The French Rite (French: Rite français ) is one of the oldest masonic rites , and the most widely practiced in France and Belgium . It is the direct heir and one of the best preserved ritual of speculative masonry as practiced by the Premier Grand Lodge of London in the early 18th century. Today, it is primarily practiced by over 900 lodges of the Grand Orient de France and by the Grande Loge Nationale Française , making it the predominant rite in France, it is also worked in several other masonic jurisdictions worldwide.
187-601: The French Rite consists of seven degrees: three "blue" or craft degrees ( Entered Apprentice , Fellow Craft , and Master Mason ) and four additional Orders of Wisdom ( Ordres de Sagesse ), which were codified between 1781 and 1786 by the Grand Orient de France . It is characterized by its simplicity of ceremony, its emphasis on both tradition and progressive philosophical thinking, and its maintenance of practices from early speculative masonry that have been modified or abandoned in other jurisdictions. Historically significant,
374-411: A Grand Lodge or Grand Orient. There is no international, worldwide Grand Lodge that supervises all of Freemasonry; each Grand Lodge is independent, and they do not necessarily recognise each other as being legitimate. Lodges are found around the world and on all populated continents; however due to anti-Masonry and laws that effectively ban the tradition, it does not have a presence in every country. In
561-547: A Freemason to explore Masonry further through other degrees, administered separately from the basic Craft or "Blue Lodge" degrees described here, but generally having a similar structure and meetings. There is much diversity and little consistency in Freemasonry because each Masonic jurisdiction is independent and sets its own rules and procedures while Grand Lodges have limited jurisdiction over their constituent member Lodges, which are ultimately private clubs. The wording of
748-524: A Mason, he is qualified to join various "Concordant bodies" which offer additional degrees. These organisations are usually administered separately from the Grand Lodges who administer the Craft degrees. The extra degrees vary with locality and jurisdiction . In addition to these bodies, there are further organizations outside of the more traditional Rites of Freemasonry, that require an individual to be
935-734: A Master Mason before they can join (such as the Rosicrucian Society of England ). Throughout its history, Freemasonry has received criticism and opposition on religious and political grounds. The Catholic Church, some Protestant denominations, and certain Islamic countries or entities have expressed opposition to or banned membership in Free-Masonry. Opposition to Freemasonry is sometimes rooted in anti-Semitism or conspiracy theories , and Freemasons have historically been persecuted by authoritarian states. The Masonic lodge
1122-574: A Scottish chapter following the same sequence (9th, 14th, 15th, and 18th), with the intermediate grades communicated orally. Subsequently, Knights or Sovereign Princes Rose-Croix were permitted to join a Kadosh Knight Council (30th degree) and then a 32nd-degree Consistory of the Scottish Rite. The divergence in practice continued to narrow as the French orders and intermediate Scottish degrees fell into disuse. Masters then proceeded directly to
1309-723: A change of rite but as an accession to a supplement. This formalization led to the dormancy of the practice of the Orders of Wisdom in their original form in 1862. One hundred and fifty years after the disappearance of the Grand Chapter General of the French Rite, and after more than a century of oblivion, the orders in their entirety were reactivated in France and more generally in Europe starting in 1963. They then took
1496-612: A circular dated February 19, 1789, a few months before the French Revolution began. The events and upheaval of the Revolution, and the subsequent dormancy of Freemasonry , did not allow the newly constituted regime to fully deploy in the lodges and chapters of France. Following the revolutionary upheaval, the French or Modern Rite was most widely deployed under the First Empire . The revival of Freemasonry also saw
1683-401: A complete system of three degrees plus four orders, seven total, called a organized in two distinct categories: the three "blue" or craft degrees worked in symbolic lodges , and four additional philosophical degrees known as the Orders of Wisdom ( Ordres de Sagesse ) worked in chapters. This structure was formally established between 1784 and 1786 when the Grand Orient de France (GODF) codified
1870-505: A dagger accompanied by the motto Vincere Aut Mori , which translates as "Conquer or Die." This order synthesizes all the grades of Elects, including the 9th and 10th of the Rite of Perfection , as well as those no longer practiced. Frequently referred to as the "grade of vengeance", since it embodies Solomon's desire to punish the murderers of Master Hiram, this order eliminates what might be perceived as excessive in its effects, particularly
2057-693: A decade, it had attracted between five and six hundred members, leading to the establishment of additional lodges including Goustaud's (run by an English lapidary ), the Louis d'Argent lodge, and the Bussy lodge (later renamed Aumont lodge when the Duke of Aumont became its Master). The earliest French masonic practices are documented in a 1737 police report commissioned by René Hérault, Lieutenant General of Police in Paris . The report, obtained through surveillance involving
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#17327811884992244-464: A deliberative voice. The chamber met twice a month, every other Tuesday. The regulation specified that the officers had no special rank outside this chamber and that they resumed their functions in their workshop or another chamber without any other prerogative. This stipulation remains a constant in the philosophy of the high degrees of the Grand Orient de France as of 2017. The 121st assembly of
2431-493: A deviation from traditional masonic principles. From 1887 onward, physical trials and certain symbolic elements were gradually replaced by rationalist discourses. However, this period also saw the development of various paramasonic practices, including funeral ceremonies, spousal recognitions, adoptions, and white (public) ceremonies (Private white ceremonies and public white ceremonies). In 1922, new closing formulas were introduced that remain in use today. A significant revival of
2618-594: A distinctive medal. This medal, gilt for Council members and Honorary Officers but silver-plated for proselytes, featured an ouroboros encircling a radiant triangle containing the name of God in Hebrew characters, with the number 5 at its summit. The Order's activities ceased around 1813, when Adam (President), Vérité (Surveillant), and the Cherubim (Council members) conducted their final meetings. The Order remained dormant for approximately 150 years until its revival through
2805-474: A further development of its principles. They are based on the legend of Hiram , the architect of Solomon's Temple , and the circumstances of his death. The first two orders provide answers to questions that the Master grade does not address. The third order evokes the reconstruction of the destroyed temple, long after the death of King Solomon . It is in the tradition of chivalric grades that began in 1736 with
2992-645: A given country, state or geographical area (termed a jurisdiction ). There is no single overarching governing body that presides over worldwide Freemasonry; connections between different jurisdictions depend solely on mutual recognition. Estimates of the worldwide membership of Freemasonry in the early 21st century ranged from about two million to more than six million. The fraternity is administratively organised into independent Grand Lodges (or sometimes Grand Orients), each of which governs its own Masonic jurisdiction, which consists of subordinate (or constituent ) Lodges. The United Grand Lodge of England remains
3179-605: A group of twelve other masons established the Jean-Théophile Desaguliers chapter in Neuilly-sur-Seine and initiated the practice of the Orders of Wisdom in their original form. In 1970 , Roger d'Almeras, who succeeded René Guilly as the head of the "Jean-Théophile Desaguliers" chapter, established the inter-obedience chapter "La Chaine d'Union", which in 1977 in Lille , intending to transmit
3366-410: A historical discourse, which is read to all members of the ritual. This discourse delineates the order's vocation and position. The discourse is presented as a distinction rather than a degree, and it is recalled that the French Rite has no higher degree than the 4th Order, which is described as the nec plus ultra of the rite. This distinction is conferred upon all Sovereign Princes Rose-Croix who hold
3553-508: A lecture, which is usually on some aspect of Masonic history or ritual. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Lodge may hold a formal dinner , or festive board , sometimes involving toasting and song. The bulk of Masonic ritual consists of degree ceremonies. Candidates for Freemasonry are progressively initiated into Freemasonry, first in the degree of Entered Apprentice . At some later time, in separate ceremonies, they will be passed to
3740-415: A number recognized by the generality of Freemasons. The methodology proposed by the chamber in its second session served as the foundation for the codification of the high degrees of the Grand Orient of France's rite. To facilitate this process, members were invited to present all the rituals of the elect degrees at upcoming assemblies, analyze them, and provide their observations. In subsequent assemblies,
3927-541: A police informant known as Mademoiselle Carton, provides the first detailed description of French masonic ceremony. This document reveals that early French masonic ritual closely followed English " Premiere Grand Lodge " practices, including specific elements such as: The examination of candidates left to their reflection in a darkened chamber for about an hour, The removal of metals and partial disrobing and other ritualistic practices still used to this day. Despite opposition from both civil and religious authorities , including
