Since I posted the article yesterday about Halcyon Lodge, several brothers have asked me what is meant by "traditional observance."You can read up on Traditional Observance Masonic Lodges at the Masonic Restoration Foundation's website. I've excerpted some of their information for you:
Traditional Observance (TO) Masonry is a unique North American approach to Freemasonry, practiced in Traditional Observance Lodges.Masons | Traditional Observance | European Freemasonry | Freemasonry | Burning Taper | BurningTaper.com
TO lodges are governed by the rules and regulations of their respective Grand Lodge, from which they receive their charter.
TO lodges follow the established ritual of their Grand Lodge, with some ceremonial additions and adjustments, only insofar as they may be allowed by their Grand Lodge. TO lodges begin with the North American Masonic lodge model and enrich it with traditional initiatic elements practiced in Continental European and Latin American Freemasonry.
Traditional Observance Masonry is not a Masonic Rite, but rather a philosophical approach to the way Freemasonry is practiced. In many ways, TO Masonry is a response to some of the negative trends experienced by North American Freemasonry in recent years, aimed at reversing those trends and restoring the strength and dignity of the American Craft.
Traditional Observance Masonry is characterized by a solemn approach to holding stated communications and conferring degrees, the use of the Chamber of Reflection as part of the initiation ceremony, and slow and demanding candidate advancement.
TO lodges maintain their high standards by working within guidelines recommended by the Masonic Restoration Foundation and within the context of their respective Grand Lodge regulations.
Traditional Observance lodges have a traditional approach to Freemasonry with an emphasis on the initiatic process. They seek to continuously maintain a Masonic Culture, Initiatic Focus and Traditional Structure.
Traditional Observance lodges differ from what have become know as European Concept lodges in three important ways.
1. The focus is different. All Traditional Observance lodges have a guiding initiatic focus to all their activities. All efforts are made to create a deep, contemplative atmosphere in all meetings, employing darkness, candle light, periods of silence and meditation and strict rules for degree conferral and candidate advancement. European Concept lodges tend not to have such guiding and definitive focus, even if they follow many similar practices.
2. The models are different. European Concept lodges tend to begin with the English lodge model and then infuse it with the Continental European system of candidate education. The “European Concept” came out of an English constitution jurisdiction when Lodge Epicurean no. 906 was founded by Kent Henderson in 1993 in Geelong, Australia.
The first American lodge to adopt a similar approach was St. Albans Lodge no. 1455, founded in 1992 by Pete Normand in College Station, Texas. This lodge adopted the English model of meeting quarterly and follows the “Seven Principles of Traditional Freemasonry,” enumerated by John Mauk Hilliard.
In contrast, TO lodges begin with the North American lodge model and enrich it with traditional initiatic elements practiced in Continental European and Latin American Freemasonry. TO lodges endeavor to have complete Masonic programs monthly.
3. The uniformity between lodges is different. TO lodges are relatively uniform, whereas European Concept lodges vary from one another significantly. TO lodges all follow the same standards prescribed by the MRF and participate in the Foundation’s national efforts toward Masonic renewal. European Concept lodges are not usually related to one another in any way and have approaches to Freemasonry that can be radically different.
For most readers it will be difficult to fully understand the difference between the two models. Those that have experienced both, however, are unequivocal about the contrast between the two.
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