The Degrees conferred in the Consistory are known as the Traditional degrees and the Chivalric degrees. The Traditional degrees are those from 19 to 29. The Chivalric degrees are the 30th to the 32nd. These degrees are allegorical, historical, and ceremonial in nature. They include many Freemasons and prominent people from history in dramas intended to teach further moral and social lesson to the Scottish Rite Freemason.
19° Grand Pontiff
This degree proclaims the spiritual unity of all who believe in God and cherish the hope of immortality, no matter what religious leader they follow or what creed they profess. It is primarily concerned with the perennial conflict between light and darkness, good and evil,
God and Satan.
20° Master ad Vitam (Master for Life)
"The George Washington Degree"
This degree is a drama of the American spirit confronting the challenge of disloyalty and treason. Masonic principles and leadership are subjected to a crucial test. The degree demonstrates the Masonic condemnation of all who conspire against the security of a nation and the happiness of the people.
21° Patriarch Noachite
This degree teaches that Freemasonry is not a shield for evildoing and that justice is one of the chief supports of our Fraternity.
22° Prince of Libanus
"The Choir Degree"
In this degree, the dignity of labor is demonstrated. It is no curse, but a privilege for man to be allowed to earn his sustenance by work. Idleness, not labor, is disgraceful.
23° Chief of the Tabernacle
"The 4 Chaplains"
This degree is a dramatic story of four men of God – a Rabbi, a Catholic Priest, a Methodist Minister and a Pastor of a Reformed Church – who gave their lives in World War II so that others might live. This dramatic story demonstrates that those with faith in God and love for their fellow man will make great sacrifices to help others.
24° Prince of the Tabernacle
"The American Indian Degree"
This degree, through historical flashback, shows the pursuit and acquisition of knowledge often can dispel the fears created by ignorance and prejudice.
25° Knight of the Brazen Serpent
"The Ben Franklin Degree"
This degree teaches that no man is perfect and that all men err. If, however, he maintains a firm and unshakable reliance on God’s grace, he can and will regain his direction, his humility, his faith and his goals.
26° Prince of Mercy
"The Civil War Degree"
This degree teaches the quality of mercy; that it is a spirit of compassion and a tenderness of heart which dispose us to overlook differences between people. Through and inspirational drama, this degree teaches that people with similar goals may have differing points of view and that respect should be given to the opinions of others.
27° Commander of the Temple
This degree teaches that Scottish Rite Freemasonry believes in the concept of a free church in a free state, each supreme in its own sphere, neither seeking to dominate the other but cooperating for the common good. This degree is bought to life by dramatic events from the time of the Teutonic Knights and period of the Crusades.
28° Knight of the Sun
"The Elias Ashmole Degree"
This degree teaches that as nature hides her treasures under an external coat which must be hewn away before her wonders can be put to use by man, so Freemasonry helps us to strip the vices and superfluities of our lives so that we see and perform our duty to G-d and our fellow man.
29° Knight of St Andrew
This degree emphasizes that Masonic teachings of equality and toleration. We are reminded that no one man, no one church, no one religion has a monopoly on truth; that while we must be true and faithful to our own convictions, we must respect the opinions of others.
30° Grand Elect Knight Kadosh
This degree sets forth the tests and ceremonies that symbolize the experiences we must undergo in building of excellence in character.
31° Grand Inspector Inquisitor Commander
"Knight Aspirant"
This degree teaches that we should not rush to judgment. He who would judge others must first judge himself.
32° Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret
This degree describes the victory of the spiritual over the human in man and the conquest of appetites and passions by moral sense and reason. The exemplar represents every Freemason eager to serve humanity but caught between self interest and the call of duty. Duty often requires sacrifice, sometimes the supreme sacrifice.