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#17327811884994114-468: A police ordinance in 1737 and Pope Clement XII 's bull " In Eminenti " in 1738, French Freemasonry continued to grow. By 1742, there were twenty-two lodges in Paris and a similar number in the provinces. A crucial period in the development of the French Rite began with the reformation of French Freemasonry in 1772-1773 and the formation of the Grand Orient de France (GODF). This reorganization established
4301-547: A precedent for "shared jurisdiction" between mainstream and Prince Hall Grand Lodges, effectively modifying the traditional interpretation of Exclusive Jurisdiction. By 2024, most U.S. Grand Lodges have recognized their Prince Hall counterparts, establishing a new norm where two Grand Lodges can legitimately operate within the same geographical area, provided they maintain mutual recognition and amity. The evolution of this practice demonstrates how traditional Masonic principles can adapt to accommodate social progress while maintaining
4488-403: A quarter circle, between the points will be inscribed the numbers 3, 5, 7, and 9. In the south, towards the middle, a table supporting gold vases will be drawn. In the north, facing the altar of sacrifices, between them below the compass, starting from the west, a staircase of 24 steps divided into landings by 3, 5, 7, and 9. In front of the staircase and to the west, a large vase. The background of
4675-462: A repository of masonic knowledge and a center for ritual research and development within the French Rite tradition. The Orders of Wisdom experienced a significant decline in the early 19th century when many chapters transitioned to the newly established Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite . They remained largely dormant until their revival in the late 20th century. In 1999, the GODF formally reconstituted
4862-572: A response from the Royal Order of Scotland , which confirmed the falsity of the Gerbier patent and additionally granted a patent for the creation of a Provincial Grand Lodge of Heredom of Kilwinning in France to the brothers of the Rouen lodge. This authentic patent constituted a genuine impediment to the unification. In response to what it perceived as a "foreign intrusion" into its internal affairs,
5049-412: A rock; on the south side, a raised right arm struck with a dagger. Below, a dog in pursuit, ready to enter the cave. To the north, a spring of water gushed between two rocks; to the west, a steep staircase cut into the rock, descending into the cave. The background is black, and the frame is red. The Grand Chapter General enacted the synthesis of this order on December 18, 1784. It is a typical example of
5236-403: A symbolic and initiatory journey that commenced in the "blue lodge." The Orders of Wisdom were originally divided into four initiatory and philosophical orders and a fifth administrative and conservatory order. In January 1782, the GODF established a "Chamber of Grades", which initially codified the first three symbolic degrees to standardize the practices of Masonic lodges . This was followed by
5423-573: A system in four orders, following the sequence: Secret Elect, Grand Scottish Elect, Knight of the East, Sovereign Prince Rose-Croix. Each order synthesized the most important symbolic elements of the family of grades it comprised, incorporating them into its ritual. The fixation fell within the "known analytical order" previously established in the Chamber of Grades, with the Grand Chapter finalizing
5610-622: A unique position within the French Rite system, created not as a degree for conferral but as a scholarly and administrative body. In the 1780s, as the Chamber of Degrees ( Chambre des Grades ) worked zealously to codify the symbolic grades and select high degree rituals, they systematically selected, eliminated, and merged various degrees to establish the four Orders of the French Rite: Élu, Écossais, Chevalier de l'Épée, and Rose-Croix. During this process, numerous grades were set aside, leading to
5797-405: A vote of 39 to 7. The integration established a complete system of seven degrees: the three craft degrees plus four Orders of Wisdom (Élu, Écossais, Chevalier d'Orient, and Rose-Croix ). The Orders were carefully structured to provide a philosophical progression while avoiding excessive "sacerdotal" elements. The French Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic period brought significant challenges to
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5984-514: Is 18, but university lodges are given dispensations to initiate undergraduates below that age.) Additionally, most Grand Lodges require a candidate to declare a belief in a Supreme Being (although every candidate must interpret this condition in his own way, as all religious discussion is commonly prohibited). In a few cases, the candidate may be required to be of a specific religion. The form of Freemasonry most common in Scandinavia (known as
6171-476: Is Regular and what is Irregular (and the definitions do not necessarily agree between Grand Lodges). Essentially, every Grand Lodge will hold that its landmarks (its requirements, tenets and rituals) are Regular, and judge other Grand Lodges based on those. If the differences are significant, one Grand Lodge may declare the other "Irregular" and withdraw or withhold recognition. The most commonly shared rules for Recognition (based on Regularity) are those given by
6358-464: Is a historically African-American branch of Freemasonry that maintains its own separate Grand Lodge system parallel to the state Grand Lodge system. Together, these two systems - the conservative Grand Lodges and Prince Hall Grand Lodges make up for a total of 97 UGLE recognized Grand Lodges, sharing jurisdictions in the United States. They represent the main bodies of Masonic governance in
6545-690: Is a system of 33 degrees, including the three Blue Lodge degrees administered by a local or national Supreme Council. This system is popular in North America, South America and in Continental Europe . In America, the York Rite , with a similar range, administers three orders of Masonry, namely the Royal Arch , Cryptic Masonry , and Knights Templar . In Britain, separate bodies administer each order. Freemasons are encouraged to join
6732-536: Is in amity with the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Connecticut, the principle of Exclusive Jurisdiction does not apply, and other Grand Lodges may recognise both. Likewise, the five distinct kinds of lodges in Germany have nominally united under one Grand Lodge in order to obtain international recognition. The concept of Exclusive Jurisdiction has been significantly challenged in the United States with
6919-456: Is not allowed. There are many reasons one Grand Lodge will withhold or withdraw recognition from another, but the two most common are Exclusive Jurisdiction and Regularity . Exclusive Jurisdiction is a concept whereby normally only one Grand Lodge will be recognised in any geographical area. If two Grand Lodges claim jurisdiction over the same area, the other Grand Lodges will have to choose between them, and they may not all decide to recognise
7106-434: Is progressively taught the meanings of the symbols of Freemasonry and entrusted with grips, signs, and words to signify to other members that he has been so initiated. The degrees are part allegorical morality play and part lecture. These three degrees form Craft (or Blue Lodge) Freemasonry, and members of any of these degrees are known as Free-Masons , Freemasons or Masons . Once the Craft degrees have been conferred upon
7293-424: Is scattered, Master's tools, Future Justice over vengeance, Discovery of Murderers, Moral transformation, Sword symbolism Recovery of what was Lost, Completion of thirds degree legend cycle, Sacred geometry, Temple reconstruction Babylonian exile themes Temple rebuilding Sword and Trowel Liberty and duty Universal philosophy Ultimate truth seeking Humanitarian ideals Masonic synthesis The Fifth Order occupies
7480-456: Is still depicted in the form of the beast. This is the final order of the system, which is titled "Knight of the Eagle, Perfect Free Mason under the name of Rose-Croix" in the Grand Chapter, which is a federation of Rose-Croix chapters. Unlike other orders, the rituals of this degree are quite consistent and similar, presenting no real difficulties in codification. The primary challenge arises from
7667-503: Is surrounded by a crown of thorns. The other two crosses each feature a skull with crossed bones. At the foot of the middle cross will be a globe that is proportionate to the size of the cross and is surrounded by a serpent. The codification by the Chamber of Degrees left numerous degrees unaddressed. The statutes of the Grand General Chapter formalize the creation of a Vth order for the conservation and study of rituals on
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7854-481: Is that each candidate must be "free and of good reputation". The question of freedom, a standard feudal requirement of mediaeval guilds, is nowadays one of independence: the object is that every Mason should be a proper and responsible person. Thus, each Grand Lodge has a standard minimum age, varying greatly and often subject to dispensation in particular cases. (For example, in England the standard minimum age to join
8041-404: Is the annual installation of the Master of the Lodge and his appointed or elected officers. In some jurisdictions, an Installed Master elected, obligated, and invested to preside over a Lodge, is valued as a separate rank with its own secrets and distinctive title and attributes; after each full year in the chair the Master invests his elected successor and becomes a Past Master with privileges in
8228-424: Is the basic organisational unit of Freemasonry. The Lodge meets regularly and conducts the usual formal business of any small organisation (approve minutes , elect new members, appoint officers and take their reports, consider correspondence, bills and annual accounts, organise social and charitable events, etc.). In addition to such business, the meeting may perform a ceremony to confer a Masonic degree or receive
8415-613: Is the dominant rite in Belgium, Luxembourg, and is practiced in South and North America , Southern and Central Europe, and Africa , demonstrating its continued vitality and adaptability to different cultural contexts. After the 1877 Great Schism , the Grand College of Rites of the Grand Orient de France decided on a new reform. This took place in 1879 and removed from the French Rite any formulas with religious connotations (such as
