Rudolf Steiner and Freemasonry
Was Rudolf Steiner a Freemason?
Yes.
Irrespective of the manner in which some may want to talk around this aspect of Steiner's life, he was initiated into Freemasonry, and for some time held warrants from Theodore Reuss for the Memphis-Misraïm Rite. He also set up, with those warrants, a number of Lodges under the title Misraim-Dienst [M.D.] and Mystica Aeterna [M.E.] that he eventually dissolved at the opening of the first World War. The connections are therefore exclusively with Reuss and Yarker and the rite so-named above, operating in a co-Masonic context.
There has also been numerous claims made that Steiner was also a member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). This, it seems, is based on three factors. In the first place due to his connection with Reuss, who founded the O.T.O., with regards to the Memphis Misraïm warrants; in the second place due to their proximity: Reuss lived for a time in Basle (Basel), and Steiner was given a plot of land outside of Basle (in Dornach) for the establishment of the Goetheanum; thirdly, there is a reference by Alice Sprengel, that Peter-R. Koenig notes in the following manner:
In approximately 1934, Alice Sprengel, once a member of M.E. (until 1915, when she became secretary of Reuss), notes from memory the alleged O.T.O.-pledge form written by Steiner which he allegedly ripped up in August 1914.
It seems to me more likely that any ripped up 'pledge' would have been of any affiliations between the M.E. and Reuss, rather than the O.T.O.. For more details on this, see Peter-R. Koenig's page 'Rudolf Steiner: Never a member of any Ordo Templi Orientis'.
So though Rudolf Steiner was a Freemason and the rituals used were based and derived from the Memphis-Misraïm Rite passed through Yarker and Reuss, it is quite distinct to what Reuss develops as the O.T.O..
Writings on Freemasonry
Most of his lectures on Freemasonry are included in two volumes: Temple Legend, and Occult Brotherhoods.
Recently, the rituals used in the M∴Æ∴ have also been published (Freemasonry and Ritual Work). At the very least, I would think that both Freemasons interested in esoteric matters and Antroposophists would be interested in seeing these rituals, and comparing them to the more general MM rite.
Over the past few years, a number of Freemasons from various constitutions have expressed interest in working in a more Anthroposophical manner using as a basis Steiner's M.D. rituals. It should perhaps also be remembered that Steiner considered these of importance, and that he had planned to develop this aspect as part of the 'Second Class'.
In 1906, he considers it important to "save the Misraim-Dienst for the future".