August 2014

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Monday 18 August 2014

Thursday 14 August 2014

The "Berlin Declaration" might produce convulsions and schism within the European Masonic Jurisdictions and elsewhere in the world


It never ends, one might say looking at the French Masonic community and its Masonic Jurisdiction. As GLNF's recognition(s) finds its way back to Paris and Grand Master Servel strives in offering French Brethren a fresh start, something rather bizarre happens in Central Europe. Five Grand Lodges (meaning Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg) are trying to reshape not only French Freemasonry, but also the European one, by creating a dangerous precedent in Masonic jurisprudence.

Thus, after the Berlin Declaration the Grand Master and Grand Chancellor of the French National Grand Lodge issued a world-wide circular.



According to the Masonic Press AgencyGrand Master Servel asked his counterparts around the world how would they react when someone would try to impose a new "Masonic landscape" in their jurisdiction, showing his outrage regarding the way in which those five Grand Lodges in Central Europe are acting. GLNF's Grand Chancellor also announced his counterparts in other jurisdictions and draws attention regarding the dangerous precedent that could lead to the destabilization of various jurisdictions in the world, causing chaos, stating that the basic principles of Universal Freemasonry can not be negotiated.

A week after the world-wide letters of the two GLNF officials, the F. & Secretary-General of the Masonic Press Agency issued a what was called: internal brief analysis. This analysis in 9 points makes references to both documents: the Berlin Declaration and GLNF's world-wide circular, stating also its point of view and appealing to calm and Masonic discipline. 

The first article states that the Basel Declaration actually offered to several GLNF factions the courage to break away from the central (Masonic) body and to form new Grand Lodges, which clearly indicates the emphasis of GLNF's disintegration.

The second article explains the basic concept of a Masonic Obedience (Grand Lodge/Grand Orient) and that of a Masonic Confederation composed of Grand Lodges and not Symbolic Lodges, the conclusion being a rhetorical question: how can we recognize a Masonic Confederation (composed of Grand Lodges) in which none of its members (the Grand Lodges) were individually recognized as regular? The article talks about the classic Masonic actors: Obediences (Sovereign and Independent Symbolic Masonic Powers with their own Masonic Grand Jurisdiction).

In the third article the Agency draws attention regarding the danger of a serious precedent in Masonic jurisprudence (...) which might produce convulsions and schism within the European Masonic Jurisdictions and elsewhere in the world.

In the sixth article there are references to the fact that it is hard for GLNF to recognize GLAMF and GLIF, two factions departed from GLNF (which are now Grand Lodges acting, together with the Grand Lodge of France, within the French Masonic Confederation), given the fact that after order was restored in GLNF those Brethren never wanted to join forces and to be part of the same Grand Lodge, namely GLNF.

In the 9th and final article the Agency agrees with GLNF's Grand Chancellor regarding the fact that: "the Basic Principles of Universal Freemasonry can not be negotiated".

Given this brief overview and analysis, the Agency considers that the risk of such serious precedent in Masonic jurisprudence will be a major one and will have a destabilizing role in the current order and customs inherited over time, risking that our Masonic customs to fall into disuse and thus to upset the internal affairs of each Masonic Jurisdiction. The Agency believes that Freemasonry should be characterized by unity and not division, by singularity at an organizational level and and plurality at an individual level; plurality representing the essence of the Masonic spirit, an essence in which diversity should be an integral and active part of the unity. This is how the Secretary-General ends the analysis and overview of the Masonic Press Agency on the current situation of French Freemasonry in relation with the Berlin Declaration and GLNF's world-wide circular.


Tuesday 12 August 2014

Metropolitan Masonic Concert Series in London, U.K.


Starting with 7 p.m. on 7 October 2014 will take place the Metropolitan Masonic Concert Series in London Freemasons' Hall (60 Great Queen St London WC2B 5AZ United Kingdom) in Covent Garden. Among the performing artists we find pianists Samson Tsoy and Pavel Kolesnikov (with a repertoire based on Saint-Saens, Ravel, Tchaikowsky and Rachmaninov).


The event will be attended, among other, by the Metropolitan Grand Master and David Williamsn, Past Assistant Grand Master, President of the Universities Scheme of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). All the benefits will go to charity.

Monday 4 August 2014

Armenia and Azerbaijan have two new Grand Masters


The Masonic Press Agency announced on June 29th and July 25th that the Grand Lodges of Azerbaijan and Armenia have new Grand Masters: Aras Kazaz and Gilbert Stepanian. According to the Masonic Agency, the Annual Communication of the National Grand Lodge of Azerbaijan was attended by the Grand Master of Russia, Andrei Bogdanov, and Germany's RĂ¼diger Templin. Robert B. Heyat, Honorary Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington DC. On this occasion took place the Installation Ceremony of Grand Master Aras Kazaz.


Regarding Armenia reports that the new Grand Master of Armenia was in 2010 Worshipful Master of Mithras Lodge of Perfection in Washington. In the morning, before the convention, the Grand Masters visited the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan. In the following days also took place the Annual Communication of the Supreme Council of Armenia.

Saturday 2 August 2014