Continental Freemasonry

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Continental Freemasonry (alternative terms include: Liberal Freemasonry,^[1] Latin Freemasonry^[2][3] and Adogmatic Freemasonry^[4]) refers to those Masonic lodges, mainly (but not exclusively) on the continent of Europe, that recognise the Grand Orient de France (GOdF) or belong to CLIPSAS or SIMPA. The majority of Freemasons belong to lodges that recognise the United Grand Lodge of England and do not recognise Continental Freemasons, regarding them as "irregular".^[5][6]

The two branches of Freemasonry

Today, Freemasonry is often said to consist of two branches "not in mutual regular amity";^[7]

• the Anglo/American "Regular" tradition of jurisdictions, typified by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) (mostly termed Grand Lodges), and
• the European "Continental" tradition of jurisdictions, typified by GODF (mostly termed Grand Orients) with varying and shifting amity.

In most Latin countries, the GODF-style or European Continental Freemasonry predominates,^[8] although in most of these Latin countries there are also Grand Lodges and Grand Orients that are in "regular amity" with the UGLE and the worldwide community of Grand Lodges that share "regular" fraternal relations with the UGLE. The rest of the world, accounting for the bulk of Freemasonry, tends to follow more closely to the UGLE style, although minor variations exist.

History of the schism

There are many reasons why the schism in Freemasonry occurred, and why it still persists. The first instance of derecognition occurred in the United States shortly after the American Civil War. In 1869, the Grand Orient de France (GODF) recognized a Masonic group in Louisiana which was not recognized by the Grand Lodge of Louisiana (GLL). This was seen by GLL as an invasion of its jurisdiction, and it withdrew its recognition of GODF. At the request of GLL, several other American Grand Lodges also withdrew recognition.^[9] There is some evidence that racial motivations may also have played a part in this derecognition. The GODF had recently passed a resolution stating that "neither color, race, nor religion should disqualify a man for initiation"^[10] and the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, at that time, strictly excluded blacks and those of mixed race. However, this initial split was not unanimous in the US. Many American Grand Lodges continued to recognize the GODF well into the 20th century.^[11]

1877 schism

The schism widened in 1877 when the GODF changed its constitutions to allow for complete religious "Laïcité." While the Anglo-American tradition had long required (and still does require) candidates to overtly express a belief in deity, the GODF removed that requirement, stating that Laïcité "imposes that all men are given, without distinction of class, origin or denomination, the means to be themselves, to have the freedom of choice, to be responsible for their own maturity and masters of their destiny."^[12][13] In other words, the GODF would admit atheists, while those lodges in the Anglo-American tradition would not. The United Grand Lodge of England thus withdrew its recognition, and declared the GODF to be "irregular." As other jurisdictions tended to follow the lead of either GODF or UGLE, the schism grew.

Background on the belief in Deity

There is some debate as to exactly when Freemasonry in the Anglo-American tradition started requiring its members to have a belief in Deity. There are hints that this was the case from the earliest days of Freemasonry: The Regius Manuscript, the oldest known Masonic document dating from around 1425-50, states that a Mason "must love well God and holy church always." James Anderson's 1723 Constitutions state that "A Mason is oblig'd by his Tenure, to obey the moral Law, and if he rightly understands the Art, he will never be a stupid Atheist, nor an irreligious Libertine." However, these do not explicitly state that a belief in Deity is required.

The GODF did not accept this requirement until 1849, accepted it until 1877, and then changed back.^[10][14]

Nonetheless, it should not be understood that the difference was limited to the mere requirement in belief. Following the 1877 changes, the Grand Orient also removed all references to the Grand Architect of the Universe from its rite, and removed the Volume of the Sacred Law (which in France was the Bible) from its ritual. These elements had been present in French freemasonry before 1849.

Political discussion in the lodges

Another point of difference between Continental and Anglo-American Freemasonry is whether political discussion is allowed within the lodges. Such discussion is allowed in Lodges following the Continental tradition, while it is strictly banned in the Anglo-American tradition.^[15] Moreover the Grand Orient de France operates as an active political lobby, and inquires into potential candidates political beliefs and orientations before they are allowed to petition a lodge.

