If the 32nd degree of the Scottish Rite is not any "higher" than the three blue lodge degrees, or even the other degrees of the Rite, and since it's usually not representative of the achievement of having received all of the previous 31 degrees (in the U.S. anyway,) why are people so quick to tack that "32°" at the end of their name, or stick it into the blurbs that follow their Masonic Essays?
For example, I don't think I've ever read a biographic blurb that says "John Smith is an 11th degree Mason of the Scottish Rite."
Of course I know why people like to point out their 32°, it sounds cool and definitely impresses your non-Masonic neighbors, or other Masons who don't know much about the Scottish Rite. If I become a Master Mason and pursue the Scottish Rite I doubt I'll be much different. As you can see from my profile picture, I'm all about cool hats.
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3 comments:
So you want to wear a bellboy's hat, huh?
I don't think Masons are so much boasting their thirty-secondness or other titles as they are just indicating their affiliations when they publish something, so other brothers will know what groups they belong to.
I used to sign my Masonic emails with my name followed by the intitals of my blue lodge office that year, like JW, and then add RAM, RSM just to let people know I was a member of the York Rite.
Maybe from now own I'll sign it "11th degree Yorkie."
Widow's Son, former JW, 11th degree Yorkie
BurningTaper.com
That does make sense.
-A.C., eager petitioner
"It wouldn't be a lodge without hats."
– Peggy Sue Got Married (1985)
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