Constituted on April 11th, 1883 by
Albert Pike, the El Paso Scottish Rite
boasts a membership of over 1,400 men.
Who we
are:
Scottish
Rite
Freemasonry
is
the
one
universal
Freemasonry;
in
fact,
in
many
lands
it
is
the
only
Freemasonry.
Prior
to
the
beginning
of
World
War
II,
before
the
Totalitarian
aggressors
suppressed
the
Craft
in
most
of
Europe,
there
were
thirty-seven
Supreme
Councils
in
existence,
including
countries
from
Italy
to
Argentina
and
New
Zealand,
and
from
the
United
States
to
China
and
South
Africa.
The
Scottish
Rite
is
primarily
a
rite
of
instruction.
It
interprets
the
symbols
and
allegories
of
Freemasonry
in
the
light
of
history
and
philosophy,
using
the
words
of
the
inspired
prophets
of
humanity,
the
ceremonials
of
the
great
religious
of
the
world,
and
significant
episodes
from
history
and
biography
to
point
the
moral
and
adorn
the
tale.
It
is a
university
course
in
Masonic
symbolism,
tradition
and
ideas.
In
its
Degrees
the
Masonic
ritual
is
explained,
the
underlying
meanings
interpreted.
Ancient
liturgies
and
age-old
philosophies
are
invoked
to
illustrate
and
enforce
the
profound
teachings
of
the
Craft.
The
Scottish
Rite
is
more
than
a
fraternity
of
good
fellows
engaged
in
the
benevolent
practices
of
friendship
and
relief.
It
is a
militant
order,
a
knighthood,
devoted
to
the
cause
of
Liberty,
Equality
and
Fraternity.
The
Scottish
Rite
seeks
to
cultivate
in
the
hearts
of
men
personal
morality
and
the
sentiment
of
tolerance
and
fraternity.
What
has
been
said
and
done
by
the
historic
emancipators
for
the
liberation
of
the
human
mind
is
vividly
portrayed
in
its
Degrees
and
the
Scottish
Rite
Mason
is
dedicated
to
the
effort
to
make
the
spirit
of
Masonry
prevalent
in
society
What we do:
Freemasonry is
engaged in building
a temple, a temple
not made with hands,
but made up of
dreams, the
aspirations, the
hopes, the inspired
visions of humanity;
a temple dedicated
to the sincere
worship of the Most
High God whose name
is Love. Scottish
Rite Masons are are
builders of that
temple. Their
prayers, their
purpose, their
efforts are
intelligently
directed toward that
end, to create in
the minds of men a
sacred place from
which shall flow the
light of toleration,
humility, love of
righteousness,
devotion to truth
and justice, which
shall illumine the
world that is to be.
This Rite of
Freemasonry is
committed to no
particular social
system; it fosters
no political or
intellectual
propaganda. Rather,
its mission is to
create and stimulate
in human hearts that
pure sentiment that
springs from a
literal and
wholehearted
acceptance of the
truth of the
fatherhood of God
and the Brotherhood
of Man.
Valley of El
Paso:
The
history of
the Scottish
Rite in the
Valley of El
Paso should
properly
begin with
the
organizations
of the El
Paso Lodge
of
Perfection
No. 5 and El
Paso Chapter
of the Rose
Croix No. 4
under the
Letters
Temporary
granted by
Albert Pike,
33°, Grand
Commander,
on the 11th
day of
April, 1883,
and the 11th
day of
December
1883,
respectively.
Those two
organizations
duly
instituted
by Grand
Commander
Albert Pike,
and the
furniture
and
properties
to be used
by them were
constituted
at that time
under the
direction
and personal
supervision
of the Grand
Commander.
At that time
El Paso was
little more
than a
border town
with
shifting
population,
and these
two
organizations
later became
demised; but
the
furniture
and
properties
were
carefully
stored away
and when
these two
organizations
were again
instituted
in 1905, the
furniture
and
properties,
including
the alter
with the
copper
horns, were
again put
into use and
are today
highly
valued
because of
their
history and
origin.
