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WAY DOWN SOUTH WAY DOWN SOUTH WAY DOWN SOUTH WAY DOWN SOUTH
--- A Masonic Journey Spanning Three Centuries
Barry J. Lipson, 33, PSP, Valley of Pittsburgh

The decade of the 1860's caused much disruption in this Nation, the "cornerstone" of which had been
laid Masonically by Brother George Washington seven decades before (U.S. Capital, 1793). The Civil
War in the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction (SJ) interrupted Grand Commander Albert Pike's
refashioning of Scottish Rite Rituals. In the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction (NMJ) the "Union of
1867," the merging of the NMJ Supreme Council, established by the SJ 1n 1813 (the same year the two
Grand Lodges in England merged into the United Grand Lodge of England), with the competing
Cerneau Supreme Council in New York, awaited its end. But, the Northern and Southern bonds of
Masonic Brotherhood had survived even that, the greatest of upheavals on American soil in American
history.
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Take the incident of December 13 1862, a typical example. At Fredericksberg, the
Confederates under Gen. Longstreet had the Federals stopped cold and pinned down in front of
Maryee's Heights. The firing stopped about 4:30 PM. and soon after a white handkerchief on a stick
was raised from one of the shell holes on the plain. The Confederates waited to see what was wanted.
The man crawled on his stomach toward the Southern lines and tumbled over the stone wall in front of
Maryee's Heights. He asked if there was a Mason there." Who would think that in the middle of such a
bloody confrontation, with each side killing and demonizing the other, thoughts of seeking aid and
solace from the enemy could have even been conceived, or that a positive response would be received?

Well, sir, a "Confederate officer stepped
forward and said that he was a Mason. The Man
replied that there were two Masons in the shell
hole and if help didn't come soon they would
bleed to death. The Confederate officer sent two
litters out to get the men, and bring them in."
One would think that Masonic obligations had
thereby been met and POW procedures would
henceforth come into play, leaving them
incarcerated for the duration, and MIA's as far
as their Northern Masonic Brethren were
concerned?

No sir! "He took them to his own tent and had a
doctor come and treat them. Both lives were
saved."

The End? Not so, they were not to be MIA's, or even POWs for: "When they were able to travel he
paroled them both and sent them home...."

A true act of Brotherhood, well above the call of Masonic
duty. Yet acts like this between our Southern and Northern
Masonic Brethren "were common on the fields of war and did
a lot to retard its horrors."
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Thus, the above hand sketch by
Harrisburg artist Frank Hummel depicting a similar, but
reverse, Civil War incident at Gettysburg between Northern
and Southern Masonic Brothers, is memorialized by a Grand
Lodge Of Pennsylvania statute on the Gettysburg battlefield.
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And these deep bonds of Masonic Brotherhood between the North and South continue today into the
21
st
Century (even though the boundaries of what is North and what is South may have shifted)! So, as
a slight attempt at humor, the original title of this article was Way Down South in DC & WV, DC
being where the Northern Commander-in-Chief of the Union Army, President Abraham Lincoln, was
headquartered; and WV being that part of Virginia that broke off from the Confederacy to align itself
with the North.

Having had the honor of becoming acquainted with the mysteries of the Thirty-third and last Degree
of the NMJ, officially The Supreme Council of Sovereign Grand Inspectors-General of the Thirty-
third and last Degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of
the United States of America (1885 Constitution), at its meetings in Providence, Rhode Island and
Boston, Massachusetts, I was most curious about the corresponding mysteries at the Mother Council
of the World , the Southern Scottish Rite Jurisdiction.

In the U.S., in addition to the NMJ,
headquartered in Lexington, Massachusetts, there
is the Mother Council or SJ, headquartered at the
House of the Temple in Washington, DC (a
unique monumental building), officially The
Supreme Council (Mother Council of the World)
of the Inspectors General Knights Commander
of the House of the Temple of Solomon of the
Thirty-third degree of the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern
Jurisdiction of the United States of America,
formed in Charleston, South Carolina on May 31,
1801; and two Prince Hall Supreme Councils, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Freemasonry Prince Hall Affiliation Northern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., Inc, and the United Supreme
Council, 33, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Southern
Jurisdiction, USA, Inc.

I have had the extreme pleasure of personally spending time with the Sovereign Grand Commanders of
each of these four Supreme Councils, who extend the hands of Brotherhood to each other, and who are
honored guests at each others meetings. Do not the names of these Supreme Councils, by themselves,
hint interestingly at their histories, traditions, and accomplishments?

In furtherance of this Masonic journey, I contacted C.B. Hall, 33, then SJ Grand Minister of State and
Sovereign Grand Inspector General in West Virginia (equivalent to the Deputy for Pennsylvania in the
NMJ), who invited me to participate in Washington, DC in the then forthcoming SJ Biennial Session
and Thirty-third Degree Conferral and Annual Meeting of The Scottish Rite Research Society;
and in Charleston, West Virginia in the then forthcoming Grand Celebration of the 100
th

Anniversary of the Charleston Lodge of Perfection, the Investiture of Knights Commander of the
Court of Honour (KCCH), and the Orient-wide Reunion and Initiation of New Members where
each Degree was being performed by a different Orient of West Virginia Valley (Charleston,
Parkersburg, Morgantown, Huntington and Clarksburg), which I did.

