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York Rite Sovereign College of North America

SørenSweR(I)

Registered User
Our buildings have public and private spaces. The tiled room of a lodge is only private when tiled. So interested members of the general public can gather in the other rooms of the building while the lodge is opened. Then the lodge is called to refreshment at which time certain visual secrets are changed to a position that shown on the sign outside the building and the guests are allowed into a room which no longer shows secrets. Later the process is reversed to close the lodge.

But yes, having rooms that are open to the public would seem a bit open to some. We are very open about our Masonry in the US. Having a sign on the outside of the building is similarly open.

Most mason here openly admit to being mason as well. Our lodges all have identifying flags (cross of st. George) and some even the S&C. As evident here:
Screenshot_20180604-183450.png
 

chrmc

Registered User
Wait, so uninitiated people can just wander around the lodge and Hall? Seems a bit open to my cross-Atlantic tastes

Well, it's a matter of difference. There are less "secret" things in a stand US lodge room set up for a meeting, compared to a Swedish Rite one, but I'd say the access to the building are the same.
However remember, that wives of Masons in the Swedish Rite, can see any room of the rank that her husband holds. That idea would be highly unlikely in the US. So don't necessarily think you can say that one Rite is more open to uninitiated people than the other.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
...
However remember, that wives of Masons in the Swedish Rite, can see any room of the rank that her husband holds. That idea would be highly unlikely in the US. ...

Why would that be highly unlikely in the US?
 

chrmc

Registered User
Why would that be highly unlikely in the US?

I've not heard of any lodge over here where you'd have it completely set up for a degree with all tools, accouterments etc. lying out and admit a non Mason.
But it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges. A standard blue lodge room in the US, isn't the same as a dedicated 1st, 2nd or 3rd (or beyound) in the Swedish Rite.
And I think that both jurisdictions have various approaches to allowing non-Masons in there.
 

Elexir

Registered User
Well, it's a matter of difference. There are less "secret" things in a stand US lodge room set up for a meeting, compared to a Swedish Rite one, but I'd say the access to the building are the same.
However remember, that wives of Masons in the Swedish Rite, can see any room of the rank that her husband holds. That idea would be highly unlikely in the US. So don't necessarily think you can say that one Rite is more open to uninitiated people than the other.

This is not true in Sweden though, our wieves/girlfreinds are not allowed into any of the degree room. We can show a stripped lodgeroom in the St. Johns lodge.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
Well, it's a
the rank that her husband holds. That idea would be highly unlikely in the US. So don't necessarily think you can say that one Rite is more open to uninitiated people than the other.
I've not heard of any lodge over here where you'd have it completely set up for a degree with all tools, accouterments etc. lying out and admit a non Mason.
But it's a bit like comparing apples and oranges. A standard blue lodge room in the US, isn't the same as a dedicated 1st, 2nd or 3rd (or beyound) in the Swedish Rite.
And I think that both jurisdictions have various approaches to allowing non-Masons in there.
Yes, many jurisdictions would allow non-Masons present with the lodge room in working mode. This is seen in installations of masters and even Grand Masters.
 

chrmc

Registered User
Yes, many jurisdictions would allow non-Masons present with the lodge room in working mode. This is seen in installations of masters and even Grand Masters.

I get what you're saying, but I think it also to a large extend is because we in many jurisdictions don't consider our working tools, setup of the lodge room etc. as an actual secret any more. The ceremonis you refer to are largely public, so I don't consider them comparable to a degree for instance.
But again, comparing the Swedish Rite to others is not necessarily the easiest.
 
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