The Esoterical Turn
Rhetoric and Rite in Swedish Freemasonry 1753-1760
Marcus Willén Postdoctoral researcher Dep. of Literature, sec on of Rhetoric
marcus.willen@li vet.uu.se [email protected] Project
The Temple of Immortality Moral, Mys cism and Masculinity in the Swedish Order of Freemasons 1735-1796
Financed by Swedish Research Council 1750-1755-1760 Anders Odel Carl Fredrik Eckleff (1718-1773) (1723-1786) Biography 1750-1755-1760 Anders Odel Carl Fredrik Eckleff • Designer at the Ministry of • Secretary and registrator at Tex le produc on (silk) the Foreign Office • Famous author of sa rical • Poet pamphlets • Leading figure in several socie es • Hat Poli can • Organized/introduced: • Sco sh degrees (1756) Grand Chapter (1759), templar degrees) The Grand Lodge (1760) Archives and Collec ons 1750-1755-1760 Anders Odel Carl Fredrik Eckleff • Speches and poems – Royal • Poems – Royal Library, Library, Stockholm Stockholm (many odes of masonic origin) • Speeches 1759-1783 – Swedish Order of Freemasons, Archive at Bååtska palatset, Stockholm • (ca 20 ora ons, 140 pages) Rhetorical Situa on 1750-1755-1760 Anders Odel Carl Fredrik Eckleff • Tavern masonry • …and Banquet Halls • Few par cipants • Many new members • Talking poli cs were not • Talking poli cs were not allowed allowed • Ora ons at Feasts • Memorial lodges or instruc ons at recep ons dominate
Rhetorical Style 1750-1755-1760 Anders Odel Carl Fredrik Eckleff • Narra ve, spiral-associa ve • Classical Rhetoric • Allegorical narra on • Rhetorical structure • Humour, jocularity • Seriosity • Swedish, la n quotes • Swedish • Fic onalized world • Symbolic World • Landscape – external scene • Lodge – internal scene • Classical An quity – mo fs • Biblical Mo fs • Temple workers and their tools; light; blood of Christ Rhetorical Doxa 1750-1755-1760 Anders Odel Carl Fredrik Eckleff • Brotherhood • …and Knighthood – Nobility • Social equality • Hierarchy • Public oriented • Secrecy • Poli cal sa re, philosophy • Chris anity, faith • Exoteric – a civil moral • Esoteric – inner temple • Manners • Religious agenda • Masonry in the world • Inner life projected • Ritual – nonrelated • Ritual – related • Life, op mism • Eternity and immortality The Esoterical Turn • Royal patronage, 1753- • Great Lisbon Earthquake, 1755 (referred to) • Seven Year’s War, 1756-1763 Eckleff’s and The Swedish Rite: • A masonic system that stresses: Eternal life, the exixtence of God • Blood mo fs, 1759- - noble blood, blood of Christ (Bohemian Brethren) • Inner illumina on, instead of enlightenment as societal development (Odel)
The Swedish Rite since the late 1750s • Chris an • Esoteric • Templarism • Hierarchical • Royal patronage