Masonic Variations: Anglo and Continental

The greatest variation between the different types of Freemasonry lies in the actual detail of the Lodge rituals. There are a wide range of different ritual sets, known as workings. Most Grand Lodges have a list of which are permissible in their Lodges, and which are not. Very few permit all as a blanket definition, because some of the more obscure workings are a very long way from regular Freemasonry – such as the largely discredited Swedenborg Rite, which rather eccentrically attempts to blend Masonic styling with Emmanuel Swedenborg’s philosophical teachings.

Some of the more common variations include Emulation, Taylor’s, York (not to be confused with the set of appendant bodies of the same name), Sussex, Universal, Logic, South London, Bristol, London West End, French, Modern, Scots, Scottish Rectified, Schroeder’s and Logic. Others that are considered disreputable or are thought to have fallen by the wayside include the Memphis-Misraim Rites (with up to 95 different degrees, no less), the Ancient and Accepted Rite (with 90 degrees), the Hermetic Rite, the Martinist Rite, and the aforementioned Swedenborg Rite.

Differences in ritual aside, the variances between common workings are subtle enough that anyone familiar with one will be comfortable with all, although the occasional difference in wording or procedure will crop up. For most Masons, the issue of Masonic jurisdiction is far more important, and this is the area which can cause serious trouble for a member. There are a few broad ‘families’ of jurisdiction – two of them significantly larger than the rest – within which most Grand Lodges recognise most of their fellows, and few others from outside.

The most prevalent family of Masonic institutions is known informally world-wide as Anglo Masonry, because its rules and constitutions stem from the historic work and expansion of the Grand Lodge of England. The oldest of the Grand Lodges, the Grand Lodge of England was formed in 1717 (as the Grand Lodge of London, initially) when four London Lodges joined forces. Its regulatory focus started a few years later, and swiftly spread. In 1723, the first rulebook was published. As the British Empire grew, it carried Masonry with it around the world.

Freemason's Hall, the home of UGLE by mortimer

Over time, the various nations developed enough weight and history to stand on their own, and formed their own sovereign Grand Lodges, each with full control over their territories. After a period of schism in England which saw two rival Grand Lodges active for just over 60 years, the two combined into the current body, the United Grand Lodge of England, known worldwide by its initials, UGLE. Despite the assorted differences that creep in regionally, and natural national pride in the various sovereign bodies, UGLE retains a certain informal respect and status as the effective birthplace of modern Craft Masonry – in the Anglo branch, anyway.

The other large Masonic family of organisations is known as Continental Masonry, and traces its oldest jurisdiction back to the Grand Orient d’France, founded in 1733. Its relations with the rest of Masonry were perfectly regular up until 1868 when the Grand Orient – which did not acknowledge the doctrine of sovereign territory which UGLE was so keen on – agreed to recognise a second Grand Lodge in Louisiana. The earlier Louisianan Grand Lodge complained very loudly, and by 1876 most of the English-speaking Grand Lodges had reclassified the Grand Orient as irregular. In 1877, the body further outraged English-speaking Masonry by removing the requirement for belief in a Supreme Being, making the presence of holy scripture optional in its Lodges, and allowing women to visit Lodge meetings. Almost all remaining English-language Grand Lodges severed ties immediately.

The Grand Orient wasn’t without supporters however, and continued to go about its business as it pleased. Many of the European Grand Lodges and Grand Orients followed its lead, which is why it is now known as Continental Masonry. It dominates Freemasonry in Europe and Latin America, while Anglo Masonry dominates in the English-speaking world. It is broadly true now however that most territories with an Anglo Grand Lodge also have an assigned Continental Grand Lodge or Orient – and vice versa. Typically, Continental Masons progress after the Symbolic Lodge by working through the Scots Rite.