What is the interest of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite ?

1. Its origin, its eclosion, the result of an opening of the mind, and of many travels to and from both shores of the Atlantic, the A.A.S.R. evinces a potential richness in a masonic order which – like the whole Craft aims at universality. Besides, it offers a source of reflexions about legitimacy and power in the outside world as well as within masonry.

2. The interest of this rite rests - in offering to our never ending initiatic quest – thirty phases building in Jean-Pierre Lassalle’s words « a conservatory of western tradition ». It so happens that the most visible tradition which may be observed in the first three symbolical degrees, is the judeo-christian tradition, which was already claimed by the medieval operative masons. The higher degrees have been enriched with elements borrowed from the knights of all descriptions, the Templars, if one has to mention some of them. Here is the conclusion of an essay by Jean-Pierre Lassalle on the topic : « Degree after degree, stratum super stratum, the A.A.S.R. really is a vertical structure which one may climb and come down from just like Jacob’s ladder, while changing one’s angles of vision yet with an ever renewed wonderment, for therein is diffracted the light of a tradition meant to remain alive and ever opened onto modernity ». Besides the A.A.S.R. offers a horizontal network between obediences and Lodges. The offered way is ductile enough to maintain Masons awake, and stimulates their quest. Everyone rules its gait in his personal manner. One thing only is imposed, such as the A.A.S.R. is received in the Grand Orient de France, which is never stop assiduously working in a symbolic Lodge, one’s mother Lodge where one has been granted Light.