Freemasonry is split into two distinct Rites,  the left hand side of the pyramid depicts the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and the right hand side depicts the York Rite.

The first three Degree’s are identical for both rites.

• Entered Apprentice
• Fellow Craft
• Master Mason

Please Select one of the links below for more information

AASR – Scottish Rite York Rite

A Mason can climb either or both sides of the pyramid during his Masonic Career, in addition to these two Rites which are dominant in English speaking countries there is also The Swedish Rite

The Swedish rite is truly progressive and continous. Each degree leads to the next and each sums up the contents of the preceeding degrees.

The system is grouped into three divisions as follows:

St. John’s (Craft) degrees:
I Apprentice
II Fellow Craft
III Master Mason

St. Andrew’s (Scottish) degrees:
IV-V Apprentice-Companion of St. Andrew
VI Master of St. Andrew

Chapter degrees:
VII Very Illustrious Brother
VIII Most Illustrious Brother
IX Enlightened Brother
X Very Enlightened Brother

On top of the system is
XI Most Enlightened Brother, Knight Commander of the Red Cross

There are approximately 60 freemasons in Sweden currently holding the XIth degree. They 
are present or past members of the Grand Council or Grand Officers. In 1811 King Karl 
established the Royal Order of King Karl XIII. It is a civil order, conferred by the 
King, only to Freemasons holding the XIth degree with the number limited to 33. It is, 
however, not a Masonic degree.

Progression from one degree to the next is far from automatic. A brother has not only to 
be regular in attendance – he has to give proof of his proficiency and of his knowledge 
of Freemasonry.

There is only one form of accepted ritual for each degree, and deviations are not 
tolerated. The presiding Master follows an accepted ritual manuscript when working a 
Lodge.

The Swedish Rite is worked in Sweden/Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland. In Germany a 
Grand Lodge, Grosse Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland, is working rituals based 
on Carl Friedrich Eckleff’s documents from 1760, but otherwise have few similarities to 
the Swedish Rite.

Appendant and Associated Orders

Associated Orders                                                                     Appendant Orders