CRAFT RITUALS

The rituals approved for use in the British Federation are as follows:

The Emulation Ritual

The Emulation Ritual is based on a working of the United Grand Lodge of England. They gave approval to a form of ritual for the three degrees in 1816. from about 1870, different workings were called by various names and at the same time, printed ritual books began to be more generally available. Peter Gilkes did much to establish the accurate working of the Emulation Ritual in its early days and Emulation is now one of the recognised standard workings of the United Grand Lodge of England.

As far as the International Order of Co-Freemasonry is concerned, the Lodge of Reconciliation No. 729, the only lodge to work this ritual, was consecrated on 21st June 1921. The date of consecration is that of the festival of St. John in Midsummer, a date frequently used for the consecration of masonic lodges because of its significance to english masonry for whom the Saints John were patrons.

The Lauderdale Ritual

Previous versions are known outside of the British Federation as the Sydney Ritual and in this instance, the reference is to the 1992 working – there were earlier editions.

This ritual is unique to Le Droit Humain. It has elaborate ceremonial, incense, and incorporates a candle lighting ceremony. It stresses the mystical side of masonry dear to Annie Besant and includes her specially written optional Mystic Charges.

The Scottish Ritual

This was introduced by Annie Besant to cater for those who preferred a plain ritual. It is an ancient working with more blunt text as compared to the more courteous address of other workings further south, and the working is ceremonially sparse, but with unique characteristics of its own, for example, the method of ballot.

The Scottish Lodge No. 884 (currently the only lodge to use this working) was formed at the direct request of Annie Besant who was its founding master, so that gentlemen who were interested in joining the Order could be offered a ritual commensurate with those found in the masculine obedience.

The Scottish Standard Ritual is one of the oldest in existence and was that originally used and still used today by the Grand Lodge of Scotland. It is thought to have been worked at the initiation of Robert Burns by Lodge Canongate Kilwinning No. 2 where which he was installed as Poet Laureate of the lodge on 1st March 1787 and remained as such until 1796.

The Verulam Ritual

This is another working special to our Federation, dating back to 1935. It is a compromise between the very elaborate Lauderdale and the plainer ceremonial of the english and scottish workings. From the former, we find the optional use of incense.

It should appeal to those who find the "mystic" references in the Lauderdale Ritual not to their liking, and who seek a working more ornate than the standard "orthodox" rituals, but less florid than, say, the Irish Ritual.

The Irish Ritual

This working could be said to be the most ancient of those we use. It is very different from the other workings available in the British Federation, being "in the round". It was introduced in 1950 by a brother brought up in the irish military lodge tradition.

This working is very ancient indeed, almost from "time immemorial" and to a certain extent veiled in mystery since all the old records of the Irish Grand Lodge have disappeared. Nevertheless, because of its traditions and purity it still comes over fresh and authentic. Undoubtedly, its influence via the continent and back to english masonry through "exposures" has been considerable, as has its spread, far and wide, through the travels of the Irish military lodges.

Introduced with enthusiasm into the British Federation in the early 1950's, its many unique differences have meant that it has not gained the acceptance that it deserves and has remained a rich vein of exploration for the co-masonic student of masonic lore and history, rather than a ritual for initiations.

Fortunately, what might be termed the perpetual mists of myth and magic, the intermingling of the practical and other-worldliness of Celtic mythology is the unique quality of the Irish Ritual.