Swedish Rite - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Swedish Rite is a variation 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...

that is worked in Sweden

Sweden

Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

, Norway

Norway

Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

, Denmark

Denmark

Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

, Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

and Iceland

Iceland

Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

. A slight variation is common in parts of Germany under the Große Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland. Also other craft masonic bodies are working in the nordic countries

Nordic countries

The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...

(see further under freemasonry in Sweden

Freemasonry in Sweden

Freemasonry is in Sweden represented by several organisations. There are male as well as mixed obediences. There are Christian, Humanitarian and adogmatic obediences....

and freemasonry in Denmark). However only one Grand Lodge

Grand Lodge

A Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....

in each country is working the Swedish Rite, each of which governs its own jurisdiction

Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...

.

The Rite is divided into three divisions: St. John's (Craft) degrees (I–III), St. Andrew's (Scottish) degrees (IV–VI) and the Chapter degrees (VII–X). In addition one may attain the XIth degree, although only a very few gain this. Progression from one degree to the next is not automatic. A brother not only has to be in regular attendance, but also has to show that he has a certain proficiency and knowledge of Freemasonry. The Swedish Rite demands members be Christian

Christian

A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...

and not just that they believe in a supreme being

Supreme Being

The term Supreme Being is often defined simply as "God", and it is used with this meaning by theologians of many religious faiths, including, but not limited to, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Deism. However, the term can also refer to more complex or philosophical interpretations of the...

. Like other regular Masonic

Regular Masonic jurisdictions

Regularity is the process by which individual Grand Lodges recognise one another for the purposes of allowing formal interaction at the Grand Lodge level and visitation by members of other jurisdictions.-History:...

organisations, only men are allowed membership.

Since 7 November 2006 all laws of the Swedish Order of Freemasons are publicly available on the Internet. Among others, the laws prohibit any member to gain advantages outside the lodge by using the lodge as an instrument. The laws also stress the charity works of the members and the observance of the Golden Rule

Ethic of reciprocity

The Golden Rule or ethic of reciprocity is a maxim, ethical code, or moralitythat essentially states either of the following:* : One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself....

Degrees

St. John's degrees
- I Apprentice
- II Fellow Craft
- III Master Mason
St. Andrew's degrees
- IV/V Apprentice and Companion of St. Andrew (one degree)
- VI Master of St. Andrew
Chapter degrees
- VII Very Illustrious Brother, Knight of the East
- VIII Most Illustrious Brother, Knight of the West
- IX Enlightened Brother of St. John's Lodge
- X Very Enlightened Brother of St. Andrew's Lodge
Grand Council honorary degree
- XI Most Enlightened Brother, Knight Commander of the Red Cross

Grand Lodges using the rite

The Swedish Rite is used by:

The Swedish Order of Freemasons (Svenska Frimurare Orden), with lodges in Sweden and Finland.
The Norwegian Order of Freemasons (Den Norske Frimurerorden)
Norwegian Order of Freemasons
The Norwegian Order of Freemasons is the Masonic Grand Lodge in Norway. The first lodge was opened in 1749 and is still working. The Grand Lodge has followed the Swedish Rite since 1818, which requires its members to adhere to Christianity...
The Danish Order of Freemasons (Den Danske Frimurerorden)
Danish Order of Freemasons
The Danish Order of Freemasons , also known as the Grand Lodge of Denmark, is the main governing body of regular freemasonry in Denmark...
The Icelandic Order of Freemasons (Frímúrarareglan á Íslandi)

An earlier version of the rite, the Zinnendorf Rite, is used by:

Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany
Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany
The Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany , also: Order of Freemasons is a Masonic Grand Lodge in Germany...

(Große Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland)

External links

Grand Lodges using the Swedish Rite:

Degrees

Grand Lodges using the rite

See also

External links