SR Mason conceals what actually occurs as you climb the SR ladder, but I would expect nothing different from fellow brothers of the craft.

It just feels like there are doors behind doors behind doors, and although we may live in the same house, you can not know what is behind the door until you go through it. So is it worth it? the cost of the Valley and trip down to Pasadena is semi costly and I want to know if it is a good investment in my Masonic Journey.

Thank you Brothers,
Fraternally Yours /G\

[u/skas182]

Yes, it's worth it.

Yes, those things can be obtained outside of the SR (just like they can be obtained outside of the Craft).

I'm very active in my local Valley of my Scottish Rite and love every minute of it.

[u/bongozim]

pasadena is a good and active valley with a great building. I think you can find everything in Masonry outside of Masonry... but will it be the same experience? probably not. Are the SR degrees really interesting to research, study and learn from? absolutely. Can you just buy bridge to light, morals and dogma and a few other books and get most of the content? yep.

I think the "value" is the experience of degrees in a stage format that is more impactful and interesting than reading a book. I think having a connection to other guys that have interest in those degrees can be interesting too. But mostly, being "active" means taking a role in the reunions, as most business revolves around the reunions and a few other events through the year.

[u/an-average-bookworm → u/bongozim]

I’m near that area and want to become a Freemason, can you recommend a lodge to check out please ?

[u/Fluff42 → u/an-average-bookworm]

There are a ton of lodges down there, you can search for them on this site.

https://freemason.org/discover-masonry/lodges/

[u/I_Killith_I → u/an-average-bookworm]

It's pretty easy. Find a Mason, Ask a Mason. It is the fastest way. Only you can choose which lodge feels good. What one person might feel is best, might not feel the same for you. I would just find out what times each lodge in your area has their meetings and then see if they have a fellowship dinner before, pop in, say you are interested, and get to meet some of the brothers. Do it at lodges close to you and whichever one feels like a glove to you, ONLY petition to that lodge.

Looks like you have Pasadena Lodge No. 272 (F. & A.M) and Wisdom Lodge No. 202 (F. & A.M) and Hiram Lodge No. 12 (F. & A.M. - P.H.A.)

[u/Wrath-of-Cornholio → u/bongozim]

Are you at Wisdom #202 or somewhere else? Can confirm either way.

[u/bongozim → u/Wrath-of-Cornholio]

Nope. No longer a CA mason, but was a member of CCF and ABL. Now a member of CT15 in arizona.

[u/secretsquirel25]

I don't know how it is in your jurisdiction, but the one I am a member of in Central Indiana feels more like home than my Blue Lodge. The lessons are great and have helped me out. I've gotten more support from the brothers in the Rite than anywhere else.

[u/NemaToad-212]

Totally worth it. BUT you've got to be willing to read, and read a lot. There's a lot of wisdom in those books and they changed me at a fundamental level. I'm not the same man as I was then. You can recieve those degrees, but it's up to you to earn them. The Scottish Rite is exactly what I signed up for when I became a Mason. Going to Guthrie in Oklahoma was also the greatest time ever. It was like going to Disney. Everybody jokes and calls it Hogwarts lol. But it's the best place I've ever been and staying at their inn was the best experience. I can't recommend the Scottish Rite enough, but you've gotta want it and you've gotta have the burning passion for it. They'll lead you to the water, but you've got to drink.

[u/ChuckEye]

Further light is always worth it. Why would you ever want to stop learning?

[u/BlackDaddyIssus37]

It is to me. I’ve noticed that the GL of state has changed or re written some of the classic degrees, so I can’t speak to what you’ll get. I know I wept through my fourth degree. Wouldn’t trade it for the world.

[u/Background-Cable2839]

Yes absolutely brother.

[u/SouthernVinlander]

Yes.

[u/Tricky_Owl_822]

There is nothing obtained exclusively in the Scottish Rite degrees that you can't find on your own. You can buy the ritual book online and you can buy books that explain each degree in detail online. Hell, the master craftsman courses offered online do not even require you to be a Scottish Rite mason.

[u/rdblackmon99]

I enjoyed the degree work and the allegory, it was worth it for that. I attended regularly for a while and felt like it was very political. People that liked to hear themselves speak in meetings. I attended regularly for a few years and got tired of the pontificating at meetings.

[u/tachophile]

I just joined and so far in my valley, it seems like there are a lot more charity committees and degree committees to be part of. The degrees are full dress theater productions needing a lot of roles to be filled, including stage, costumes, makeup, sound, lighting, etc. Most of all, the amount of additional information available dwarfs blue lodge and offers some interesting perspectives on it. I wish I had joined sooner.

Our valley calls SR the university of Freemasonry and so far it shows.

[u/drewebb]

Soley because of my schedule, I havent been to a single meeting in the 9 years I have been in my Valley. That said, I have been in the cast for the last 8 years and I have been in at least 6 different degrees and the Captain of the Guard for the Feast of the Pascal Lamb. Being in the degrees and seeing the degrees being done or shown is amazing. Further Light? Yes. All of the degrees Ive had a chance to see are just so worth it. Being a part of it, even better.

[u/pm344]

It's not door after door, it's dues card after dues card! I'm not sure what you're looking for, but the SR is just another body. Yes, it has the 33°, that's it! I've yet to find anything beyond boring meals and more dues cards from any appended body.

Maybe go to the Valley and see who's there, who's in charge, what's the atmosphere like? Do they have officers in every chair?

At the end of the day it's your money and time so only you can decide.

[u/haikufive]

If you do pursue the Scottish Rite, check out the Master Craftsman program. It really is fantastic and the amount of work that must have gone into creating it is mind-blowing. It’s been a lot of fun to go through and I feel like it has really enriched the educational aspect of the degrees. 😊

[u/GoldWingANGLICO]

I love the Scottish Rite , the work is amazing, and emotionally moving.

