A Rite, within the context of Freemasonry, refers to a comprehensive system of degrees that hold the capability to initiate and advance a newcomer through various stages of Masonic knowledge and experience. In some cases, a Master Mason can be invited to join a different rite after having reached Mastery to further his knowledge. For a system of Masonic degrees to be named rite, it must encompass the first three blue lodge craft degrees, either as degrees within the rite or as a prerequisite for joining the rite. In essence, a Masonic rite occupies a central position in the trajectory of a Mason's journey, serving as the vehicle through which Masonic teachings and lessons are imparted.[1]
Except for rare exceptions, Masonic rites are most of the time under the control of Grand Lodges for the first three degrees then under the control of a concordant body for any upper degrees.[2] [3]
The most practiced rite in the world from the Entered Apprentice degree is the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.[4]
Over time, a number of different Masonic degree systems have been developed, some of which are still in use, and others which have now ceased to exist. In his 1861 book "Tuileur Général De La Francmaçonnerie Ou Manuel De L'initié", Jean-Marie Ragon lists 52 Masonic Rites and over 1400 degrees.[5]
| Rite Name | Degrees | Notable Regions | Year Established | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Brazil, Portugal, Uruguay, France[6] | - | Ends with Noachite or Prussian Knight degree. Has been worked in Brazil since the early 19th century.[7] | ||
| Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite | 33 | Worldwide | 1801 | Most widely practiced Masonic rite globally | |
| Ancient and Primitive Rite | - | Multiple regions | - | One of the historic Egyptian-influenced rites | |
| Portuguese Rite[8] | - | Portugal | - | National rite of Portuguese Freemasonry | |
| Brazilian Rite | Multiple | Brazil | Late 19th/Early 20th century | Based on J. Sadler's translation of the Emulation Ritual of the U.G.L.E. Incorporates Brazilian national symbols and history in its lectures | |
| Irish Rite | - | Ireland | - | Traditional rite practiced in Ireland | |
| French Rite | - | France | - | One of the principal rites practiced in French Freemasonry | |
| Moorish Rite | - | Multiple regions | - | Influenced by Moorish traditions | |
| National Mexican Rite | - | Mexico | - | National rite of Mexican Freemasonry | |
| Primitive Scottish Rite | - | Multiple regions | 1770 | Established at Namur. Practiced by some Grand Lodges and worked exclusively by the Grande Loge Symbolique travaillant au Rite Écossais Primitif[9] | |
| Rectified Scottish Rite | - | Europe | - | Christian-themed Scottish Rite variant | |
| Standard Scottish Rite | - | Multiple regions | - | Standardized version of Scottish Rite workings | |
| Rite Français Moderne Rétabli | - | France | - | Modern restoration of French Rite | |
| Rite of Baldwyn | - | Multiple regions | - | Historic English rite | |
| Rite of Memphis | 95 | Multiple regions | - | Also known as Oriental Rite. Egyptian-influenced system | |
| Rite of Memphis-Misraim | 99 | Multiple regions | - | Combines Memphis and Misraim traditions. Egyptian Masonry system | |
| Rite of Misraim | - | Multiple regions | - | Egyptian-influenced rite | |
| Rite Opératif de Salomon | - | Multiple regions | - | Operative working focusing on Solomonic traditions | |
| Schröder Rite | - | Multiple regions | - | German masonic system | |
| Swedish Rite | - | Sweden | - | Official system of Swedish Freemasonry | |
| York Rite | - | Multiple regions | - | One of the most popular rites, especially in English-speaking countries | |
| Martinism Rite | 10 | Multiple regions | - | Esoteric Christian system | |
| French or Modern Rite | - | France | - | Principal rite of French Freemasonry | |
| Pennsylvania Rite | - | Pennsylvania, USA | - | Also called Old Ancients Ritual. Only U.S. state not practicing Preston-Webb Ritual[10] | |
| Philosophical Scottish Rite | 12 | Belgium | 1796 | Still actively practiced in Belgium[11] | |
| Eclectic Rite | 3 | Germany, Switzerland, Uruguay, Brazil[12] | 1783 | Blue Lodge degrees only | |
| Philosophical French Rite | 3 | France | 1969-2002 | Created within Tolérance lodge of Grand Orient de France. Covers three symbolic degrees (Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Master)[13] |
| Rite Name | Degrees | Year Established | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| Cagliostro Adoption Rite | - | - | - | |
| Rite of the Knights of the Two Eagles | - | - | - | |
| Amicists Rite | - | - | - | |
| - | 1767 | - | ||
| Rite of the Chapter of Clermont | - | 1754 | - | |
| Chaldean Rite | 3 | - | - | |
| Fesster Rite | 9 | 1765 | - | |
| Clerks of the Relaxed Observance Rite | 10 | - | - | |
| Rite of Brother Henoch | 4 | - | - | |
| Indian Rite | 3 | - | - | |
| Chastannier Rite | - | 1767 | Benedict | |
| Rite of the Negotiates | 3 | 1780 | Pythagorean masonic rite | |
| Rite of the Benevolent Knights | - | - | Of the Holy City of Jerusalem | |
| Brothers of the Rose-Croix | - | - | - | |
| Brotherhood of Moravian brothers | - | 1739 | Order of the mustard seed | |
| English Conclave of Templar-Kadosh Rite | - | - | - | |
