33rd degree

32nd degree

30th degree

28th degree

18th degree

The Higher degrees 

In August 1938, the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland each agreed upon and issued a statement identical in terms except that the issuing Grand Lodge appeared throughout. This statement, which was entitled  'Aims and Relationships of the Craft':  stated that the Blue degrees (that is1st 2nd and third degrees)  'do not recognise or admit the existence of any superior masonic authority however styled'.  The official wording states..

The Grand Lodge is aware that there do exist Bodies, styling themselves Freemasons, which do not adhere to these principles, and while that attitude exists the Grand Lodge of (..England) refuses absolutely to have any relations with such bodies, or to regard them as Freemasons.

The Grand Lodge of (..England) is a Sovereign and independent Body practising Freemasonry only within the three degrees and only within the the limits defined in its Constitution as 'pure Antient Masonry' It does not recognise or admit the existence of any superior Masonic authority however styled.

In practice however this is not the case.   For instance, as you can read [here] the Craft degrees in Scotland officially directed the Church of Scotland's doctrinal committee to the 30th degree when they were making their assessment as to whether Freemasonry was compatible with Christianity.    Also, I have watched a video of a large Masonic gathering in Ireland attended by many hundreds of rank and file Masons, where many of the guests of honour who were interviewed for the video were high ranking (32nd degree) American visiting Masons. A minister friend who had moved into a new home found in the attic two official Masonic book which he handed over to me. One (which was in Masonic code) contained the rituals of the first second and third degrees. The other was a Masonic report for Northern Ireland and included all the photographs of local high ranking Masons (18th -33rd)  which are featured above.  EVERY higher degree Mason is also a Blue degree Mason and none - to my knowledge - have ever been put out for being so.

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