At a
meeting held
in the
Masonic
Temple of El
Paso on
Friday,
November 17,
1905, Mount
Franklin
Lodge of
Perfection
No. 8 was
instituted
in due form
by Brother
Edward
Charles Pew,
33°
Honorary,
acting as
Deputy under
the
authorization
of Brother
A. B.
Chamberlin,
33°,
Sovereign
Grand
Inspector
General in
Texas.
Oasis
Chapter of
Knights Rose
Croix No. 5
was
constituted
and its
officers
installed on
October 2,
1906, by
Brother E.
W. S. Neff,
33°, acting
Deputy for
Brother A.
B.
Chamberlin,
33°,
Sovereign
Grand
Inspector
General in
Texas.
On
February 19,
1907,
Brother E.
W. S. Neff,
assisted by
Brother E.
C. Pew, 33°
Honorary,
and J. J.
Ormsbee,
32°, as
special
officers of
the Supreme
Council,
appointed by
Brother A.
B.
Chamberlin,
33°
Sovereign
Grand
Inspector
General in
Texas,
constituted
and set to
work Rio
Grand
Council No.
3, Knights
Kadosh
El Paso
Consistory
No. 3 was
constituted
on July 23,
1907 by
Brother E.
C. Pew, 33°
Honorary,
acting as
the special
deputy for
the
Sovereign
Grand
Inspector
General in
Texas,
Brother
Chamberlin
conducting
the
ceremonies
of
inauguration.
All four
organizations
had been
constituted
in the
Masonic
Temple of El
Paso, where
the members
met in a
small room
rented for a
nominal
amount. The
various
properties
and
furniture
were left
standing in
their place,
there being
no storage
space for
them.
Later,
the
organization
moved twice,
each time to
more
commodious
quarters,
yet still
inadequate;
but hope had
been carried
all these
years in the
hearts of
the loyal
workers of
one day
possessing a
Temple of
their own.
Funds for
this purpose
were
contributed
and loaned
by various
members, and
work started
in 1921
under the
authorization
of the
Scottish
Rite
Benevolent
Association
of El Paso,
an
organization
with the
joint
purpose of
aid to the
needy Masons
and their
families,
and the
furnishings,
maintenance
and support
of a
Scottish
Rite
Cathedral in
the city of
El Paso. In
1922 the
organization
moved into
their new
Temple,
although it
was sparsely
furnished at
the time in
the way of
stage and
lighting
equipment,
costumes and
other
paraphernalia
for the
conferring
Degrees.
Today the
Temple is
entirely
free from
indebtedness,
finished,
equipped,
and is
second to
none in the
state. The
El Paso
Scottish
Rite proudly
stands upon
a firm and
solid
ground.
Allegiance:
The Bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry sitting in the Valley of El Paso, Orient of Texas, acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council (Mother Council of the World) of the Inspectors General, Knights Commander of the House of the Temple of Solomon, of the Thirty-third and last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, whose See is at the Grand Orient of South Carolina, now sitting at Washington D.C. of which..
Ill. Ronald A. Seale, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander
Ill. M. Douglas Adkins, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Texas
Ill. William C. Gray, 33°, Personal Representative of SGIG and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Valley of El Paso
Freemasonry:
Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternal organization. It is believed to have originated with the craft guilds of medieval Europe and latterly, to have expanded to admit those who did not actually belong to the trade. The literal stone masons are referred to as operatives while those who did not actually work in stone were called speculative masons. [ Bro. Stephen Daphoe]
The Scottish Rite is based upon Symbolic Masonry. It does not confer the first three degrees. This is recognized as the unquestioned prerogative of the Symbolic Lodges. The Scottish Rite confers only degrees from the fourth to the thirty-second, inclusive.
For more information about Freemasonry in the El Paso area, visit www.ElPasoMasons.net.
Mission Statement and Strategic Objective:
Mission Statement of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ, USA
It is the mission of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ, to improve its members and enhance the communities in which they live by teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth while actively embracing high social, moral, and spiritual values including fellowship, compassion, and dedication to God, family and country.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE I
Fulfill the promise of additional Masonic knowledge through education and training.