8602-521: Is the oldest fraternity in the world and among the oldest continued organizations in history. Modern Freemasonry broadly consists of two main recognition groups: Regular Freemasonry , which insists that a “volume of sacred law”, such as the Bible , the Quran , or other religious scripture be open in a working lodge, that every member professes belief in a Supreme Being , that no women be admitted, and that
8789-432: Is upon candidates to ask to join; while they may be encouraged to ask, they may not be invited. Once the initial inquiry is made, a formal application may be proposed and seconded or announced in open Lodge and a more or less formal interview usually follows. If the candidate wishes to proceed, references are taken up during a period of notice so that members may enquire into the candidate's suitability and discuss it. Finally,
8976-421: The Grand Orient de France ) began a new reform initiative in an attempt to return the rite to its roots after the sum of additions and suppressions which had rendered it hard-to-understand and soulless. The definitive version — known as the "Groussier French Rite" — was completed in 1955 under the authority of Paul Chevalier. In the 1960s and 70s, several masons such as René Guilly sought the original essence of
9163-809: The Grande Loge Mixte de France and the Loge Nationale Française. It is also the official rite of the Grand Orient of Poland . In 1973, the GODF issued the patent of the French Rite to the Grande Loge Féminine de France , and so this jurisdiction developed a version of the Rite adapted to its specific needs. In the Grande Loge Nationale Française , it is worked by approximately 10–15% of the lodges. It has spread to Belgium, Luxembourg, Brazil,
9350-631: The Holy Royal Arch , which is linked to Mark Masonry in Scotland and Ireland, but completely separate in England. In England, the Royal Arch is closely associated with the Craft, automatically having many Grand Officers in common, including H.R.H the Duke of Kent as both Grand Master of the Craft and First Grand Principal of the Royal Arch. The English Knights Templar and Cryptic Masonry share
9537-547: The Landmarks of Freemasonry , which elude any universally accepted definition. Candidates for Freemasonry will usually have met the most active members of the Lodge they are joining before being elected for initiation. The process varies among Grand Lodges, but in modern times interested people often look up a local Lodge through the Internet and will typically be introduced to a Lodge social function or open evening. The onus
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#17327811884999724-548: The Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) No. 1 in Scotland show a continuity from an operative lodge in 1598 to a modern speculative Lodge. It is reputed to be the oldest Masonic Lodge in the world. Alternatively, Thomas De Quincey in his work titled Rosicrucians and Freemasonry put forward the theory that suggested that Freemasonry may have been an outgrowth of Rosicrucianism . The theory had also been postulated in 1803 by German professor; J. G. Buhle . The first Grand Lodge,
9911-595: The Nordic countries , the Swedish Rite is dominant; a variation of it is also used in parts of Germany. Freemasonry describes itself as a "beautiful system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols". The symbolism is mainly, but not exclusively, drawn from the tools of stonemasons – the square and compasses , the level and plumb rule, the trowel , the rough and smooth ashlars , among others. Moral lessons are attributed to each of these tools, although
10098-419: The Swedish Rite ), for example, accepts only Christians. At the other end of the spectrum, "Liberal" or Continental Freemasonry , exemplified by the Grand Orient de France , does not require a declaration of belief in any deity and accepts atheists (the cause of the distinction from the rest of Freemasonry). During the ceremony of initiation, the candidate is required to undertake an obligation, swearing on
10285-608: The United Grand Lodge of England . The Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Lodge of Scotland were formed in 1725 and 1736, respectively, although neither persuaded all of the existing lodges in their countries to join for many years. The earliest known American lodges were in Pennsylvania . The collector for the port of Pennsylvania, John Moore, wrote of attending lodges there in 1715, two years before
10472-760: The United States , Masonic membership is organized in two systems, first through 51 Conservative Grand Lodges - one for each state plus the District of Columbia . While these Grand Lodges once boasted over 4 million members in 1957, membership has declined sharply. According to the Masonic Service Association of North America, current combined membership across these jurisdictions stands at approximately 875,000 members. Additionally, there are 46 Prince Hall Grand Lodges in amity with UGLE, operating across various U.S. states. Prince Hall Masonry
10659-579: The discourse of the Chevalier de Ramsay . He linked masons to the Crusades and the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem , distancing them from the operative tradition. The fourth and final order, also chivalric, revolves around a new "Word" and a spiritual and inner construction rather than a material one. The initiatory journey of the French Rite in the 18th century places its quintessence and finality in
10846-529: The second world war from 33,000 in 1960 to 53,000 in 2023. Relations between Grand Lodges are determined by the concept of Recognition . Each Grand Lodge maintains a list of other Grand Lodges that it recognises. When two Grand Lodges recognise and are in Masonic communication with each other, they are said to be in amity , and the brethren of each may visit each other's Lodges and interact Masonically. When two Grand Lodges are not in amity, inter-visitation
11033-404: The "craft" by being progressively "initiated", "passed" and "raised" into the three degrees of Craft, or Blue Lodge Masonry. During these three rituals, the candidate is progressively taught the Masonic symbols, and entrusted with grips or tokens, signs, and words to signify to other Masons which degrees he has taken. The dramatic allegorical ceremonies include explanatory lectures and revolve around
11220-525: The "sole authority in matters of Rose-Croix chapters." Dr. Hubert Gerbier de Werchamp (1727-1795) was the voice of this dissent. He relied on a document dated March 21, 1721, which purported to be the patent of a Rose-Croix chapter granted to the Duke of Antin and transferred to the Count of Clermont . He claimed to have fortuitously inherited this document upon the death of the Grand Master. The document
11407-561: The 1950s, aiming to recover the earliest forms of French masonic practice. This variant is characterized by: The RFT is practiced primarily within the Loge Nationale Française and certain lodges of the Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Symbolique Opéra , representing what its practitioners consider the most authentic form of early speculative masonry. Adopted by the Grand Orient de France in 2002,
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#173278118849911594-453: The 19th and 20th centuries. While there exist many variations, the major ones are: The Groussier variant, developed by Arthur Groussier between 1938 and 1955, represents a significant attempt to restore traditional elements to the French Rite while adapting them to modern sensibilities. As Grand Master of the Grand Orient de France from 1925 to 1945, Groussier sought to counter the extreme rationalist simplification that had characterized
11781-473: The 19th to the 33rd degree. In 1815, a portion of the Supreme Council opted to merge with the Grand Orient to implement a comprehensive reorganization of the Scottish Rite. The Grand Chapter subsequently transformed into the "Supreme Council of Rites", offering Freemasons who had achieved mastery the option to continue their journey either within a French chapter practicing the four superior orders or in
11968-470: The 2 brief blows and one longer blow, the moving of the right foot) which the "Antient" lodge later changed. Entered Apprentice Freemasonry (sometimes spelled Free-Masonry ) or simply Masonry includes various fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 14th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. Freemasonry
12155-464: The AASR's additional degrees, particularly the 30th (Kadosh) and 33rd degrees, led many chapters to transition to the Scottish Rite system. While the French Rite remained predominant in blue lodges, its Orders of Wisdom entered a period of decline that would last for nearly 150 years. The nineteenth century brought significant philosophical and structural changes to the French Rite. Between 1849 and 1877,
12342-681: The Council of the Order). Today, the Fifth Order maintains its original purpose of researching and deepening understanding of the grades at the "summit" of the Rite. The rituals resulting from the Grand Chapitre Général's work demonstrate that masonic erudition can be practiced effectively in both modest and grand settings - "in a Romanesque chapel as well as in a Gothic cathedral." This unique institution continues to serve as both
12529-526: The Council's dean and the other by a Council member. A class of proselytes, limited to 81 members selected from the Metropolitan Chapter, operated alongside the Council. These proselytes received instruction only in the knowledge and light contained within the first eight series. The Order's regalia, defined in the April 29, 1808 session, consisted of a white moiré ribbon with gold edges, bearing
12716-585: The Fifth order contains "all the physical and metaphysical degrees of all systems in force" (in the 18th century). This ensemble represents the entirety of the French Masonic tradition of 1784. Brothers Gastebois and Lelièvre-Villette, knowledgeable about the rituals, originated the classification of the 81 degrees composing this tradition into nine series, whose original notebooks are stored in an "ark." They are classified as follows: The latest iteration of
