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The Iowa Scottish Rite HistoryThe Scottish Rite is a Masonic organization based around principles of freedom and self determination. Scottish Rite Masonry traces its history in the United States to 18th Century. The Scottish Rite came to Iowa in 1859. The first Scottish Rite body was established in Lyons, a now defunct city in Clinton County. Beginning in 1901, the Lyons body began to be referred to as "Clinton Valley" in official correspondence. Between the foundation of Iowa Scottish Rite in 1859 and the establishment of Sioux City Valley in 1907, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines Valleys came into being. Along the way,
many distinguished Iowans have been members of the Scottish Rite. Nine
governors and three U.S. Senators (including present Senator Chuck Grassley)
have belonged to the Scottish Rite. Henry Wallace, who served as both
Vice-President and Secretary of Agriculture under Franklin Delano Roosevelt, was
a member of the Des Moines Consistory.
Several Iowa namesakes were also Scottish Rite members, including Henry Nollen (Nollen Plaza, Des Moines), Karl King (Karl King Bridge in Fort Dodge) and Fred Maytag (Maytag Industries). These are but a small number of the many distinguished Iowans who chose to become Scottish Rite members. The Scottish Rite represents the 4th through 33rd Degrees of Masonry (29 total). The 1st through 3rd Degrees are delivered in the local lodges. The Degrees of Masonry are allegorical tales that impart life lessons on the participants. The Scottish Rite Degrees focus strongly on citizenship, honor and fidelity with a reverence for God.
Today's Scottish Rite LocationsFive Iowa communities house Scottish Rite organizations. These organizations are known as "Valleys." These Valleys are located in Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Des Moines and Sioux City. (Back to Top)
The Roots of the Scottish RiteThe Scottish Rite traces it's roots to Bordeaux, France. The beginnings of the Scottish Rite were published in French in 1761. The first "American" Scottish Rite activities date to 1763 in the French colony at New Orleans. The modern American Scottish Rite was established in Charleston, SC in 1801. In 1813, the United States was divided in a Northern and Southern Jurisdictions. Iowa is part of the Southern Jurisdiction, which includes 35 States and the District of Columbia.
Scottish Rite Symbols
The double-headed eagle was probably first accepted as a symbol of Freemasonry in 1758. In that year the body calling itself the Council of Emperors of the East and West, was established in Paris. The double-headed eagle was in all probability adopted by this body, which claimed a double jurisdiction. The eagle, one head inclined to the East and the other to the West, to guard any and all who might approach from either direction. The beneath the present Scottish Rite Doubled-Headed Eagle is a white-ribboned motto, pendant from the hilt to the point of the sword, containing the words SPES MEA IN DEO EST, which translates My Hope Is In God. The chest of the Eagle includes the number "32", representing the 32 degrees of the order, in a triangle.
The Square and Compass is the traditional Masonic symbol. It eludes to the traditional tools of stonemasons - a compass to layout the plan and the square to make an accurate angle. The "G" in center eludes to the science of geometry.
Most of the information on this page was adopted from "A Century of Scottish Rite Masonry in Des Moines" published in 1992 by the Des Moines Scottish Rite. |
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Iowa Scottish Rite Bodies © 2006 | All Rights Reserved | |
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The
accepted symbol of our Rite is the Double-Headed Eagle. This symbol
dates to the splitting of the Roman Empire and the establishment of the Eastern
(Byzantine) and Western (Roman) halves. The symbol was then used by the
German Emperors to represent their reign. 