There are four coordinate bodies within the Valleys of both the Scottish Rite SJ and NMJ, each with
their own presiding officer, but they differ. In the SJ they are the Lodge of Perfection, 4-14 (presided
over by a Venerable Master); the Chapter of Rose Croix, 15-18 (presided over by a Wise Master);
the Council of Kadosh [holy in Hebrew], 19- 30 (presided over by a Commander); and the
Consistory, 31- 32 (presided over by a Master of Kadosh). In the NMJ they are similarly the Lodge
of Perfection, 4-14 (but presided over by a Thrice Potent Master); differently the Council of Princes
of Jerusalem, 15-16 (presided over by a Sovereign Prince); again the Chapter of Rose Croix, 17-
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18 (but with two less degrees, and presided over by a Most Wise Master); the Consistory, 19-32 (but
with twelve more degrees, and presided over by a Commander-in-Chief); and no Council of Kadosh.

When I was Sovereign Prince (a position not used in the SJ, but hidden in the SJ traditional 32 ritual),
and Commander of the Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh Legion of Honor, with the strong desire to
exchange degree presentations, C.B. Hall was instrumental in helping arranging for the Valley of
Charleston to exemplify in the Valley Of Pittsburgh on November 2, 2000 their SJ 14
th
Degree (with
yours truly as the exemplifier). During this visit he was the recipient of the second presented Valley of
Pittsburgh Legion of Honor Medallion. Then, on April 25, 2001 the Valley of Pittsburgh reciprocated
by exemplifying the NMJ 29
th
Degree in Charleston, West Virginia (and did a NMJ Degree there again
several years later when John Corey 32, was Sovereign Prince).

If you look closely you can see in the accompanying
photograph the Valley of Charleston Trophy Case
with at the top two of the first edition two-sided
commemorative cups (sans the h in Pittsburgh the
second edition having the h) commissioned by
the Valley of Charleston to commemorate this
historic exchange of SJ and NMJ Degrees. This
photograph, taken during their 100
th
Anniversary
Grand Celebration, shows myself (White Hat), C.B.
Hall (Purple Hat) and John Corey (Yellow Hat). But
more about hats later.

Now to the complimentary and contrasting mysteries, without, of course, disclosing any secrets.
While the SJ came first and covers 35 Orients (States), compared to the NMJs 15 States, both have
similar membership numbers,
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with the NMJ having, we are told, the largest Scottish Rite Valley in
the World (Indianapolis), and while the Brotherhood and many of the trappings are quite familiar and
similar, there are still significant differences between the North and South.

For example, the SJ Thirty-third Degree is normally conferred by each Valley, while in the NMJ it is
conferred annually for the entire NMJ, with a unique welcoming tradition aimed at making each and
every Thirty-third elect feel very special. Then too, the feel and texture of the SJ Thirty-third Degree is
more that of a very impressive Blue Lodge-type Degree, with the NMJ Degree having a more dramatic
approach.

Furthermore, the Thirty-third trail differs in the North and South. In the NMJ the Supreme Council
awards the 33 as a way of honoring outstanding and selfless work performed in the Rite or in public
life. At its annual session the Supreme Council elects members of the Rite to receive the degree.
Members unanimously so elected become Honorary Members of the Supreme Council. It is not
campaigned for. It is granted solely by the Supreme Council.

While in the SJ the Thirty-third Degree is also clearly a way of honoring outstanding and selfless
work performed in the Rite, the path, apparently due to the influence of SJ icon Albert Pike, is much
more structured. I am told that to be elevated to the Thirty-third Degree in the SJ you must first be a
Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (KCCH) for at least 46-47 months, that twice as many
KCCHs are elected as Thirty-thirds are created, and that only one in four KCCHs ever actually
become Thirty-thirds. The KCCH Investiture, which was open to guests, stressed that becoming a Red
Hat, a KCCH, was a high honor in itself, that it was not a degree, that only 32 Masons could receive
this honor, and that there was no guarantee that it would lead to the Thirty-third Degree. The theme
was clearly to whom much is given, much is expected.

The NMJ does have its own Red Hats for 32 Masons, but they are received normally near the end of
ones Masonic career and are in no way a prerequisite for the 33. They are provided to Meritorious
Service Awards (MSA) awardees as recognition of distinguished Scottish Rite service, upon the
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recommendation of the Valleys four presiding officers and approval by that State Council of
Deliberation. As with NMJ 33rds, there is a year delay before they officially receive their Hats.

The 33 White Cap of the SJ bears the red and gold
Patriarchal Cross. Compare the earlier photograph of
C.B. Hall and me with the accompanying photograph
of the two of us in DC. Does anything appear to be out
of the ordinary? Clue, the 33 White
Cap of the NMJ, bears the Double-
Headed Eagle Wings Down; and that
of the Supreme Council 33 Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of Canada (authorized
in 1874 by the Supreme Council for England & Wales
which, in turn, had been warranted in 1845 by the
NMJ), bears the Double-Headed Eagle Wings Up.
Note, I am also wearing a Valley of Pittsburgh Scottish
Rite Legion of Honor Medal similar to the one presented to
C.B. Hall in Pittsburgh, and the 32 Masonic Learning
Centers Teddy Bears tie.

