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CRAFT RITUALS

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

• The Lauderdale Ritual
• The Emulation Ritual
• The Verulam Ritual
• The Scottish Ritual
• The Irish Ritual
• The "French" of "Continental" Ritual - a label used for convenience as this working has no formal description.

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 Dharma or Sydney Ritual and in this instance, the reference is to the 1992 working – there were several 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 unique 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 is thought to have been written by Josiah Wedgwood.

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 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. Its history is 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. It has spread, far and wide, through the travels of the Irish military lodges.

Introduced with enthusiasm into the British Federation in the early 1950's, the intermingling of the practical and other-worldliness of Celtic mythology is preserved in the unique quality of the Irish Ritual.

The "French" or "Continental" Ritual

This working uses the earliest triangular layout of the lodge as seen in the first Scottish lodges. It is highly esoteric, being crammed full with symbolism. It's origins are unknown but it has much in common with the earliest Scottish workings, as exemplified in the remaining information we have about Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

There is no incense used but it is easy to see why Annie Besant thought so much of certain parts of it that she introduced parts of it into the Lauderdale working. The Magic Flute, Mozart's famous Masonic opera, gives a flavour of the approach of this working which has considerable esoteric appeal, whilst also offering much to those of humanitarian principles.

This working is commonly used throughout most of our Order, but also very similar versions are in use by other Grand Lodges.