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 becoming a Mason please visit  www.beafreemason.org