The Modern Rite's Orders of Wisdom: a brief description of the 1° or Élu.

The main oeuvre of the Modern Rite's Orders of Wisdom is that they brought the expanding ritual field which had grown out of control in the view of the Grand Orient, especially in the realm of Écossisme. This branch of Freemasonry which led eventually to the 33 degrees of the Scottish Rite, was in the late 18th Century in direct competition with Paris, and both because of the growth of rituals in the Grand Orient and outside of it, the ritualists in Paris felt a response was needed.

The motivation behind the creation of the Orders of Wisdom was to simplify and condense the degrees current in France, which amounted to no less than 25 degrees, roughly parallel to Morin's Royal Secret, into a much reduced number of degrees without losing the teachings inherent in these degrees. The result was a 5 Grade system with a total of 9 degrees. Not only did these degrees include all the main teachings of the ultimately 33 degrees of the Scottish Rite, but because of their greatly reduced number, it was possible for an initiate to travel through all the degrees by actual ritual participation, instead of through the once remove of ritual drama. This was a significant point, and one which, at least to those involved, represents a significant advantage of the Orders of Wisdom.

The 1° Order – Élu.

There are no less than thirteen rituals whose synthesis lead to the writing of the Modern Rite's First Order of Wisdom. The rituals which comprise the Order of Wisdom derive from the rituals of the ancient écossisme or Early Scottish Rite as it evolved in France. This first series includes the essences of the following higher degrees: Perfect Master, Secret Master, Irish Master, all the major intermediates between the Master's degree and the Élu (Elected). It also incorporates the family of all the Élu degrees including the different grades of the  Élu,  small Élu, Unknown Élu, Élu of the fifteen, and Élu of the nine.

The Attributes of the 4° of the 1st Order of the Orders of Wisdom of the Modern Rite, as taken from the catechism for this grade are as follows:

A love and zeal for the truth, to provide the good example to prefer virtue to vice; to demonstrate generous efforts in opposing error and crime, and ultimately an eternal aversion to fanaticism, superstition and ignorance.

Sovereign Chapter of the Order of Wisdom in Mexico

In Mexico, the French Rite, is represented by 5 regularly constituted lodges, namely the Lodge "Mankind", attached to the Grande Loge Nationale du Canada, the Lodges "La Fayette No. 10" and "Via Hermetic No. 15" attached to the Grande Oriente Ibérico and "Les Amis Réunis No. 5" and "Equitas No. 6" of the Grand Lodge of the Equatorial Andes working the French Modern Rites of 1783/1801.

Until now, the option of continuation of the work in the higher degrees of Order of Wisdom did not exist, which limited the options of Brethren wishing to continue their initiatory advancement and it is for this reason that the Sublime Council of the Modern Rite for Ecuador, under the Charter of the Supreme Conselho do Rito Moderno - Brazil, which is itself the only legitimate guarantor for the Orders of Wisdom of the Modern Rite worldwide, is pleased to inform Masons worldwide, and particularly in the Valley of Mexico, the installation of the first Sovereign Chapter regularly constituted "Veritas No. 3" Letter Patent of Sublime Modern Rite Council for Ecuador (SCRME), chaired by Mihe Morales - SPR + (IV ° Ord. - Gr 7) in the Valley of Mexico City, November 13, 2012.


Muchas Gracias a MM Yuguito, V ° Ord. - Gr 9, Sublime Commander of the Modern Rite Council for Ecuador

An Outline of the Orders of Wisdom of the Modern Rite

I° Order, "Elect": from revenge to justice.

Avenging Hiram is the primary theme of the First Order of the modern rite, as it appears in the ritual of the late eighteenth century. Revenge does not reflect Masonic sentiments or values. However, justice must be exercised against the murderers of Hiram. Find, prosecute and punish the murderers of the Master is thus a better way of describing the theme of the first order. The first order is therefore essentially the subject of the arrival at the concept of justice. When justice reigns, then truth can be satisfied and peace may materialize: man's inner peace, peace in society, community, and on a larger scale peace among nations. In the first Order, the Mason works for the construction of justice in all domains.