Though I do not know if it is unique to C.B. Halls two decade long administration of the Orient of
West Virginia, one of the real joys to the participants, and to him, are his Capping Ceremonies, both to
those receiving the Thirty-third Degree (White Hats), and to those being invested as KCCH (Red Hats).
I had the honor of observing the KCCH Capping Ceremony in Charleston, West Virginia, and to be
honorarily part of the Thirty-third Degree Capping Ceremony in DC These were very warm
occasions, exhibiting much brotherly love.

Like the 1971-73 Sid & Marty Krofft Kids TV Show Lidville, where hats ruled, Hats or Caps are most
important in the SJ. As the SJ Website explains: What are the Caps for? If the apron is a badge of a
Mason in Blue Lodge, the cap can be said to be the public badge of a Scottish Rite Mason. It is
considered a part of the uniform and the different colors indicate the degree of the wearer (black-32
nd
,
red-KCCH, white-33), being both a prayer cap in the Jewish tradition and a symbol of the Scottish
Rite Mason as a soldier in the Empire of Intellect, Reason, Philosophy & Wise Morality (32).

There is also a White Cap with a Broad Dark Blue Band, for those rare SJ 33 Masons awarded the
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour, the highest individual honor that the SJ Supreme Council
bestows. Such a Cap is sported by S. Brent Morris 33 G.C., who in 1991 founded the SJ Scottish Rite
Research Society, open to anyone interested in Masonic History, Mason or non-Mason; and who in
2001 organized the Omaha, Nebraska SJ "National Membership Development Conference," where as
Sovereign Prince I met him and explored a number of the membership growth opportunities referred to
herein. The Violet Cap is reserved for the SJ Sovereign Grand Commander, currently Ill. Ronald A.
Seale, 33. There remains the 17th Century Bonnet, with its cock feathers protruding from its Bonnet
Badge, that replaces the Black Hat for members of that elite SJ 32 Service Unit (KCCH's and 33rds
need not apply), the Knights of St. Andrew; and the fifty-year Blue Hat.

In the SJ (unlike the NMJ), these Caps must not be removed when the flag is passing, while saying
the Pledge of Allegiance, or [when] participating in prayer. SJ 32 Caps are provided to all new 32
Masons, and are meant to be worn regularly. To the contrary, for example, in the NMJ Valley of
Pittsburgh, the Yellow Cap is only worn by a 32 Mason who is on an officers line or is a past officer;
no Cap equivalent to the SJ Black Hat is made available to new 32 Masons; wearing a Cap is the
exception and not the rule; and Caps are removed during prayer. (By the way, there is no truth to the
misconception that Yellow Caps just sat in the Sun until their Yellow Caps bleach White.)

In discussing with SJ 32 Black Hats the regular wearing of Caps, they were rather positive. Though
they held no official positions or exalted ranks, they felt that wearing their Black Hats contributed to
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their sense of belonging and being part of the organization. The same seemed true of the Masonic 14
Ring they received after attaining the Fourteenth Degree, which they were instructed was to be worn
throughout their Scottish Rite career, and only to be replaced if they received the 33 Ring. (The 14
Ring is also not provided in the NMJ Valley of Pittsburgh.) I have suggested in the past that such tools
as Masonic Caps and Rings be utilized in the NMJ to increase recognition, pride and esprit de corps.

One of the highlights of my traveling way down South was the opportunity of being able to
personally share down south these and other Rite Development Ideas with NMJ Sovereign Grand
Commander John Wm. McNaughton, 33, the most important of which, in my opinion, for both the
Northern and Southern Jurisdictions, being the "re-packaging" of the 32nd Degree. My point is that we
need to treat elevation to the 32nd Degree with the same degree of respect, admiration and awe as it
is viewed by our Blue Lodge Brethren and the general public, or we will lose forever this worthwhile
and beneficial Blue Lodge and public perception. The bottom line is that we have to take steps to
make elevation to the 32nd Degree special, by conferring the 32nd Degree on a separate day, and
with all due clat and acclaim (and possibly somehow including the wives). And I was very heartened
by the Sovereign Grand Commanders reaction: I believe you have a great idea about the importance
of the degree itself. Some would probably say that the 32nd degree is in fact the 33rd degree for the
vast majority of our Scottish Rite members.

Thanks for permitting my sharing with you of this Masonic journey spanning three centuries: Way
Down South to Fredericksberg, DC & WV.

Copyright 2009-2010 by Barry J. Lipson


1
Arturo de Hoyos, "The Union of 1867," Heredom, vol. 5:7-45 (Scottish Rite Research Society,
Washington, DC 1995).
2
Leonard H. Freeman, Masonry and The Civil War, Educational Lodge No. 1002, A.F.&A.M. of
Minnesota, Paper No. 103, February 1982.
3
Christopher Hodapp, Freemasons For Dummies.