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EVG Yumul

Registered User
I’d just like to share about the Scottish Rite as practised in Australia.

Grand Lodges in Australia use rituals modified from those used in the Home Grand Lodges in the UK. New South Wales, for example, merged the English, Irish, and Scottish rituals into a unified ritual. But there are two Lodges in Australia that practice the first three degrees in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite: Lodge Zetland of Australia No. 9 and Lodge France No. 1021.

Both Lodge Zetland and Lodge France meet in Sydney, New South Wales. I've heard there are other Lodges that exemplify the Scottish Rite Craft degrees in other states but Zetland and France are the only Lodges in Australia that are licenced by a Grand Lodge to work the craft AASR ritual for their stated meetings and degree work.

As for the Scottish Rite as an Appendant Masonic Body, there are two Supreme Councils that work in the country: The Supreme Council for Australia (A.C.) and The Supreme Council for Scotland (S.C.). The main difference between the two is that S.C. only accepts Christians and A.C. works both the Universal Rituals as well as the Christian Rituals, hence A.C. accepts brothers of all faiths. There are regalia, administration, and degree progression differences as well.

Brothers start the Rite on the 18° after the minimum required waiting period after raising. The period varies from state to state; New South Wales Masons need to wait at least 2 years. After three years of active service to the Rite, 18° Brothers can only be then elevated to the 30th degree. The service period is similar for advancement to the 31st and the 32nd degrees.

The progression requirements looks like this:

Supreme Council for Australia:
18° - 2 years as a Master Mason by invitation
30° - 3 years of satisfactory service to a Sovereign Chapter after the 18° by application
31° - 3 years of satisfactory service to a Sovereign Council after the 30° by application
32° - 3 years of meritorious service to a Sovereign Council after the 31° by application
33° - Minimum of 3 years of outstanding service to a Sovereign Council after the 32° only by invitation by the Supreme Council for Australia

Supreme Council for Scotland:
18° - 2 years as a Master Mason by invitation
30° - 3 years of satisfactory service to a Sovereign Chapter after the 18° by invitation
31° - 3 years of satisfactory service to a Sovereign Council after the 30° by invitation
32° - 3 years of meritorious service to a Sovereign Council after the 31° by invitation
33° - Minimum of 3 years of outstanding service to a Sovereign Council after the 32° only by invitation by the Supreme Council for Scotland

It's also notable that there are no Honorary 33° Masons in Australia. All 33° Masons are SGIGs and are required to serve as District Commanders (A.C.), Regional Commanders (A.C.), District Administrators (S.C.), or Provincial Deputies (S.C.) for a minimum of 5 years. As above, it takes a minimum of 13 years for a person to attain the 33° since it takes 2 years from petition to Master Mason. And because some degrees are by invitation only, those who do get the 33° usually take decades. Election to the 33° has only been attained by a handful of Brothers and is reserved for those who are capable of serving as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General. It's not uncommon for a Brother to be an 18° Mason throughout his Masonic Career.

Membership to the Supreme Councils is limited to 9 Brothers each. The members of the Supreme Council for Scotland serve for life while the members of the Supreme Council for Australia have term limits.

Titles:
18° - Excellent and Perfect Brother
30° - Illustrious Brother
31° - Illustrious Brother
32° - Illustrious Brother
District Commanders (Australian) 33° - Very Illustrious Brother
Regional Commanders (Australian) 33° - Most Illustrious Brother
District Administrators (Scottish) 33° - Very Illustrious Brother
Provincial Deputies (Scottish) 33° - Very Illustrious Brother
Lieutenant Grand Commander (Both Constitutions) 33° - Very Powerful Brother
Sovereign Grand Commander (Both Constitutions) 33° - Most Powerful Brother

In the Australian Constitution, outstanding members of the Rite can be awarded different ranks in the Order of Merit. If a Brother is a member of the Order of Merit and is below 33°, his title will be Eminent Brother.

Members of the Scottish Rite can visit other Constitutions but cannot be a member of more than one Constitution. So if a 33° Brother from the Australian Constitution wishes to be a member of the Scottish Constitution, he must renounce his affiliation to the Supreme Council for Australia. He is also required to start again from the 18°.

Sources:
  • Current Grand Secretary General H.E., Supreme Council for Australia
  • Immediate Past Grand Secretary General H.E., Supreme Council for Australia
  • Deputy for the Province of New South Wales, Supreme Council for Scotland
Links:
 

SeekerDownunder

Registered User
But there are two Lodges in Australia that practice the first three degrees in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite: Lodge Zetland of Australia No. 9 and Lodge France No. 1021.

Are they permitted to work the AASR first three degrees or just to exemplify them?
 

EVG Yumul

Registered User
Are they permitted to work the AASR first three degrees or just to exemplify them?

Lodge Zetland of Australia and Lodge France are permitted to open and close on the Three Craft Degrees of the AASR in any occasion. Candidates for degrees are initiated, passed, and raised using the New South Wales Ritual, however, the AASR initiation, passing, or raising is scheduled a month after for the candidate.
 
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