Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite
Valley of South Bend

Inspiration, Convenience, Enjoyment

 

Greetings Brethren,

Welcome to the website of the Valley of South Bend, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite.  The Scottish Rite looks to continue the journey in Masonic knowledge over the course of twenty-nine degrees which are a continuation of  the first three degrees of Blue Lodge. Though we meet in a class or we call a “reunion” setting which allows multiple brethren to witness the degrees, the experience garnered is indeed left to the individual to meditate on and understand how it fits into his current path.

As you traverse the website you will find several areas that may catch your interest.  In the area of Guilds, we have four that range from hospitality and fellowship to sporting and education.  We have these guilds and also attempt to travel through our Valleys forty-four lodges to better involve our membership, and in essence try to fulfill the ICE concept, which is to Inspire with our degrees, make the Valley as convenient as possible to our membership, and most importantly….have FUN.

Below is a breakdown of our four bodies and what each of their degrees represent:

South Bend Lodge of Perfection

 

In the Lodge of Perfection (4th-14th degrees), the Mason consecrates himself to the Masonic endeavor – character building.  He is taught to venerate the virtues of the dead and emulate those of the living; to respect the rights of others, to strive to render service to his fellow man, to refrain from assuming prerogatives and powers that are not his, to be not overzealous in a good cause, to reverence Diety, avoiding disrespect, and to control his tongue by maintaining in his mind purity of thought.  He is taught Perfection is but one of the fundamentals of character. The other two are Self-respect and Integrity. These lessons learned and applied to life are absolutely essential to a complete character structure.

 Zerubbabel Council Princes of Jerusalem

The 15th degree, Knight of the East and the 16th degree, Prince of Jerusalem are often referred to as historical degrees in Scottish Rite Freemasonry and constitute an allegorical narrative presenting the story of a captive people who “wept beside the rivers of Babylon” when liberated they were consecrated to the task of building the second Temple or rather rebuilding the Temple of Solomon.  The entire pageantry and symbolism of Freemasonry revolves around the construction of the four Temples of Yahweh, by a brotherhood dedicated to the erection of a perfect edifice at Jerusalem and later building a Temple in the hearts of men. Contrasted the hauteur of imperious monarchs, is the humility of the little group of those born to bondage pleading for the redress of an ancient wrong. The lessons in the 15th and 16th degrees are from these elements of the historical drama which transpired during the reigns of the Great Kings, Cyrus and Darius.  
 

John Hazen White Chapter of Rose Croix

The 17th degree, Knight of the East and West and the 18th degree Knight of Rose Croix of H.R.D.M., known as the Philosophical and Doctoral Degrees of the Scottish Rite are conferred in a Chapter of Rose Croix.  They open a new development of Masonic teaching and are a distinct departure and advance from the symbolism of the Symbolic Lodge and of the preceding Scottish Rite degrees.

These deal with the teaching of Jesus; as Teacher, Prophet and Martyr. Whatever your religious faith, you are encouraged to ponder the philosophy and teachings of the Nazarene, especially the doctrine of fraternal love and service toward all mankind.  You will learn how the three cardinal virtues of Freemasonry, Faith, Hope and Charity were so beautifully illustrated in the life of Christ.  These lessons give spiritual underpinning to the central Masonic concept of “The Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God.”  The Rose Croix Degrees are the spiritual center and among the most important in the whole body of Freemasonry.

South Bend Consistory
                                                           

“Spes Mea In Deo Est “ “My hope is in God”

The Consistory Degrees (19th – 32nd) portray memorable lessons of brotherhood, compassion, discipline, dignity, duty, equality, excellence, faith, goodwill, justice, love, mercy, moral character, patriotism, purity, service, spirituality, toleration, and unity in dramas that range in settings from the time of chivalry through the 21st century.

We hope that your next stop in pursuing Masonic wisdom will be by traversing through our portals and embracing that journey which is Scottish Rite Freemasonry.

Fraternally,

Timothy Farster, PM
Most Wise Master