Most Freemasons never proceed beyond the first three degrees of the Blue Lodge. This Rite is of great interest because of the colorful history and extraordinary number of degrees associated with it. Latter 20th Century Masonic authorities have often accused this Rites founders and promulgators of running fee snatching Masonic diploma mills. They criticize its historical inaccuracies and overtones of mysticism. And yet good and sincere Masons have associated with it. And those who have had the opportunity to pour over some of its rituals have found real value here and there. Is it fee snatching and degree selling to give a man 10 or 20 or 32 degrees in 1 or 2 weekends for a few hundred dollars? This is the common practice in the American "York" Rite and "Scottish" Rite and has been for many years. Are there no historical inaccuracies in the Masonic Craft Degrees or those of the "York" Rite and "Scottish" Rite? Of course, there are many. Have there never been any rascals among the ranks of "Regular" Masons?

The Antient and Primitive Rite is an amalgamation of several Masonic Rites and numerous degrees. The primary Rites involved are the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of 33 degrees, the Rite of Memphis of 90 degrees and the Rite of Mizraim of 96 degrees. Both Memphis and Mizraim Rites appear to have a large number of Degrees in common. Commenting briefly on these two systems in 1871 Brother Robert Macoy had the following brief entries:

MEMPHIS, RITE OF Sometimes called the Oriental Rite. A modification of the Rite of Mizraim, organized in Paris, in 1839, by Messieurs Marconis and Mouttet. It afterward extended to Brussels and Marseilles, thence to New York. It was composed of 90 working and 6 official degrees. For a time it excited some interest in Paris, and then fell into obscurity until 1860, when it was reorganized, the 96 degrees reduced to 30, and then merged into the Grand Orient of France, where it is permitted to slumber. It may now be regarded as extinct.

MISRAIM, Rite of. This Rite was introduced into France near the commencement of the present century. It made considerable progress, and in 1817, application was made on the part of its friends to the Grand Orient, to accept it as a legitimate branch of Masonry. The application was denied, partly on the ground that the antiquity of the Rite had not been proved, and partly because of the 90 degrees which its ritual comprised 68 were already included in the French system. The rite of Misraim is interesting and instructive, but many of its degrees are too abstruse to be popular. The initiation is a reproduction of the ancient rite of Isis, and represents the contests of Osiris and Typhon, the death, resurrection, and triumph of the former, and the destruction of the latter. there are 90 degrees divided into four series - symbolic, philosophical, mystical and cabalistic, and again divided into seventeen classes. The traditions of this system are full of anachronisms, historical events and characters, separated by hundreds of years, being made to figure on the same scene at the same time. The work entitled "De l'Ordre Maconnique de Misraim," published at Paris, in 1835, by Mons. Marc Bedirride, purporting to give the history of the Order, is a mere romance, and full of puerilities. Nevertheless, many of the degrees are highly interesting and instructive.

In his book The Arcane Schools (William Tait, Belfast, 1909) Brother John Yarker writes : " The 'Rite of Mizraim' was first culminated and established in Italy in 1804-5, and consists of 90 degrees, collected from all sources, and is not without value; it was then taken to Paris by the brothers Bedarride. At one time it was looked upon favorably in this country (England), the Duke of Sussex was its recognized head in England; the Duke of Leinster in Ireland; and in Scotland the Duke of Athol was succeeded by Walker Arnott of Arleary, Esqre. ; but eventually they came to an agreement to abandon the Rite. No doubt they were influenced in this step by financial difficulties in Paris; someone has observed that it needs the fortune of a kingdom to carry on a Rite of 90 degrees with the necessary splendor. Some of the Templar Conclaves continued to confer it till recently; in Italy and some other parts it has been reduced to 33 degrees, and designated the ' Reformed Rite of Mizraim.' In a quiet way it is still conferred in this country under its own Supreme Council."

In commenting specifically on the Antient and Primitive Rite Yarker states : "The 'Rite of Memphis' has a similar record to that of Mizraim, and was established on the basis of the Rites of Primitive Philadelaphes and the Primitive Philalethes; occult branches of the systems of Paschalis and St. Martin, in which the grades were not clearly defined, but each of the three sections into which they were divided had power to add any suitable degrees useful for its aims. An Egyptian system of Masonry was foreshadowed in the pamphlet of 'Master of Masters,' Paris 1815. Freemasonry had been introduced into Egypt by the armies of Buonaparte, and from thence where it gathered some additions, was transplanted to Montauban in France, 1816, by the Brothers Marconis, Baron Dumas, Petite, Labrunie, Sam Honis of Cairo, etc. After an interval of sleep it was revived at Brussels and Paris by Jacques Etienne Marconis, surnamed de Negre, son of Grand Master Marconis; its revival at Brussels took place in 1838, and at Paris in 1839, with the assistance of the elder Marconis, under the designation of the Antient and Primitive Rite of Memphis divided into three Sections, and 95 or 97 degrees. At an early period it was introduced into America, Egypt and Roumania, the former chartered a Sovereign Sanctuary for Great Britain and Ireland in 1872, and in the two latter countries it is the only Rite held in much esteem. It requires in this country, that its neophytes should already be Master Masons, and in this year of grace is spread into almost all countries, with whom representatives are appointed. It introduced the Rite into Germany in 1905, where it has numerous Craft Lodges, and Paris is in course of re-establishing itself."

It is interesting to note that the German body referred to above was under the control of one Theodor Reuss. Among other things Reuss was a singer, journalist and possibly a spy for the Prussian Police. He used the charter supplied by Yarker to establish a "Masonic Academy" which became known as the Ordo Templi Orientis or O.T.O. and taught a form of "Sex Magic" to its members which included both men and women. An American group claiming decent from this order still exists. During the course of some of their ritual work the Masonic titles of grades originating from the Antient and Primitive Rite and other Masonic Bodies are still conferred. There is no Masonic qualification to join this organization which confers its grades on both men and women. Many of its members from the highest on down firmly believe themselves to be Freemasons. See the Clandestine OTO link below. It must also be said that although the Antient & Primitive Rite has been declared dead and defunct many times that it still continues to exist to this day in many forms throughout the world. Masonic orthodoxy has failed to eliminate these dazzling Rites with their lengthy lists of cool titles.

He was Aleister Crowley's predecessor as Head of the OTO. Reuss was initited in November, 1876 into Pilgrim Lodge No. 238 (working under a Charter from the United Grand Lodge of England) while in London. He was passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft in May, 1877 and was raised to the Degree of Master Mason on 9 January, 1878. He appears to have never attended another meeting and was dropped from membership on 1 October, 1880. This appears to be the entire extent of his career as a Regular Mason. His activities as an irregular mason after 1877 however could fill a book. See Ellic Howe and Helmut Moller, Theodor Reuss. Irregular Freemasonry in Germany, 1900-23, Transactions of AQC Vol. 91, 1978.