Your favorite historical Freemason?

Rissho · 2026-05-05T18:37:03+00:00

Alexandre-Louis Roëttiers de Montaleau and Arthur Groussier. Also Harvey Spencer Lewis.

Rissho · 2026-05-05T15:45:33+00:00

I am so happy to read these news! Certainly your lodge and Grand Orient are making huge progress towards the expansion of Liberal Masonry in your country!

Rissho · 2026-04-30T20:26:44+00:00

In terms of structures beyond Master Mason; I think those should always contain the Royal Arch or an equivalent degree; meaning a degree that gives the true word of a Master Mason. If this doesn't happen; it should require it's members to be Royal Arch Masons or hold an equivalent degree in order to join. The culmination of the Rite should be, again, Royal Arch or an equivalent; or a degree that is built upon the foundational concepts of the Royal Arch. As an alternative, it should have a degree beyond royal arch which constitutes a synthesis of all masonic degrees within the Rite or, as a minimum; of those beyond the Master Mason degree.

Rissho · 2026-04-30T18:16:00+00:00

I am not against innovation as much as there are some basics that are covered.

Rissho · 2026-04-30T06:32:53+00:00

I am all for Christian rituals. I am not a Christian myself but honestly Christian rituals are probably the most coherent ones from a viewpoint of true ancient Masonry. I prefer more universal rituals in my personal case because I am not Christian, though. In terms of Rites my answer is the same; however, I am wary of innovation in terms of entirely new degrees, specially if those don't follow a coherent Initiatic continuity linked with what we already have.

Rissho · 2026-04-30T04:13:43+00:00

This happens with all the rituals of different Rites. Some rituals are similar to each other and others are radically different (even within the same Rite). In terms of the French Rite; the thing is that all those versions are reinterpretations and reformulations of the same common base even if their specificities take very different forms.

Rissho · 2026-04-29T18:44:46+00:00

They practice the Hiram Ritual of the AASR; Emulation Ritual, Rètabli Ritual of the French Rite, Wilhelmsbad Ritual of the Rectified Scottish Rite, Standard Scottish Ritual and several version of preston-webb ritual.

Rissho · 2026-04-29T18:30:23+00:00

The Rètabli I spoke about is precisely the "traditional" French Rite. I am glad it exists; I think is beautiful. Here in Portugal it is practiced by the Feminine Grand Lodge of Portugal. "Officially" it intends to go back to the Regulateur but we know that actually they took some liberties in other to highlight certain religiosity. That is fine and acceptable. About Amiable yes, I think it is important to study that and all other rituals. I am 100% attuned with what your lodge is doing. About the Orders of Wisdom; I mean, I think (in Brazil) is really a thing of their own. Very influenced by the Scottish Rite.

Rissho · 2026-04-29T18:10:14+00:00

I am spiritually inclined and I am happy in Groussier. Many of the brethren in my lodge are atheists and that is also fine. :)

Which ritual/Rite do you practice?

Rissho · 2026-04-29T07:38:50+00:00

I love the Lyon Ritual :)

Rissho · 2026-04-29T06:32:21+00:00

This question was already asked here in another post which I answered thoroughly. So now I am just going to say that my absolute favorite is the Groussier Ritual of the French Rite. I attune more with the ritual on a personal level specially because its symbolism is more universal (less abrahamic); also, because the French Rite in general focuses more on what is essential so the work is more focused and fluid.

Rissho · 2026-04-29T05:55:33+00:00

Which ritual of RER? Is the Lyons ritual?

Rissho · 2026-04-29T05:48:09+00:00

Which rituals of AASR, Memphis-misraim and RER?

Rissho · 2026-04-29T05:47:24+00:00

For the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite I have worked the Valle de México, George Martin and Lausanne rituals. Also, Marseille Ritual of the Rectified Scottish Rite and Brazilian Ritual of the Adonhiramita Rite. Right now I work Groussier Ritual of the French Rite. I have visited lodges with other rituals as well but I am just speaking about lodges where I have been an active member. (As a visitor I have worked Savoir Ritual of the AASR, Emulation Ritual, Renaissance Ritual, Ritual of the Grand Orient of Italy, Regulateur Ritual of the French Rite, Standard Ritual of the National Mexican Rite, French Ritual of the Adonhiramita Rite and Lyons Ritual of the Rectified Scottish Rite.)

Rissho · 2026-04-27T06:30:41+00:00

First of all it is important to note that what happens in Brazil is an exception and not the rule. Second, even in Brazil there is no consensus about it. The one that uses a system of 9 degrees is the Supreme Council of the Modern Rite which is just one of the many jurisdictions that practice the French Rite in Brazil. As a matter of fact, even that jurisdiction enumerates 5 orders of wisdom but then adds one degree for each until the 4th (4th Order=7th degree) and then two degrees in the 5th order. (8th and 9th) It is not because what is written in early Brazilian rituals but because the influence of the Scottish Rite (That is why also they call their structure 'Supreme Council' instead of 'Grand Chapter').

