Originally posted by orangeman dave
cotwom, i have had my mark degree, here in scotland its a continuation of the fellow craft.
It is a common misconception that the Mark Degree was once attached to the Fellow Craft; the degree is, indeed, on the Fellow Craft level, and this is what probably produced that original speculation. The first record of the Mark Degree being conferred was in Scotland in 1769; previous ritual exposures indicate that nothing similar to the ritual of Mark Master Mason was ever found in the Fellow Craft Degree.
Does this mean Scottish masonry is york rite?
By York Rite, I here refer to the orgininal three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry, which had its legendary beginning in York, England circa 980 A.D.
In English speaking countries, practically all Blue Lodges work in the York Rite. The major exception is District 18 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, where the Blue Lodges are Scottish Rite (what they call in the UK the Ancient and Accepted Rite).
The Emulation Rite is sometimes worked in the UK and Canada, but this Rite is simply a revision of the classical York Rite.
[edit on 7-1-2005 by Masonic Light]
