Most English Freemasons are familiar with Emulation or Taylor’s workings. But hidden within the Anglo-Foreign Lodges Association is a ritual gem that few have witnessed: the Schroeder Ritual.
Worked exclusively in the United Kingdom by Pilgrim Lodge No. 238, the oldest German-speaking society in London, founded in 1779, the Schroeder Ritual (Schrödersche Lehrart) offers a fascinating glimpse into the diversity of our Order. In its earliest decades, Pilgrim Lodge worked the Zinnendorf Ritual, a distinctly Christian rite with Swedish origins. However, in the 19th century, the Lodge adopted the Schroeder Ritual, which it continues to work to this day.
“Freemasonry should bring about something in its members that neither the state nor the church can bring about, and which is nevertheless indispensable for the moral perfection of people in society and in the state.”
Developed in the late 18th century by Friedrich Ludwig Schröder, a celebrated dramatist and actor of the German Enlightenment, the ritual was a reaction against the high-degree complexity and mysticism that had become popular in Europe. Schröder sought to return the Craft to a simpler, more humanist form, focusing heavily on moral philosophy and the bond of friendship.
Visitors to Pilgrim Lodge often describe the working as “picturesque” and deeply moving. Conducted entirely in the German language, it is characterized by a solemnity and philosophical depth that distinguishes it from English workings. The floor work is unique, transforming the Lodge room into a living symbol of the journey from darkness to light.
You do not need to be fluent in German to appreciate its power. The universal language of Freemasonry transcends the spoken word, and for any Mason looking to expand his horizons, a visit to Pilgrim Lodge is a journey back to the humanitarian roots of our fraternity.
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