What is 33 degree freemasons?

Answer 1

Yes

However, the highest degree in Freemasonry is considered to be the Third, or Master Mason degree. However, there are some additional "higher" degrees that are conferred by "appendant" or "concordant" Masonic organizations. Understand that these degrees are not more important than the third degree, although some of them use numbers that are higher. These degrees can be thought of like continuing education following a University PhD degree, they aren't really any "higher" but are additional.

One Masonic group that gives these additional degrees is the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (or simply, the Scottish Rite), which may be the most visible concordant body of Freemasonry. It is called a "concordant body" because some of its degrees are based on, and continue the story told in the first three primary Masonic degrees. The highest degree in the Scottish Rite is the 33rd, although that is an "honorary degree" and awarded only by invitation to those "elected" to it by their local Scottish Rite fellows. The vast majority of Scottish Rite Masons receive additional degrees up to the 32nd. Although some 33rd degree members are part of a "Supreme Council," they have administrative authority over only the members in their Scottish Rite jurisdiction (such as the Northern or Southern Jurisdictions of the United States) and have no authority over any other Masons or Masonic bodies. In short, 33rd degree Masons are the leaders of the Scottish Rite in their region, but they do not rule Freemasonry as is sometimes claimed by a few non-masons.

Other concordant or appendant Masonic bodies also award degrees, but most do not number them. The York Rite, for instance, culminates in the Order of the Temple, or Knight Templar. No currently recognized (that is, sanctioned by United Grand Lodge of England and other "regular" Masons) degrees are numbered higher than those of the Scottish Rite.

Answer 2

Freemasonry was originally a very simple system of two degrees based on the gradations of workers in the building industry and very similar to the degrees of operative tradesmen nowadays: a person is an apprentice for a while, then is given journeyman status. In some cases, the workman was given the special status of a Master of his Craft, and accordingly there was a third degree added to the system.

In the eighteenth century, when Freemasonry became popular as a way to explore intellectual issues away from the political and religious powers who would suppress the free discussion of those issues, it rapidly spread across Europe. The ceremonies and lessons associated with the three degrees did not wholly satisfy many of the Masons of the time and they invented many more for the purpose of further elaborating those lessons. These new degrees were grouped together into "systems". There were hundreds of degrees, and dozens of systems, but most of these have long been abandoned as too complicated and excessive. However, one such system was introduced into the United States and has flourished there. This is called the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

The Scottish rite is administered separately from the three degrees of the Craft Lodges to which all masons must belong. Not all Masons belong to the Scottish Rite, and it is actually quite rare among Europeans, being a peculiarly American thing. The Scottish Rite adds a further 29 degrees to the first three, making a total of 32. The 33rd degree is restricted to those members of the Scottish Rite who are chosen to administrate the Scottish Rite, sort of a governing council.

If you are not a Scottish Rite Mason, it is of no concern to you whether someone is 33rd degree or not. Nor are the degrees after the third considered by anyone to be more important than the first three, no matter how interesting they may be.

Answer 3

The 33rd degree of Scottish Rite is an honorary degree conferred on those brethren who are Scottish Rite Members who have made contributions to Masonry. There are four Scottish Rite jurisdictions in the world: Northeastern USA, the rest of the USA, Canada and Great Britain. The one from the south and west of the USA is the original body, which was formed in 1801. Each of these bodies grants 33 degree status on members they consider worthy. These members form the ruling body of the Scottish Rite. To find out exactly how many there are it would be best to contact one of the bodies directly. (It's OK to do that: they have websites which say "contact us")

Answer 4

It's the number which comes after 32. That is why the 33rd degree is called that.