Royal Arch Series
- Mark Master MasonPerseverance through rejection
- Excellent MasterReturn from Babylon to rebuild
- Royal ArchRecovery, rebuilding and renewal
Country guide / Scotland
A different
constitution.
Scottish Freemasonry shares a foundation with English Masonry, but its governance, ritual variety and routes beyond the Craft are distinctly its own.
01 / The foundation
Grand Lodge
since 1736.
The Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland was founded in 1736. Scottish Lodges preserve a notable degree of local identity, including differences in ceremonial practice.
The important distinction
Do not assume an English pathway applies in Scotland. The Mark degree, for example, can be conferred in a Craft Lodge and also forms the first stage of the Scottish Royal Arch series.
02 / The Scottish pathway
Three connected series.
These degrees are under the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland. The groupings below follow its own published description.
Lodge & Council Series
- Royal Ark MarinerNoah, faithfulness and survival
- Knight of the SwordRelease and return under Zerubbabel
- Knight of the EastOvercoming difficulty while rebuilding
- Knight of the East & WestIndustry, skill and reward
Cryptic Rite Series
- Royal MasterMortality and preparation
- Select MasterPreservation in the Secret Vault
- Super Excellent MasterDestruction, captivity and hope
03 / Key differences
Same roots.
Different shape.
Lodge identity
Scottish Lodges have historically retained greater freedom in ritual practice than English Lodges working under UGLE.
The Mark
By an 1860 agreement, the Mark may be conferred in a Craft Lodge or a Mark Lodge attached to a Royal Arch Chapter.
Excellent Master
The Excellent Master is a required and visible part of the Scottish Royal Arch sequence, unlike the English Constitution.
Separate authorities
Craft is governed by Grand Lodge, while the Royal Arch and its connected series are governed by Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter.
04 / Beyond the Chapter
Other sovereign
Scottish bodies.
These organisations are not departments of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Each has its own constitution, officers and admission rules.
Royal Arch system
Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter
Governs the Royal Arch, Lodge and Council, and Cryptic Rite series described above. A Scottish Royal Arch route begins with the Mark and includes the Excellent Master degree.
Explore the official pathway ↗
Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite
Supreme Council for Scotland
The independent Scottish authority for the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Its public site documents a history extending back into the nineteenth century and provides current governing information.
Visit the Supreme Council ↗
Christian chivalric orders
Great Priory of Scotland
Governs the Masonic Order of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta in Scotland. Its work is explicitly Christian, chivalric and charitable.
Visit Great Priory ↗
Invitational order
Royal Order of Scotland
Headquartered in Edinburgh and worked worldwide through Provincial Grand Lodges. Candidates must be Freemasons and be recommended by two members before they may be invited to apply.
Read the official joining guide ↗05 / Verify & explore
Official Scottish
sources.
01Grand Lodge of ScotlandGoverning body for Craft Masonry ↗
02Official historyGrand Lodge founded in 1736 ↗
03Orders in ScotlandGrand Lodge's pathway guide ↗
04Supreme Grand Royal Arch ChapterScottish Royal Arch governing body ↗
05Journey to the Royal ArchOfficial degree-by-degree explanation ↗
06Find a ChapterOfficial Scottish directory ↗
07Supreme Council for ScotlandAncient & Accepted Scottish Rite ↗
08Great Priory of ScotlandMasonic Templar governing body ↗
09Royal Order of ScotlandWorldwide governing body in Edinburgh ↗