Rectified Scottish System aims at individual, moral and spiritual improvement, through the work that every man must do on himself.
It advocates an active enlightened beneficence to all men, irrespectively of their origin, opinion and social status.
The essence of its thought, its reflexions and its symbols that may be interpreted in a masonic way are illustrated in its rituals.
Our rituals offer itineraries for our internal journey, that pushes towards ourselves reminding us in an impressive way the «Become who you are».
In the image of Knight Templars that wanted to protect pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem, our System is an invitation to prevent human propensity
against pure materialism, vile utilitarianism, cold egotïsm and arbitrary.
RECTIFIED SCOTTISH RITE
The aim of the Rectified Scottish Rite
The aim of the Rectified Scottish Rite
The orgin of the Rectified Scottish Rite
The Templar Order dissolution during the Council of Vienna and the tragic end at the stake of its Grand-Master, Jacques de Molay and its preceptor of Normandy Geoffroy de Charnay in 1314,
was offially the end of Templars.
Nevertheless, all knights, friars and templar servants were not executed, most of them returned to civilian life or were welcomed by other religious Orders in England, Spain, Portugal and Scotland. That was the origin of the secret subsistence of the Order.
In 1738, the famous speech of the Chevalier Ramsay (1686-1743) claims that Freemasonry has its roots within the Templar Order and that its principles have been kept in Scotland. The Templar's ideal, while historically thinly founded, met fertile ground in several countries, leading to the creation of lodges organised according to this model.
The most significative system was created in 1751 at the initiative of Baron von Hund (1722-1776) who founded a Knightly Masonry in Germany, The Stricte Observance Templière, aimed to restoring the Order of the Temple.
In less than 30 years, most of the german lodges and lot of european bodies joined this new system. As per 1780, the System had around 10,000 members in Germany, among them near 1,500 were in the Internal Order. It was the most powerfull masonic system in continental Europe.
Nevertheless, all knights, friars and templar servants were not executed, most of them returned to civilian life or were welcomed by other religious Orders in England, Spain, Portugal and Scotland. That was the origin of the secret subsistence of the Order.
In 1738, the famous speech of the Chevalier Ramsay (1686-1743) claims that Freemasonry has its roots within the Templar Order and that its principles have been kept in Scotland. The Templar's ideal, while historically thinly founded, met fertile ground in several countries, leading to the creation of lodges organised according to this model.
The most significative system was created in 1751 at the initiative of Baron von Hund (1722-1776) who founded a Knightly Masonry in Germany, The Stricte Observance Templière, aimed to restoring the Order of the Temple.
In less than 30 years, most of the german lodges and lot of european bodies joined this new system. As per 1780, the System had around 10,000 members in Germany, among them near 1,500 were in the Internal Order. It was the most powerfull masonic system in continental Europe.
The end of Stricte Observance Templière
In 1760, Jean-Baptiste Willermoz founds in Lyon the Great Lodge of Regular Masters of Lyon, joining together three lodges of Saint-John.
The latter, in this system, were organised in three grades of Saint-John and four higher degrees. The attractiveness was great and rapidly
the number of members increased.
During the National Convention in November and December 1778 in Lyon, the Delegates brought back the number of grades to six, namely the three grades of Saint John, the 4thgrade of Saint-Andrew and two degrees of the Internal Order, the Novice-Esquire and the Beneficent Knight of the Holly City.
The Rectified System was born. Rituals were overhauled and two new Codex were adopted, both of them are considered as Jean-Baptiste Willermoz's major work.
During the National Convention in November and December 1778 in Lyon, the Delegates brought back the number of grades to six, namely the three grades of Saint John, the 4thgrade of Saint-Andrew and two degrees of the Internal Order, the Novice-Esquire and the Beneficent Knight of the Holly City.
The Rectified System was born. Rituals were overhauled and two new Codex were adopted, both of them are considered as Jean-Baptiste Willermoz's major work.
The birth of the Rectified Scottish Rite
In 1782, at the Convention of Wilhelmsbad, Provincial representatives of the Stricte Observance opted to recognize, for their entire system, the Lyon's reforms.
More, the knight parentage judged historically not established is expressly abandoned, only spiritual reference to the Templar Order was maintained.
The duke Ferdinand of Brunswick became general Grand-Master of the Order.
Henceforth « rectified », the actual system takes the name of « Rectified Scottisch System » (RER in french). It consists of 12 Provinces. Switzerland is integrated in the 5th Province, and is fitted with an « Independent Great Priory of Helvetia » (IGPH) on the 17th August 1779, during the provincial Convention of Basel.
The Rectified Scottish System and the Rectified Scottish Rite, are characterized by an exceptional coherence due the extremely precise idea of the final result pursued by their founders in the 18thcentury and who knew how to handle with a great cleverness symbolic materials and rituals from different origins in order to give birth to a homogeneous initiatory and pedagogical work.
Having a Christian obedience this Rite gives due consideration to its doctrinal references and the values it highlights. The esoteric perspective that supports the Rite, transcends all particular concretisations of the religious fact without dogma, that is entended to gather what is scattered and aims to drive Man toward the unity of Principle.
Henceforth « rectified », the actual system takes the name of « Rectified Scottisch System » (RER in french). It consists of 12 Provinces. Switzerland is integrated in the 5th Province, and is fitted with an « Independent Great Priory of Helvetia » (IGPH) on the 17th August 1779, during the provincial Convention of Basel.
The Rectified Scottish System and the Rectified Scottish Rite, are characterized by an exceptional coherence due the extremely precise idea of the final result pursued by their founders in the 18thcentury and who knew how to handle with a great cleverness symbolic materials and rituals from different origins in order to give birth to a homogeneous initiatory and pedagogical work.
Having a Christian obedience this Rite gives due consideration to its doctrinal references and the values it highlights. The esoteric perspective that supports the Rite, transcends all particular concretisations of the religious fact without dogma, that is entended to gather what is scattered and aims to drive Man toward the unity of Principle.
Independent Great Priory of Helvetia © 2021