Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
of Freemasonry of Canada
Valley of Vernon
WHAT IS THE SCOTTISH RITE?
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a worldwide Masonic fraternity with degrees that build on the moral and philosophic ideals found in the Craft Lodge and seeks to increase a Mason’s knowledge of Masonic traditions and principles.
The Scottish Rite operates completely independent of any Grand Lodge of Freemasonry. While there is no Masonic distinction of higher significance than that of a ‘Master Mason’, the Scottish Rite degrees provide a Mason an opportunity to further explore the intricacies of our fascinating fraternity.
The Scottish Rite in the Valley of Vernon B.C. consists of three bodies each with its own complement of officers and each with its own meeting schedule.
Okanagan Lodge of Perfection
Lodge of Perfection degrees enhance on the legend of the Master Mason Degree and the story of the building of King Solomon’s temple introduced in the Craft degrees. The rituals of the Lodge encompass the 4th through 14th degrees.
Moray Chapter of Rose Croix
Chapter degrees consist of two components. The 15th and 16th degrees relate to the building of the second temple and our struggle against the adversaries of truth and light. The 17th and 18th degrees are our recognition of religious ethics in universal terms and the building of our heart and conscience for the third temple.
Chapters of Rose Croix conduct a solemn observance ritual of the Paschal Supper and the Resurrection every year during Easter Holy Week.
Morning Star Consistory
Consistory degrees – 19th through 32nd – tie together many of the philosophical and chivalric traditions of Masonry. The Consistory degrees portray events of universal significance associated with the building of the second temple and the way to erect the third temple which exists in the hearts of every Mason when he strives to identify himself with that which is highest and best.
THE SCOTTISH RITE OF CANADA
Morning Star Consistory
The governing body of the Scottish Rite is the Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of Canada’ which is located in Hamilton, Ontario. Throughout Canada there are forty-five Valleys; ten of which are in British Columbia; and three of which are in the Southern Interior: namely, Castlegar/Nelson, Kamloops and Vernon. The website of our Supreme Council has a worthwhile library of additional information about the Scottish Rite. A link is provided here:
SCOTTISH RITE CANADA
- RELIEF -
THE SCOTTISH RITE OF CANADA
The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada, established by the Supreme Council, supports research into the ‘puzzles of the mind’ with annual grants to support research into the causes of and hopefully, the eventual cure, of cognitive impairments. Annual grants to support these causes exceed $400,000.00.
The BC Learning Centre for children with dyslexia is one of eight learning centres in Canada supported by the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation. It is located in Vancouver BC; however, an online educational program reaches out to students across the province. Learning Centres are a free service with specially trained and dedicated teachers working to help children with dyslexia to reach their full potential. A link to the BC Learning Centre is provided here:
BC LEARNING CENTRES
VALLEY OF VERNON ALMONER’S FUND
The Scottish Rite has an office for an Almoner. At the close of every meeting funds are collected to support our Almoner and his philanthropic work in our local communities. Scottish Rite Brethren recognize the important work of our Almoner with donations to support his labours.
HISTORY OF THE SCOTTISH RITE
The early history of the Scottish Rite, like most Masonic history, is lost in the sands of time. There are records of lodges conferring the degree of the ‘Scots Master’ as early as 1733 at the Lodge Temple Bar in London, England. But what is known, is that the Scottish Rite evolved in France in the mid-1700’s credited mostly to exiled English and Scottish Masons.
In 1786 the ‘Grand Constitutions’ were enacted to consolidate the Scots degrees in Europe. It was these Constitutions which brought the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite into formal existence and enlarging the number of degrees to thirty-three. (The 33rd degree being the governing Supreme Council.)
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry was introduced into the New World late in the 18th Century. A formal organization finally took hold in 1801 when a Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry was opened in the USA in Charleston, SC. It is from this Supreme Council that all subsequent Supreme Councils in North America were born.
Around the time the Dominion of Canada was officially formed in 1867, there were already six Scottish Rite bodies practicing in eastern Canada. These bodies were constituted into the ‘Supreme Council 33° of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of Canada’ on the 7th of October, 1874.
History in the Valley of Vernon: Letters patent for the constitution of the ‘Okanagan Lodge of Perfection’ were issued on March 21st, 1930 and later the ‘Moray Chapter of Rose Croix’ was constituted on December 10th, 1946. (The name ‘Moray’ is drawn from the first Master of the Lodge of Perfection in Vernon.) It was from the Valley of Vernon that new Scottish Rite Valleys were formed in Kamloops, Penticton and the West Kootenays. (Penticton has since amalgamated with the Valley of Vernon.)
Early in the 21st Century the Scottish Rite Masons of the southern interior of BC decided not to be content with the new normal facing all Masonic bodies and instead, stepped boldly into the new century by organizing a new consistory. At that time, the only consistories in BC were located in Victoria and Vancouver. On May 17th, 2007 ‘Morning Star Consistory’ was constituted and situated in the Valley of Vernon catering to Scottish Rite Masons of the southern interior desirous to obtain the consistory degrees.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION FOR THE
SCOTTISH RITE IN THE VALLEY OF VERNON
To apply for membership in the Scottish Rite you must be a Master Mason in good standing. Continued membership in a Craft Lodge is required to maintain good standing in the Scottish Rite. Membership in the Scottish Rite is not by invitation. Contact information is noted HERE.
Men wishing to consider Freemasonry and obtaining the degree of a Master Mason, should contact the ‘Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon’ or the masonic lodge in your community. A link to Grand Lodge is provided here:
GRAND LODGE OF BC & YUKON
Like the Craft Lodge, applications to the Scottish Rite are submitted to a membership committee for review and in due course, new Candidates are balloted upon.
There is an initiation fee to join the Scottish Rite plus annual dues for membership
A Mason’s attire for Scottish Rite meetings is the same as that for the Craft Lodge; however, local tradition is that the officers of the Scottish Rite should be attired in a formal tuxedo.
Like the Craft Lodge, the Scottish Rite does not seek to intrude upon a man’s prerogatives regarding places of worship or his religious affiliation; nor does it attempt to teach any creed.
Candidates are not required to do memory work for the Scottish Rite; except in the 14th Degree where some limited memory work will be requested.
There are full rituals for all the degrees of the Scottish Rite. The degrees are presented through lavish productions by skilled degree teams complete with props and costumes as well as informative allocutions. However, not all the degrees are performed in the Valley of Vernon.
In the first year a Candidate will pass through the degrees of the Lodge of Perfection and in the second year he will receive the degrees of the Rose Croix Chapter and Consistory.
Regular meetings of the Lodge are held on the first Thursday of the Month; regular meetings of the Chapter are the third Thursday of November and February as well as the observance of Easter Holy Week; and three meetings are scheduled for the Consistory degrees normally in the Spring. It is noted that some degrees take place in Kamloops while other times the Kamloops Scottish Rite Brethren travel to Vernon for degrees.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The Valley of Vernon has established a Membership Committee whose members are ready to answer any questions you may have, or to assist with an application. In addition, all Scottish Rite Masons are regular attendees of their own Craft Lodge – they are at your meetings and would be happy to talk about the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.
Please do not hesitate to reach out.
- The Grand Secretary
- Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite
- 3005A - 32nd Street
- Vernon, B.C. CANADA
- V1T 5M4
Email: valleyofvernon@gmail.com
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