Scottish Rite degrees 4 to 17 - Revision history

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The '''fourth to seventeenth degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite''' extend the legends and moral teachings of Craft Freemasonry. Their traditional subjects include the aftermath of [[Hiram Abiff]]'s death, the responsibilities of judges and governors, the preservation of knowledge, and the rebuilding of the Temple. The seventeenth degree prepares for [[Rose Croix|the eighteenth degree, Rose Croix]].<ref>Charles T. McClenachan, ''The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry'', revised and enlarged edition (New York: Author's Edition, 1885), pp. 9-10, 30, 70, 116, 138, 184, 220. [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/The_book_of_the_ancient_and_accepted_Scottish_rite_%28IA_bookofancientac00mcc%29.pdf#page=21 Digitised copy].</ref>

== Conferral and demonstrations ==
Under the Supreme Council for England and Wales, the degrees from 4° to 17° are conferred by name before the candidate receives the 18°. They are commonly called the ''Intermediate Degrees'' in that jurisdiction.<ref>Berkshire Rose Croix, [https://rosecroixberkshire.org.uk/about/ Introduction to Rose Croix Masonry]. Accessed 23 September 2026.</ref> The King Edward VII Rose Croix Chapter of Improvement organises demonstrations of Intermediate Degrees at locations in England and Wales.<ref>King Edward VII Rose Croix Chapter of Improvement, [https://kevii.org.uk/ King Edward VII Rose Croix Chapter of Improvement]. Accessed 23 September 2026.</ref>

Practice differs elsewhere. The Supreme Council for Australia describes working these degrees in an authorised Chapter of Improvement. The United States' Northern Masonic Jurisdiction provides opportunities to witness degrees through its Valleys and other programmes.<ref>Supreme Council for Australia, [https://scottishrite.org.au/aasr-degrees/ AASR Degrees]. Accessed 23 September 2026.</ref><ref>Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, [https://scottishritenmj.org/degrees Our Degrees]. Accessed 23 September 2026.</ref>

== The individual degrees ==
The titles below follow the traditional sequence described by Charles T. McClenachan, with singular titles used for individual degrees. Each article identifies relevant differences in naming or interpretation.

* 4° - [[Secret Master]]
* 5° - [[Perfect Master]]
* 6° - [[Intimate Secretary]]
* 7° - [[Provost and Judge]]
* 8° - [[Intendant of the Building]]
* 9° - [[Knight Elect of Nine]]
* 10° - [[Knight Elect of Fifteen]]
* 11° - [[Sublime Knight Elected]]
* 12° - [[Grand Master Architect]]
* 13° - [[Royal Arch of Enoch]]
* 14° - [[Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason]]
* 15° - [[Knight of the East or Sword]]
* 16° - [[Prince of Jerusalem]]
* 17° - [[Knight of the East and West]]

== Scope of these accounts ==
The principal historical source is McClenachan's ''The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry'', revised and enlarged edition, published in New York in 1885. McClenachan was Grand Master of Ceremonies of the United States' Northern Supreme Council. In his preface he acknowledges Northern Jurisdiction sources and Albert Pike's contribution where Northern and Southern materials coincided.<ref>Charles T. McClenachan, ''The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry'', revised and enlarged edition (New York: Author's Edition, 1885), title page and pp. 7-8. [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/The_book_of_the_ancient_and_accepted_Scottish_rite_%28IA_bookofancientac00mcc%29.pdf#page=11 Digitised copy].</ref>

The articles describe that published historical account. Modern Supreme Councils have revised both titles and stories: the present Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, for example, calls its fourth degree ''Builder'' and its twelfth ''Master of Mercy''. Its fifth degree retains the title ''Perfect Master'' but uses a different narrative.<ref>Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, [https://scottishritenmj.org/degrees/degrees-4 4° - Builder]. Accessed 23 September 2026.</ref><ref>Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, [https://scottishritenmj.org/degrees/degrees-12 12° - Master of Mercy]. Accessed 23 September 2026.</ref><ref>Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, [https://scottishritenmj.org/degrees/degrees-5 5° - Perfect Master]. Accessed 23 September 2026.</ref>

