French Rite
Encyclopedia
The French Rite of Freemasonry
is a Rite of Freemasonry
. It was founded in France in 1786.
s from which it was initially formed. In order to guarantee that French Freemasonry would have a national dimension, the Grand Orient de France
organised the standardisation of "Modern" hexagonal rites from 1782 onwards, and in 1785 the model was fixed for the first three degrees in a "blue lodge", which showed a strong English influence in contrast to the Scottish Rites. However, it was only in 1801 that the Grand Orient de France printed the rules of this rite under the title Régulateur du Maçon, containing several additions and amendments to the former version, which had circulated from lodge to lodge in discrete manuscript form. The Rite underwent several further reforms, and in 1858 the "Murat French Rite" (returning to the foundations of the Constitutions of Anderson without making lasting change to the rite) imposed itself.
As well as the sub-rites already mentioned, there is also a "French Rite of 1801".
- 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 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 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, the latter led to the creation of a sovereign college of the Traditional French Rite, within a multi-jurisdiction framework.
In the regular Grande Loge Nationale Française
, it is worked by approximately 10-15% of the lodges.
It has spread to Belgium, Luxembourg, Brazil, the Netherlands, Greece, Spain and Switzerland (and formerly in Louisiana), although outside France it is mainly a minority Rite (especially found in lodges originally founded by the Grand Orient of France).
In a "blue lodge":
Four orders:
A fifth order has existed ever since the Rite's origins, and is first mentioned in the first version of its Regulations in 1801. It is practised by the Grand Orient de France, the Grande Loge Nationale Française
and the Women's General Grand Chapter of France. Its main ritual (of the 80 rituals which Masons of this order have to study) is very close to that of the 28th Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
corresponding to the "Knight of the Sun".
, an adogmatic jurisdiction which removed such traditional elements as the Volume of 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 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, the 2 brief blows and one longer blow, the moving of the right foot) which the "Antient" lodge later changed.
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
is a Rite of Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. It was founded in France in 1786.
History
The French Rite is intimately linked to the birth of Freemasonry in France and was founded in France in 1786. British exiles brought the "Modern" rite to France and this was little by little passed onto the French Rite. Though this hybrid form is no longer known as the French Rite, it sometimes takes that name to distinguish it from the Scottish RiteScottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
s from which it was initially formed. In order to guarantee that French Freemasonry would have a national dimension, the Grand Orient de France
Grand Orient de France
The Grand Orient de France is the largest of several Masonic organizations in France and the oldest in Continental Europe, founded in 1733.-Foundation:...
organised the standardisation of "Modern" hexagonal rites from 1782 onwards, and in 1785 the model was fixed for the first three degrees in a "blue lodge", which showed a strong English influence in contrast to the Scottish Rites. However, it was only in 1801 that the Grand Orient de France printed the rules of this rite under the title Régulateur du Maçon, containing several additions and amendments to the former version, which had circulated from lodge to lodge in discrete manuscript form. The Rite underwent several further reforms, and in 1858 the "Murat French Rite" (returning to the foundations of the Constitutions of Anderson without making lasting change to the rite) imposed itself.
As well as the sub-rites already mentioned, there is also a "French Rite of 1801".
In Adogmatic Freemasonry
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 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 positivismPositivism
Positivism is a a view of scientific methods and a philosophical approach, theory, or system based on the view that, in the social as well as natural sciences, sensory experiences and their logical and mathematical treatment are together the exclusive source of all worthwhile information....
- 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 the Grand Orient de France
Grand Orient de France
The Grand Orient de France is the largest of several Masonic organizations in France and the oldest in Continental Europe, founded in 1733.-Foundation:...
) 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 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, the latter led to the creation of a sovereign college of the Traditional French Rite, within a multi-jurisdiction framework.
In Regular Freemasonry
Other masons' research led them to Brazil and it was the Supreme Council of the Modern Rite for Brazil which finally accorded them a patent to establish a French Grand Chapter in 1989. This was a re-birth of the "Re-established Modern French Rite" after 150 years' absence, under the name "Traditional French Rite" and purging all later or external additions, modifications and influences. This makes it the closest rite to that practiced in France in the second half of the 18th century - in the words of Roger Girard, "the specificity of the French Rite is exactly what no other rite has".Jurisdictions
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, the Grande Loge Mixte de France and the Loge Nationale Française. 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 regular Grande Loge Nationale Française
Grande Loge Nationale Française
The Grande Loge Nationale Française is a French Masonic Grand Lodge. It was founded in 1913, by two lodges, "Le Centre des Amis" Lodge splitting from the larger and older Grand Orient de France and "L'Anglaise" lodge, an independent lodge based in Bordeaux...
, it is worked by approximately 10-15% of the lodges.
It has spread to Belgium, Luxembourg, Brazil, the Netherlands, Greece, Spain and Switzerland (and formerly in Louisiana), although outside France it is mainly a minority Rite (especially found in lodges originally founded by the Grand Orient of France).
Degrees
The French Rite system is a regime of seven grades or degrees:In a "blue lodge":
- Apprentice
- Companion
- Master
Four orders:
- First order (4th degree) : Secret Elect
- Second order (5th degree) : Scottish Grand Elect
- Third order (6th degree) : Knight of the Orient
- Fourth order (7th degree) : Sovereign Rose-CrossRose-CroixRose-Croix may refer to:* Rosy Cross, a Rosicrucian symbol found in some Masonic Christian bodies and para-Masonic groups* Scottish Rite, a Masonic Rite known as Rose Croix in England and Wales...
Prince, Perfect Free Mason, Grand Commander of the Temple
A fifth order has existed ever since the Rite's origins, and is first mentioned in the first version of its Regulations in 1801. It is practised by the Grand Orient de France, the Grande Loge Nationale Française
Grande Loge Nationale Française
The Grande Loge Nationale Française is a French Masonic Grand Lodge. It was founded in 1913, by two lodges, "Le Centre des Amis" Lodge splitting from the larger and older Grand Orient de France and "L'Anglaise" lodge, an independent lodge based in Bordeaux...
and the Women's General Grand Chapter of France. Its main ritual (of the 80 rituals which Masons of this order have to study) is very close to that of the 28th Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
corresponding to the "Knight of the Sun".
Spirituality
The French Rite is often felt to be the most 'lay' rite of Freemasonry practiced within the Grand Orient de FranceGrand Orient de France
The Grand Orient de France is the largest of several Masonic organizations in France and the oldest in Continental Europe, founded in 1733.-Foundation:...
, an adogmatic jurisdiction which removed such traditional elements as the Volume of 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
Grande Loge Nationale Française
The Grande Loge Nationale Française is a French Masonic Grand Lodge. It was founded in 1913, by two lodges, "Le Centre des Amis" Lodge splitting from the larger and older Grand Orient de France and "L'Anglaise" lodge, an independent lodge based in Bordeaux...
, it is the rite most similar to that of the 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, the 2 brief blows and one longer blow, the moving of the right foot) which the "Antient" lodge later changed.
External links
General Grand Chapter of the GOdF Grand Chapter of the Upper Degrees of the French Rite (Grand Priory of the Gauls) French Grand Chapter of the GLNF- http://www.masonicdictionary.com/rites.html
- http://www.themasonictrowel.com/Articles/Symbolism/rituals_files/rituals_7_doors_to_freemasonry.htm