II° Order, "Grand Elect": From the union of men to the unity of values

One of the objectives of Freemasonry is the work toward the realization of the union among men. But under the guise of virtue, the union can hide even opposing, contradictory objectives. The union may also be established for perverse motives: bad companions, the murderers of Hiram, succeeded in carrying out their crime because they were united. The union can only be fruitful when it strives to realize the unity of values, ie, working for the adoption of universal values, values raised by the masonic humanism. In the original rituals, this issue is illustrated by the pursuit of knowledge symbolized by a precious jewel that belonged to Hiram.

III° Order, "Knight Mason":  to fight and defend.

The rituals of origin we have here the reconstruction of the Temple of Salompon after the Babylonian exile. The Masons released by Cyro return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, bringing the trowel in one hand and sword in the other. Two lessons are included: no construction is final and human history is summarized in a ternary ever: construction, destruction, reconstruction. therefore, the values  obtained are always threatened and should always be prepared to fight and defend.

IV° Order, "Perfect Free Mason" the release to fulfillment.

The apprentice mason work is enshrined in the fight that should engage a man to become emancipated, and therefore free. Freed from the obstacles imposed by nature hostile, also freed of the burdens set out in its own interior. This emancipation achieved, this freedom won, responds like an echo the teaching of the fourth order, dedicated to the development of man in a society whose structures and operating to allow the realization of this ideal. After having done the above steps, establish justice, work on the realization of the unity of values and rebuild, the mason can reach its full and full development in a just society and more perfect.

V° Order, "Knight of Wisdom": Reunion of the dispersed. Universality. which would include all degrees physical and metaphysical, and all systems, particularly those adopted by active Masonic associations. 

Gracias al Soberano Capítulo de Rito Francés "Ferrer i Guardia"

The Modern Rite and the Grande Oriente do Brasil

Although the first Masonic Lodge in Brazilian territorial waters emerged in Bahia in 1797 on a French frigate, the first Regular Lodge of Brazil was named "Reunion" (Meeting) , founded in 1801 in Rio de Janeiro, driven by an ideology grounded in both political and social purposes. This lodge was affiliated to the Orient du Ile de France, with its representative, Chevalier Laurent. There is evidence of lodges founded by brothers previously inspired by the spirit of freedom, enlightenment and the French Revolution.
The Grande Oriente do Brasil was founded on June 17, 1822 under the auspices of the Modern Rite, by the Adonhiramite fraternity, who were the only existing Masons at the time in Brazil. This  is recorded in the minutes of the meeting of 12 July (fifth session of the Grand Orient of Brazil) which contains the proposal for increasing the degree of Chosen Secret for several Brothers, or Grade 4, I Order of Wisdom, the Modern Rite.
In addition, the Act cites the adoption of the "seven degrees of Masonry," or, the Modern Rite, adopted in Brazil for both the Grand Orient Lusitano as in the Grand Orient of France, as the Official Rite.
In the minutes of July 23 (seventh session of the Grand Orient), again cited the award of the Degree of Secret Elected  (Secrète Élus ) to several brothers, also citing the same report, the granting of "Rosicrucian Degree" the Grand Master of Masonry Brazilian (maximum degree of Freemasonry at the time).
The minutes of the meeting of August 5, 1822,  again refer to the "Seven Degrees of Masonry." In that act resolves to  grant H. •. Hippolito de Mendonça the office of delegate to London, in charge of the acquiring for the Grand Orient Brasílico (its name until 1831) recognition from the Grand Lodge of London, sending all the documents and instructions concerning the "System of Seven Masonic Degrees", ie Official documents of the Grand Orient Brasílico.
In the minutes of meeting of September 28, 1822, it says that the Grand Master received the Degree of Knight of the East (6th grade) and was to be receive the Rosicrucian (7th Grade) at the next meeting, showing without a doubt, that the sequence of degrees practiced in the Grand Orient of Brazil was, that of the Modern Rite.
The Masonic signature of Don Pedro I. Masonic •. P: •. M. •. R. •. +, Ie Irmão Pedro, Mason Rose Cross, indicates that the Emperor  Pedro held the seventh grade-Modern Rite, Rosicrucian Knight having been elevated to the Grand Master of the Grand Orient.
The first ritual used by the Grand Orient of Brazil in the year of its foundation (1822) at which time it was called the Grand Orient Brasiliano (and Grande Oriente Brasílico (fifth record) eventually assuming its current name of the Grand Orient of Brazil was the Modern Rite.
Due to political instability after the newly acquired independence and rivalries between Jose Bonifacio and Joaquim Gonçalves,  the Emperor Pedro I ordered the suspension of all fraternal organizations on October 25, 1822 . After the abdication of Don Pedro on April 7, 1831, the work of the Grand Orient of Brazil re-emerged from the shadows with renewed strength and vigor  and has not been shuttered since. The Grand Orient of Brazil, refurbished, Modern Rite and adopted the constitution of the Grand Orient of France, 1826 adapted by Gonçalves Ledo, and taking this as Rite Rite Officer and the work of its Senior Corps.
On June 23, 1892, imitating the reform of the Grand Orient of France in 1877 and the Grand Orient of Belgium in 1872, removed from the rituals the requirement of invocating the Great Architect of the Universe.

