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Communications Scottish Rite History - Scottish Rite Honors
Communications Scottish Rite History - Scottish Rite Honors
| Scottish Rite History - Scottish Rite Honors |
| Written by Irv Womack |
| Thursday, 30 April 2009 16:00 |
|
Scottish Rite Honors, in addition to the degrees, there are certain honors bestowed by the Supreme Council. These can never be applied for nor bought, and if solicited or applied for, must be refused. 32°, Knight Commander of the Court of Honor (32°, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.). Masters of the Royal Secret who distinguish themselves by extraordinary services to humanity and/or the Fraternity may be elected to receive the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. The number of those who can be admitted to the Court of Honor at any Session of the Supreme Council is limited in accordance with the rule laid down in the Statutes, which expressly provide that more than twice as many Knights Commanders of the Court of Honor may be elected than the number of Knights Commanders elected to receive the Thirty- third Degree. The investiture constitutes neither a degree nor a half- degree; neither is it a promise nor hint that the Knight Commander will thereafter receive the Thirty-third Degree. 33°, Inspector General Honorary (33°, I.·.G.·.H.·.). The Thirty-third Degree occupies a unique place in the Scottish Rite. In its early history the Degree was called "Sovereign Grand Inspector General" (see below), and was reserved for the nine officers comprising the Supreme Council of a given jurisdiction. About 1816 the Supreme Council of France increased its number of Thirty-third Degree members, but the Mother Supreme Council did not increase its number until 1857, when several New Orleans Masons were elected on an honorary basis; such conferral making the recipients honorary members of the Supreme Council (lacking legislative and voting powers). Such honorary members are called "Inspectors Generals Honorary." However, reception of the Thirty- third Degree is not merely an honor: the Degree is the historical and actual completion of the Rite. For this reason it is also called the "Thirty-third and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry." An Inspector General Honorary is said to have been "coroneted" by the Supreme Council. The Scottish Rite does not acknowledge any Degree higher than the Thirty-third Degree. 33°, Grand Cross of Honor (33°, G.·.C.·.). This is the highest honor bestowed bythe Supreme Council. It is reserved for those who have performed extraordinary services to the Fraternity or humanity. All Active Members of the Supreme Council are deemed ipso facto recipients of the Grand Cross of Honor, although they do not receive the Grand Cross jewel, nor wear the cap. 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General (33°, S.·.G.·.I.·.G.·.). The "Active Members" or "Inspectors" of a Supreme Council, who function as an executive board of directors, are called "Sovereign Grand Inspectors General." The title signifies a position rather than a degree. The title refers exclusively to those invested with the sovereign administrative powers of the Supreme Council. Active Members receive the same Thirty-third Degree initiation ceremony as the Inspectors General Honorary; however, a Sovereign Grand Inspector General also undergoes a private ceremonial investiture, performed by the Supreme Council. Although this investiture is not a degree, it is more elaborate than a simple installation. A Sovereign Grand Inspector General is said to have been "crowned" by the Supreme Council. (Reprinted from: Scottish Rite Ritual, Monitor and Guide.) |
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