Masonic Lodge: Encyclopedia - Masonic Lodge

Masonic Lodge

In most areas of the world Masons gather together in Masonic Lodges to work the three degrees of Freemasonry:

• 1° = Entered Apprentice
• 2° = Fellow Craft
• 3° = Master Mason

Blue Lodge is used to specify the basic Masonic Lodge granting the first three degrees and to differentiate it from other Masonic organizations. This somewhat colloquial term was originally frowned upon, but has gained more widespread and mainstream usage in recent times. The term Craft Lodge is more usual in Great Britain.

The term Mother Lodge is used to identify the particular Lodge where the individual was first "made a Mason"; receiving the first degree. Mother Lodge may also refer to a Lodge which sponsors the creation of a new Lodge, the Daughter Lodge, to be Warranted within the juristiction of the same Grand Lodge; specific procedures pertaining to this vary throughout history and in different jurisdictions. Lodge Mother Kilwinning No 0 in Grand Lodge of Scotland is known as the Mother Lodge of Scotland, having been referred to in the Schaw Statutes of 1598 and 1599.

Although concordant bodies of Masonry (such as the York Rite, Scottish Rite, Swedish Rite and Shriners) may grant so-called "higher" degrees, numbered as "fourth" and above, it is said that there is no degree in Freemasonry greater than the third, or Master Mason degree, the additional degrees being self contained and having no authority over the craft. Bodies governing Blue Lodge or Craft Masonry are the core of all Masonic practice and are recognized as the authoritative voice of Freemasonry by concordant and appendant bodies in their particular jurisdiction.

Lodges are governed by national or provincial groups, usually called Grand Lodges. Recognition or regularity of a Lodge or a Grand Lodge is granted by mutual agreement with existing Grand Lodges, according to established traditions and principles. Lodges formed outside of the boundaries of these principles are generally considered irregular or clandestine by other regular Lodges and are excluded from fellowship and visitation.

Grand Lodges and regions may include further traditions and variations on the three degrees. In England, the third degree was "Completed" within a Holy Royal Arch Chapter, sponsored by a Craft Lodge. Together they formed "The Craft" under the English Constitution. This "addition" facilitated the end of the Schism of "Antients" Grand Lodge with the "Moderns" in 1813. Following the convocation of Supreme Grand Chapter on 10th November 2004, reported in the public domain, English Royal Arch Chapters are separate entities and follow a distinct Rite from English Craft Freemasonry. English Royal Arch revised ritual now has even more significant differences, (and still forms no part within any York Rite). Fraternal inter-relations remain as before.

In Scotland, the Mark Degree (as a completion of the second degree), is integrated into "The Craft" under the Scottish Constitution.

In some countries, craft Lodges under different jurisdictions operate in the same territory in perfect harmony and collaboration. For example, in Catholic Malta, the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta has some nine subordinate Lodges, whilst the Scottish Constitution operates another Lodge, Lodge St. Andrew, and The United Grand Lodge of England operates a further two Lodges, namely Lodge De Rohan, and Lodge St. John and St. Paul.

Masonic Lodge - See Also

• Freemasonry
• List of Masonic organizations
• List of Masonic Grand Lodges

Category: Freemasonry

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Masonic Lodge", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki