After the middle-ages many of the orders
of chivalry was turned into state orders,
and the working form of orders was also
taken up by societes who worked for idealistic,
cultural, charitable, filosophical etc. purposes.
The border towards guilds and early unions etc.
became more fluent. These fraternal orders are
devided into lodges which can be
found throughout Sweden. They are often divided
into degrees to give knowledge and insights gradually.
The secrecy around the order’s legends, symbols and
ceremonies are necessary an ‘aha’-experience when
recieving the next degree; the order’s rules, roll
of members etc. is often public. The insignia of these
orders may only be worn within the order, as opposed to
orders of chivalry.
The fraternal orders are generally orientated
in a patriotic and religious direction and with
mainly charitable purposes, but it is often not
allowed to discuss politics. Thus, no conspiracies
on world domination can spring from the orders
themselves - contrary to what conspiracy theoretics think.
Usually some time pass between application and
admittance, from a couple of months up to a year
(exception : Order of Carpenters 8-9 years!) due
to large number of applicants in combination with
few lodges held in the initiation degree. We meet these
orders daily in the Swedish obituaries, where the
order’s symbol (a St George’s cross for the Swedish
Order of Free Masons, a chain with three links for
the Independnt Order of Odd Fellows) instead of
the traditional cross shows that a brother/sister
has passed away.
A dark suit with black tie is usually
worn in the orders, also for women - dark means black.
By wearing similar clothes, equality is obtained,
high is equalled to low, which strenghten the feeling
of union among the members of the fraternal order. On special
occasions a tailcoat is worn, usually with black vest.
Sometimes the order has ties with the symbol of the
order to be worn with the suit in lodge; a pin can
be worn on the jacket between lodges. If order
rings exists within the order, they are usually
awarded when half of the degrees has been passed and
worn on the mid-finger of the right hand.
A lodge night in the bigger fraternal orders
usually follow the same procedure: first a pub
or something similar where the brothers and sisters
can brush of the road dust and, socialize and regain focus.
The lodge work itself follows, which follows the
same procediour every time. Finally comes the
meal, where you can discuss general
topics and reflect on the lodge work.
The humourous orders are many and the larger
part were started by students at universities.
The professors of the universities used to be
heavily decorated with orders and medals, which
led the students to form ridicule orders of
their own. When these meet sometimes white tie
with orders are proscribed. This means (contrary
to public occasions) that the students put on
medals and orders of highly informal character:
swimming medals, shooting medals, gymnastic
medals etc etc...
During the 18th century religion was
strictly regulated by law in Sweden -
only evangelical-lutheran chritiandom
was allowed - which reflects on the
orders then created. For instance, where
freemasonry in the rest of the world demands
belief in a monoteistic God, Swedish freemasonry
demands Christian faith. It also reflects on the
numbers of fraternal orders created, as the Swedish
protestant State church was far more allowing than
the Holy See towards fraternal orders. The fact
that the Swedish kings has been Grand Masters of
the Swedish Order of Freemasons as well as protectors
and/or members of other fraternal orders has given fraternal
orders a completely different position than in catholic
countries. The fraternal orders who came to Sweden
in the 18th century were for the larger part reserved
for the nobility.
With the industrialisation during the 19th century,
the advent of a prosperous middle-class. They
started to form orders both in harmony with
the old fraternal orders, but some were started as a
reaction on the fact that many orders were
focused on heritage (nobility).
This is a summary of current fraternal orders
in Sweden, arranged in chronological order from
introduction in Sweden.
Freemasonry was brought to Sweden by Swedish
noblemen who were admitted in France. The
Swedish system which is used in the Nordic
countries and parts of Germany was created
around 1800 by HRH Carl, Duke of Södermanland
(later King Carl XIII) and differs from other
masonic system: a perquisite is Christian belief,
and the higher degrees are fully integrated with
the Craft. A token of this is that aprons of
the higher degrees are worn in Craft lodges.
Every Swedish king from Adolf Fredrik has been
High Protector; between the kings Carl XIII
och Gustav VI Adolf even Grand Masters of the
order. To ensure the fidelity of the Swedish
Order of Freemasons to the Crown, King Carl
established an Order of Chivalry with 30 knights
which is awarded to the office-hoplders of those
few who have the highest degree (the Order of
Carl XIII).
