In Freemasonry, a Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority. In many cases, such as the York Rite, it can be a collection of separate Masonic organizations that would otherwise operate independently. Masonic degree systems frequently belong to the appendant bodies of Freemasonry that a Master Mason may join after the degrees of the Blue Lodge.

Masonic degree systems

Over time, a number of different Masonic degree systems have been developed, some of which are still in use, and others which have now ceased to exist. Known Masonic degree systems include: * Adonhiramite Rite *

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in the United States often omits the ''and'', while the English Constitution in the United Kingdom omits the ''Scottish''), commonly known as simply the Sco ...

* Ancient and Primitive Rite *

Brazillian Rite Brazilian commonly refers to: * Something of, from or relating to Brazil * Brazilian Portuguese, the dialect of the Portuguese language used mostly in Brazil * Brazilians, the people (citizens) of Brazil, or of Brazilian descent Brazilian may also ...

French Rite The French Rite is a Rite of Freemasonry that was founded in France, in 1786. History The French Rite is intimately linked to the birth of Freemasonry in France and was founded in France in 1786. British exiles brought the Modern rite to France ...

* National Mexican Rite * Primitive Scottish Rite *

Rectified Scottish Rite The Rectified Scottish Rite, also known as Order of Knights Beneficent of the Holy City or Knights Benefactor of the Holy City (french: Chevalier bienfaisant de la Cité sainte) is a Christian Masonic rite founded in Lyon (France) in 1778. Or ...

Rite Français Moderne Rétabli Rite may refer to: * Ritual, an established ceremonious act * Rite of passage, a ceremonious act associated with social transition Religion * Rite (Christianity), a sacred ritual or liturgical tradition in various Christian denominations * C ...

Rite of Adoption The Rite of Adoption was a Masonic rite which appeared in France in the 18th century. Lodges of adoption were usually attached to regular craft lodges, but admitted the female relatives of Freemasons to a mixed lodge with its own ritual. The number ...

* Rite of Baldwyn * Rite of Memphis * Rite of Memphis Misraim *

Rite of Misraim The Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraïm is a masonic rite founded in Naples, Italy in September 1881 by the merger of two older rites; the ''Rite of Misraïm'' and the ''Rite of Memphis''. Although founded in 1881, its predecessors ...

Rite of Strict Observance The Rite of Strict Observance was a Rite of Freemasonry, a series of progressive degrees that were conferred by the Order of Strict Observance, a Masonic body of the 18th century. History Baron Karl Gotthelf von Hund (1722–1776) introduced ...

* Rite Opératif de Salomon * Schröder Rite *

Swedish Rite The Swedish Rite is a variation or Rite of Freemasonry that is common in Scandinavian countries and to a limited extent in Germany. It is different from other branches of Freemasonry in that, rather than having the three self-contained foundat ...

* York Rite

Grand College of Rites

In the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

, the

Grand College of Rites The Grand College of Rites (officially, the Grand College of Rites of the United States of America) is a Masonic organization. The Grand College of Rites was established by nine Master Masons in Washington, D.C. on May 12, 1932 for the purpose of ...

focuses on the collection and publication of texts from both

Masonic ritual Masonic ritual is the scripted words and actions that are spoken or performed during the degree work in a Masonic lodge. Masonic symbolism is that which is used to illustrate the principles which Freemasonry espouses. Masonic ritual has appeared ...

not currently used in the United States, and defunct quasi-Masonic rituals used by other fraternities and societies.Grand College of Rites home page
Accessed 17 April 2006. One of its stated purposes is the prevention, within the larger community of

Freemasons Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

, of the revival or usage of any rituals that are not currently in use in the United States.Constitution of the Grand College of Rites
Accessed 17 April 2006.

Masonic degree systems

Grand College of Rites

References

See also