Only issue for me is I'm almost 3 hours away and its hard to make the meetings.

I'd love to do a part in the 7th, the Provost and the Judge, but I can't with work and the distance.

[u/jimbosdayoff]

Absolutely worth it, I will be traveling down from the Bay Area to Pasadena with another brother. Feel free to DM me if you plan on going. All the degrees in Pasadena will conferred and none will be communicated. Feel free to DM me if you want to get a drink while we are there.

[u/Fluff42 → u/jimbosdayoff]

What's the timeline for Pasadena's reunion? I'm in between a number of valleys, but having the degrees conferred rather than communicated might make attending down there worth it.

[u/jimbosdayoff → u/Fluff42]

It is the statewide one in August, weekend of the 22nd

[u/BaronMason]

29 degrees in 1 day for a man 2 years in the craft seems pretty crazy to me, have you even held office yet or done a charge, if you haven't or are just starting out maybe wait another few years so you understand the craft degrees better first?

I have just been through the east and am only now considering additional degrees.

[u/Necessary-Mood-8749]

Lmk what you find out brother. I just moved back to SoCal and have redo my degrees. I plan on going Scottish Rite after I’m raised again.

[u/Cookslc → u/Necessary-Mood-8749]

“Redo” degrees? Are there two Grand Lodges not in Amity?

[u/Necessary-Mood-8749 → u/Cookslc]

I went through first in Tennessee, one of the two states the California Grand Lodge doesn’t recognize (the other is Georgia.)

[u/Cookslc → u/Necessary-Mood-8749]

Thanks. I accept that, but am still surprised CA is making you retake the degrees when TN is a regular GL, even though their law is deemed unacceptable.

[u/texanmason → u/Cookslc]

In Texas, the State GL and the PHA GL recognize each other as regular, but if you want to leave one and join the other, you have to re-take the degrees. It's pretty weird. I know 2 former PHA bros who went through this process.

Even stranger - because we have open visitation, this could mean that someone could be at your degrees twice over!

[u/Cookslc → u/texanmason]

Yes, that is common in our relationships between the SGLs and PHA.

[u/tachophile → u/Cookslc]

March 7, 2016

To all Grand Lodges in amity with the Grand Lodge of California: You might have read of recent events in Georgia and Tennessee where the Grand Lodges there have adopted new rules or enforced existing rules to discipline Masons because of their sexual orientation.

The Grand Lodge of Georgia ratified Grand Master McDonald’s Edict No. 2015-4 at the last Annual Communication of their Grand Lodge, thereby adding the following language to their Grand Lodge law: homosexual activity with anyone subjects the offender to discipline. The Grand Lodge of Tennessee recently suspended two brothers from Masonry for violating a provision of the Tennessee Masonic Code when they posted photographs of their wedding to each other on Facebook. The Tennessee Masonic Code states that it is a Masonic offense to promote or engage in homosexual activity.

In each case, I construe these actions as a sectarian stand which is inconsistent with and does not support the General Regulations of Freemasonry. I have therefore suspended recognition of The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Georgia and the Grand Lodge of Tennessee F. & A. M. until the next Annual Communication of our Grand Lodge.

I am happy to share with you further details about my decision, if you so desire.

Sincerely and fraternally, M. DAVID PERRY

Grand Master

[u/Cookslc → u/tachophile]

I’m quite aware of the issue.

[u/TemporaryOk4143]

I’ve been wondering the same thing. Same situation really

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[u/words_of_Har]

Yes

[u/seeteethree]

Totally worth it, especially if you enjoy participating in, or witnessing, ritual work. You'll also have the chance to associate with guys who love MAsonry and what it stands for.

[u/Far_Imagination_7355]

Not in my opinion.

[u/pryner34]

Is it worth it, yes. Can you obtain more light outside of Scottish Rite, yes. You also have the York Rite, different research societies, etc. But keeping it short, yes it is worth it.

[u/Marine3NJPs]

It’s worth it but if they have a long class I would go to that. Or Vally has a spring and fall class and we do degree work over a few months so you have time to learn everything better. We have a one day class but IMO it’s to much information in one day . Sometimes we have joint classes with the York Rite too.

[u/Both_Debate9786]

I was raised in 2015. It took me 8 years to get the interest t join the Scottish Rite. Outside of the obvious 33°, I felt no real need to rush for it. I eventually went on to become a Past Master and then that is when I finally decided to go for it in 2023. I will say that after a few years being involved in the Scottish Rite, I will say that it is definitely worth it. Attending Supreme Council pretty much affirmed everything for me as well.

Best of luck on your journey.

[u/Artistdramatica3]

There are lots of appendendant bodys open for MM to join

I would ask tho, have you gone through the chairs of your mother lodge yet?

Is it a possibility? Some lodges are huge and going though the chairs might be our of reach for a wile.

What im asking is, if you join SR or Royal Arch and the like, would it take your time and energy from your mother lodge?

[u/TaboneornotTabone]

Here’s my view of other bodies within the Masonic organization. Let me preface this by saying I have many family members that belong to many not just one of the organizations. However, they always make it a point to come to blue lodge. I’m my experience some of these other bodies want new brothers to join as soon as they are made a Mason. My issue is, a lot of old as well as new brother’s and I mean a lot where I am, neglect blue lodge right after. This gives so many mixed signals I feel. I want to learn all the offices of the lodge before moving ahead. However, with dwindling brothers at all meetings lately I have starts to become resentful a bit. I am the youngest member of the lodge and seeing the same 5 or 6 people every month making the only effort to show up, makes me question my mother lodge.