The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 7 - Rituals
working and are very popular among the North American population, especially
the Order of the Eastern Star, which belongs in a way to the social status.
7.2.1 Mysteries of Isis as substitute for
"real" Freemasonry: American Masonry
of Adoption by Albert Pike 1410
When trying to trace back the Masonry of Adoption in America to its origins,
Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia 1411 is not very helpful, failing to identify the author
and the year of the ritual's creation. According to the "Publisher's Introduction"
prefacing the rite, "Henry Wilson Coil was apparently unfamiliar with Pike's
version of the "Masonry of Adoption" when he briefly wrote concerning it in his
Masonic Encyclopedia." (p. 2). Coil also errs "in dating the ritual circa 1765
rather than a century later" (p. 2).
This little-known and long extinct Masonic rite was written and anonymously
published by Albert Pike in 1866. The rituals are Pike's revision of the French
"Maçonnerie d'Adoption." In his introduction, Pike lists seven degrees, which are
Apprentice (Apprentie), Companion (Compagnonne), Mistress (Maîtresse),
Perfect Mistress (Maîtresse Parfaite), Elect (Elue), Scottish Masoness
(Ecossoise), and Sublime Scottish Masoness (Sublime Ecossoise) (cf.
"Publisher's Introduction," p. 4). According to another source, 1412 there were
twelve degrees. Pike's work herein employed contains the first three degrees. He
has slightly revised the arcana (i.e., secret work) of the French rite, but provided
endnotes in order to retain the essential modes of recognition for use in other
jurisdictions (cf. "Publisher's Introduction," p. 2). In his own words: "The
original work is more developed here. [...] it needed amplification, to make it
worthy the thought and study of an intelligent woman." ("Introduction," p. 4).
In his introduction, Albert Pike explains the provenance of the Rite of
Adoption, which stems from a series of French degrees for women created about
1765 under the patronage of the Grand Orient de France, flourishing under the
Empire with the Empress Josephine at the head of the order. It was called "Rite
of Adoption," because the Freemasons adopted in these degrees certain ladies, to
whom the mysteries of this Masonry were made known (cf. "Introduction," p. 3).
As this quotation already proves, by using the term "this Masonry," Pike was
convinced that there was only one true Masonry that was reserved for men, but
1410
If not otherwise noted, the quotations for this section are taken from The Masonry of Adoption.
Masonic Rituals for Women, Complete with the Verbatim Degree Lectures and the "Secret Work"
by Albert Pike, 1866, new reprint with introduction by Kessinger Publishing Company.
1411
Cf. CME, "American Rite of Adoption," p. 13.
1412
"Rite of Adoption" in Collectanea (reprint) 1 (1978), Parts 2 and 3: 145-242; cited from
"Publisher's Introduction," p. 1/5.