French Rite
From About Freemasons
The French Rite is an order of Freemasonry open to Masons in France. Like some organizations in the US and England, The French Rite is open Masons who have been part of a craft lodge and who have attained all the degrees possible in a craft lodge and who now wish to pursue additional knowledge or degrees within Freemasonry. The French Rite was founded in 1786. It offers seven degrees which follow the three degrees offered by craft lodges: the 4th degree or Elect, the 5th degree or Scotch Master, the 6th degree or Knight of the East, and the 7th degree or Rose Croix. In addition to existing in France, it is also open to Masons in Luxembourg, Greece, and Brazil. Historically, The French Rite has also had a strong presence in Louisiana.
History
After the 1720s, British exiles traveling to France introduced "Modern" Freemasonry to the French. Freemasonry became popular among both men and women in France, especially among the upper classes. Higher degrees became especially popular. Over time, the French developed their own beliefs and rites, eventually creating a separate French Rite.
The Grand Orient de France standardized rites in 1782, and in 1785 the Grand Orient de France created blue lodges that offered the first three degrees of Freemasonry. This clearly showed a strong link with English Freemasonry. After 1877, the Grand Orient de France introduced new reforms that culminated in the 1879 removal of religion from French lodges. By that date, even references to the Grand Architect of the Universe were eliminated from the French Rite and from lodges. A commission in 1886 saw Louis Aimable and others form a new adogmatic rite, known as the "Aimable French Rite". New reforms were introduced in 1938 under Grand Master of the Grand Orient de France, Arthur Groussier. By 1955, these reforms were completed and became known as the "Groussier French Rite."
Modern history
In the 1960s and 70s, René Guilly and others sought to bring new reforms to the French Rite. Guilly and his supporters created a chapter of the Traditional French Rite in the National French Lodge. That chapter continues to today. In 1974 a member of the Traditional and Symbolic Grand Lodge of the Opéra created another chapter, which led to the establishment of a college of the Traditional French Rite. In 1989, the Supreme Council of the Modern Rite for Brazil warranted a French Grand Chapter which is considered to be the re-establishment of the "Re-established Modern French Rite." It is now known as the "Traditional French Rite" and it is considered to be the closest form of Freemasonry to what was practiced in France in the 1700s.
Jurisdictions
80% French Rite lodges are governed by the Grand Orient of France. Some lodges are under the jurisdiction of the Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Symbolique Opéra, the Grande Loge Nationale Française, the Grande Loge Mixte de France or the Loge Nationale Française. The French Rite is considered to be among the least Christian-oriented Masonic orders and the order that most adheres to the Grand Lodge of London.
