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Freemasonry is structured around a degree system, where members ascend through a hierarchy of knowledge and esoteric teachings. Initiates begin in the Blue Lodge, progressing from the first to the third degree to become a Master Mason. Beyond this foundational level, two primary branches exist: the Scottish Rite and the York Rite. The Scottish Rite, boasting a remarkable 33 degrees, is regarded as the most potent sect within this esoteric order. For those who have climbed the degree ladder, the quest for further illumination continues in even more exclusive organizations, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.