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33rd degree

MeCorby

Registered User
Hi all,
I am watching lots of youtube videos (documentry) about masonic 33rd degree and all they say is that 33rd degree isnt achievable for most of the freemasons - why? What you need to get that far ? I have not been even initiated yet but I am very curious about it. One of the videos ive watched say "it costs a lot" does it mean you have to be rich/pay lots for your membership ? Could you please advise ? Thank you in advance !!!


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Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Its an "honorary" deg and you must be recomended for it...u cannot ask for it. It takes alot to earn that recomendation. In the Southern juridiction of the SR of the U.S. you must be a 32nd° for at least 46months before youbcan be recomended for the 32nd° KCCH, then after another 46 months the brother is eligable go be elected to the 33rd. So thats a minimum of 8 years...it rarely happens that fast!

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Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Its an "honorary" deg and you must be recomended for it...u cannot ask for it. It takes alot to earn that recomendation. In the Southern juridiction of the SR of the U.S. you must be a 32nd° for at least 46months before youbcan be recomended for the 32nd° KCCH, then after another 46 months the brother is eligable go be elected to the 33rd. So thats a minimum of 8 years...it rarely happens that fast!

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All true. It is awarded for great service to the AASR, Freemasonry, the community at large, or a combination of all.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
No there are hundreds of 33rds. There are only 33 voting members of the supreme council known as SGIGs(Sovereign Grand Inspectors General) they are the head of the AASR in their state. If ur state doesnt have an sgig then it will have a Deputy to the supreme council. They too are the head of the AASR in their State but are not voting members of the supreme council

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Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
Yes but its also honorary in that you cannot simply pay a fee a receive it. You must be recomended for it, never ask for it or you wont get it.

Yes every other degree requires that you get "recommened and voted on" but even if someone suggested that you join you still have to ask for it. There for to me getting the degree is honorary.

No its not like an honorary doctorate where you given a certificate and a title there is an actual ceremony and an obligation but it is still honorary.

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dfreybur

Premium Member
I am watching lots of youtube videos (documentry) about masonic 33rd degree and all they say is that 33rd degree isnt achievable for most of the freemasons - why? What you need to get that far ? I have not been even initiated yet but I am very curious about it. One of the videos ive watched say "it costs a lot" does it mean you have to be rich/pay lots for your membership ?

For degrees other than the 33rd, as long as you are qualified you can petition for membership in the body hat confers it, work through the earlier degrees, apply to have the degree conferred on you.

Not so for the 33rd degree. If you ask the answer is no. If you were under consideration when you ask you are dropped from consideration. This is why it is called an honorary degree. It can't be asked for.

To start you must be a Mason. Not everyone can be a Mason. We don't take atheists, women, homeless men, men who are not mentally functional, men who are too young, men who have become infirm from age. The list of qualifications goes on.

Then you have to be a Scottish Rite Mason. Not every Mason can join the Scottish Rite. There are specific principles that you must agree to.

Then you have to earn a "red hat". The title is different between the two main SR jurisdictions. The requirement is above average contribution to the SR, to your lodge, to society. An SR Mason who is awarded a red hat stands out among the Brothers. Well under half of SR Masons are awarded a red hat.

Then you have to earn a "white hat". These are the 33rd degree Brothers. The Brother must stand out among red hat Brothers. Under half of red hat Brothers are awarded a white hat.

It's not about money. The cost of the dues is not high and we don't track charitable donations. The cost is in time and service. The cost is in activity and leadership. The cost is in activity and followership. The type of payment is not monetary.
 

Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
You know whats funny is that you can find pretty much everything about the first 3 degrees on line and even a fair shate about the 4-32. I cant find ANYTHING about the 33rd that is from a reputable source! Shows the character of the brothers that get there!
 

Companion Joe

Premium Member
You know whats funny is that you can find pretty much everything about the first 3 degrees on line and even a fair shate about the 4-32. I cant find ANYTHING about the 33rd that is from a reputable source! Shows the character of the brothers that get there!

If you find anything online about any degree, they aren't "reputable" sources.


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Ripcord22A

Site Benefactor
If you find anything online about any degree, they aren't "reputable" sources.


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well I found the 1-3rd ceremonies from I think it was Kansas from the early 1900s. It was their monitor that had been converted to PDF. That's what I meant by reputable source. I know the person that posted it isn't reputable but the info was. But everything on the 33rd is posted from an AntiMason
 

MarkR

Premium Member
. . . Then you have to earn a "red hat". The title is different between the two main SR jurisdictions. The requirement is above average contribution to the SR, to your lodge, to society. An SR Mason who is awarded a red hat stands out among the Brothers. Well under half of SR Masons are awarded a red hat.
The red hat is a prerequisite to the 33° only in the SJ. In the NMJ, it's not. In fact, I was told by a NMJ Mason who was definitely in a position to know, that in his valley, the red hat is sort of a consolation prize. If you get one, it's essentially saying "we appreciate what you've done, but you're not getting a white hat."

