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Orient of Georgia |
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What is the Scottish Rite of FreeMasonry
Again, the degrees of the Scottish Rite are designed to help a Blue Lodge Mason understand his Masonry and be a better Mason. They are dramatized or explained at one- or two-day "Reunions", with no memory work required. The various degrees are really a study that last a lifetime and enriches one's understanding of his first three degrees. The 4th through the 14th degrees take up where the Blue Lodge left off in history, and investigate and contemplate the ineffable name of Deity. The major lesson of the Degrees is that God is not an object of knowledge, but faith. The next four degrees cover the time from the destruction of King Solomon's Temple to the time of the writing of the Book of Revelations, and are religious (but not religion), historical, moral and philosophical in nature. The next twelve cover the time of the Crusades, and dramatize the knightly virtues and look at mystical symbolism. They teach why morality and the practice of virtue are indispensable to the Mason. The final two degrees, the 31st and 32nd, deal with the ever-changing relationship between human law as a means of achieving justice and divine justice as an ideal. They teach that the path to immortality is more than the mere outward appearance of goodness. Certain dignities, such as the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and 33º, are honorary in nature and cannot be actively sought or asked for. In the Scottish Rite everyone who wants to participate has a place and there is a place for everyone to participate doing what he does best. The emphasis is on how the individual does, not on what he does – everyone is equal and every job is important. Whether he is an officer, a ritualist, keeps the door, reads lectures, ushers candidates, helps with costumes, lighting or scenery, fixes the meals, greets new members or candidates, or any of a number of other duties that have to be done to hold a successful Reunion – he counts just as much as the next guy. Our ladies and families are included in almost all of our activities, except , of course, the Reunions and our closed monthly meetings (although they may attend and join in the refreshments). They are an integral part of our projects and our charities – of our life as a branch of this great Fraternity. Projects such as patriotic programs, Junior ROTC Awards, community assistance and awareness, public schools, libraries, are open for all members of the family to participate. Our charities primarily concentrate on children – for without both mentally and physically healthy children our country and society cannot possibly hope to advance and face the trials of today's world. The primary charity of the Rite is a national system Scottish Rite Children's Learning Disability Clinics, of which there are twelve in Georgia (and we are looking to begin several additional ones through out the state). These area clinics will concentrate on diagnosing and treating visual, hearing and learning problems that keep many children from learning at their fullest capacity. Hundreds or thousands of children in Georgia can benefit from this service provided at lower cost through our partners, giving each a better chance to face the world in today's age. Support for this in Georgia comes both directly from the Valleys and through the Supreme Council fund of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia.
Finally, through the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia, Inc. scholarships are awarded each year to deserving GEORGIA students who need a little financial help in continuing their education beyond high school. Almost 100 of these scholarships were given throughout Georgia this past year. Just imagine the benefits our society of tomorrow will reap from these better-educated minds. Because of the immensity of the Scottish Rite's service -- to Masonic education through our degrees, to service to the community, and to charity -- the Scottish Rite is not organized in local lodges. We do not compete with the local lodge, but strive to assist it. The Rite is organized in Georgia into six area "Valleys": in Albany, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon and Savannah, each of which meet monthly for fellowship and to transact business. A number of the Valleys have local Associations throughout their respective areas. Over 15,000 Master Masons in Georgia belong to and participate with the Rite through the Valleys and Associations. The qualifications for membership are that the individual be a Master Mason in a lodge recognized by the Grand Lodge of Georgia and that he meet all requirements of the Grand Lodge (as time as a Master Mason or proficiency in the Master Mason catechism) to petition an appendant body. The Rite in Georgia recognizes the Grand Lodge as the highest Masonic authority in the State and pledges its total support to Masonry as administered through the Grand Lodge.
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The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is virtually an educational arm of Masonic Fraternity. Its twenty-nine degrees take the history and lessons first taught a Mason in the three blue lodge degrees and expands upon their history, legends, traditions and moral lessons. The activities of the Rite are also designed to build upon these lessons, concentrating on individual worth, family values, patriotism, and charity (especially toward children).
In Georgia, the Scottish Rite is probably best known for the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital (which recently changed its name to Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, when it merged with Egleston Children's Hospital). The Scottish Rite never actually owned the hospital but it bore our name in some form or another (and still does) since its beginnings in 1915. The merger has allowed the hospitals to serve more children at a lower cost by doing away with duplicative services. More than 360,000 patient visits were made to the hospital by children this past year, and approximately $112 million of financial assistance was given through unreimbursed services. Unlike some other charitable hospitals, the Scottish Rite Hospital does take insurance payments (if available) and expects families to pay on an "as able" basis. This allows more children to receive help – but be assured, as it has been from its start and under the supervision of the Scottish Rite-manned Childcare Committee, "no child is turned away because of his or her inability to pay for the services available". And unlike other charitable hospitals, this southeast regional hospital system is prepared to treat the whole child (from illnesses to trauma, from birth defects to organ transplants - all medical problems), not just a limited few such as orthopedics or burns.