One man is equivalent to all Creation. One man is a World in miniature.

ALBERT PIKE
33°, Sovereign Grand Commander
DEGREES OF THE CONSISTORY
The Ceremonial and Official Degrees
31° INSPECTOR INQUISITOR
32° SUBLIME PRINCE OF THE ROYAL SECRET
HONORS
Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
​33° Inspector General, Honorary
​33° Grand Cross of Honor
The title of this Degree conveys the thoughts of self-examination. Every man, and more especially every Mason, should meditate prayerfully and soberly on his thoughts and acts of the day. The wrongs of today must not be repeated on the morrow, for each day should add some light and truth for our guidance for the next, and then as time goes by, our characters should be so far above reproach, so filled with the love of our fellowman, that the world would instinctively say: “There is a good man, for he is a Mason.” To correct the faults of others, to admonish with love and forbearance, is a duty we owe each other, but never to judge, for that is a divine prerogative alone.
In this degree the crowning point is reached by those who have studied and thought. The Royal Secret, like the occult science of the ancients, is concealed even here – but remember, “Faith begins where Reason sinks exhausted.” Magic, contrary to the belief of many, is but the absolute science of nature and its laws, hence the Star of Hope shines for us as truly as it did for the Wise Men of the East two thousand years ago. Today, as in the first days of the creation, the univeral equilibrium still retains its predominant position in the eternal plan of the Omnipotent. Good and evil, right and wrong, justice and mercy, attraction and repulsion balance each other to teach us to remeber ourselves as immortal souls, retaining for each other respect and charity and remembering always that each is slowly climbing to that state of perfection, the final goal of all.
“Be sovereign over yourself, be neither intoxicated by success nor depressed by defeat. You must not usurp in order to be enabled to punish usurpation nor must you hate error so much as not to love mankind.”
The Rank of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour is not a Degree but an Investiture bestowed upon members deserving recognition for faithful services to the Rite. The respective Sovereign Grand Inspectors General or Deputies likewise nominate members for this honor, and these must also be unanimously approved by The Supreme Council. This Investiture is a prerequisite of receiving the Thirty-third Degree at some later time, though relatively few receive this distinction.
All Scottish Rite jurisdictions nominate a select few members to receive the 33rd Degree, Inspector General Honorary members of the Supreme Council, in recognition of outstanding service to the Rite, or in public life, to the principles taught in the degrees. In the Southern Jurisdiction, the Supreme Council chooses 33rd degree members from among those who have previously received the rank and decoration of Knight Commander Court of Honor.
This is the highest honor bestowed by the Supreme Council. It is reserved for those who have performed extraordinary service to the Fraternity or humanity. All Active Members of the Supreme Council are deemed ipso facto recipients of the Grand Cross of Honour, although they do not receive the Grand Cross jewel, nor wear the cap.
Valley News
Newsletter
Upcoming Events
Scottish Rite Learning Center
Scottish Rite Hospitals
Almoner's Fund
Contact Us
Phone:
713-432-1980
Email:
[email protected]
Address:
2401 West Bellfort
Houston, TX 77054
Website:
www.houstonscottishrite.org
Please note, there is only one 33rd degree, active members of the supreme council (purple hats) and honorary members of the supreme council (white hats).
By Charles David Hall, 33°
Past Venerable Master San Antonio Lodge of Perfection No. 9
Past Wise Master San Antonio Chapter Knights Rose Croix No. 6
Past Commander San Antonio Council Knights Kadosh No. 5
Past Venerable Master of Kadosh San Antonio Consistory No. 5
published in the Scottish Rite News, Cathedral Number and Historical Edition
October 1, 1921, at pages 20-23