Being protestant, Sweden had no spiritual order
of chivalry and therefore a Swedish freemason was
as close as you could come a spiritual knighthood.
Nobility was a perequisite in the beginning, but
this was dropped, though nobles were quite frequent
until 1920/1946 when the Swedish Order of St John
(Johanniterorden i Sverige) was established with a
strict informal nobility perequisite.
1760- Stora Amaranther Orden (SAO)/
The Grand Order of Amarante
Quees Christina appeared as the shepardess
Amarante at a party held in the Castle of
Stockholm 1653. The name was picked to honour
the ambassador Pimentel, born in Amarante,
Portugal. At the party a pairdance was conducted
with 14 couples. These couples were first
admitted to the court order established
to the sweet memory of the party. When Christina
abdicated the order was dissolved, but started
anew in 1760 by wealthy youths and give
ball every other year.
1763- Timmermans Orden (TO)/
The Order of Carpenters, Ordre des Charpentiers
A evangelic (protestantic) order who came to
Sweden from France or the Netherlands. Started
in 1552 in England by evangelic christians during
the persqutions of the catholic Queen Mary. There is
only has one lodge in Sweden, which is why you
have to wait 8-9 years before being admitted.
A Christian order connected to sailors and their
traditions with a legendary background in Spain
and Columbus. The moon is an important symbol.
1765- Innocence Orden (IO)/ The Order of Innocence
An Order who arranges a ball every other year.
The name is a french snooker term, and means
”by coincidence”. Founded by C M Bellman and two
friends as a ridicule of the more seroius fraternal
orders. The order tries to preserve the Swedish
cultural heritidge, especially song, music,
theatre and speach.
1793- Svea Orden (SO)/ The Order of Svea
The Svea were the founders of Sweden during
early middle ages when they conquered the Gotha.
This christian and patriotic fraternal Order was
first named ”Citizens of Gibraltar” because the
order met in the Gibraltar room of the pub ”The
English Cellar” in Stockholm. Because of the
French revolution the order’s name lead people
to believe that the order was pro-revolutionary,
and thus the name was changed. Admits women since
1917. Benefits Swedish culture before 1500. The
highest degree is shared with Götiska Förbundet/
Gotha Union (below).
1812- Neptuni Orden/ The Order of Neptunus
This Order wishes to create between sailors
ashore and was originally a humourous order named
Conjentus Orden.
1815- Götiska förbundet (GF)/ The Gotha Union
The Gotha lived in the south-west part of Sweden,
and were conquered by the Svea during the early
Middle-Ages. To this day, the Swedish King is
styled ’King of Svea, Gotha and Vandi’. This
patriotic fraternal order shares it’s highest
degree with Svea Orden/ The Order of Svea.
1815- Aurora-orden/The Order of Aurore
This order was originally a sociable order,
but in the 1920’ies the statutes were changed
towards a christian fraternal order.
The name comes Peter, the fisher who became a
Disciple of Christ. At first the order’s main purposes
was to arrange strengthening outdoor recreation
(and some humourous pranks) but later this Christian
order turned more serious and put the focus on Peter
as a disciple.
1860- Mercuri Orden/ The Order of Mercury
This order is dedicated to the God Mercury, protector
of trade and fools. Most members own companies, and the
order is humourous.
Jamtland is a region in the centre of Sweden
with strong self-esteem. Some famous Jamts even has
declared (for fun) the independant republic of Jamtland,
and will have no truck with the kingdom of Sweden.
This order seeks to preserve the traditions
and customs of Jämtland.
In Great Britain the professions were strictly
organized in guilds. Those didn’t fit created the
Odd Fellows to guard their own interests, like an
early union. The direction changed during the
18th century towards a fraternal order based in
the believe of a supreme being.
1886- Frihetsbröderna/ The Brothers of Freedom
The order was founded by a military who had
taken a liking to the Offenbach opera.
1923- Auxilium-Orden/ The Order of Auxilium
The Order was founded by a person who felt that it
was unjust that most fraternal orders were reserved
for the nobility and/or the rich. He stipulated that his
order was to "work for the improvement of the
general conditions of the middle class".
To be continued...
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