| Primitive Scottish Rite (Marchet) | 33 | - | From Advocate Marchet de Nivelles | |
| Rite of Reformed Scots | - | 1766 | By Tschoudy | |
| Rite of Reformed Scots of Saint-Martin | 7 | - | - | |
| Egyptian Rite (Cagliostro) | - | 1782 | - | |
| Rite of Elect Cőens | 9 | 1754 | Martinez Paschalis | |
| Rite of the Elect of the Truth | 14 | 1779 | Three classes | |
| Eons Rite | - | - | Zoroastrian Masonry | |
| Rite of the Knights of the Polar Star | - | - | - | |
| Fessler Rite | 9 | 1797 | - | |
| Rite of the Brothers | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | ||
| Rite of the Black Brothers | - | - | - | |
| Rite of the perfect Egyptian initiates | 7 | - | Lyon France, Crota-Repoa | |
| Rite of Universal Harmony | - | 1782 | - | |
| Rite of the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes | 17 | 1740 | Berlin | |
| 7 | 1770 | - | ||
| Heredom Rite | 25 | 1758 | Also known as Perfection | |
| Rite of the Invisibles | - | - | - | |
| Rose Croix Rectified of Schroeder | 7 | 1766 | - | |
| Hermetic Rite of Avignon | - | - | - | |
| Rite of Liberty | - | 1740 | Founded in Paris | |
| Rite of the Decorated Masters | - | - | Strict Observance | |
| French Noahides Rite | - | - | Napoleonic Masonry | |
| Rite of the Templar Orient | - | - | - | |
| Haitian rite | 3 | - | Blue Lodge | |
| Rite of the Land of Palestine | - | - | - | |
| Pernetty Rite | - | 1760 | Also known as Enlightened of Avignon | |
| Persian Philosophical Rite | 7 | - | - | |
| 12 | 1773 | Seekers of Truth | ||
| 3 | 1779 | Rite of the Primitive Philadelphians | ||
| Schroepffer Rite | - | - | Magic, evocations | |
| Sophisians Rite | 7 | 1801 | - | |
| 8 | 1721 | Illuminated of Stockholm | ||
| Rite de la Vieille Bru | 9 | 1748 | Faithful Scotchman from Toulouse | |
| Rite of the Disciples of Hermes | - | - | - | |
| Manichaean Brothers Rite | - | - | - | |
| Pantheists Rite | - | - | Also known as Socratic Lodge | |
| Rite of the Knights of the Pure Truth | - | - | - | |
| Xerophagists Rite | - | - | - | |
| Rite of the Illuminated Zodiac | - | - | - |
| Order Name | Year Established | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordre Initiatique et Traditionnel de l'Art Royal[14] | 1973 | Still active in 2024, Traditionalist Order, Practices the Rite Opératif de Salomon | |
| Order of the Apocalypse | - | - | |
| Order of Noachites | 1757 | M. de St. Gelaire | |
| Knight of the Holy City Order | - | - | |
| Architects of Africa | - | Also known as African Brotherhood or Chaos Order | |
| Order of the Eagles and the Sun | - | - | |
| Assanites Order | - | The Old Man of the Mountain | |
| Order of Cuchiara | 1512 | Italy, also known as Trowel Order | |
| Bonze Order | - | - | |
| Cauldron Order | 1512 | Italy | |
| Charles XIII Order | - | Bernadotte, King of Sweden | |
| Knights of Asia Order | - | Initiated Brothers in 5 degrees | |
| Scandinavian Order | - | - | |
| Adepts Order | - | - | |
| Knights of the Desert Order | - | - | |
| Diamond Order | 17th century | Invulnerable Knights | |
| Awakened Order | 18th century | - | |
| Moravian Brothers Order | - | The Mustard Seed | |
| Grand Duke Order | - | - | |
| Lanturlus Order | 1771 | Instituted by Marquis de Croismarc | |
| Hassanites Order | - | The Old Man of the Mountain | |
| Illustrious Neapolitan Grand Masters Order | - | - | |
| Magicians Order | 18th century | - | |
| Masters of 1804 | 1804 | Political masonic Order | |
| Palladium Order | 18th century | Sovereign Council of Wisdom | |
| Perfect Initiates of Asia Order | - | - | |
| Unknown Philosophers Order | - | In 2 points | |
| Sacred Sophisiros Order | - | - | |
| Saint-Joachim Order | 1760 | Christian Freemasonry | |
| Seven Sages Order | 17th century | Companions of Ulysses | |
| Tobacological Order | 18th century | Also known as Prizers |
| Academy Name | Degrees | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy of the Rose | 4 | - | - | |
| Russian-Swedish | - | - | Alchemical Masonry of Schroder | |
| Academy of the Ancients | - | Warsaw | Also known as Academy of Secrets | |
| Academy Areopagite | - | - | Of the Knights Kadosch | |
| Academy of the Sublime Masters | - | - | Of the Luminous Ring | |
| Academy of the True Masons | 6 | Paris | Established 1861 |
| Grand Lodge | Type | Rites Practiced | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Orient de France (GODF) | Oldest and largest French Grand Lodge |
| - | |
| Grande Loge de France (GLDF) | Second largest Grand Lodge |
| - | |
| Grande Loge Nationale Française (GLNF) | Third largest, only one in regularity with U.G.L.E. |
| - |
| Grand Lodge | Type | Rites Practiced | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grande Oriente d'Italia (GOI) | Oldest and largest Italian Grand Lodge |
| - | |
| Gran Loggia Regolare d'Italia (GLRI) | - |
| - | |
| Serenissima Gran Loggia d'Italia (SGLI) | - |
| - | |
| Gran Loggia d'Italia degli ALAM (GLdI) | - |
| - |
| State/Region | Grand Lodge | Blue Lodge Rites Practiced | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | N/A | Focuses on collection and publication of texts from defunct masonic degrees and quasi-Masonic rituals. | ||
