The same...but different!
23 December 24
A Masonic Emigration By Bro Graeme Stewart
I started my masonic journey when I joined Lodge Roodepoort Caledonian 865 SC (Scottish Constitution). This Lodge is in Johannesburg, South Africa and is part of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.
It uses ‘The Rainbow Ritual’ to conduct its workings. These workings are very ritual heavy and very beautiful. Once I was in the lodge, I started what has been a very interesting journey of masonic discovery.
South Africa is a country blessed with multiple cultures, languages and people and this is illustrated by multiple grand lodges in the country.
We have the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the Grand Lodge of England, the Grand Lodge of South Africa (GLSA), the Grand Lodge of Ireland and the Grand Orient of the Netherlands. All these grand lodges are currently in harmony with each other.
The English and Irish use their own ritual as do the Dutch and South African. The Scottish use a ritual known as the Rainbow Ritual. All these workings although similar in part, are very different in other areas.
Later I was invited to join Lyceum Lodge of Research 8682 EC (English Constitution). This led me to join a Grand Lodge of England Craft Lodge, the Prosperity Lodge 2607 EC. This is where I started to find the biggest differences, as well as similarities, between Scottish and English Masonry.
Then a new journey commenced: my family and I emigrated to Sydney.
To my surprise there was only one Grand Lodge in NSW compared to five in South Africa: the United Grand Lodge of NSW and the ACT. I had no idea of what to expect when I finally attended a meeting. My first visit here was to Lodge Wahroonga with my father (a member of the same research lodge in South Africa as myself) who was in Australia on holiday.
The first thing I noticed was that the aprons and regalia were the same as then Grand Lodge of England regalia that I wore in South Africa.
I then got out my English Ritual Book and started following the NSW/ACT Third Degree working.
In general, the ritual was very close to the English working, but not entirely the same. One big difference was that the Tracing Board does not need to be done during the working of the First Degree. In South Africa in all constitutions the Tracing Board is done during the working, in either short form or long form.
I have now spent some more time in lodge and there are a good few differences both in the wording as well as the floorwork.
What isn’t different is the brotherhood. Both in South Africa and now here in Sydney the brotherhood of Masonry is incredible. The open-arms welcome extended to my father (on his visit) and me is proof that although there are many constitutions around the world, the masonic concept of brotherly love exists and is in practice in lodges daily.