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However, the highest degree in Freemasonry is considered to be the Third, or Master Mason degree. However, there are some additional "higher" degrees that are conferred by "appendant" or "concordant" Masonic organizations. Understand that these degrees are not more important than the third degree, although some of them use numbers that are higher. These degrees can be thought of like continuing education following a University PhD degree, they aren't really any "higher" but are additional.

One Masonic group that gives these additional degrees is the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (or simply, the Scottish Rite), which may be the most visible concordant body of Freemasonry. It is called a "concordant body" because some of its degrees are based on, and continue the story told in the first three primary Masonic degrees. The highest degree in the Scottish Rite is the 33rd, although that is an "honorary degree" and awarded only by invitation to those "elected" to it by their local Scottish Rite fellows. The vast majority of Scottish Rite Masons receive additional degrees up to the 32nd. Although some 33rd degree members are part of a "Supreme Council," they have administrative authority over only the members in their Scottish Rite jurisdiction (such as the Northern or Southern Jurisdictions of the United States) and have no authority over any other Masons or Masonic bodies. In short, 33rd degree Masons are the leaders of the Scottish Rite in their region, but they do not rule Freemasonry as is sometimes claimed by a few non-masons.

Other concordant or appendant Masonic bodies also award degrees, but most do not number them. The York Rite, for instance, culminates in the Order of the Temple, or Knight Templar. No currently recognized (that is, sanctioned by United Grand Lodge of England and other "regular" Masons) degrees are numbered higher than those of the Scottish Rite.

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11y ago

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