antoninus9

"Grand Orient Masonry" is a term used to describe the Masonry that developed in France during the eighteenth century. It is also commonly referred to as "liberal and progressive Masonry".

Sometime in the 1730's the Grand Lodge of London (est. 1717) chartered a new Grand Lodge in France that eventually became known as the Grand Orient of France. This form of Freemasonry is based primarily on two concepts: absolute freedom of conscience and laicite. Both of these ideas were derived out of the European Enlightenment and the American and French revolutions. (Wikipedia has a lengthy article on Laicite.)

Grand Orient lodges operate as a confederation where the lodges are more or less sovereign. Each lodge is free to choose their own symbolic rituals from among the many different rites. Under the Grand Orient there are numerous Rites as opposed to there being only York and Scottish in US GL Masonry.

GO Masonry tends to focus on education and esoteric teachings. You are required to write papers on various subjects before passing from one degree to he next. These papers are referred to as "Architecture".

Things progress very slowly in GO Masonry. For instance it takes about 20 years to become a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason.

There is no requirement to believe in a supreme being in GO Masonry. Everyone is afforded absolute freedom of conscience. Ironically, Grand Orient Masons tend to be far more spiritual, mystical and esoteric than there western counterparts. (I know this seems illogical but it's true. For instance the most esoteric and arcane Rites are practiced by some GOdF lodges.)

It's a very different kind of Freemasonry that's not for everyone. While it's the most popular form of Masonry in France and several other European countries, it's hardly known in the USA or England.

The Grand Orient of France has had lodges in the USA since the founding of the country. The earliest ones were in South Carolina, Georgia, and Louisiana. Today they are primarily located in the largest US cities such NY, SF, LA, etc.

The Grand Orient is a male only body, but it has open fraternal relations with mixed and all female bodies.

Grand Orient Masonry isn't better or superior to any other form of Freemasonry; it's just different. Some people gravitate towards it while others don't. It has the same historical lineage as the UGLE (it was started by the Grand Lodge of London). Both Benjamin Franklin and Marquis de Lafayette were members of the Grand Orient. Franklin was actually present at the raising of Voltaire, and served as Venerable Master of the famous Lodge of the Nine Muses.

I think that covers the basics pretty well.

Jeff