12903-558: The French Chapter of the French National Lodge under René Guilly-Désaguliers's leadership. The Grand Orient de France later adopted this initiative with a new approach, aiming to standardize and create coherence in the pathways of an obedience whose blue lodges predominantly practiced the French Rite (all were administratively created under this designation before some requested authorization to cumulate rites from
13090-677: The French Rite and made a new attempt to reanimate its initiatory and symbolic character. René Guilly was the prime force behind the creation of a chapter of the Traditional French Rite, a chapter which still exists today within the National French Lodge. In 1974, another chapter was formed in Paris on the instigation of a member of the Traditional and Symbolic Grand Lodge of the Opéra. Through its offshoots,
13277-489: The French Rite began under Arthur Groussier (1863-1957), who was initiated in 1885 at the Lodge L'Émancipation. As Grand Master of the GODF from 1925 to 1945, Groussier led a restoration of the rite's symbolic and initiatic character. His revised version of the ritual, adopted by the Council of the Order in 1938 and widely distributed in 1955, reintroduced many traditional elements while adapting them to contemporary sensibilities. The late twentieth century saw renewed interest in
13464-419: The French Rite between 1784 and 1785. Additionally, the organization of the centralization of high-degree chapters in France was also a consequence of this process. Despite various oppositions, the Grand Chapter General was integrated into the Grand Orient de France on February 17, 1786, thereby establishing a symbolic, philosophical, and initiatory "regime" in seven degrees and a central obedience that encompassed
13651-520: The French Rite maintains several distinctive features from early speculative masonry, including the placement of both Wardens in the West and the use of three large candlesticks in specific positions within the lodge. These characteristics, along with its historical development and philosophical orientation, make it a unique repository of early masonic practices while remaining adaptable to contemporary societal evolution. The French Rite traces its origins to
13838-401: The French Rite to their specific needs and philosophical orientations: While these variants share common roots, they differ in several key aspects: These variations reflect the French Rite's adaptability while maintaining its essential character as one of the oldest and most historically significant masonic ritual systems. The continued evolution and adaptation of these variants demonstrates
14025-626: The French Rite underwent several major transformations, notably in 1877 with the removal of religious requirements, establishing the principle of absolute freedom of conscience. Today, it exists in several variants, including the Groussier Rite, the Modern French Rite, and the Philosophical French Rite, each reflecting different approaches to masonic tradition and philosophy. Unlike many other masonic rites,
14212-572: The French Rite's development. While masonic activity was curtailed during the Revolution, the GODF resumed operations under the Consulate and Empire , experiencing what some historians describe as a "golden age." However, this period also saw the beginning of the rite's transformation. The emergence of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (AASR) in 1804 presented a significant challenge to the French Rite's system of high degrees. The attractiveness of
14399-437: The French Rite's vitality and relevance to contemporary masonic practice, while their coexistence illustrates the rite's capacity to accommodate different approaches to masonic tradition and philosophy. In continental freemasonry, 80% of lodges practising the French Rite belong to the Grand Orient of France, but it is also practised by some lodges in other jurisdictions such as the Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Symbolique Opéra ,
14586-440: The GODF was authorized to intervene in matters related to high degrees, thereby ensuring a strict separation between the management of symbolic lodges and high degrees. The chamber of grades comprises three grand officers, three honorary officers, ten officers representing the administrative chambers of Paris and the provinces , and six general officers. It also reserved the right to include venerable masters of lodges who had
14773-796: The Grand Chapitre Général, restoring the complete seven-degree system to active practice. Today, the Grand Chapitre Général oversees more than 200 Chapters and 5,000 members. It maintains close relationships with other chapter structures, as evidenced by the signing of the Lisbon Charter in 2011 by 27 Grand Chapters and the activities of the Ramsay Committee. The French Rite exists today in several major forms, each representing different approaches to masonic tradition and philosophy. These variants emerged through various historical developments and reforms, particularly during
14960-406: The Grand Chapter simply rejected it and marginalized the opponents to the merger, with the majority of the Grand Orient's officers in favor of unification. However, this Provincial Grand Lodge enjoyed some success, counting around twenty chapters for several years. The order resisted the centralization imposed by the Grand Orient until 1806, when Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès , the Grand Master of
15147-473: The Grand Lodge of London and Westminster, later called the Grand Lodge of England , was founded on St John's Day , 24 June 1717, when four existing London Lodges met for a joint dinner. Over the next decade, most of the existing Lodges in England joined the new regulatory body, which itself entered a period of self-publicity and expansion. New lodges were created, and the fraternity began to grow. During
15334-441: The Grand Orient concerning other high-degree systems. These other systems saw the advantage this union would bring to the central obedience and the weakening of their positions within the Masonic landscape of the time. As the proponents of the union worked towards their goal, two events delayed the integration of the Grand Chapter into the Grand Orient. The first was the sudden appearance of a small group of Freemasons claiming to be
15521-511: The Grand Orient de France with a distinctive and unifying high-degree body. On February 2, 1788, it convened its 58th and final assembly and transferred its responsibilities and authority to the newly established Grand Chapter General of the Grand Orient of France. This body promptly installed all former leaders and members of the Grand Chapter General into a chapter designated as the "Sovereign Metropolitan Chapter." The founding Freemasons continued to act in this chapter in an honorary capacity within
15708-480: The Grand Orient of France", under the title of "Grand Chapter General of the Grand Orient of France." The following four assemblies, held between April and May 1785, were dedicated to examining the general regulations. On May 28, 1785, the chamber concluded favorably on the union of the Grand Chapter and the Grand Orient and submitted the project to the three other chambers of the obedience for acceptance. The debates in each chamber were quite similar, and after each vote,
15895-401: The Grand Orient, accepted the honorary title of Grand Master of this order. With the opposition contained and the desire for union affirmed by both structures, Alexandre Roëttiers de Montaleau presented a first project to the Chamber of Grades on March 22, 1785, during the 52nd assembly of the Grand Orient. The first article specified that the "Grand Chapter will be united and incorporated into
16082-560: The Grand Orient, held on February 1, 1782, elected the officers, including Alexandre Roëttiers de Montaleau , the Marquis de Savalette de Langes , and Bacon de la Chevalerie . The first assembly was held on February 19, 1782, during which the statutes were read, the organization’s composition was presented, members took the oath, and the governing body was elected. Bacon de la Chevalerie was elected president, de Montaleau orator, and Savalette de Langes, first overseer. In its second session,
16269-583: The Lodge and Grand Lodge. In other jurisdictions, the grade is not recognised, and no inner ceremony conveys new secrets during the installation of a new Master of the Lodge. Most Lodges have some sort of social functions, allowing members, their partners, and non-Masonic guests to meet openly. Often coupled with these events is the discharge of every Mason's and Lodge's collective obligation to contribute to charity. This occurs at many levels, including in annual dues, subscriptions, fundraising events, Lodges and Grand Lodges. Masons and their charities contribute for
16456-427: The Lodge takes an officially secret ballot on each application before a candidate is either initiated or rejected. The exact number of adverse ballots ("blackballs") required to reject a candidate varies between Masonic jurisdictions. As an example, the United Grand Lodge of England only requires a single "blackball", while the Grand Lodge of New York requires three. A minimum requirement of every body of Freemasons
16643-791: The Mark Grand Lodge offices and staff at Mark Masons Hall. The Ancient and Accepted Rite (similar to the Scottish Rite), requires a member to proclaim the Trinitarian Christian faith, and is administered from Duke Street in London. Conversely, the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia is a fully independent esoteric organization that requires members be United Grand Lodge of England Master Masons . In
16830-425: The Masonic practices of the time to establish a version of high-degree rituals that could serve as a common reference. The texts were required to be reliable, without historical approximations, and to establish a usage for the generality of French Freemasons. While maintaining the visual elements and symbolic representations of the ceremonies, there was a desire to secularize the 18th-century Masonic rituals to reduce
17017-596: The Masonic, with the Knights Rose-Croix being the descendants of a lineage of initiates who possess a vast array of knowledge, extending back to the earliest traditions and various philosophical currents of the Lights . Le Régulateur des Chevaliers Maçons describes the lodge board as follows: Above the altar will be a board depicting three crosses. The middle cross represents the Mystic Rose, which
