The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, commonly known as the Scottish Rite, is a Masonic organization that continues a Master Mason’s education of the first three degrees. The Scottish Rite consists the 4˚-32˚ and honorary 33˚, which is awarded for exceptional service. 

A Rite is a progressive series of degrees conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority.  In the Scottish Rite the central authority is called a Supreme Council.

The Orient of Virginia is a subordinate unit of the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.  The Southern Jurisdiction consists of 35 States and several overseas jurisdictions and is led by the Supreme Council, with Sovereign Grand Commander, Ill. James Dean Cole, 33˚ (pictured right) at its head.

The Orient of Virginia consists of 8 local bodies (called Valleys) located in Alexandria, Danville, Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, and Roanoke.

For more information about the Southern Jurisdiction of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite visit www.scottishrite.org