EGYPTIAN GRAND ORDER
OF
GRAND ORIENT DE FRANCE

   
The first three grades of apprentice, journeyman and master are the foundation of Freemasonry and are a symbolic whole. However, for three centuries, the tradition also includes other Masonic degrees - which usage has consecrated under the title of senior-grade - that implement a complementary symbolism than initiating trade. These lines are intended to provide the high grades of the Rite of Memphis-Mizraim as practiced by the Colleges of Egyptian Grand Order of the Grand Orient de France.

The sources of high-grade

No one will probably never know the exact origin of high-grade Masonic. They certainly were set in the eighteenth century in the wake of speculative Freemasonry, but they relate to currents much older. If the "esoteric look" questioning the mysteries of the soul and the universe beyond the official religious truth has always existed, it is not irrelevant to recall that in the West, he really blossomed with Humanism of the Renaissance. From the beginning of the sixteenth century, is formed in Italy and in France student circles of Neoplatonism, Hermeticism, Kabbalah, or the religion of the Egyptians. For his relativism, his interest in other forms of spirituality and faith in the unfathomable richness of the human quest truly initiatory appears inseparable from a humanist perspective. So when the political climate and not allow more freedom of expression, these circles, it must be qualified for initiation, take refuge in secrecy. After the Renaissance Hermeticism, another cycle develops in the seventeenth century with the gesture of the Rose-Croix from Germany and France will affect England. In the early eighteenth century Freemasonry offered these trends emerging structure particularly well suited.

Origins and History of the Egyptian Rite

The creation of high-grade is merely a form of Masonic education and practices of these initiatory circles who survived more or less clandestinely for several centuries. The liberal atmosphere of the Enlightenment will enable a significant spread of Freemasonry and in its wake a multiplication and a real passion for high-grade. But this enthusiasm was accompanied by an undeniable confusion. Also, in the last third of the eighteenth century, a clarification led to organize high-grade in rituals with a number of specific features and a specific scale of grades: Rite of Perfection in the late 1760 (now in 1801-1804, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite), Rectified Scottish Rite in 1782 and 1784 French Rite. The incorporation of these rites in order to permit the majority of high-grade then prevailing. Some however were not taken into account in the reforms, they were grading or small systems Masonic esoteric connotations. This is probably the origin of the formation of the Rite of Mizraim in the mood "Back to Egypt" the early years of the nineteenth Century. With an impressive scale of Mizraim of 90 degrees gave way to many degrees overlooked by other rites. Established in Paris in 1814, the Egyptian rite (Mizraim means Egypt in Hebrew) experienced a life full of unrest, divisions and surprises throughout the nineteenth century. Some of the dignitaries of the Grand Orient Rite joined the brothers behind Ragon, Joly and Gaborria and another formed the Rite of Memphis in 1839. In the example of their predecessors of the Renaissance, the commitment of some of these members as Morrison Greenfield, Pierre-Joseph Briot or ... Garibaldi for Humanist values of Freedom and Equality Fraternity contributed to his troubles with the police and caused his frequent ban. Meanwhile, there was always a crossroad where found themselves Freemasons interested in esoteric studies and the initiation quest. In 1862, Brother Marconis de Nègre, Grand Hierophant of the Rite of Memphis joins it to the Grand Orient de France.

The Egyptian Grand Order of the Grand Orient de France

The Egyptian Grand Order recognized by a protocol signed jointly with the Grand Orient of France, speaks exclusively to the Brothers Masters of the Obedience. It allows the practice of high-grade Egyptian Rite according to the rites of its own and as procedures defined by the agreement of 1862 with the G:. O:. D:. F: .. Its basic principles are the same as those of the Grand Orient de France: the democratic and freedom of conscience.
One characteristic of the Egyptian Rite is to have been from a unique heritage and symbolic ritual, organized in different forms in different places and eras. One notable points of the agreement of 1862 is to deliver education of the rite as part of a scale of 33 degrees. What tradition called the A:. A:. deepening appears as three of the last degree.
We refer you to possible additions to the bibliography.
In conclusion, the initiatory work of the Egyptian Grand Order attempts to bring together in harmony, the requirement humanistic and spiritual quest, both of which are, we believe they are inseparable from our Masonic tradition.