Rite of Adoption
Encyclopedia
The Rite of Adoption was a Masonic
rite which appeared in France in the 18th century. It was practised by women's lodges (known as Lodges of Adoption) and represents the beginnings of Freemasonry for women.
It based its rituals not on the construction of the Temple as male Freemasonry does, but on other themes (though the gloves and aprons of male Freemasonry were retained). The degrees were based on the following:
This rite was the original rite of the Grande Loge féminine de France, founded in 1945 as the Union maçonnique féminine de France, though this jurisdiction abandoned it in 1959 in favour of the Scottish Rite
. Some of the jurisdiction's members were opposed to this change, and left to form the Cosmos lodge, which in 1977 joined the GLFF in continuing to practice the rite of adoption. Since then it has been the only lodge in France and in the world to continue functioning under this rite.
ic degrees, though it is still uncertain whether the rituals for these upper degrees were used.. One of these rituals was that of the Queen of Sheba, under the name of "Princess of the Crown", which was the highest of 10 degrees attested at the end of the 18th century..
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
rite which appeared in France in the 18th century. It was practised by women's lodges (known as Lodges of Adoption) and represents the beginnings of Freemasonry for women.
It based its rituals not on the construction of the Temple as male Freemasonry does, but on other themes (though the gloves and aprons of male Freemasonry were retained). The degrees were based on the following:
- First Degree - Tower of BabelTower of BabelThe Tower of Babel , according to the Book of Genesis, was an enormous tower built in the plain of Shinar .According to the biblical account, a united humanity of the generations following the Great Flood, speaking a single language and migrating from the east, came to the land of Shinar, where...
- Second Degree - Garden of EdenGarden of EdenThe Garden of Eden is in the Bible's Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, lived after they were created by God. Literally, the Bible speaks about a garden in Eden...
- Third Degree - Flood
This rite was the original rite of the Grande Loge féminine de France, founded in 1945 as the Union maçonnique féminine de France, though this jurisdiction abandoned it in 1959 in favour of the Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry , commonly known as simply the Scottish Rite, is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry...
. Some of the jurisdiction's members were opposed to this change, and left to form the Cosmos lodge, which in 1977 joined the GLFF in continuing to practice the rite of adoption. Since then it has been the only lodge in France and in the world to continue functioning under this rite.
Upper degrees
Different and specific systems of Upper Degree Masonry were added to the three symbolSymbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
ic degrees, though it is still uncertain whether the rituals for these upper degrees were used.. One of these rituals was that of the Queen of Sheba, under the name of "Princess of the Crown", which was the highest of 10 degrees attested at the end of the 18th century..