Grande Loge de France
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The Grande Loge de France (GLDF)[1] is one of the three oldest French masonic bodies with Grand Orient de France and Droit Humain[2]
The current Grande Loge de France was founded in 1894, splitting from the larger and older Grand Orient de France following its decision not to work anymore to the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe.
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[edit] History of the Grande Loge de France
When presenting the Grande Loge de France, it is important to distinguish two periods.
[edit] Grande Loge de France 1738-1773
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[edit] Grande Loge de France since 1894
The Grand Lodge of France (GLDF) has about 800 lodges and 30,000+ members.
The Grand Lodge of France is the only regular and traditional masonic body that almost only works the three Craft (Blue) degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (A&ASR).
As other French regular and traditional masonic bodies[3]:
- Its members are male only
- It was founded by at least three lodges coming from a regular Grand Lodge.
- All lodges work a traditional ritual to the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe...
- In the presence of the Square, the Compas and the Volume of the Sacred Law (which in the GLDF Lodges is the Bible)
- Political and religious discussions are prohibited
[edit] Grande Loge de France outside of France
The Grande Loge de France is present overseas either for historical reasons (ex French colonies) or due to the absence of a Masonic Grand Lodge in Regular amity with the Grande Loge de France at the time of the foundation of the Lodge.
[edit] GLDF lodges overseas
Grande Loge de France is present in 14 countries outside of France:
- Africa
- Congo: Three lodges, two in Brazzaville and one in Pointe Noire
- Madagascar: Three lodges
- Mauritius: Four lodges
- Senegal: One lodge
- America
- Canada: One lodge in Montreal
- Asia
- Cambodia: One lodge in Bangkok
- Israel: Two lodges, one in Jerusalem and one in Tel Aviv
[edit] Foreign Grand Lodges in amity with GLDF
Grand Lodge of France has developed strong links with several masonic bodies around the world. In particular it has in America priveledged contacts with several PH Grand Lodges.
In Europe, Grand Lodge of France and the "Opera" Traditional and Symbolical Grand Lodge joined themselves in order to create, with the participation of other European Grand Lodges, the Confederation of the United Grand Lodges of Europe[6].
The Confederation of the UGLE has in 2008 11 members:
- Gran Logia de Canarias
- Grande Loge de France,
- Grand Lodge of Grece A&ASR[7],
- General Grand Lodge of Italy,
- National Grand Lodge of Portugal[8],
- National Grand Lodge of Serbia Montenegro,
- la Grande Loge nationale du Liban,
- National Grand Logde of Romania[9],
- Grande Loge traditionnelle et symbolique Opéra,
- Grande Loge unie du Liban[10],
- Sun Grand Lodge of Lebanon
Grand Lodge of France has also strong contacts in South America, Africa and in Asia.
[edit] GLDF: regularity and recognition in France
In France, several Grand Lodges are compliant with the whole of characteristics defining the regularity.
Only one of them maintains the fraternal relations with the United Grand Lodge of England.
It is however important to note that the Grand Lodge of France and the "Opera" Traditional and Symbolical Grand Lodge joined themselves in order to create, with the participation of other European Grand Lodges, the Confederation of the United Grand Lodges of Europe[11].
[edit] Regularity
Grande Loge de France is one of six regular[12] French Masonic Grand Lodge:
- The Grand Lodge of France (GLDF).
- The French National Grand Lodge (GLNF).
- The "Opera" Traditional and Symbolical Grand Lodge (GLTSO).
- The French National Lodge (LNF).
- The National Directory of Rectified and United Lodges (DNLRER - Great Priory of Gauls).
- The Rectified Grand Lodge of France.
[edit] Recognition
Until the mid 60's, Grand loge de France was the main masonic body in regular amity with a majority of the American Grand Lodges[13].
After WWII the United Grand Lodge of England and other anglo-saxon Grand Lodges asked the Grand Loge de France to stop any administrative contacts with the Grand Orient de France.
As all the freemasons had been equally persecuted by the nazis during the war, whatever their masonic bodies were, a majority of brothers of the Grande loge de France refused categorically to put an end to the historical relationships with the Grand Orient de France[14].
Around one third of the Lodges decided to leave the Grande loge de France to the GLNF to keep their relationships with most of the anglo-saxon Grand Lodges.
GLNF is now in France the only masonic body in regular amity with the United Grand Lodge of England.
In June 2005 GLNF and GLDF have made a first step in re-warming their relationships and signed a "Protocole Administratif".
[edit] References
- ^ Official Website
- ^ Offical web site of Droit Humain / Human Right
- ^ Concise History of French Regular Freemasonry - L. Jaunaux
- ^ The White Swan Lodge, No 1348
- ^ Logia Genesis
- ^ Article on United Grand Lodges of Europe in "The Plumbline"
- ^ Grande Loge de Grèce du REAA
- ^ Grande Loge nationale portugaise
- ^ Grande loge nationale de Roumanie
- ^ Grande Loge unie du Liban
- ^ Article on United Grand Lodges of Europe in "The Plumbline"
- ^ French Regular and Traditional Grand Lodges
- ^ GLDF de-Recognition
- ^ U.S. Recognition of French Grand Lodges in the 1900s
[edit] Bibliography
- Connaître la Grande Loge de France, édit. Ivoire Clair, collection Les Architectes de la Connaissance dirigée par Philippe Morbach, Paris, 2000 ISBN 2-913882-06-4
- Daniel Ligou (dir.), Histoire des Francs-Maçons en France, tome 2, 1815-2000, Privat, Toulouse, 2000 ISBN 2-7089-6839-4
- Roger Dachez, Histoire de la franc-maçonnerie française, PUF, Paris, 2003 ISBN 2-13-053539-9
- Gilbert Garibal, Être franc-maçon aujourd'hui, Marabout, Alleur (Belgique), 1994 ISBN 2-501-02029-4
[edit] External links
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