In the early 18th Century Freemasonry spread from Britain to the Continent, where it took many forms. Many Swedes were initiated in France and Germany, and received permission to introduce these workings at home.
Freemasonry was brought to Sweden by Count Axel Wrede-Sparre, a Cavalry officer who during military service in Paris had been initiated in 1731. After returning to Sweden with authority to operate the three degrees he brought together some friends who like him had been initiated abroad.
In 1752 the first regular St. Jean Auxiliaire (St. John the Baptist's) Lodge in Stockholm was inaugurated by Count Knut Posse.
The St. Jean Auxiliaire Lodge was referred to as the 'Mother Lodge of Sweden' and considered itself entitled as the only legal Masonic body in Sweden to issue warrants to new lodges. Masonic activity increased considerably; clandestine Lodges were regularized or closed down, their members joining regular Lodges. During the 1750's new Lodges were established and several of these opened their doors to members of other social classes.
In the 1730's it was claimed that Freemasonry was descended from the Christian Chivalries of the past, from the rebuilding of churches in Jerusalem after their destruction and from such orders as that of St. John of Jerusalem. This started many thoughts and new curious degrees, also in Sweden.
The Swedish Rite
The Swedish Rite is truly progressive and continuous homogenous. Each degree leads to the next and each sums up the contents of the preceding degrees. To ensure that each degree is kept separate and distinct, several different Temples are used, each specially designed for its degree or degrees. The way of working is unique for, though each of the ten degrees is individual, they are all combined in a logical sequence, all the units forming the continuous chain of thoughts and principles. Progression from one degree to the next is far from automatic. A brother has not only to be regular in attendance, he also has to give proof of his proficiency and of Ins knowledge in the craft.
The first two divisions, the St. John's and St. Andrew's degrees, are based on the stories and characters of the Old Testament. The St. John's (Craft) degrees are worked in more or less the same way in the Swedish Rite as in other mainstream Grand Lodges, includes the legend of the building of King Solomon's Temple, using as symbols the tools of the medieval masons. In the 1st degree the candidate has to go through a hard questioning. Brotherhood and music plays an ' important role in the II"1' degree. In the IIIrd degree, with the death of Hiram Abiff and the loss of the word, the Master Mason is raised.
St. Andrew's (Scottish) degrees, however, are different, although with many elements in common with the Royal Arch and Lodges of Perfection in the Scottish Rite. In Sweden the arrangement of Lodge rooms in these degrees has no parallel in any other Masonic system. In the IV" degree the Master Mason is put to more forcible trials before he is permitted into the lodge room. The V" degree, given at the same evening, closes the Hiramic legend. New sets of symbols are introduced. In the VIth degree of Scottish Master the lost word is refound and the work is begun, rebuilding the demolished Temple.
The Christianity of the New Testament is introduced in the third and highest division, the foul-Chapter degrees. The first of these, the VIIth, is degree of transition. The story of the Knights Templar and the death of Jaques de Molay plays important roles in the following chapter degrees. In the VIIIth degree, the candidate is dubbed Most Illustrious Brother, Knight of the West, and has the right to wear the ring of the Order and is given his own coat-of-arms. There are certain philosophical links between the VIIIth and IXth degrees of the Swedish Rite and the degrees of the Great Priory; Knights Templar and Knights of Malta.
In the Swedish Rite there is only one form of accepted ritual for each degree, and deviations are not tolerated. The Worshipful Master follows an accepted ritual manuscript when working a Lodge and has a Book of the Ritual open before him to prevent the slightest deviation. There is uniformity, so that every instruction and lecture can be used and understood in every Lodge, and all can feel at home wherever they go.
When a Master Mason has served his time in the St. John's Lodge he is dispatched to a near by St. Andrew's Lodge with a letter of recommendation After being initiated there, he is now a member of the St. Andrew's Lodge, having left the St. John's Lodge. The same procedure is repeated when passing from the St. Andrew's Master degree into the Chapter. During the whole progress from the first degree to the tenth he is member of the Grand Lodge of Sweden. (In Denmark, Norway and Iceland the brother retains his membership in his St. John's Lodge.) Each division of degrees, the St. John's Lodge, the St. Andrew's Lodge and the Provincial Lodge, enjoys a certain amount of autonomy, but they are all nevertheless under the rule of the Grand Master and his Supreme Council. The Swedish Rite is completely Christian and practiced in Sweden (and Finland), Norway, Denmark and Iceland. There is also in Northern Germany a variant of an older version of the Swedish Rite, practiced by Grosse Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland.
