Daily Archives: 4th January 2013
The Mixed Grand Lodge of France (GLMF)
The Mixed Grand Lodge of France is an essentially humanistic, philosophical and progressive institution.
Its purpose is the research of truth, the study of ethics and the practice of solidarity.
It works to improve material and moral, intellectual and social development of humanity.
Its principles are: mutual tolerance, respect for others and oneself.
It proclaims the principle of secularism considered as the opposition to all alienations, including any dogmatic influence.
It refers to the absolute freedom of conscience, that is to say, the right of every Freemason to believe in the truth of his choice or not to believe.
Its motto is:
LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY
The Mixed Grand Lodge of France has a duty to extend to all mankind the fraternal ties that unite the Freemasons.
It recommends to its initiates to participate in social and cultural public life and to disseminate the fruits of their research by their example, subject to the strict observance of the Masonic secret.
The Freemason’s duty under all circumstances, is to help, inform, protect his brothers and sisters and to defend them against injustice.
The Mixed Grand Lodge of France honors any work that improves the Human Being.
Loyal to the traditions and information… Continue reading
The Feminine Grand Lodge of France (GLFF)
The Feminine Grand Lodge of France is the oldest French Feminine Grand Lodge. It initiates women who become Sisters. Brothers of all GLFF recognized Grand Lodges can come as visitors in its lodges. However, it happens that the Lodge leaves Brothers visitors outside the Temple so that the Lodge conducts its “family business”.
History of the Feminine Grand Lodge of France
The Feminine Grand Lodge of France was established from the Lodges of Adoption1 of the Grand Lodge of France. Each mixed lodge of Adoption was led by a masculine Lodge. Thus, for a specific ritual, many Freemasons spouses had access to a masonry of their own. Lodges of adoptions have flowered in the 19th century.
The first lodge of adoption from which the Feminine Grand Lodge of France was lit in 1901. She was built on “Le Libre Examen2 “, Nr 217. This attempt did not last long. In 1906, the “La Nouvelle Jérusalem3 ” Lodge, Nr 378 on the board of the Grand Lodge of France, requested permission to create a lodge of adoption. The adoption Lodge Nr 376bis is created on May 31, 1907.
Until 1935, several other Lodges of the Grand Lodge… Continue reading
The French National Grand Lodge case (GLNF)
Since 1913, the year of its foundation, the French National Grand Lodge (GLNF) came to be the only French Grand Lodge in amity with the United Grand Lodge of England.
Unfortunately, driven by business and personal interests, key elements of this organization have lost their original splendor and often their Masonic character. This has become especially true in recent years.
Some illustrations can be provided: these are some relevant facts widely accepted as true. It has a pyramidal structure (no Lodge is a single association unto itself but is a part of the same GLNF Legal Association), the fact that the Grand Master is really not replaceable, rather he is not elected by the Lodges or even by their representatives, the fact that he proclaimed himself spiritual master of the structure, the fact that there are non-Mason security guards at the entrance to protect the Brothers in their meetings, that this structure is bogged down in international political affairs, the truth that police files concerning normal background checks of applicants have been used by other members for their own purposes, etc., etc.. These are illustrative of a way that has seriously departed from Freemasonry.
In this context,… Continue reading
The Initiatic and Traditional Order of the Royal Art (OITAR)
The Initiatiic and Traditional Order of the Art Royal (OITAR) is a historically recent Grand Lodge. It is born from the desire of its founders to use the Operative Rite of Solomon. It now has over a thousand members, spreaded in less than 50 Lodges in France, but also abroad (Canada: 1 Lodge and Madagascar: 3 Lodges).
History of the Initiatic and Traditional Order of the Royal Art
The history of the Initiatic and Traditional Order of the Royal Art is the same than the rite the Grand Lodge practices : The Operative Rite of Solomon.
The Operative Rite of Solomon is based on the Masonic, Operative and Companionic Traditions. It was formed after many years of research by Brothers at the Grand Orient of France. It consists of nine degrees. It is governed by a Supreme Council, its sole guardian.
In 1971, the “Les Hommes”1 Lodge is created in the Grand Orient of France to experience this Rite. This rite having a strong spiritual connotation, but also addressing both brothers as sisters, it became necessary for 9 Brothers of “Les Hommes” Lodge to create a new grand lodge with the Operative Rite of Solomon practiced in its… Continue reading