Scottish Rite Portland Valley

lly recognized by Grand Lodges as an extension of the degrees of Freemasonry. As Freemasonry in the US is descended from English Freemasonry, the first three degrees as practiced in American Freemasonry come from the York Rite. The Scottish Rite is descended from French Freemasonry. The earliest versions of the Scottish Rite degrees came to France from Scotland (“Écossais” is the French word for the adjective “Scottish”). The Scottish Rite also contains the first three degrees of Freemasonry as well but these are not conferred in American Blue Lodges. However, there are some places in America with strong French traditions where these degrees are conferred (e.g., some parts of Louisiana and La Loge La Parfaite Union No 17 in San Francisco). The Scottish Rite builds upon the ethical teachings and philosophy offered in the Craft (or Blue) Lodge through dramatic presentation of the individual degrees. The degrees are one-act plays that illustrate a moral lesson or philosophical precept. The book Morals and Dogma by Albert Pike is a collection of 32 essays (some are long enough to be books in and of themselves) that provide the philosophical context and underpinnings for the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.