The 33° Emblem
The emblem of the honorary 33° of the Scottish Rite, conferred by a Supreme Council by invitation. It cannot be applied for, and it is not a higher rank than Master Mason.
Also called: 33rd degree · thirty-third degree · Deus Meumque Jus
What it means
The 33° is conferred by a Supreme Council on Scottish Rite Masons for outstanding service to the Rite, the Craft or the public. Nobody applies for it. The emblem typically shows a triangle bearing the numeral 33, often with the crowned double-headed eagle, and the motto of the Supreme Council, Deus Meumque Jus, "God and my right".
Holders of the 33° are honored members of the Rite. They are not senior Masons in the sense the internet imagines, and in their own Blue Lodge they sit as Master Masons like everyone else.
A 33° ring or cap is not a souvenir. They are worn by the men who have received the degree, in the form their Supreme Council prescribes.
In context: The Scottish Rite Explained: 4° to 32°, and the 33°
Frequently asked questions
What does the 33° Emblem mean in Freemasonry?
The emblem of the honorary 33° of the Scottish Rite, conferred by a Supreme Council by invitation. It cannot be applied for, and it is not a higher rank than Master Mason.
Who can wear the 33° Emblem?
Only a Mason who has received the 33° may wear its emblem. It is not a gift a family member can give in advance of the honor, and buying one for someone who has not received it causes real embarrassment.
Sources
Drawn from the published monitors and from what the bodies concerned publish about themselves. Nothing here comes from, or goes beyond, any obligated material.