Worshipful Masters can retain office for six year with a prolongation of another six years. A compulsory retirement age of 75 is enforced. Wardens and Treasurers of a lodge are elected annually. Other office bearers are appointed annually by die Worshipful Master. Each lodge officer has deputies. This is necessary because, up to the VIth degree lodges usually meet several times per month, except when in recess.
All ten degrees are worked in full, and progress from one to the next is slow, being far from automatic. Regular attendance and a high proficiency are needed before any brother can advance. Indeed, many years are required before a Mason under the Swedish Rite reaches the highest degrees.
In 1756 the Royal Secretary Carl Friedrich Eckleff, who held a foreign patent authorizing him to form new lodges, together with six brethren formed the Scottish Lodge 1 'Innocente in Stockholm working in the Scottish St. Andrew degrees. This was the beginning of the Swedish system. The next step in the development of Swedish Freemasonry was taken by Eckleff in 1759, when he established a Grand Chapter ITnnocence in Stockholm. The Grand Lodge of Sweden (Svenska Stora Landslogen) was established in 1760 and was recognized as a National Grand Lodge m 1770 and 1799 by die Grand Lodge of England.
Baron Eckleff established a Masonic system.on a Christian basi^. The moral philosophy of the Swedish rite was further developed by Duke Carl of Sodermanland (later King Carl XIII of Sweden) who succeeded Eckleff in 1774 as Grand Master of the Swedish Freemasonry.
By influence of the system worked in Germany by Baron Carl. G. von Hund, the Swedish system developed degrees beyond the Scottish St. Andrew degrees and die Duke Carl gave Sweden a real system of Masonry, not just a collection of degrees. It was during this period that the Chapter working was extended, though Eckleff s documents still remained the basis of the rituals.
By a series of ritual revisions, began in the late 1770's he by 1800 had created a logical Masonic system with ten degrees, each degree leading unerringly to the next, even up to the final and highest, because each contains the germ of the succeeding degree.
Freemasonry in Sweden has continued to develop under the leadership of their Grand Masters, all of them belonging to the Royal House from 1774 until 1997.
Further information
Relationship
In many cities Lodge communities arrange 'Open House' for the public and the relations with mass media are good and approving.
The relation with the Swedish church is without any tensions, counting a number of clergymen and priests as members.
Communications
All brethren receive a quarterly magazine, "Frimuraren", issued by the Order - Grand Lodge. The tendency of local Lodges to issue news letters is increasing. The home page of the Order on Internet is constantly being improved, also in English language.
Once a year all newly elected Worshipful Masters under the Grand Lodge are gathered for briefing. The Chancellors and Grand Secretaries of the Orders of the four Nordic countries meet twice a year - the Grand Masters every Year.
The complete list of members are published every second year and is available in the public
libraries.
Administration
The Grand Lodge Regulations (OAL) of the Grand Lodge of Sweden have been revised and were published in January 2007. These Regulations are open to the public. The work of co-ordinating all rituals of the Swedish Rite within the Grand Lodges of Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway has now been completed after a decade of work.
Can Brethren from foreign Grand Lodges, regardless of religious belief, visit a Lodge in Sweden?
The Swedish Rite, as already mentioned, practised in Sweden, including die Swedish speaking parts of Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland, is based on Christian faith. According to the General Law of Grand Lodge of Sweden, 16.1, admission to the Order can only be granted to men of Christian faith. His proposer and seconder will ensure this beforehand. Whether he is Lutheran or Catholic, it is solely a question for his own conscience.
The reason behind this requirement is that the Swedish Rite is an integrated system. A Mason Brother belongs to the Grand Lodge from the first Degree to the highest — passing through the Craft Lodge Degrees (I-III), the St. Andrew's Lodge Degrees (IV-VI) into the Priory Degrees (VII-X). The later (called Chapter in the Swedish Rite) is, like most Priories in the Masonic world, based on Christian legends and symbols. There is no requirement for a candidate to the Grand Lodge of Sweden that he must formally be a member of the Swedish Church.
Brethren from foreign Grand Lodges, recognized by the Grand Lodge of Sweden can, regardless of religious belief, visit a Swedish Lodge working the Degrees I — III and IV — VI. A foreign Brother can only be member, for instance in the case of affiliation, if he is of Christian faith.
Source:
Grand Lodge of Sweden, Anders Fahlman, Grand Master, Swedish Order of Freemasons
Brief History of the Swedish Order of Freemasons (presented at European Grand Masters Conference, November, 2007)
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