In America we differentiate the two Masonic systems available to us here as Scottish Rite (with 33 degrees, omitted first 3 which are worked by state grand jurisdictions) and York Rite (otherwise known as the American Rite). In LDH the difference is moot, since the system seems to be based on the Scottish Rite plus additional degrees as found in various national jurisdictions. In the States Blue Lodge is not part of the SR but is controlled by state grand bodies.
My questions are: what is your favorite degree and why what degree is the most Masonic (loaded question) do you think Mark is an extension of the 2° do you operate the chair degrees (like PM, PMWS, etc.) are there other degrees that you feel should be added in your jurisdictions Have you seen a Blue Lodge operated in other than the SR system, like that of the the UGLE, etc.
The reason for asking is partly just curiosity. Then it would be interesting to know the extent the the forumites' collective experience.
Last Edit: Jun 19, 2013 7:29:40 GMT 9.5 by stepnwolf
It seems to me that there are at least two separable streams of Masonry: the blue and the red. The blue seems to draw directly on Egyptian traditions and the red on Sumerian.
In practice the gods of both are likely the same, but the blue is ultimately directed to the Blazing Star while the red is directed to TMH.
My questions are: what is your favorite degree and why what degree is the most Masonic (loaded question) do you think Mark is an extension of the 2° do you operate the chair degrees (like PM, PMWS, etc.) are there other degrees that you feel should be added in your jurisdictions Have you seen a Blue Lodge operated in other than the SR system, like that of the the UGLE, etc.
In Adelaide we have the one LDH lodge with a small membership. We are 900 kms from our nearest LDH neighbour. We are not recognised by the Grand Lodge of the male craft so we cannot visit. I have been a Freemason for 22 years now and have never visited another lodge. Because we are small in number all of us sooner or later fill every position possible .. (so we don't get puffed up with pride when occupying lofty positions ) From this limited view of things I would offer the following:
My favourite is the 30th .. I feel truly centred there - centripetal energies? I love the form of the ladder, for me it gives answers to the hard questions of the meaning of Life.
The most Masonic degree? The First, imo. It is only when you have been through the rest you recognise it is all in the First.
Working one's way toward the Centre I see Second -> Mark -> Ark Mariners.. that is the overall picture, details, purpose.
No to the last three questions.
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
I was rather hoping that some of our casual readers might join in this one ...
While we work the Lauderdale Ritual in Adelaide, and my reply was based on that experience, I would love to hear the answers from other Orders. Or even the Brn from our LDH Order in Europe, who work a totally different ritual.
C'mon...
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting…trailing clouds of glory do we come from God, who is our home -Wordsworth
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