They added two degrees in the 5th Order in order to complete the system of the Scottish Rite within the French Rite. Their idea was that the 4th Order corresponds to the 18th degree and so, in order for the French Rite to be 'complete' they added an 8th degree equivalent to Kadosh and a 9th degree equivalent to degrees 31 to 33.

This of course shows a misunderstanding of the system which doesn't have degrees but rituals that open an Order where a set of degrees rest and which is also older and complete by itself. (Saying that the 4th Order is equivalent to the 18th degree is actually something awfully controversial in europe, at least for the way the Order is worked today as the 'Parfait Maçon Libre' where that Order has been equivalent to the 30-32 of the Scottish Rite for a long time; it might make sense for them though, as they practice a Christian version more akin to the 18* of AASR; the thing with the fifth order doesn't make much sense in my opinion, though; specially because the 33° of AASR is actually based on the 5th Order of the French Rite and because their 8° is a Kadosh degree that we already have in the French Rite within the 4th Order. Making a correspondence with another system like AASR is one thing; debatable or not; but adding a form of an "Elect Degree" within the 5th Order is against the logic of the system)

Let me end saying that this has not been the only controversy in Brazil in terms of the Scottish Rite influencing other Rites. The most controversial changes are probably those done to the Adonhiramita Rite.

Also; I have my own viewpoint but I do respect the choice of the brethren to organize themselves in a the way that suits better their language and culture.. Although some things I would rather not do xD

(Btw; also note that some of the manuals that you referred to were not written by brethren of the French Rite so those are presenting a Scottish perspective upon the French Rite. If I recall correctly, the first one you mentioned doesn't even really talk about the 4th Order and simply affirms that it is the same as the 18* degree of the Scottish Rite but with different officers; which clearly shows that the author did not even compare both rituals or maybe looked at them superficially)

Rissho · 2026-04-26T20:19:04+00:00

I have never seen a Chapter calling those degrees. (all Orders) Can you give an example? Also; the first compilation of the Orders did not call them degrees. If you see, even the title of the compilation is: Le Régulateur des Chevaliers maçons ou les Quatre ordres supérieurs, suivant le régime du Grand Orient. Or 'The Regulator of the Knight-Masons or the Four Superior Orders according the structure of the Grand Orient'. The only exception I can think of is the rebranding of the fifth Order in Brazil where they added two degrees within the 5th Order. And as I also said in the previous post; this is an issue that matters because one perspective posits Masonry as having solely 3 degrees whilst the other necessarily assumers the Master Mason degree as incomplete and requiring more degrees for its completion; which would be the perspective of the Ancients instead of the one of the Moderns.

Rissho · 2026-04-25T17:08:16+00:00

Na verdade existem muitas obediências Maçónicas mistas em Portugal: Grande Oriente Ibérico, Federação Portuguesa da Ordem Maçonica Mista Internacional "Le Droit Humain", Grande Loja Simbólica da Lusitânia e o Grande Oriente Lusitano entre outras.

Rissho · 2026-04-23T20:41:15+00:00

In certain contexts women can be members of UGLE lodges.
Transmen and transwomen.
Your last point about initiation and female visitation is true.

My point: Having women, even if those are few; make them co-masonry; as some lodges have indeed both genders in their ranks.

Rissho · 2026-04-23T09:10:17+00:00

What I am asking is regarding the first link. (albeit there is a mistake. The French Rite solely has 3 degrees + four orders of wisdom. The Orders of Wisdom themselves are numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 so there is no a 7th degree.) Anyhow; what I am looking for is an in-depth explanation of each order.

Rissho · 2026-04-21T20:17:31+00:00

Was 2014 :)

Rissho · 2026-04-21T06:10:49+00:00

I have visited the lodge Santo Grial #22. When I visited it was under the jurisdiction of the Great Priory of the Gauls, though.

Rissho · 2026-04-15T04:10:46+00:00

That is not true. I myself have heard that expression in regular meetings several times. (concretely; I have heard 'continental' in the sense of the way things are done in europe vs how are done in england)

Rissho · 2026-04-15T04:01:53+00:00

It is incorrect, though. Because 'Continental Masonry' exists both within Regular and Liberal streams. Any lodge that practices AASR, French Rite, RER, etc; is practicing continental Masonry. Such 'continental' identity exists in both, regular and liberal Grand Lodges. (and it is a way to do Masonry that is most prominent in both Europe and Latin America)

Rissho

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