Editing Freemasonry (section)

==Other degrees, orders, and bodies==
{{See also|Masonic bodies|List of Masonic rites}}
Blue Lodges, known as Craft Lodges in the United Kingdom, offer only the three traditional degrees. In most jurisdictions, the rank of past or installed master is also conferred in Blue/Craft Lodges. Master Masons are able to extend their Masonic experience by taking further degrees, in concordant or other bodies whether or not approved by their own Grand Lodge.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the "whether or not approved by their own Grand Lodge" part|date=November 2024}}<ref>Robert L.D. Cooper, ''Cracking the Freemason's Code'', Rider 2006, p. 229</ref>

The Ancient and Accepted [[Scottish Rite]] is a system of 33 degrees, including the three Blue Lodge degrees administered by a local or national Supreme Council. This system is popular in North America, South America and in [[Continental Europe]]. In America, the [[York Rite]], with a similar range, administers three orders of Masonry, namely the [[Royal Arch Masonry|Royal Arch]], [[Cryptic Masonry]], and [[Knights Templar (Freemasonry)|Knights Templar]].<ref>Michael Johnstone, ''The Freemasons'', Arcturus, 2005, pp. 95–98</ref>

In Britain, separate bodies administer each order. Freemasons are encouraged to join the [[Holy Royal Arch]], which is linked to [[Order of Mark Master Masons|Mark Masonry]] in Scotland and Ireland, but completely separate in England. In England, the Royal Arch is closely associated with the Craft, automatically having many Grand Officers in common, including H.R.H the [[Duke of Kent]] as both Grand Master of the Craft and First Grand Principal of the Royal Arch. The English Knights Templar and Cryptic Masonry share the Mark Grand Lodge offices and staff at Mark Masons Hall.<ref>[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/ward_HD_handbookfr.html J S M Ward, "The Higher Degrees Handbook"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627134520/http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/ward_HD_handbookfr.html |date=27 June 2014 }}, ''Pietre Stones'', retrieved 11 November 2013</ref> The Ancient and Accepted Rite (similar to the Scottish Rite), requires a member to proclaim the Trinitarian Christian faith, and is administered from Duke Street in London.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Supreme Council|url=http://www.sc33.org.uk/|access-date=2021-06-17|website=www.sc33.org.uk|archive-date=2 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802222023/http://sc33.org.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> Conversely, the [[Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia]] is a fully independent [[esoteric]] organization that requires members be [[United Grand Lodge of England]] [[Master Masons]].

In the [[Nordic countries]], the [[Swedish Rite]] is dominant; a variation of it is also used in parts of Germany.