The ancient and medieval settings belong to the degrees' legends. For the historical development of the Rite, the Southern Jurisdiction traces Scottish high-degree traditions through eighteenth-century Masonry and records the establishment of the first Supreme Council at Charleston in 1801.<ref>Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, [https://scottishrite.org/about/history/ History of the Rite]. Accessed 23 September 2026.</ref>

McClenachan groups 4°-14° in a Lodge of Perfection, 15°-16° in a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and 17°-18° in a Rose Croix Chapter. These groupings provide the framework for the linked accounts.<ref>Charles T. McClenachan, ''The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry'', revised and enlarged edition (New York: Author's Edition, 1885), pp. 9-10. [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/The_book_of_the_ancient_and_accepted_Scottish_rite_%28IA_bookofancientac00mcc%29.pdf#page=21 Digitised copy].</ref>

== References ==
<references />

[[Category:Knights Templar and Other Masonic Orders]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 24 September 2026
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		+	[[File:McClenachan_1885_degree_04_regalia.png\|thumb\|right\|320px\|alt=Historical drawing of a triangular apron beside a collar with a key-shaped jewel.\|Apron, collar and key jewel for Secret Master (4°), illustrated in Charles T. McClenachan’s 1885 book. This historical design is one example of Scottish Rite regalia; practice varies by jurisdiction.]]
	The '''fourth to seventeenth degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite''' extend the legends and moral teachings of Craft Freemasonry. Their traditional subjects include the aftermath of [[Hiram Abiff]]'s death, the responsibilities of judges and governors, the preservation of knowledge, and the rebuilding of the Temple. The seventeenth degree prepares for [[Rose Croix\|the eighteenth degree, Rose Croix]].<ref>Charles T. McClenachan, ''The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry'', revised and enlarged edition (New York: Author's Edition, 1885), pp. 9-10, 30, 70, 116, 138, 184, 220. [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/The_book_of_the_ancient_and_accepted_Scottish_rite_%28IA_bookofancientac00mcc%29.pdf#page=21 Digitised copy].</ref>		The '''fourth to seventeenth degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite''' extend the legends and moral teachings of Craft Freemasonry. Their traditional subjects include the aftermath of [[Hiram Abiff]]'s death, the responsibilities of judges and governors, the preservation of knowledge, and the rebuilding of the Temple. The seventeenth degree prepares for [[Rose Croix\|the eighteenth degree, Rose Croix]].<ref>Charles T. McClenachan, ''The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry'', revised and enlarged edition (New York: Author's Edition, 1885), pp. 9-10, 30, 70, 116, 138, 184, 220. [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/The_book_of_the_ancient_and_accepted_Scottish_rite_%28IA_bookofancientac00mcc%29.pdf#page=21 Digitised copy].</ref>

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 == See also ==
 * [[History of the Scottish Rite]]
 * [[Charles T. McClenachan]]

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 == The individual degrees ==
-The titles below follow the traditional sequence described by Charles T. McClenachan, with singular titles used for individual degrees. Each article identifies relevant differences in naming or interpretation.
+The titles below follow the traditional sequence described by [[Charles T. McClenachan]], with singular titles used for individual degrees. Each article identifies relevant differences in naming or interpretation.
 * 4° - [[Secret Master]]
@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 McClenachan groups 4°-14° in a Lodge of Perfection, 15°-16° in a Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and 17°-18° in a Rose Croix Chapter. These groupings provide the framework for the linked accounts.<ref>Charles T. McClenachan, ''The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry'', revised and enlarged edition (New York: Author's Edition, 1885), pp. 9-10. [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/The_book_of_the_ancient_and_accepted_Scottish_rite_%28IA_bookofancientac00mcc%29.pdf#page=21 Digitised copy].</ref>
 == References ==