by Midnight Freemason Contributor
Steven L Harrison, 33°, FMLR
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| Recent KCCH inductees in the Valley of St. Joseph, Orient of Missouri (left to right): Kent Fisher, Carl Keith, Bobbie White and Emmett Bryson. |
Like the 33°, KCCH is an honor, which the Supreme Council bestows on deserving Brethren. It is, however, not a degree. Rather it is a rank and designation. A Brother may not request the KCCH honor and, if he does so, Southern Jurisdiction rules stipulate automatic refusal. In order to receive the designation, a Brother must have been a 32° Mason for a minimum of 46 months, but typically the period is much longer. The executive committee of the Valley nominates candidates for the honor. In order to be nominated a Brother must be deemed to have given exceptional service to the Rite, Freemasonry or his community, based on principles taught in the Scottish Rite Degrees.
Since KCCH is not a degree, the ceremony is an investiture, not an initiation. As such, it is open to the public. Candidates view the proceedings from front-row seats as 17 officers instruct an exemplar in the meaning of the teachings, symbolism and regalia of the Court of Honor. Of the officers, only the Sovereign Grand Commander is a 33° Mason. The remainder are Knights Commander of the Court of Honor.
The most distinctive apparel of the KCCH Mason is his red cap. It is "a symbol of the nobility of the soul, which is the parent of all knightly virtues." It replaces the black cap he earned upon becoming a 32° Mason, and it is the cap he wears to Valley meetings.
In the Southern Jurisdiction, a Brother must receive the KCCH honor and hold it for no less than 46 months before becoming eligible for the 33rd degree. During the ceremony, however, the KCCH candidate specifically hears the admonition that the KCCH does not represent a half-degree, nor does it assure advancement to the 33rd degree. "If you do not in future years receive the last Degree," he is instructed, "remember that you have been singularly honored in this Investiture by the Supreme Council and that it is a solemn duty to be true, loyal and devoted to the Rite..."
Upon his investiture, John Doe, 32°, becomes John Doe, 32° KCCH. In the event he receives the 33rd Degree, he will be John Doe, 33°, dropping the KCCH initials because it is understood all 33° Inspectors General Honorary are also KCCH. Selection for the KCCH designation is strictly limited, and a maximum of half of all KCCH Brothers advance to the 33rd Degree.
The Supreme Council, at the insistence of Grand Commander Albert Pike, created the KCCH rank on May 5, 1870. Its purpose was and remains to honor those Brethren who have shown significant achievement, without diluting the 33rd Degree by increasing its number of chosen members. It is in and of itself one of the greatest honors in the Southern Jurisdiction to hear the Sovereign Grand Commander say at the investiture's culmination, "I dub and create thee a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and may our Father in Heaven make thee a good Knight in the service of our fellow men."
Since KCCH is not a degree, the ceremony is an investiture, not an initiation. As such, it is open to the public. Candidates view the proceedings from front-row seats as 17 officers instruct an exemplar in the meaning of the teachings, symbolism and regalia of the Court of Honor. Of the officers, only the Sovereign Grand Commander is a 33° Mason. The remainder are Knights Commander of the Court of Honor.
The most distinctive apparel of the KCCH Mason is his red cap. It is "a symbol of the nobility of the soul, which is the parent of all knightly virtues." It replaces the black cap he earned upon becoming a 32° Mason, and it is the cap he wears to Valley meetings.
In the Southern Jurisdiction, a Brother must receive the KCCH honor and hold it for no less than 46 months before becoming eligible for the 33rd degree. During the ceremony, however, the KCCH candidate specifically hears the admonition that the KCCH does not represent a half-degree, nor does it assure advancement to the 33rd degree. "If you do not in future years receive the last Degree," he is instructed, "remember that you have been singularly honored in this Investiture by the Supreme Council and that it is a solemn duty to be true, loyal and devoted to the Rite..."
Upon his investiture, John Doe, 32°, becomes John Doe, 32° KCCH. In the event he receives the 33rd Degree, he will be John Doe, 33°, dropping the KCCH initials because it is understood all 33° Inspectors General Honorary are also KCCH. Selection for the KCCH designation is strictly limited, and a maximum of half of all KCCH Brothers advance to the 33rd Degree.
The Supreme Council, at the insistence of Grand Commander Albert Pike, created the KCCH rank on May 5, 1870. Its purpose was and remains to honor those Brethren who have shown significant achievement, without diluting the 33rd Degree by increasing its number of chosen members. It is in and of itself one of the greatest honors in the Southern Jurisdiction to hear the Sovereign Grand Commander say at the investiture's culmination, "I dub and create thee a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor and may our Father in Heaven make thee a good Knight in the service of our fellow men."
~SLH
Steve Harrison, 33° KCCH, is a Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri. He is the editor of the Missouri Freemason magazine, author of the book Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi, a Fellow of the Missouri Lodge of Research and also its Senior Warden. He is a dual member of Kearney Lodge #311, St. Joseph Missouri Valley of the Scottish Rite, Liberty York Rite, Moila Shrine and is a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor.
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ReplyDeleteVery educational and informative... I been with the SR for over 33 years and it's a delight to be part of such an inspiring fraternal order.
ReplyDeleteRight now i have been a 32 degree KCCH for over two years and it is the most delighting thing for me to experience.
ReplyDeleteBeg to differ, but in Florida it is NOT opwn to public.
ReplyDeleteThonmas Taylor, Valley of Lake Worth
In Oklahoma it is not open to the public.
DeleteBeg to differ, but in Florida, Investiture is NOT open to the public.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the reason and rationale for the investiture not to be public?
DeleteI do not know the reasoning of the closed proceedures in the past, but this year, on November 9, 2019, the Investiture is open to the public. This will be the first time in Florida.
DeleteThis year (2019) was the first open investiture of the KCCH in Florida.
ReplyDelete