KEY STRATEGIES:
Establish training programs to provide on-going knowledge and skill development
Develop programs to train members in coaching and mentoring
Establish knowledge standards for all members
Establish resources for continued learning from a basic to advanced level
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE II
Build a Positive Public Image of Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite
KEY STRATEGIES:
Establish a Public Relations Department
Expand the public awareness of our philanthropic activities
Establish a media relations strategy
Establish means to utilize well-known members to accomplish the objective
Establish initiatives to educate the public about the core values of the Scottish Rite
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE III
Support and expand our philanthropic activities
KEY STRATEGIES:
Evaluate the current operating structure of our RiteCare® Centers
Establish standards of quality and care for our RiteCare® facilities
Establish operational national resources for RiteCare® Centers
Evaluate our scholarship programs and create standards
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE IV
Provide a framework for effective leadership to ensure the stability and long-term success of the Fraternity
KEY STRATEGIES:
Review entire organizational structural of the Scottish Rite and evaluate its effectiveness, efficiency and utility for providing a platform for stability and a long-term success
Establish formal (and required) training programs for all levels of Organization, from Supreme Council to local Valleys to establish standard expectations of each position and provide training and skill development necessary to successfully hold the position
Improve and enhance communications capabilities throughout the Organization
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE V
Provide a financial process to ensure the stability and long-term success of the Fraternity
KEY STRATEGIES:
Create an organization that has strong and progressive financial planning (short and long-term) capabilities for the entire organization (i.e. Supreme Council, Orients, Valleys, etc.)
Implement appropriate changes to the structure, policies and/or procedures that will result in strong internal accounting and financial controls to ensure the adequate protection of the Organization’s assets
Implement a prudent, but progressive, investment policy, for all invested funds, which is built upon responsible investment theory and, which will optimize investment return in the long term
Develop policies and controls to manage the Organization’s facilities in order to support the Organization’s Mission while optimizing the economics of the investments in and the operation of the facilities
Scottish
Rite
Freemasonry
is
the
one
universal
Freemasonry;
in
fact,
in
many
lands
it
is
the
only
Freemasonry.
Prior
to
the
beginning
of
World
War
II,
before
the
Totalitarian
aggressors
suppressed
the
Craft
in
most
of
Europe,
there
were
thirty-seven
Supreme
Councils
in
existence,
including
countries
from
Italy
to
Argentina
and
New
Zealand,
and
from
the
United
States
to
China
and
South
Africa.
The
history of
the Scottish
Rite in the
Valley of El
Paso should
properly
begin with
the
organizations
of the El
Paso Lodge
of
Perfection
No. 5 and El
Paso Chapter
of the Rose
Croix No. 4
under the
Letters
Temporary
granted by
Albert Pike,
33°, Grand
Commander,
on the 11th
day of
April, 1883,
and the 11th
day of
December
1883,
respectively.
Those two
organizations
duly
instituted
by Grand
Commander
Albert Pike,
and the
furniture
and
properties
to be used
by them were
constituted
at that time
under the
direction
and personal
supervision
of the Grand
Commander.
At that time
El Paso was
little more
than a
border town
with
shifting
population,
and these
two
organizations
later became
demised; but
the
furniture
and
properties
were
carefully
stored away
and when
these two
organizations
were again
instituted
in 1905, the
furniture
and
properties,
including
the alter
with the
copper
horns, were
again put
into use and
are today
highly
valued
because of
their
history and
origin. 
The Bodies of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry sitting in the Valley of El Paso, Orient of Texas, acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council (Mother Council of the World) of the Inspectors General, Knights Commander of the House of the Temple of Solomon, of the Thirty-third and last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, whose See is at the Grand Orient of South Carolina, now sitting at Washington D.C. of which.. 
Freemasonry is the world's oldest and largest fraternal organization. It is believed to have originated with the craft guilds of medieval Europe and latterly, to have expanded to admit those who did not actually belong to the trade. The literal stone masons are referred to as operatives while those who did not actually work in stone were called speculative masons. [ Bro. Stephen Daphoe] 
Establish training programs to provide on-going knowledge and skill development