Roy
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Posts: 31
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Post by Roy on Aug 13, 2015 12:15:37 GMT
Never really thought about this until now.
The small order that I am member of works in three Craft Rites which are called "Scottish", "English" and "French" (also "Rite Moderne"). The LDH lodges in Belgium and the Netherlands that I know, seem to use the same.
The Rite based on the one that was originally written by George Martin is nowdays the French/modern Rite. The Rite based on the one that Besant and Leadbeater wrote, is nowadays called "English". When some lodges found the Besant Rite too Theosophical a Rite was written that is nowadays called "Scotish".
There are lodges working in the various Rites.
Like I said, the same goes for LDH in the Netherlands and apparently LDH in Belgium (but I am not 100% sure). The UK seems to have an "Emulation" Rite and a "Scotish", but not the Rite of Georges Martin? How about other countries? Of course LDH does not really have Craft degrees, but just as a matter of speaking. Or could it be that the first X degrees are Scotish, then a few York, etc.?
I am all ears.
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Roy
Member
Posts: 31
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Post by Roy on Aug 14, 2015 7:04:39 GMT
Aha, Droit-Humain.org is back up. The UK department has a lengthy explanation of their different Rites: CRAFT RITUALS
The Craft rituals approved for use in the British Federation are as follows:
The Lauderdale Ritual The Emulation Ritual The Verulam Ritual The Scottish Standard Ritual The Irish Ritual The Georges Martin Ritual
THE EMULATION RITUAL
The Emulation Ritual is based on a working of the United Grand Lodge of England. They gave approval to a form of ritual for the three degrees in 1816 and Emulation is now one of the recognised standard workings of the United Grand Lodge of England. In our Order, the Lodge of Reconciliation No. 729, the only lodge to work this ritual, was consecrated on 21st June 1921. The date of consecration is that of the festival of St. John in Midsummer, a date frequently used for the consecration of Masonic lodges because of its significance to English Masonry for whom the Saints John were patrons.
THE LAUDERDALE RITUAL
This has evolved from Dharma Ritual, thought to date from 1908. The edition currently used is the 1992 working. The ritual is unique to Le Droit Humain. It has elaborate ceremonial, incense, and incorporates a candle lighting ceremony. It stresses the mystical side of Masonry dear to Annie Besant and includes her specially written optional Mystic Charges.
THE SCOTTISH RITUAL
This was introduced by Annie Besant to cater for those joining from masculine obediences. The Scottish Standard Ritual is one of the oldest in existence and was that originally used and still used today by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. It is thought to have been worked at the initiation of Robert Burns by Lodge Canongate Kilwinning No. 2 where which he was installed as Poet Laureate of the lodge on 1st March 1787 and remained as such until 1796. The working is ceremonially sparse, but with unique characteristics of its own, for example, the method of ballot. The Scottish Lodge No. 884 was formed at the direct request of Annie Besant who was its founding master.
THE VERULAM RITUAL
This is another working unique to our Federation, dating back to 1935. It is a compromise between the very elaborate Lauderdale and the plainer ceremonial of the English and Scottish workings, again with its own traditions, such as the freeing ceremony. It is thought to have been written by Bishop Wedgwood, who was a leading member of the British Federation.
THE IRISH RITUAL
This working is very different from the other workings available in the British Federation, being "in the round". It was introduced in 1950 by a brother brought up in the Irish military lodge tradition but little more is known as the records are lost. It has spread, far and wide, through the travels of the Irish military lodges. Introduced with enthusiasm into the British Federation in the early 1950's, the intermingling of the practical and other-worldliness of Celtic mythology is preserved in the unique quality of the Irish Ritual.
THE GEORGES MARTIN RITUAL
This working uses the earliest triangular layout of the lodge as seen in the first Scottish lodges. It is highly esoteric, being crammed full with symbolism. It's origins are unknown but it has much in common with the earliest Scottish workings.There is no incense used but it is easy to see why Annie Besant thought so much of it that she introduced elements from it into the Lauderdale working. The Magic Flute, Mozart's famous Masonic opera, gives a flavour of the approach of this working which has considerable esoteric appeal, whilst also offering much to those of humanitarian principles. This working is commonly used throughout most of our Order, but also very similar versions are in use by other Grand Lodges. So how about LDH in your country?
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