The first Scottish Rite body of Freemasonry west of the Alleghenies was formed in Cambridge, Ohio, in 1852 by Killian H. Van Rensselaer, an honorary 33rd Degree Mason. He lived in this city from 1851 to 1867. Van Rensselaer was superintendent of construction of the present railroad tunnel west of Cambridge. He died in Cincinnati in 1881 at the age of 80.
The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is one of two branches of Freemasonry to which a Master Mason may proceed after he has completed the first three degrees of the Symbolic or “Blue” Lodge. The Scottish Rite includes the degrees from the 4° through the 32°. Although there are many Scottish Rite members of Scottish ancestry, the Scottish Rite actually originated in France in the early 18th century. During the 18th century, lodges were organized in the United States with the first Scottish Rite Supreme Council founded in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1801.
The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction was formed in 1867 and includes the 15 states east of the Mississippi River and north of the Mason-Dixon Line and the Ohio River, including Delaware. The Southern Jurisdiction encompasses the 35 remaining states, the District of Columbia and the United States territories and possessions. The Northern Jurisdiction officially recognizes and enjoys friendly relations with many other jurisdictions around the world.
Scottish Rite shares the same belief of all Masonic organizations that there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason. The Supreme Council and its subordinate bodies acknowledge the Masonic supremacy of the Symbolic Grand Lodges and Grand Masters within their jurisdictions. Scottish Rite degrees are not considered “higher” than the degrees of the Symbolic lodges. The work of the Scottish Rite serves to elaborate on, and amplify that of the Symbolic lodge.The Scottish Rite degrees are lessons taught through allegory in the form of plays.
Scottish Rite members meet in local or regional “Valleys” and are organized into four parts; Lodge of Perfection, 4° – 14°;Council of Princes of Jerusalem, 15° – 16°; Chapter of Rose Croix, 17° – 18° and Consistory, 19° – 32°.