According to S. Brent Morris in his Complete Idiot's Guide, about 3% of the Scottish Rite SJ Masons hold the KCCH (red hat).
 

MeCorby

Registered User
If you haven't even been initiated an Entered Apprentice and what it takes to be a 33rd is a primary concern or even a random afterthought ... you might want to consider the Moose or Elks.
You are focusing on the wrong thing.


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Thanks for your answer, I asked the question as I couldnt find much information about it online. I see nothing wrong with thinking ahead and asking this kind of questions. I am very ambitious and as far as there is an opportunity for me to achieve 33rd degree I will be heading towards my "goal". I do understand the fact I need to learn how to walk before I start to run :)


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MeCorby

Registered User
You know whats funny is that you can find pretty much everything about the first 3 degrees on line and even a fair shate about the 4-32. I cant find ANYTHING about the 33rd that is from a reputable source! Shows the character of the brothers that get there!
Thats right and this is why I thought I'll ask the question in here. It would be great to know what it takes to reach that far.


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MeCorby

Registered User
For degrees other than the 33rd, as long as you are qualified you can petition for membership in the body hat confers it, work through the earlier degrees, apply to have the degree conferred on you.

Not so for the 33rd degree. If you ask the answer is no. If you were under consideration when you ask you are dropped from consideration. This is why it is called an honorary degree. It can't be asked for.

To start you must be a Mason. Not everyone can be a Mason. We don't take atheists, women, homeless men, men who are not mentally functional, men who are too young, men who have become infirm from age. The list of qualifications goes on.

Then you have to be a Scottish Rite Mason. Not every Mason can join the Scottish Rite. There are specific principles that you must agree to.

Then you have to earn a "red hat". The title is different between the two main SR jurisdictions. The requirement is above average contribution to the SR, to your lodge, to society. An SR Mason who is awarded a red hat stands out among the Brothers. Well under half of SR Masons are awarded a red hat.

Then you have to earn a "white hat". These are the 33rd degree Brothers. The Brother must stand out among red hat Brothers. Under half of red hat Brothers are awarded a white hat.

It's not about money. The cost of the dues is not high and we don't track charitable donations. The cost is in time and service. The cost is in activity and leadership. The cost is in activity and followership. The type of payment is not monetary.
Thank you ever so much for providing me with such a explanation. Much appreciate it.
It looks like there is a long way ahead of me of course once I become a MM :)


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Companion Joe

Premium Member
Thanks for your answer, I asked the question as I couldnt find much information about it online. I see nothing wrong with thinking ahead and asking this kind of questions. I am very ambitious and as far as there is an opportunity for me to achieve 33rd degree I will be heading towards my "goal". I do understand the fact I need to learn how to walk before I start to run :)


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Again, if honors and titles are your stated aim, you might be happier elsewhere. The "goal" of every Mason should be becoming a better citizen and service to the fraternity. Do that, and honors will follow if they are deserved. I have the Red Cross of Constantine. I never expected it, and I certainly never asked for it. I was overwhelmed when I received the letter. But by all means, the night of your 3rd degree, if there is a 33rd in attendance, approach him forcefully, tell him your goal, and tell him you want him to outline a plan and sponsor you.


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MeCorby

Registered User
Again, if honors and titles are your stated aim, you might be happier elsewhere. The "goal" of every Mason should be becoming a better citizen and service to the fraternity. Do that, and honors will follow if they are deserved. I have the Red Cross of Constantine. I never expected it, and I certainly never asked for it. I was overwhelmed when I received the letter. But by all means, the night of your 3rd degree, if there is a 33rd in attendance, approach him forcefully, tell him your goal, and tell him you want him to outline a plan and sponsor you.


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Thank you once again. The title isnt important at all...if that was the case I wouldnt even think about freemasonry. I just simply asked the question about something which is not explained anywhere. I thought it would be really great to know what it takes to achieve such a high degree, sometimes it helps to understand how hard you need to work to become a better person.


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dfreybur

Premium Member
Years ago I was in the dining hall at my mother valley. An older white hat Brother was across from me. A younger new Brother was next to me. The young fellow asked how to get a white hat -

"You can get a white hat by walking on the Moon or by working 20 years in the kitchen. I got mine working 20 years in the kitchen."

I laughed. The older Brother had been Grand Master of Masons in California a couple of years before that so he would have earned his white hat just from his service to the Grand Lodge. He had in fact spent 20 years cooking in the kitchen at the valley and been awarded the white hat before he went into the progressive Grand Line. The man was so accomplished the California GL Mason of the Year is now named after him.

As to walking on the Moon, back in the Renaissance one goal art and science masters had was to be so accomplished they ended up known by their first name alone. Michelangelo. Galileo. It still happens in the modern world. The 33rd degree Brother who walked on the Moon only needs to be mentioned by his first name. Buzz.
 
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