The Modern Rite, with its call for social justice proclaimed the equality of races, culminating in the liberation of slaves in Brazil. It was the Modern Rite that fought and won the supremacy of civil over religious power and freedom of religion.The Modern Rite of Freemasonry represents a  Brazilian heritage and are an essential part of Brazilian national history.
The Modern Rite does not support limiting the scope of reason, and thus disapproves of dogmatism and ideological impositions. Being rational, it calls for the search for truth even though truth may be temporary and constantly changing.
The philosophy of the Rite opposes any form of discrimination. The absence of women in the Grande Orient du Brasil is due to the implementation of treaties and not the nature of the rite.

Brief History of the Modern Rite Supreme Council

The Most Powerful and Sublime Grand Chapter of Modern Rite in Brazil was founded by Manoel Joaquim Menezes, E. 1842, •. V. •. with the title of Grand Chapter of Blue Rites.
He was accepted and recognized as Grand Chief of the Modern Rite Office in Brazil by the Grand Orient of Brazil.
As of November 25, 1874, the Supreme Council began to operate under the name Grand Chapter of Modern or French Rite.
The designation of Very Powerful and Sublime Grand Chapter of Modern Rite for Brazil was adopted on March 9, 1953.
On June 7, 1976 it was renamed the Modern Rite Supreme Council for Brazil.
Finally, in 1992, the 150th anniversary of its foundation, and by virtue of being the only exisiing Head of Modern Rite Office for all grades continuously practicing universal Freemasonry, it was renamed the Supreme Council of the Modern Rite.
Remember that the Grand Chapitre Français received in 1989 the Patent for the Orders of Wisdom from the hands of the Supreme Council of the Modern Rite of Brazil.

The structure of work consisted of 7 Modern Rite Degrees (3 symbolic degrees and the Four Orders of Wisdom) until 1999. In that year was activated using an unquestionable legitimacy, Order V° with two new grades 8 and 9:

5 th Order - Grade 8 - Knight of the White Eagle and Black Knight Kadosh Philosophical, Inspector of the Rite.
Order 5 th - 9 th Grade - Knight Grand Inspector Wisdom-Rite.

It is believed that there was a time in Portugal when a Grade 8 (Kadosh Perfect Initiate) and even a Grade 9 (Grand Inspector) was worked.
Anyway, the implementation of Order V derived from those contemplated in the Regulations of the Grand Chapitre Général France, 1784 Order with respect to V, is varied according to the various bodies of Advanced Modern Rite degrees today, but is absolutely legitimate and use in spite of its formal diversity.

The first 3 Symbolic Degrees meet in Lodges affiliated with the Lodges (in this case the Grand Orient of Brazil)

For so-called Philosophical Degrees
Grades 4 to 7 (I to IV Order: Chosen, Elected Scottish Knight of the East, Rose-Cross Knight) meet in the Regional Chapter called Sublime.
Grade 8 (V Order) meets in the Great State Council Kadosh.
And Grade 9 (V Order) meets in the Modern Rite Supreme Council, which has national jurisdiction over all philosophical degrees.

At the level of equivalence, for Brazil, the Grade 8 corresponds to 30 of the AASR and grade 9 is 33.

Gracias a Joaquim Villalta