The Knight Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH) is a high-ranking individual honor within the 33 Degrees of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. It is conferred by the Supreme Council upon 32° Masons who have rendered commendable service to the Rite. The KCCH is not a degree but an investiture, bestowed upon members deserving recognition for faithful services to Masonry or mankind.
The KCCH ceremony is an investiture, not an initiation, and is open to the public, allowing family and friends of the recipients to learn more about the prestigious organization. The Scottish Rite stands as a full Rite of Freemasonry and not an appendant body. Master Masons from other rites may join the Scottish Rite in some countries.
The most distinctive apparel of the KCCH Mason is their red cap, which symbolizes the nobility of the soul and the parent of all knightly knights. In the Scottish Rite, the symbol of the Hierarchy teaches that power descends from on high and does not rise up from the depths. A light blue cap signifies that the wearer has been a Scottish Rite Mason for fifty years or more.
The Knight Commander of the Court of Honour is not a “stepping stone” to the 33° degree, although a member must be a KCCH for at least 46 months before being recognized. The honor is a symbol of excellence and achievement within the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.
In summary, the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor is a highly esteemed individual honor within the 33 Degrees of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. It is not a degree but an investiture bestowed upon 32° Masons who have rendered commendable service to the Rite.
📹 Masonic – Scottish Rite – What is it? 33rd? KCCH? Should you join? What do they do?
An inside look at the Scottish Rite. From an inside member not an outside “expert”. What do they do and how are they structured?
What is a Kcch in the Scottish Rite?
At the Supreme Council’s biennial session, Masters of the Royal Secret who have held their degree for a minimum of 46 months prior to the session are selected to receive the Rank and Decoration of Knights Commander of the Court of Honour. These knights are selected from the Consistory for their exemplary service to Masonry or humanity, as evidenced by the red cap they wear.
What degree is Scottish Rite?
The Master Mason degree is the most important Masonic degree, but there is a tradition of “high degrees” that expand on the first three degrees. The Scottish Rite degrees teach moral lessons, culminating in the 32° Master of the Royal Secret. The Scottish Rite continues Master Mason education through various means, including 4°-32° Degree work, meetings, leadership conferences, the Scottish Rite Journal, Masonic books, and the Scottish Rite Research Society.
What is the difference between Freemasons and Scottish Rite?
The Scottish Rite is a full Rite of Freemasonry, not an appendant body. Master Masons from other rites may join the upper degrees starting from the 4th degree due to its popularity. The Scottish Rite builds upon the ethical teachings and philosophy offered in the Craft (or Blue) Lodge through dramatic presentations of its individual degrees. The term “Blue Lodge” refers to the first three degrees of Masonry, regardless of the Rite being practiced.
Records of lodges conferring the degree of “Scots Master” or “Scotch Master” as early as 1733 include a lodge at Temple Bar in London, a lodge at Bath in 1735, and the French lodge, St. George de l’Observance No. 49 at Covent Garden in 1736. These references indicate special meetings held for performing unusual ceremonies, probably by visiting Freemasons.
The Copiale cipher, dating from the 1740s, says that the rank of a Scottish master is an entirely new invention. French writers Jean-Marie Ragon and Emmanuel Rebold first claimed that the high degrees were created and practiced in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning at Edinburgh, which is entirely false.
What Rite is the Knights Templar?
In the United States, a Knights Templar commandery is the final body a member joins in the York Rite, following the chapter of Royal Arch Masons and a council of Royal and Select Masters. Some jurisdictions allow members to skip over council membership. Local Knights Templar commanderies operate under a state-level Grand Commandery, while American commanderies operate under The Grand Encampment of the United States. These commanderies bestow three orders and one preparatory degree, unlike the standard degree system found elsewhere in Freemasonry.
They are the only ones not dealing with the Hiramic Legend. The York Rite orders include The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross, The Degree of Saint Paul, The Order of the Knights of Malta, and The Order of the Temple.
Who was a famous Scottish Rite Mason?
The U. S. military is a symbol of public service, with Freemasons striving to serve their community and nation, particularly in the Scottish Rite, where Devotion to Country is one of their six Core Values. The Masons, including Brother Winston Churchill, Douglas MacArthur, James “Jimmy” Doolittle, Leonard “Bud” Lomell, and Brother Sammy Lee Davis, 33°, exemplified courage, integrity, and a deep commitment to brotherhood and moral uprightness. Their Masonic virtues influenced their leadership and their contributions continue to inspire generations.
Brother Sammy Lee Davis, 33°, is known for his courageous acts during the Vietnam War, where he crossed a river to rescue three wounded American soldiers. He was awarded a Medal of Honor from President Lyndon B. Johnson for his heroism.
Did Freemasonry start in Scotland?
