English Craft Freemasonry workings or the difference between the
United Grand Lodge of England and the Regular Grand Lodge of EnglandThe two main workings under the UGLE are Emulation and Stability. Both of these workings arrived in England via the Irish and Scottish Lodges that formed the Grand Lodge of the Antients and which practiced Freemasonry as practiced and taught in Ireland and Scotland, in a totally different way, manner and form from the way in which masonry had been worked since time immemorial in England. The English Lodges, which followed the union on the 27th of December 1813 were made to abandon their unique workings, and many English old Lodges had their traditional Craft workings which were far more beautiful, meaningful and symbolically correct than the basic and symbolically less accurate Irish and Scottish Masonic workings. It is indeed seen as almost a parody of the Craft history to know that pure Craft Freemasonry in the British Isles originated in England as clearly recorded and stated in the Regius Manuscript of 1390.
STABILITY
The Stability workings come from the Stability Lodge of Instruction (sanctioned by the Lodge of Stability now No.217 and formerly a “Antients” Lodge). It had among its 17 founders 16 brethren from the “Antients” body, a year after the Lodge of Reconciliation had finished its work. Three Members of that Lodge were among its founders, and are claimed to have taught the forms and ceremonies rehearsed in it. In all, 8 members of the Lodge of Reconciliation joined the Stability Lodge of Instruction at various times.
EMULATION
The Emulation Lodge of Improvement was founded six years after Stability – that is, in 1823 – under the sanction of a London Lodge, an old “Antients” Lodge, now the Royal York Lodge of Perseverance, No.7; but in 1830 it passed to the sanction of the Lodge of the Unions, No. 256, formerly a “Moderns” Lodge, under which it still acts. Of the 21 founders, 10 were of the “Antients” body.
THE CRAFT RITUALS WORKINGS OF THE REGULAR GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND
The Regular Grand Lodge of England promotes the practice of the following based English origin Craft Freemasonry Rituals.
English Rite (1730-40)
Ancient English Rite (1730-40)
Clermont Rite (1745)The Regular Grand Lodge has a multi ritualistic Grand Lodge also practices other Ritual such as the :
Rectified Scottish Rite (1783)
(Meaning that was rectified to the English correct tradition of the Craft, while keeping the Chivalric flair in.), the Ancient and Primitive Rite, and several other Rituals that comply with the necessary requirements in accordance with original English Craft Freemasonry.
If you have any questions or comments, we would be pleased to hear from you.
masoniccouncil@gmail.com
© The Masonic High Council 2006
www.rgle.org.uk