17204-533: The Metropolitan Sovereign Chapter, to attempt to reactivate the Vth order, which had fallen into disuse following the French Revolution . Roëttiers de Montaleau began to delineate the evolution of this conservatory order comprising 81 patrimonial degrees, which could restore the splendor of the post-4th order degrees, as well as the French Rite, in the face of the allure of the final degrees of
17391-569: The Netherlands, Greece, Spain and Switzerland (and formerly in Louisiana), although outside France it is mainly a minority Rite (especially found in lodges founded by the Grand Orient of France). The French Rite is often felt to be the most 'lay' rite of Freemasonry practiced within the Grand Orient de France , an adogmatic jurisdiction which removed such traditional elements as the Volume of
17578-407: The Philosophical French Rite represents a modern synthesis attempting to combine historical authenticity with contemporary philosophical perspectives. Its distinctive features include: This variant reflects the Grand Orient's effort to create a version of the rite that speaks to contemporary societal concerns while preserving essential masonic traditions. Different masonic jurisdictions have adapted
17765-552: The Premiere Grand Lodge had adopted. As an insult, the self proclaimed "Antient Grand Lodge" coined the term "modern" to designate the Premiere Grand Lodge (historians now use Premiere Grand Lodge and Antient Grand Lodge – to differentiate the two bodies). These two Grand Lodges vied for supremacy until the Premiere Grand Lodge made a compromise with the antient Grand Lodge to return to a ritual that worked for both Grand Lodges. They re-united on 27 December 1813 to form
17952-551: The Rose-Croix degree, which was identical in both rites at that time. The dormancy was also due to the nature of the fifth order of the French Rite, which had only a conservation and administrative function, in comparison to the allure of the 32nd and 33rd degrees of the Scottish Rite, which were regarded as "ultimate" degrees, especially once they were conferred upon imperial dignitaries from 1805 onwards. The majority of French Rite chapters then sought to combine rites to also use
18139-515: The SC-REAA, which were frequented by the elite of the Napoleonic regime . However, Roëttiers de Montaleau, who was incapacitated by illness, was unable to complete the project of reallocating the Vth order. He died on January 30, 1808. In February of that year, other members of the Metropolitan Sovereign Chapter, along with Montaleau's son, resumed the project of reforming the order. The order
18326-594: The Sacred Law and all mention of the Grand Architect of the Universe from the rite. In the form practiced by the regular Grande Loge Nationale Française , it is the rite most similar to that of the 1717 Premier Grand Lodge [of London], one of the possible founding rites of Freemasonry, perpetuating several fundamentals (such as the position of columns J and B and of the candlesticks around the lodge carpet,
18513-531: The Trinity". The newly formed Grand Chapter General of France announced itself as the general assembly of all existing chapters in France. A detailed history of the seven founding chapters and the trajectory of all the founding members, most of whom were officers of the Grand Orient of France, cannot be provided based on the study of known documents from 2017. This newly established institutional body, which announced its intention to create its statutes and entrusted
18700-652: The United Grand Lodge of England in 1929: Blue Lodges, known as Craft Lodges in the United Kingdom, offer only the three traditional degrees. In most jurisdictions, the rank of past or installed master is also conferred in Blue/Craft Lodges. Master Masons are able to extend their Masonic experience by taking further degrees, in appendant or other bodies whether or not approved by their own Grand Lodge. The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
18887-460: The United States, though both have experienced significant membership declines since their mid-20th century peaks. Grand Orient de France , the largest jurisdiction in Continental or Liberal Freemasonry in terms of membership, is over 53,000 members spread across approximately 1,381 lodges for an average of 38 members per Lodges. The Grand Orient de France has been growing in membership since
19074-421: The Vth order has adopted a monochromatic aesthetic, with white serving as the primary color. This is evident in the sash worn by members and the hangings adorning the temple walls during work. The order's organizational structure is centered around a "Council of Nine", which plays a pivotal role in its governance. Additionally, there is a class designated as the "proselytes", whose responsibilities include enriching
19261-484: The archives and addressing Masonic history and symbolism-related inquiries. The primary objective of the members was to collect and comprehend Freemasonry, a task analogous to that of the Philalethes , of which Alexandre Roëttiers de Montaleau served as secretary from April to June 1787 and later as session president during the final months of their convocation . The order employs a reception ritual that incorporates
19448-414: The assignment is by no means consistent. The meaning of the symbolism is taught and explored through ritual, and in lectures and articles by individual Masons who offer their personal insights and opinions. According to the scholar of Western esotericism Jan A. M. Snoek: "the best way to characterize Freemasonry is in terms of what it is not, rather than what it is". All Freemasons begin their journey in
19635-512: The bloody vengeance scenes contained in some 18th-century Elect grades. Its structure and symbolism represent a "reasonable" synthesis of all the Elect grades it inherits. The Régulateur des Chevaliers Maçons (Regulator of Knight Masons) describes the lodge board as follows: It represents the Morning Star above eight smaller stars. In the middle, a large cave. Inside, a lamp was placed on
19822-480: The board will be black. The ritual of this order was enacted by the Grand General Chapter on May 19, 1785. This degree references Ramsay's discourse , which links Freemasonry to chivalry and the Crusades and is set in the context of rebuilding the temple in the Holy Land . The theme of restoration, "with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other", was a highly successful one in the 18th century. This order
20009-460: The central obedience, their past work has provided a solution to the problems posed by the various high-degree bodies. This centralization also marked the end of the numerous high-degree structures that had existed in the Age of Enlightenment . After encountering numerous difficulties since 1784 in unifying the rite and the governing bodies, the Grand Orient announced its new doctrine on high degrees in
20196-469: The ceremonies' striking resemblance to the events described in the Gospels, symbolizing the death and resurrection of Christ . Alexandre Roëttiers de Montaleau proposed a revised, dechristianized version of the ritual to the Grand Chapter, which remains faithful to the structure and iconography of the Rose-Croix ceremony of that time. This new version represents a clear separation between the religious and
20383-431: The chamber engaged in a debate and ultimately determined the methodology for future work. They unanimously endorsed the conclusions of the orator, Roëttiers de Montaleau, who recommended studying the Masonic reality of the time and bringing order to it first, without creating a new system. To do this, it was decided to follow the "known analytical order", which, among the many grades of all kinds in that verbose era, revealed
20570-441: The chamber of grades without consultation and expeditiously, is not elucidated by historians in 2017. Nevertheless, the members of the Grand Chapter General were unequivocal in their desire to integrate the GODF once the codification of the degrees and the administration of the chapters in France had been completed. From its inception, the Grand Chapter was dedicated to incorporating chapteral lodges within its ranks. Initially, this
20757-446: The chapters under its jurisdiction. The individuals assigned to draft the statutes fulfilled their duties expeditiously, and the statutes were adopted on March 19, 1784. The newly established institution explicitly stated, in its inaugural article, its intention to federate the high-degree chapters of the lodges of the Grand Orient and constituted itself as a second chamber of grades. The rationale behind this constitution, which replaced
20944-423: The complete French Rite system. In 1999, the GODF formally reconstituted the Grand Chapitre Général, restoring the original system of three degrees and four Orders of Wisdom. Today, the French Rite exists in several forms: The French Rite remains the predominant form of Masonry within the GODF and French Freemasonry as a whole, in the GODF is it practiced by over 900 lodges. It has expanded beyond France's borders it
21131-510: The construction of the Temple of Solomon , and the artistry and death of the chief architect, Hiram Abiff . The degrees are those of "Entered apprentice", "Fellowcraft" and "Master Mason". While many different versions of these rituals exist, with various lodge layouts and versions of the Hiramic legend, each version is recognizable to any Freemason from any jurisdiction. In some jurisdictions,
21318-411: The control of the high degrees. According to the opponents, this union would rekindle the disputes between high-degree systems, which had previously led to the dissolution of the first Grande Loge de France. For four years, the opponents worked assiduously to thwart the project. The Grand Chapter made numerous efforts to ensure that the union of the two bodies would strengthen the stability and position of
21505-593: The course of the 18th century, as aristocrats and artists crowded out the craftsmen originally associated with the organization, Freemasonry became fashionable throughout Europe and the American colonies . Between 1730 and 1750, the Grand Lodge endorsed several significant changes that some Lodges could not endorse. A rival Grand Lodge was formed on 17 July 1751, which called itself the " Antient Grand Lodge of England " to signify that, in their opinion, these lodges were maintaining older traditions and rejected changes that
21692-491: The creation of a fifth Order within the Grand Metropolitan Chapter of the Grand Orient de France . This Order was established as a venue for conversation, study, and ritual practice, containing "all physical and metaphysical grades." The extensive collection of 81 degrees was methodically organized into nine series: the first series encompassing the most primitive grades (such as Intendant of Buildings);
21879-403: The creation of the "Grand Chapter General of France" on February 2, 1784. This grand chapter promptly established "General Statutes and Regulations" and "Specific Regulations and Disciplines." Implementing the orders’ codification involved the selection, merging, or elimination of the numerous high-degree rituals practiced in the 18th century. This resulted in the establishment of the four orders of
22066-487: The degree of Fellowcraft ; and then raised to the degree of Master Mason . In each of these ceremonies, the candidate must first take the new obligations of the degree, and is then entrusted with secret knowledge including passwords, signs and grips ( secret handshakes ) confined to his new rank. Although these symbols and gestures are nominally secret, they are readily found in public sources, including those published by Masonic organizations themselves. Another ceremony
22253-554: The discovery of the "Delta", and the Tetragrammaton, symbolizing the Master Word. Le Régulateur des Chevaliers Maçons provides the following description of the lodge board: On the upper part of the southern line, a well will be drawn into which a ray of light falls vertically. Opposite, on the top of the line, a burning bush emitting a great flame. In the middle of these objects, a crowned compass will be depicted on
22440-401: The discussion of religion and politics do not take place within the lodge; and Continental Freemasonry , which consists of the jurisdictions that have removed some, or all, of these restrictions. The basic, local organisational unit of Freemasonry is the Lodge . These private Lodges are usually supervised at the regional level (usually coterminous with a state, province, or national border) by
22627-410: The elect and Scottish degrees were studied. The 10th assembly of the chamber commenced work on the chivalric degrees, which continued throughout the summer of 1782. Following the study of the chivalric degrees, on August 20, 1782, the "Knight of the Eagle - Rose-Croix" degree was rejected. The members present at this assembly determined that its ceremonies were too similar to religious ceremonies. Despite
22814-406: The entirety of the Masonic tradition of the 17th and 18th centuries. The dissemination of the orders was interrupted by the French Revolution ; they reached their peak during the First Empire and underwent a gradual transformation during the 19th century, merging with the practice of the high degrees of the Ancient and the accepted Scottish Rite . This slow transformation led to the suspension of
23001-593: The first Masonic lodge in Canada at Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia . Orders of Wisdom The Orders of Wisdom ( French : Ordres de Sagesse ) is the contemporary designation for the high Masonic degrees of the French Rite . Originally designated as Ordres supérieurs , they were published in 1801 in a compendium entitled Le Régulateur des Chevaliers maçons (The Regulator of Knight Masons) or Les Quatre ordres supérieurs (Four Superior Orders) , according to
23188-457: The first evidence of ceremonial regalia. There is no clear mechanism by which these local trade organisations became today's Masonic Lodges. The earliest rituals and passwords known, from operative lodges around the turn of the 17th–18th centuries, show continuity with the rituals developed in the later 18th century by accepted or speculative Masons, as those members who did not practice the physical craft gradually came to be known. The minutes of
23375-415: The first three orders in their original forms. After over 100 years of being forgotten, the orders were reactivated in France, starting in 1963. In the second half of the 20th century, the orders were renamed the "Orders of Wisdom." The internal and profound transformation of the first Grande Loge de France , which became the Grand Orient de France (GODF) in 1773, saw the Masonic obedience devote itself to
23562-594: The four orders of the French Rite and the first eighteen degrees of the Scottish Rite. Consequently, it established both French and Scottish chapters similarly, thanks to the sovereignty granted by the Concordat, up to the Rose-Croix degree, which was identical in both rites. Until 1814, the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree in France , created by the Concordat, held sovereignty over the Scottish degrees from
23749-434: The four orders of the French Rite equivalent to the 9th, 14th, 15th, and 18th degrees of the Scottish Rite. Following the unification agreement, the management of the two high-degree rites was conducted in parallel. The Grand Chapter General of the Grand Orient was not specifically dedicated to the superior grades of the French Rite but to those higher than the symbolic lodges. From 1805 onwards, it assumed responsibility for
23936-414: The fourth order. The fifth order, as described in the general statutes of the Grand Chapter General in 1784, serves as an administrative conservatory for all the grades and Masonic systems in use at that time, representing a total of 81 grades. The codification of this order commenced with alacrity, and the Grand Chapter General enacted it on April 24 and 25, 1784. The Secret Elect grade is arguably one of
24123-409: The functions of a chapteral lodge, admitting new members and renowned Freemasonry personalities to reinforce its authenticity. These included Jean Henry Hengelhart, a doctor of medicine and member of the Scottish lodge Mary's Chapel No. 1 . Another task of the Grand Chapter was the codification of high degrees, continuing the work of the chamber of grades, and working on finalizing the establishment of
24310-406: The fundamental aims of regular Freemasonry. Some jurisdictions have formalized this arrangement through written agreements that specifically outline the terms of shared jurisdiction. Regularity is a concept based on adherence to Masonic Landmarks , the basic membership requirements, tenets and rituals of the craft. Each Grand Lodge sets its own definition of what these landmarks are, and thus what
24497-536: The fusion of several grades carried out by the Grand Chapter General during its codification work, notably those of "Perfect English Master" and "True Scottish Master", also known as "Scottish of the Vault." It emerged around 1745 and, like the Secret Elect grade, it completes the mastery after the disappearance of Hiram's assassins. It crowns the Master grade, with purification and sacrifice as its essential themes,
24684-450: The future. This occurred on March 25, 1995. In 1995, in Lyon , they established a "Grand Chapter General of the French Rite" within the "Grand Collège des Rites of the Grand Orient of France", thereby initiating the revitalization of the French Rite in three grades and four orders within the original framework of the French Rite. On March 16, 1996, the Grand Chapter General of the French Rite
24871-527: The grades of the same family, becoming their custodian. The second axis, announced since the creation of the Grand Chapter, asserted that all high degrees must be written more simply and that their practice must be standardized. The outcome of this endeavor was the formulation of a ritual for each order. The handwritten copies of the rituals of the Superior Orders were published in a volume titled Régulateur des Chevaliers Maçons in 1801. They proposed
25058-553: The immediate reactivation of the four orders codified before the Revolution. Napoleon's centralism facilitated the Grand Chapter of the Grand Orient's administration of nearly 500 chapters at the height of the Empire. This centralization did not prevent disputes, which were further exacerbated in 1804 by the emergence of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and its extensive scale of high degrees. This rite included in its thirty degrees
25245-448: The increasing recognition of Prince Hall Grand Lodges , a branch of Freemasonry created for African Americans. Historically, many "mainstream" or conservative U.S. Grand Lodges refused to recognize Prince Hall Grand Lodges operating in their states, citing Exclusive Jurisdiction. However, this began to change in 1989 when the Grand Lodge of Connecticut extended recognition to its Prince Hall counterpart. This initial recognition created
25432-472: The introduction of speculative Freemasonry in France around 1725. As recorded by Jérôme de Lalande in his "Mémoire historique sur la Maçonnerie" (1777), the first documented lodge was established in Paris by English Freemasons, including "Milord Dervent-Waters, the chevalier Maskelyne, d'Heguerty, and several other Englishmen." This lodge met at Hurre's tavern, an English establishment in the Rue des Boucheries. Within
25619-419: The largest Masonic jurisdiction worldwide. However, its membership has declined dramatically - from about 500,000 members in the 1960s to approximately 175,000 in 2021. The organization is structured into various Provincial Grand Lodges at the local level. Similarly, the Grand Lodge of Ireland has experienced a steep decline, with membership falling from 100,000 in 1960 to around 19,000 members currently. In
25806-478: The latter led to the creation of a sovereign college of the Traditional French Rite, within a multi-jurisdiction framework. The French Rite is practiced in Conservative Freemasonry (recognized by UGLE ), it is the most practiced rite by the Grande Loge Nationale Française (recognized by UGLE) it is also practiced by many conservative grand Lodges around the world. The French Rite consists of
25993-558: The law. In most Lodges, the oath or obligation is taken on a Volume of Sacred Law , whichever book of divine revelation is appropriate to the religious beliefs of the individual brother (usually the Bible in the Anglo-American tradition). In Progressive continental Freemasonry, books other than scripture are permissible, a cause of rupture between Grand Lodges. Since the middle of the 19th century, Masonic historians have sought
26180-575: The lodge board as follows: Behind the Throne will be a transparency representing Cyrus ' dream: a roaring lion ready to pounce on him. Above, a dazzling Glory, in the middle of luminous clouds. From the middle of the Glory, an eagle will emerge carrying a banner in its beak with the words: 'Grant freedom to the captives.' Below the luminous clouds, Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar , predecessors of Cyrus, are depicted as figures burdened with chains. The former
