I think that "7" stands for 14 degree... My grand father died and he was a mason. We wear left with his ring. They put it in this pyramid, I guess they did not want any one wearing it. I looked up the ring after he died and it said it was ment for a 14 degree... I wonder why its on a 32 degree ring?

The pics are distorted. The shape of the pyramid is really like the shape of the ones in Egypt.

Originally posted by Masonic Light

Originally posted by network dude


You are very close. One must be a Christian to be in the York Rite, but the Scottish Rite is for all faiths

Just a brief comment: in the York Rite, the Commandery (or Preceptory) requires candidates to be Christians, but the Lodge, Chapter, and Council are open to people of all faiths. In the United States and Canada, the Scottish Rite is open to people of all faiths, but in most other countries, including the UK, the Scottish Rite requires candidates to be Christians.

it does discuss Jesus Christ where the blue lodge doesn't mention a specific deity.

The Blue Lodge constantly mentions a specific Deity: the God of the Hebrew Patriarchs, who was the God of Solomon the King. This is the only God spoken of in the Blue Lodge (as well as in the Chapter, Council, and Commandery, for that matter).

Thank you both for the correction. Not being in the York Rite, I was a bit cloudy. (but I thought I wasn't)

ML, You are correct as usual, but I meant we don't get into the different names God is given in the Blue lodge. (I know you know this as well, but I was trying to make sure I didn't look like a total bonehead)

This may have been mentioned before but the alledges "7" or Reish is actually neither on the ring. It is a very poorly done "yod" a diagrammic mark used to insert vowel sounds in otherwise consenant-based Hebrew. In the Jewish tradition, the title "God" is so holy that it is never uttered and when written is usually shown as "G-d". The yod is the smallest mark in Hebrews text. Jesus said that not a yod or a tittle (the smallest Greek diagrammic, 'breathing' mark) would pass from the law until everything was fulfilled.

In some useage, the yod is used as an abbreviation for "God." That's the significance on the ring, to remind the wearer of their obligations to TSAOTU.

Having said that, I am an ex-Mason. I left that organization because I came to understand that it is basicaly a deistic, pseudo-religion..a point recognized by higher degree Masons and very poorly understand by the lower lodge members. The persuit of moral perfection without the grace of God is ultimately impossible and leads to the sins of arrogance and hubris. No one can trult stand humbley before God who is dedicating his life to pulling himself up by the boot straps.

Originally posted by Dextraphite
That is pretty cool! Funny I saw a thread on here a while ago in which someone was claiming that the 33rd degree of masonry was non-existent and a fallacy and just made up to poorly portray masons. This proves him wrong.

Yes well... you know, the fact that there are 32 degrees doesnt mean there are 33.

Like the fact that there are 10 commandments doesnt mean there are 11.

Same logic applies.

Originally posted by osbornegg
I left that organization because I came to understand that it is basicaly a deistic, pseudo-religion..a point recognized by higher degree Masons and very poorly understand by the lower lodge members.

Define 'higher degree' and 'lower lodge members' and why the degree numbers (past 3rd) have any relevance to the other.

Originally posted by lonewolf19792000


At the 33rd degree...

You get to put your hand on the Quran and swear an oath.

Then you're muslim from there on out.

I think you're confusing the 33rd degree with the Shriners.

It's gettin' pretty bad when I have to correct anti-Masons on their anti-Masonry!

Originally posted by knowledgedesired


I have never heard anyone speak of anything past 33rd and was wondering if you could elaborate on 66-99?

He is probably referring to the Oriental Rite of Memphis, a Masonic rite popular in the 19th century, that had 97 degrees. In Europe, this rite was tabled by the Grand Orient of France, which had authority over it.

In the United States, the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Rite of Memphis had a meeting and tabled itself voluntarily, and formed the Grand College of Rites of the United States to take its place. The degrees of Memphis are no longer conferred, but the rituals are made available to members of the College to study (I am a Fellow of the College, and have copies of the degree rituals in manuscript form).

There are now modern organizations calling themselves the Rites of Memphis and Mitzraim, but they work without legitimate Masonic authority, and their members are not recognized as Freemasons. Some of those organizations have cut their number of degrees down to 33 in imitation of the Scottish Rite.

Apologies, the scenario was definitely true at one time, and I believe in certain jurisdictions the 33rd degree was harder to attain than in others say 40 years ago. There's so many diferent jurisdictions these days that it's incredibly difficult to say something about masonry that is universally true. Plus, it's not like it's incredibly easy to find 33rd degree members who will freely talk about it - you folks and your secrets hehe.

Originally posted by TruthExposed
Apologies, the scenario was definitely true at one time, and I believe in certain jurisdictions the 33rd degree was harder to attain than in others say 40 years ago. There's so many diferent jurisdictions these days that it's incredibly difficult to say something about masonry that is universally true.

The are as many Scottish Rite juridictions in the United States now as there were 40 years ago, two.

Masonic Light is correct on receiving the 33rd Degree. The Junior Warden in my lodge is getting his this summer and he has been unemployed for close to a year so he is obviously not making any large monetary donations to anyone.