| Alabama | Grand Lodge of Alabama | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Alaska | Grand Lodge of Alaska | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Arizona | Grand Lodge of Arizona | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Arkansas | Grand Lodge of Arkansas | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| California | Grand Lodge of California |
| Multiple ritual jurisdiction | |
| Colorado | Grand Lodge of Colorado | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Connecticut | Grand Lodge of Connecticut | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Delaware | Grand Lodge of Delaware | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| District of Columbia | GLDC |
| Most diverse ritual jurisdiction in the US | |
| Florida | Grand Lodge of Florida | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Georgia | Grand Lodge of Georgia | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Hawaii | Grand Lodge of Hawaii |
| Multiple ritual jurisdiction | |
| Idaho | Grand Lodge of Idaho | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Illinois | Grand Lodge of Illinois | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Indiana | Grand Lodge of Indiana |
| Multiple ritual jurisdiction | |
| Iowa | Grand Lodge of Iowa | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Kansas | Grand Lodge of Kansas | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Kentucky | Grand Lodge of Kentucky | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Louisiana | Grand Lodge of Louisiana |
| Multiple ritual jurisdiction | |
| Maine | Grand Lodge of Maine | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Maryland | Grand Lodge of Maryland | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Massachusetts | Grand Lodge of Massachusetts | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Michigan | Grand Lodge of Michigan | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Minnesota | Grand Lodge of Minnesota | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Mississippi | Grand Lodge of Mississippi | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Missouri | Grand Lodge of Missouri | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Montana | Grand Lodge of Montana | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Nebraska | Grand Lodge of Nebraska | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Nevada | Grand Lodge of Nevada | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| New Hampshire | Grand Lodge of New Hampshire | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| New Jersey | Grand Lodge of New Jersey | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| New Mexico | Grand Lodge of New Mexico | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| New York | Grand Lodge of New York |
| Multiple ritual jurisdiction | |
| North Carolina | Grand Lodge of North Carolina | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| North Dakota | Grand Lodge of North Dakota | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Ohio | Grand Lodge of Ohio |
| Goose and Gridiron Lodge No.1717 with special dispensation | |
| Oklahoma | Grand Lodge of Oklahoma | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Oregon | Grand Lodge of Oregon | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Pennsylvania | Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Rite | Unique version of the Ancient Ritual only practiced in Pennsylvania | |
| Rhode Island | Grand Lodge of Rhode Island | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| South Carolina | Grand Lodge of South Carolina | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| South Dakota | Grand Lodge of South Dakota | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Tennessee | Grand Lodge of Tennessee | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Texas | Grand Lodge of Texas | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Utah | Grand Lodge of Utah | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Vermont | Grand Lodge of Vermont | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Virginia | Grand Lodge of Virginia | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Washington | Grand Lodge of Washington | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| West Virginia | Grand Lodge of West Virginia | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction | |
| Wisconsin | Grand Lodge of Wisconsin |
| Multiple ritual jurisdiction | |
| Wyoming | Grand Lodge of Wyoming | York Rite (Preston/Webb) | Single ritual jurisdiction |
Color Key:
Notes:
| Rite Name | Origin Location | Year Established | Original Purpose/Context | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, South Carolina | 1801 | Evolved from Rite of Perfection | ||
| France | - | Oriental and Egyptian traditions | ||
| Sweden | - | Christian-oriented Masonry | ||
| England | - | Based on English craft traditions | ||
| France | 1786 | Modern French Masonry | ||
| France | 1969-2002 | Developed within Tolérance lodge | ||
| Pennsylvania, USA | - | Derived from Antient Grand Lodge of England |
A key feature that distinguishes these rites is their relationship with the blue lodge degrees. Some rites incorporate these degrees directly, while others require them as prerequisites. The diversity of rites reflects the rich historical development of Freemasonry across different cultures and regions.
Most Masonic rites operate under a dual control structure: