Master Craftsman Program
Overview
The Scottish Rite Master Craftsman (SRMC) program is an exciting, by-mail correspondence course designed and administered by staff at the House of the Temple in Washington, DC, under the guidance and leadership
of the Supreme Council, 33°, of the A&A Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, USA. Upon completion of each program listed below, the participant will be rewarded with a medal or pins to denote multiple completions. Currently, there are three programs that are meant to be taken in the following order:
- Program I: The Symbolic Lodge will familiarize students with aspects of the development of Blue Lodge Masonry and explore some of its developing symbolism. This will reveal that the “High Degrees” began to develop soon after formation of the Premier Grand Lodge (1717). Albert Pike’s book, Esoterika: The Symbolism of the Blue Degrees of Freemasonry, along with Arturo de Hoyos’s Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor & Guide (3d ed.) will be used to demonstrate a rational and philosophical interpretation for much of what is found in Craft Masonry.
- Program II: Scottish Rite Ritual and History consists of six lessons, utilizing the Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor & Guide by Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, Grand Cross, and A Bridge to Light (4th ed.) by Rex Hutchens, 33°, Grand Cross, as its textbooks.
- Program III: Scottish Rite Philosophy uses Albert Pike’s Morals & Dogma, Annotated Edition, by Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, Grand Cross and returns to the ritual of the Scottish Rite to re-explore it on a deeper level, by looking for the moral lesson imparted in each degree and then applying that lesson to one’s everyday life. The course consists of 33 quizzes, grouped into 10 sections
Master Craftsman Group Study
The Cumberland Scottish Rite offers the opportunity for members to take part in Master Craftsman Group Study.
A group setting is far and away the best way to learn and experience all that these programs have to offer. This is simply because Freemasonry is not a solitary pursuit, but rather a social experience — we gather in Lodges together for a reason! In fact, social engagement while finding more light in Masonry can be (and often is) more rewarding than simply answering some questions about a reading assignment. This is because you are learning not only about yourself through the ritual and its symbolism, but about others and their unique relationship to the deep philosophies and mysteries that are contained in the material, too.
Questions about the Program?
Study Groups for each Program are offered throughout the year. Please contact Bro. Danny Nieves at popeye@myactv.net for more information.