26367-536: The main themes of each degree are illustrated by tracing boards . These painted depictions of Masonic themes are exhibited in the lodge according to which degree is being worked and are explained to the candidate to illustrate the legend and symbolism of each degree. The idea of Masonic brotherhood probably descends from a 16th-century legal definition of a "brother" as one who has taken an oath of mutual support to another. Accordingly, Masons swear at each degree to support and protect their brethren unless they have broken
26554-451: The management of chapters, new affiliations, the notebooks of orders, and internal relations. The records of this assembly do not mention any form of ritual or any officer post during their work, which is nevertheless opened and closed during the assemblies. The integration of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (SC-REAA) in 1806 prompted the former dignitaries of the Grand General Chapter of France, gathered within
26741-478: The manner they find most satisfying. Some will simply enjoy the dramatics, or the management and administration of the lodge, others will explore the history, ritual and symbolism of the craft, others will focus their involvement on their Lodge's sociopolitical side, perhaps in association with other lodges, while still others will concentrate on the lodge's charitable functions. Grand Lodges and Grand Orients are independent and sovereign bodies that govern Masonry in
26928-445: The name "Orders of Wisdom" in the second half of the 20th century. The initiative of several masons, including René Guilly , led to an attempt to revive the high degrees of the French Rite. According to Cahier des Chevaliers Maçons (Notebook of Knight Masons), the four orders of the original rite, which had not been practiced in France since 1862 in their original forms, reappeared for the first time on November 30, 1963. Guilly and
27115-514: The new rite with it in December 1804. Although predating the creation of the thirty-three-degree high-degree system of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (AASR), the original practice of the higher orders according to the Regulator of Knight Masons was modified in France in the second half of the 19th century. This transformation occurred smoothly, with the Scottish degrees incorporating
27302-448: The ninth series encompassing alchemical, hermetic, and other grades. The Fifth Order developed a simple but effective structure, which, while incomplete in 1784, became fully active by 1808. Its governance centered on the Council of Nine, composed of Chapter members holding the highest grades, supported by three honorary officers. The Order's documents were secured in an ark at the Council's meeting place, protected by two keys - one held by
27489-414: The obedience delegated the Grand Chapter General to administer and manage the chapters of the French Rite autonomously. This body was named the "Grand Chapter General of the GODF - French Rite." The practice of a fifth order, whose specific history during the 18th and 19th centuries elucidates its administrative and conservatory role, which only had a brief existence and did not form part of the "phylum" of
27676-481: The old degrees synthesized in the more austere codification of the four orders of the French Rite, which had also excluded degrees based on the Masonic Templar myth , which was still deeply rooted in the tradition of many Freemasons. Despite the emergence of new competition, the high-degree system established by the Grand Orient was implemented. Its position was further strengthened by a concordat that "united"
27863-529: The oldest "high grades", emerging around 1740. Its antiquity contributed to the creation of numerous successive versions, including "Elect of the Nine", "Elect of the Fifteen", "Elect of Perignan", and so forth. The precise location of the birth of this order is not yet confirmed by historians. However, the oldest traditions of Scottish clans still feature insignia from the 16th century bearing a raised hand armed with
28050-489: The oldest traditions of speculative Freemasonry , derived from the "Rite of the Moderns", as well as the chivalric traditions of the 18th century. The Grand Chapter General established the orders according to two simultaneous axes that might appear to be in opposition but did not create difficulties in Masonic practice. The first axis decreed that the orders are not grades but groups of grades and that each order contains all
28237-409: The one hand and an "administrative chamber" on the other. This order originally lacked a specific apron or lodge board, as its administrative and conservatory role did not align with the tradition and initiatory lineage of the Orders of Wisdom. The 1784 statutes describe its functioning as that of a "correspondence office." It is composed of 27 members who work on the preparation of everything concerning
28424-527: The orders of the French Rite, installed the "Grand Chapitre Magistral du Grand Globe Français." On September 2, 1979, some masons bearing the orders of the French Rite (including Jean Abeille, Albert Rouyath, Raymond Bouscarle, René Calaman, and René Bianco ). The "Grand Chapitre de Provence" was established, and on October 22, 1986, the chapter "Lou Calen" was installed in Cabriès in Provence . This chapter
28611-425: The orders of the rite. They resumed the studies and approaches previously undertaken, determining that the four orders were not unique degrees but groupings of degrees that were custodians of a family of rituals. Historical documentation highlights that the work of the Grand Chapter, like that of the chamber of grades, underscored the preeminence of Alexandre Roëttiers de Montaleau in the drafting and establishment of
28798-416: The orders, as well as in the orientations of the Grand Chapter. The project to unite the Grand Chapter and the Grand Orient de France , which was included in the statutes of the Grand Chapter from its inception, was opposed by several lodges and generated intense debates. Opponents of this unification perceived it as an attempt to supplant the symbolic lodges and place the Grand Orient de France (GODF) under
28985-453: The organization of symbolic lodges and their centralization. Initially, this process left the issue of high degrees and chapteral lodges practicing them in abeyance. However, by 1780, the Grand Orient established a commission of grades whose low activity revealed the need for specific codification of high degrees. The obedience thus resolved to establish a "Chamber of Grades" to accomplish this task. The chamber members were charged with examining
29172-531: The origins of the movement in a series of similar documents known as the Old Charges , dating from the Regius Poem in about 1425 to the beginning of the 18th century. Alluding to the membership of a lodge of operative masons , they relate it to a mythologised history of the craft, the duties of its grades, and the manner in which oaths of fidelity are to be taken on joining. The 15th century also sees
29359-432: The other members. The work of the Chamber of Grades concluded on February 4, 1783, without the concrete result of codifying the high Masonic degrees. However, the chamber did retain and study 38 high degrees. The codification of the three symbolic degrees was completed, and they were definitively validated during the 149th plenary assembly of the Grand Orient de France on July 15, 19, and August 12, 1785. The codification of
29546-417: The overly pronounced religious connotations present to some degree. The establishment of this fourth chamber was recorded during the 120th assembly of the GODF on January 18, 1782. The chamber was given a regulation with sixteen articles defining its mission and mode of operation. Article 1 stated that the chamber was responsible for drafting the degrees beyond the three symbolic degrees. No other chamber of
29733-466: The principle of collective sovereignty of blue lodges and introduced the election of Worshipful Masters by secret ballot, marking a significant departure from previous practices. Between 1781 and 1786, the GODF undertook the systematic codification of ritual practices. This work was primarily led by Alexandre-Louis Roëttiers de Montaleau (1748-1808), who was initiated in 1774 at the Lodge of Friendship in Paris. The Chamber of Degrees (Chambre des Grades)
29920-495: The proximity of the two degrees, other rituals of the Knight Rose-Croix degree were retained. From the end of 1782, the work on high degrees slowed down as the chamber of grades received a new mission from the GODF to draft a codification for the first three symbolic degrees. Of the 26 members, only about 10 were very active, driven by Roëttiers de Montaleau, whose knowledge and investment were recognized as crucial by
30107-566: The putative formation of the first Grand Lodge in London. The Grand Lodge of England appointed a Provincial Grand Master for North America in 1731, based in Pennsylvania, leading to the creation of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . In Canada, Erasmus James Philipps became a Freemason while working on a commission to resolve boundaries in New England and, in 1739, he became provincial Grand Master for Nova Scotia ; Philipps founded
30294-403: The reference to the Grand Architect of the Universe and the duties towards God). An 1886 commission headed by Louis Aimable concluded an adogmatic form of the rite, giving it a hint of positivism — after this date the rite is known as the "Aimable French Rite". It underwent less important reforms in 1907, and then remained unchanged until 1938. In that year Arthur Groussier (Grand Master of
30481-402: The regimen of the Grand Orient . The Orders of Wisdom were codified by the Chamber of Grades and the Grand Chapter General of France between 1783 and 1785 under the impetus of Alexandre Roëttiers de Montaleau , and subsequently integrated into the Grand Orient de France (GODF) on February 17, 1786. The rituals of the Orders of Wisdom continue the degree of " master ", extending and deepening
