French Rite
The French Rite is one of the oldest masonic rites, and the most widely practiced in France and Belgium. It is the direct heir and one of the best preserved ritual of speculative masonry as practiced by the Premier Grand Lodge of London in the early 18th century. Today, it is primarily practiced by over 900 lodges of the Grand Orient de France with approximatively 45,000 Masons and also by the Grande Loge Nationale Française and other French obediences, making it the predominant rite in France, it is also worked in several other masonic jurisdictions worldwide.
The French Rite consists of seven degrees: three "blue" or craft degrees and four additional Orders of Wisdom, which were codified between 1781 and 1786 by the Grand Orient de France. It is characterized by its simplicity of ceremony, its emphasis on both tradition and progressive philosophical thinking, and its maintenance of practices from early speculative masonry that have been modified or abandoned in other jurisdictions.
Historically significant, the French Rite underwent several major transformations, notably in 1877 with the removal of religious requirements, establishing the principle of absolute freedom of conscience. Today, it exists in several variants, including the Groussier Rite, the Modern French Rite, and the Philosophical French Rite, each reflecting different approaches to masonic tradition and philosophy.
Unlike many other masonic rites, the French Rite maintains several distinctive features from early speculative masonry, including the placement of both Wardens in the West and the use of three large candlesticks in specific positions within the lodge. These characteristics, along with its historical development and philosophical orientation, make it a unique repository of early masonic practices while remaining adaptable to contemporary societal evolution.
History
Origins (1725-1750)
The French Rite traces its origins to the introduction of speculative Freemasonry in France around 1725. As recorded by Jérôme de Lalande in his "Mémoire historique sur la Maçonnerie", the first documented lodge was established in Paris by English Freemasons, including "Milord Dervent-Waters, the chevalier Maskelyne, d'Heguerty, and several other Englishmen." This lodge met at Hurre's tavern, an English establishment in the Rue des Boucheries. Within a decade, it had attracted between five and six hundred members, leading to the establishment of additional lodges including Goustaud's, the Louis d'Argent lodge, and the Bussy lodge.The earliest French masonic practices are documented in a 1737 police report commissioned by René Hérault, Lieutenant General of Police in Paris. The report, obtained through surveillance involving a police informant known as Mademoiselle Carton, provides the first detailed description of French masonic ceremony. This document reveals that early French masonic ritual closely followed English "Premiere Grand Lodge" practices, including specific elements such as: The examination of candidates left to their reflection in a darkened chamber for about an hour, The removal of metals and partial disrobing and other ritualistic practices still used to this day.
Despite opposition from both civil and religious authorities, including a police ordinance in 1737 and Pope Clement XII's bull "In Eminenti" in 1738, French Freemasonry continued to grow. By 1742, there were twenty-two lodges in Paris and a similar number in the provinces.
Development and Codification (1773-1786)
A crucial period in the development of the French Rite began with the reformation of French Freemasonry in 1772-1773 and the formation of the Grand Orient de France. This reorganization established the principle of collective sovereignty of blue lodges and introduced the election of Worshipful Masters by secret ballot, marking a significant departure from previous practices.Between 1781 and 1786, the GODF undertook the systematic codification of ritual practices. This work was primarily led by Alexandre-Louis Roëttiers de Montaleau, who was initiated in 1774 at the Lodge of Friendship in Paris. The Chamber of Degrees was established to harmonize ritual practices while preserving their "ancient purity." This effort culminated in the adoption of standardized rituals for the three craft degrees in July and August 1785.
A significant development occurred in 1784 when a group of 80 Brothers, including 27 GODF Officers, created the Grand Chapitre Général du Rite Français. This body was formally integrated into the GODF on February 17, 1786, by a vote of 39 to 7. The integration established a complete system of seven degrees: the three craft degrees plus four Orders of Wisdom. The Orders were carefully structured to provide a philosophical progression while avoiding excessive "sacerdotal" elements.
Revolutionary Period and First Empire (1789-1815)
The French Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic period brought significant challenges to the French Rite's development. While masonic activity was curtailed during the Revolution, the GODF resumed operations under the Consulate and Empire, experiencing what some historians describe as a "golden age." However, this period also saw the beginning of the rite's transformation.The emergence of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in 1804 presented a significant challenge to the French Rite's system of high degrees. The attractiveness of the AASR's additional degrees, particularly the 30th and 33rd degrees, led many chapters to transition to the Scottish Rite system. While the French Rite remained predominant in blue lodges, its Orders of Wisdom entered a period of decline that would last for nearly 150 years.
Nineteenth Century Evolution
The nineteenth century brought significant philosophical and structural changes to the French Rite. Between 1849 and 1877, the rite underwent a fundamental transformation regarding its relationship with religion. In 1849, the GODF had adopted principles requiring belief in God and the immortality of the soul. However, in 1877, these requirements were removed, establishing the principle of absolute freedom of conscience. This decision led to a break in relations with the United Grand Lodge of England, which viewed this change as a deviation from traditional masonic principles.From 1887 onward, physical trials and certain symbolic elements were gradually replaced by rationalist discourses. However, this period also saw the development of various paramasonic practices, including funeral ceremonies, spousal recognitions, adoptions, and white ceremonies. In 1922, new closing formulas were introduced that remain in use today.
Modern Revival and Development (1938-Present)
A significant revival of the French Rite began under Arthur Groussier, who was initiated in 1885 at the Lodge L'Émancipation. As Grand Master of the GODF from 1925 to 1945, Groussier led a restoration of the rite's symbolic and initiatic character. His revised version of the ritual, adopted by the Council of the Order in 1938 and widely distributed in 1955, reintroduced many traditional elements while adapting them to contemporary sensibilities.The late twentieth century saw renewed interest in the complete French Rite system. In 1999, the GODF formally reconstituted the Grand Chapitre Général, restoring the original system of three degrees and four Orders of Wisdom. Today, the French Rite exists in several forms:
- The Modern French Rite
- The Groussier Rite
- The Restored Modern French Rite
- The Traditional French Rite
- The Philosophical French Rite
In Liberal 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. An 1886 commission headed by Louis Aimable concluded an adogmatic form of the rite, giving it a hint of positivism — 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 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.