Encyclopedia Masonica

This Rite claims to have been established in 1770, at Namur, in Belgium, by a body called the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of Edinburgh. But the truth, according to Clavel ( Histoire Pittoresque, page 220) is that it was the invention of one Marchot, an advocate of Nivelles, who organized it in 1818, at Namur, beyond which city, and the Lodge of Bonne Amitie, it scarcely ever extended. It consists of thirty-three Degrees, as follows:

1. Apprentice; 2. Fellow Craft; 3. Master; 4. Perfect Master; 5. Irish Master; 6. Elect of Nine; 7. Elect of the Unknown; 8. Elect of Fifteen; 9. Illustrious Master; 10. Perfect Elect; 11. Minor Architect; 12. Grand Architect; 13. Sublime Architect; 14. Master in Perfect Architecture; 15. Royal Arch; 16. Prussian Knight; 17. Knight of the East; 18. Prince of Jerusalem; 19. Master of All Lodges; 20. Knight of the West; 21. Knight of Palestine; 22. Sovereign Prince of Rose Croix; 23. Sublime Scottish Freemason; 24. Knight of the Sun; 25. Grand Scottish Freemason of Saint Andrea; 26. Master of the Secret; 27. Knight of the Black Eagle; 28. Knight of K H; 29. Grand Elect of Truth; 30 novice of the Interior; 31. Knight of the Interior; 32. Prefect of the Interior; 33. Commander of the Interior.

The Primitive Scottish Rite appears to have been founded upon the Rite of Perfection, with an intermixture of the Strict Observance of Hund, the Adonhiramite, and some other Rites.

The Encyclopedia Masonica exists to preserve the wealth of information that has been generated over the centuries by numerous Masonic authors. As Freemasonry is now Speculative and not Operative, the work of a Mason is now conducted in the quarries of symbolism, literature, history and scholasticism. Freemasonry encourages intellectual exploration and academic achievement in its members and many Masons over the years have taken up this calling. The result has been that an incredible amount of philosophy, symbolic speculation and academic insights have been created. However, as Freemasonry teaches, human knowledge is frail and fragile. It is easily lost in the turnings of the ages and unforeseen catastrophes can result in great setbacks to human knowledge.

For too long these great works have sat on forgotten shelves, gathering dust and concealing the light that could be shed on the darkness of our ignorance. The Encyclopedia Masonica has been created to act as an ark, sailing through time, to ensure that future generations of Freemasons have access to the same knowledge that inspired the Brethren that came before them. It will contain the works of such Masonic Luminaries as Albert G. Mackey, Manly Palmer Hall, G.S.M. Ward, Albert Pike and many others. The Encyclopedia Masonica is a living work and the volunteers of Universal Co-Masonry will continue to labor until the most comprehensive Masonic reference work the world has ever seen has been created. The Encyclopedia Masonica is open to any who wish to use it and will remain open so that the treasures contained within may increase the wealth of all those who seek its wisdom.