Modern Freemasonry, as we know it today, originated in Scotland from associations of stonemasons in the Middle Ages. By the late 1500s, there were at least 13 established lodges across Scotland, from Edinburgh to Perth. However, it wasn’t until the 16th century that these medieval guilds gained an institutional structure, which many consider the birth of modern Freemasonry. The earliest meeting records, usually considered the best evidence of a lodge having any real organization, date back to January 1599, from Lodge Aitchison’s Haven in East Lothian, Scotland, which closed in 1852.
Just six months later, the lodge of Mary’s Chapel in Edinburgh started to keep minutes. As far as we can tell, there are no administrative records from England dating from this time. Robert Cooper, curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and author of Cracking the Freemason’s Code, believes that this is when things truly began, as lodges became a fixed feature of the country and became a national network.
Who is the father of all Masonic people?
Desaguliers, often referred to as the “father” of modern freemasonry, played a significant role in the formation of the “Gothic Constitutions” and the formation of the United Grand Lodge. He insisted on remembering ritual rather than writing it down, leading to a lack of material on the development of English ritual until after the formation of the United Grand Lodge.
The new Grand Lodge embarked on an era of self-publicity, leading to the sudden expansion of speculative masonry and a rise in anti-masonic groups and publications. Initiations began to be reported in newspapers, and the Duke of Wharton joined an anti-masonic group called the Gormagons shortly after leaving office. The installation of the new Grand Master was the occasion for a parade, which became the subject of ridicule until mock processions by anti-masonic groups began in 1740, leading to the discontinuation of the practice in 1747.
The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, “For the Use of the Lodges” in London and Westminster, was published in 1723, edited by presbyterian clergyman James Anderson and approved by a Grand Lodge committee under Desaguliers’ control. The work was reprinted in Philadelphia in 1734 by Benjamin Franklin, who was elected Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania that year.
What is the highest honor in the Scottish Rite?
The Grand Cross of the Court of Honour represents the pinnacle of individual recognition within the Supreme Council, reserved for those who have demonstrated truly exceptional and extraordinary service as Thirty-third Degree Masons. The cap is white with a blue band.
Do you have to be a Mason to be in Scottish Rite?
In order to become a member of the Scottish Rite, it is necessary to be a Master Mason in good standing within a COGMINA lodge and to submit a petition accompanied by the requisite fee.
How many Scottish Rite Masons are there?
About 1. 7 million Masons in the United States, with 550, 000 being Scottish Rite Masons, use various symbols to represent their beliefs. The square and compasses are the most common symbols, reminding Masons to maintain virtuous actions and control their passions. In the U. S., a “G” in the square and a compass symbol symbolize geometry and God, emphasizing the importance of geometry in Masonry. The cap, a public badge of a Scottish Rite Mason, is part of the uniform and varies in color to indicate the degree of wearer. The square and compasses symbolize the square of virtue and the compasses symbolize circumcision of passions.
What do Scottish Rite Masons believe?
The Scottish Rite Masonry aims to aid mankind’s search for identity and destiny in God’s universe, produce wiser, happier men, and promote the dignity of every person and humanity in all activities. The fraternity fulfills its Masonic obligation to care for its members and believes in individual judgment and conscience in civil life. 32° Scottish Rite Masonry expands upon the fundamental principles of Freemasonry, exploring Masonic teachings more deeply.
Building upon the ethical and philosophical teachings of the blue lodge, 32° Scottish Rite reveals a wealth of knowledge about Masonry not found in other degrees. It seeks to enrich the philosophy of the Symbolic Lodge to help good men become even better.
📹 A Brief History of the Scottish Rite
This animated video is a brief history of the Scottish Rite in a nutshell. It is not however intended to be a full detailed description of …
Thank you, brother! I’ve been interested in joining Scottish Rite but generally my valley holds reunions during a busy time of the year for me (plus something else is keeping me from petitioning). Still, my blue lodge has been very supportive of my journey thus far and I’m quite pleased where I am. If you ever find yourself in Midland or Odessa Texas, please let me know!
Thanks for the tour. Here is the question ringing in my mind. Over the centuries, the Mason’s are all about doing good and practicing virtues but now in 2024 I see America falling into the pit of Vice. Now I wonder in 1776, did the Mason’s walk out the door with the wisdom of virtues, leaving Vice to rule in high places? The odds were very low that I could follow the Mason path, my family was destroyed by vice 50 years ago. I grew up without a father as a child trying to avoid the pit.
Brother Tony, would you kindly share what’s the best way for man to approach a Mason lodge to start his travel journey? I’ve come across many obstacles with Masons in trying to become part of a lodge. I believe I’ve met Masons, however, they are not “active” nor standing square as they do not follow through with their word. Any insight would be helpful. Btw, I live between Atlanta, Georgia and Alameda, California
One question I have and no im not one of those guys asking if you worship lucifer…but ive got a masonic bible claiming that masons learn Gods TRUE Hebrew name and only masons have that light. Apparently the name of Jehovah and the mysteries behind it, are a huge thing you learn. So it this is true, what do masons believe is the true name of God? I hope this is answered. Because if mason’s really are a light to the world, surely they would want people to know ❤