Thank you very much. I am exceedingly gratified that you found Masonsmart to be useful and interesting. I do indeed intend to keep up the good works, as should we all.
Your question is not an easy one to answer, but I'll give it my best shot. The teachings and tenets of Freemasonry are essentially the same the world over. Through its teachings we are taught to strive to live our life in an honorable, grateful and generous manner. We are taught to regard the whole human species as one family. We are taught to temper our passions, to exercise fortitude in the face of adversity, to be prudent in our actions, and just to all mankind. We are taught to revere God and to implore his aid in all our laudable undertakings. The teachings literally do go on and on, and these are universal in Freemasonry. In practice, however, things are not all the same.
The requirements to progress through the degrees may differ depending on the Grand Lodge jurisdiction in which you live, and in some jurisdictions there may be different requirements depending on the Lodge that you join.
For example, and I'll use the U.S. because those are the practices I am most familiar with, some Grand Lodge jurisdictions require that a candidate exhibit a certain level of proficiency in his current degree before he may be advanced to the next. This proficiency may consist of memorizing a certain portion and part of Masonic ritual or it may only require that he demonstrate an understanding of his current status as a Mason. Some jurisdictions, though, allow that the demonstration of proficiency may be voluntary but is not required in order to advance. Within those same jurisdictions, though not all, there may be a type of Lodge that requires not only a demonstration of proficiency but a presentation of a scholarly work, as well.
It can be quite confusing, but in short the requirements to progress depend on where you live and where you join. Regardless of those requirements, though, there will always be good men there who want nothing more than to help you progress in your search for more Light.
As for me, I received the sublime degree of Master Mason, which is the 3rd Degree, in October of 1998. And, while I have explored many of the available avenues of Masonry and obtained many degrees of a higher number since that time, there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason.
As I said, this is not an easy question to answer but I hope I have helped a little. Thanks again and please do come back and visit often.
