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Swedish Rite

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
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The Swedish Rite is a variation or Rite of Freemasonry that is common in Scandinavian countries (and to a lesser extent in Germany). It is different from other branches of Freemasonry in that it insists on its members being professing Christians.

The Swedish Rite is common in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finlandic and Icelandic freemasonry. A slight variation is common in parts of Germany under the Große Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland. Also other craft masonic bodies are working in the nordic countries (see further under freemasonry in Sweden and freemasonry in Denmark). However only one Grand Lodge in each country is working the Swedish Rite, each of which governs its own jurisdiction. Although fully independent, the Scandinavian Grand Lodges work closely together to keep their rituals as similar as possible.

The Rite is divided into three divisions:

St. John's (Craft) degrees (I–III)
St. Andrew's (Scottish) degrees (IV–VI)
Chapter degrees (VII–X).
In addition one may attain the XIth degree, although only a very few gain this as it primarily is given to Grand Lodge officers.

The Swedish Rite demands members be Christian and not just that they believe in a supreme being. Like other Regular Masonic jurisdictions, only men are allowed membership.

(Source Wikipedia)
 

goomba

Neo-Antient
Site Benefactor
This Rite seems very interesting with the additional degrees. The additional degrees are similar to the rites in the USA if I understand it right. I have heard there is a conversion chart to show what degree in their system is equal to in the AASR or YR. If there is a chart I would love to see it.
 

crono782

Premium Member
This Rite seems very interesting with the additional degrees. The additional degrees are similar to the rites in the USA if I understand it right. I have heard there is a conversion chart to show what degree in their system is equal to in the AASR or YR. If there is a chart I would love to see it.
I haven't seen such a chart, though I'd love to find it. Some of the degrees have rough equivalents in our rites while others are completely different.
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/the_builder_1924_september.htm

This builder article (under "The Degrees of the Swedish Rite") gives a pretty good explanation.
 

chrmc

Registered User
The conversion chart is in the Scottish Rite Ritual and Monitor, but I've put them below.

AASR - SR
18 equal to VI
30 equal to VII
32 equal to VIII
33 equal to X

The degrees are somewhat similar to the ones in the YR, but mostly in feel not as much in specific content.

The part about having to be a Christian is also slightly wrong these days. The rite itself does not set any rules, but the Grand lodges do, and just as in the US blue lodge degrees one has to declare a belief in deity in the ritual itself.
 
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chrmc

Registered User
Yesterday The Masonic Roundtable - www.themasonicroundtable.com actually had an episode on the Swedish Rite that might be worth checking it.
And whilst you're add it check some of their other episodes. They are very enjoyable and enlightening.
 
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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Were any of the panelists actually members of a Swedish Rite lodge?


Sent from my iPhone using My Freemasonry
 

jwhoff

Premium Member
Are these grand lodges recognized by the UGLE and, by association, recognized by the MWGLoTx?
 

SimonM

Registered User
Hi, My first post here. I am in the Swedish rite and recently got the IX:th degree

I stumbled upon this thread and thought I thought I can elaborate on the youtube discussion about the Swedish Rite.
The Danish speaker who presents the Swedish rite is not a member and describes the rite from a local perspective. For instance, the rule about being able to tell your wife is something I never heard of, it is probably something that is a local custom in Denmark or at the lodges he visits, it is not a part of the actual rite.

Anyway, if anyone have any questions about the Swedish Rite, I will try my best to answer them!
 

Kalip78

Registered User
Bro. SimonM, I read that Swedish Order of Freemasons is in amity with many Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapters and I wonder what is the eqivalent of RA degree in Swedish Rite.

S&F
 

chrmc

Registered User
Bro. SimonM, I read that Swedish Order of Freemasons is in amity with many Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapters and I wonder what is the eqivalent of RA degree in Swedish Rite.

S&F

The Grand Lodges that practice the Swedish Rite are normally regular lodges, so they are in amity with the regular Royal Arch lodges in UK, USA and elsewhere.
As for your question it can be a little hard to answer. If you mean which degree in the Swedish Rite has similar content as the Royal Arch, I'd probably say the 6th, but none of them really come close. However the focus on The Word is not as big in the Swedish Rite as in the York Rite.

If you're talking about which degree in the Swedish Rite you'd be able to visit with a York Rite degree I must admit I don't know. I haven't seen a York Rite to Swedish Rite conversion chart as exists for the Scottish Rite. My guess would again be the 6th, but can't say for sure.
 

SimonM

Registered User
The Grand Lodges that practice the Swedish Rite are normally regular lodges, so they are in amity with the regular Royal Arch lodges in UK, USA and elsewhere.
As for your question it can be a little hard to answer. If you mean which degree in the Swedish Rite has similar content as the Royal Arch, I'd probably say the 6th, but none of them really come close. However the focus on The Word is not as big in the Swedish Rite as in the York Rite.

If you're talking about which degree in the Swedish Rite you'd be able to visit with a York Rite degree I must admit I don't know. I haven't seen a York Rite to Swedish Rite conversion chart as exists for the Scottish Rite. My guess would again be the 6th, but can't say for sure.
Sorry for the late answer! I can confirm that RA and the 6th degree in the Swedish Rite are on the same level in the official conversion charts. The form of the 6th degree are quite similar to the RA, but the teachings and the focus is not the same. This degree was first created in the first half of the 18th century, so it have had some time to diverge in the different rites. I've read some original manuscripts from the 1740s and the Swedish rite are not quite as alchemical in its focus (Duke Charles introduced other mystic/esoteric components..), but have preserved the form quite well since then.
 

SimonM

Registered User
Pretty sure there isn't. Not as far as I'm aware of at least.
No, the Swedish Rite are only practiced in lodges in Scandinavia, Germany and possibly one or two in Spain/Italy.
In Sweden there are English translations for the first three degrees that are available for English-speaking visitors to read while in lodge, but they are not circulated among members. Only a few of the bigger lodges have access to them.
I don't know if there are official translations made by other grand lodges working with the Swedish Rite, there might be in Germany but I am not sure.
 
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BroNasimi

Registered User
Hello brothers,

I am a new entered apprentice of Swedish Rite.

One point. Although I am not a Christian (I am a Muslim) I was initiated. I dont know how it was historically, but to the best of my current knowledge, important is THAT A CANDIDATE ACCEPTS TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST.

All Muslims accept Jesus as one of the greatest prophets, and there are no fundamental conflicts between teachings of Jesus and Muhammad.

Except probably the Trinity.

So, I was accepted. And happy with that.
 
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