30668-533: The relief of need in many fields, such as education, health and old age. Private Lodges form the backbone of Freemasonry, with the sole right to elect their own candidates for initiation as Masons or admission as joining Masons, and sometimes with exclusive rights over residents local to their premises. There are non-local Lodges where Masons meet for wider or narrower purposes, such or in association with some hobby, sport, Masonic research, business, profession, regiment or college. The rank of Master Mason also entitles
30855-404: The religious volume sacred to his personal faith to do good as a Mason. In the course of three degrees, Masons will promise to keep the secrets of their degree from lower degrees and outsiders, as far as practicality and the law permit, and to support a fellow Mason in distress. There is formal instruction as to the duties of a Freemason, but on the whole, Freemasons are left to explore the craft in
31042-463: The rite underwent a fundamental transformation regarding its relationship with religion . In 1849, the GODF had adopted principles requiring belief in God and the immortality of the soul. However, in 1877, these requirements were removed, establishing the principle of absolute freedom of conscience. This decision led to a break in relations with the United Grand Lodge of England , which viewed this change as
31229-428: The rite was made public in 1801 through the publication of a printer under the name Régulateur du maçon . The first mention of the existence of a "Grand Chapter General" within the chamber of grades was made through correspondence dealt with during the meeting on November 23, 1784. An inquiry through commissioners tasked with informing about the nature of this suddenly appearing chapter was recorded. This grand chapter
31416-417: The rite's evolution during the late 19th century. Notable features include: The Groussier version remains the most widely practiced form within the Grand Orient de France , representing a balance between traditional masonic symbolism and contemporary philosophical approaches. The Traditional French Rite ( Rite Français Traditionnel or RFT) emerged from research conducted by René Guilly and colleagues in
31603-519: The ritual, the number of officers present, the layout of the meeting room, etc. varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Almost all officers of a Lodge are elected or appointed annually. Every Masonic Lodge has a Master, two Wardens, a treasurer and a secretary. There is also always a Tyler , or outer guard, outside the door of a working Lodge, who may be paid to secure its privacy. Other offices vary between jurisdictions. Each Masonic Lodge exists and operates according to ancient principles known as
31790-419: The rituals and established the Grand Chapitre Général. Transition from darkness to light, Rough ashlar symbolism, Cardinal virtues, First masonic tools, Initial moral instruction, Passivity, Past, Learning and Silence Liberal arts and sciences, Geometry and architecture, Letter G symbolism, Perfect ashlar, Five senses, Activity, Seeking to know thyself, Participation, Present Third degree legend, Gather what
31977-402: The same one. (In 1849, for example, the Grand Lodge of New York split into two rival factions, each claiming to be the legitimate Grand Lodge. Other Grand Lodges had to choose between them until the schism was healed. ) Exclusive Jurisdiction can be waived when the two overlapping Grand Lodges are themselves in amity and agree to share jurisdiction. For example, since the Grand Lodge of Connecticut
32164-566: The second series containing the Élu grades; the third series comprising intermediate grades without posterity; the fourth and fifth series consisting of Scottish grades that served as models for the Second Order; the sixth series including chivalric grades; the seventh series providing models for the Rose-Croix; the eighth series containing grades like Knight of the Temple and Knight of the Sun; and
32351-418: The smooth integration of the chapter by the officers of the Grand Chapter. This quick integration also removed an obstacle on the path to unification with the Grand Orient, cleverly and pragmatically. The second challenge to the Grand Chapter's authority over the high degrees in France, aimed at preventing the merger with the Grand Orient, originated from a lodge in Rouen, "L'Ardente Amitié." This lodge sought
32538-597: The spirit of brotherhood and hopefulness, however, Freemasons usually presume that clandestine lodges may nonetheless exist in those countries in which it is banned, even if they may not actually exist. The degrees of Freemasonry are the three grades of medieval craft guilds : Entered Apprentice , Journeyman or Fellow of the craft (now called either “Fellowcraft” or “Fellow Craft” in English speaking jurisdictions, and “Companion” in non-English speaking jurisdictions), and Master Mason . The candidate of these three degrees
32725-425: The task of drafting them to Alexandre Roëttiers de Montaleau, Jean-Pierre Saurine , and Louis Georges Salivet (1735-1805), positioned itself as the federating organ of high Masonic degrees in France. This body was restricted by only admitting lodges that were constituted under the auspices of the Grand Orient de France and that had resolved to draft and codify the high degrees to establish uniformity of practice within
32912-426: The terminal high degrees of the Scottish Rite, employing them as ultimate degrees of a "new regime", which remained seven degrees despite everything. In 1858 , the "Murat Ritual" acknowledged the necessity for change, formalizing the scale of the "new" high degrees in the rituals. This formalization resulted in the cessation of the practice of the first three orders in their original form, without presenting it as
33099-511: The transmission of the Orders of Wisdom, was officially constituted by the Grand Chapter General of the Grand Orient de France on September 24, 1999. Since that time, the practice has been carried out in its traditional form, or a third-millennium form according to the terminology of the Grand Orient of France. Additionally, various obediences and jurisdictions around the world have adopted this practice, thereby restoring it to its place within all high-grade Masonic rites. These rites have preserved
33286-406: The unification was adopted. Finally, the entire dossier was submitted to the vote of the 167th plenary assembly of the Grand Orient on February 17, 1786. After a final debate, the union was put to a vote, resulting in thirty-nine votes in favor and seven against. Thus, the union of the Grand Chapter General with the Grand Orient de France was adopted. The Grand Chapter General succeeded in providing
33473-414: The works carried out by the latter through a second reading. The rituals also described the organization of the places and decorations in the opening pages of the ritual of each order, as well as that of the "lodge board" specific to each order. It was specified that "it will be drawn with chalk on the floor and erased each time." The Orders of Wisdom represent a continuation of the Master grade, offering
33660-422: Was achieved through simple letters of affiliation, and subsequently through "letters of constitution", which strengthened its assertion as a federative body of high degrees. Between 1784 and 1788, it united sixty sovereign chapters in France and the dependent territories, which appeared to historians as the first true obedience of high degrees. Despite its obedient function, the Grand Chapter continued to perform all
33847-488: Was considered and recognized until 1760 as the final degree of speculative Freemasonry. The Grand Chapter subsequently adopted this order under the name Knight of the East, which served as an archetype for the grades that re-enacted the chivalric myth of 18th-century Freemasonry. This order was based on the work of the Chamber of Degrees, as evidenced by the July 1782 assembly. Le Régulateur des Chevaliers Maçons describes
34034-430: Was established to harmonize ritual practices while preserving their "ancient purity." This effort culminated in the adoption of standardized rituals for the three craft degrees in July and August 1785. A significant development occurred in 1784 when a group of 80 Brothers, including 27 GODF Officers, created the Grand Chapitre Général du Rite Français . This body was formally integrated into the GODF on February 17, 1786, by
34221-434: Was intended to be integrated eventually into the Grand Orient of France. In 1994, the "Grand Collège des Rites" reactivated the Modern French Rite within itself and established a college of the rite. In anticipation of reintegration into the GODF, the "Lou Calen" chapter and the ten chapters that followed its creation signed a request for integration into the "Grand Collège des Rites", committing to only group GODF lodges in
34408-467: Was officially reactivated within the Grand Collège des Rites. During the ceremony, official patents were issued to 19 so-called "historic" chapters in order of their creation, thus enabling them to become founding members of the new jurisdiction. Three years later, the foundation of an independent jurisdiction by the GODF was formalized on May 17, 1999. On September 3, 1999, the plenary assembly of
34595-446: Was previously born from a circular dated February 2, 1784, notifying its creation by the association of seven sovereign Masonic chapters of Rose-Croix. The seven chapters, collectively known as the "Grand Chapter General of France", were established through the union of the following chapters: "The Meeting of Intimate Friends", "The Intimate Friends", "The United Brothers of Saint Henry", "Of Friendship", "Of Harmony", "Of Solomon", and "Of
34782-401: Was quickly established as a fabrication by a Masonic decorator at Dr. Gerbier's request and debunked by Claude Antoine Thory with a long, fact-based argument. Nevertheless, the Grand Chapter proceeded to incorporate the chapter without much questioning. The supposed antiquity of the document, even if fictitious, was a guarantee of legitimacy in 18th-century Freemasonry. This partially explains
34969-433: Was reactivated in 1808 and adopted statutes and regulations in 28 articles that detailed its role. These statutes were based on the initial general statutes of 1784 of the Grand General Chapter of France. The administrative dimension of managing high degrees that had been returned since the integration of the latter into the Grand Chapter of the Grand Orient focused on the conservation and study of Masonic knowledge. Therefore,
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