Relationship with the Catholic Church

Continental Freemasonry has been concentrated in traditionally Catholic countries and has been seen by Catholic critics as an outlet for anti-Catholic disaffection.^[16] Many particularly anti-clerical regimes in traditionally Catholic countries were perceived as having a strong Masonic connections.^[2]

The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia credited Freemasonry for the French Revolution and its persecution of the Church, citing a claim made in a document from the Grand Orient de France.^[17] The Encyclopedia saw Freemasonry as the primary force of French anti-clericalism from 1877 onwards, again citing official documents of French Masonry to support its claim.^[18] According to one historian, Masonic hostility continued into the early twentieth century with the Affaire Des Fiches^[19] and, according to the old Catholic Encyclopedia, the 1905 French law on the Separation of the Churches and the State^[20] can be credited to the Grand Orient de France, based on Masonic documents.

In Italy the Church linked the anticlerical and nationalist secret society, the Carbonari, to Freemasonry^[21] and blamed the anticlerical direction of Italian Unification, or Risorgimento, on Freemasonry. Into the 1890s the Church would justify its calls for Catholics to avoid dealings with the Italian state with a reference to the state's supposed "Masonic" nature.^[22]

Mexican Freemasonry was also seen as following the pattern of Continental Freemasonry in other Latin-speaking countries, viewed as becoming more anti-clerical during the nineteenth century, particularly because they adopted the Scottish Rite degree system created by Albert Pike, which the Catholic Church saw as anti-clerical.^[23]

Even as late as 2005 the president of Spain's Union of Catholic Professional Fraternities blamed the anti-clerical measures of the Socialist government on a "tremendous crusade by Masonry against the Church."^[24]

Freemasons attached to the more mainstream branch of Freemasonry, affiliated with the United Grand Lodge of England and the 51 US Grand Lodges, have often claimed that the anticlericalism of the Continental Branch of Freemasonry is a "deviation" from proper Freemasonry.^[25][26]

Continental Freemasonry in different parts of the world

Continental style freemasonry has had various levels of influence in different parts of the world:

Latin America

Throughout Central and South America, both Continental and Anglo-American jurisdictions exist. Continental style Grand Orients, however, are in the majority. In Brazil, for example the largest and oldest Masonic body, the Grande Oriente do Brasil is recognised by Anglo-American jurisdictions.^[27]

In many Latin American countries, the split in Masonic obedience has mirrored political divisions. Rivalry between two factions in Mexican Freemasonry, for example, is said to have contributed to the Mexican civil war.^[28]

Continental Europe

France

Continental style Freemasonry originated in France and continues to have the largest Masonic presence in that country. The Grand Orient de France is the largest Masonic jurisdiction, with the Grand Lodge de France (also within the Continental tradition) third in membership (the second largest Masonic body is the Anglo-American style Grand Lodge National de France).

Other European countries

Continental style Freemasonry is also prevalent in countries such as Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain, although here too there are rival bodies following the Anglo-American tradition.^[8][29] It is present, but not in the majority, in most other European countries. In Germanic states, Anglo-American and Swedish Rite traditions predominate.

North America

Continental style Freemasonry is in the extreme minority in North America, but there are a number of continental style organizations active.

These organizations, often belonging to groups such as CLIPSAS, are not recognized by the Grand Lodges that form Anglo-American^[30][31][32] Freemasonry, nor by their Prince Hall Masonry counterparts.

The Women's Grand Lodge Of Belgium (GLFB or WGLB),^[33] the Grand Orient of France^[34] and the Feminine Grand Lodge of France^[35] also have liberal lodges in North-America.

There are independent groups, such as the George Washington Union (GWU),^[36] the Omega Grand Lodge of the State of New York,^[37] Le Droit Humain (LDH),^[38] and the Grand Orient of the United States of America (GOUSA),^[39] that belong to the European, Continental tradition.

Africa

Continental Freemasonry is mostly active in French speaking areas. It tends to originate from the French and Belgian former colonists. Many African leaders, such as Omar Bongo of Gabon and Pascal Lissouba of the Republic of the Congo belong to Masonic lodges.^[40]

Notes

References

• Bauer, Alain (Grand Master of the Grand Orient of France Sacramento) (July 27, 2002), Address to the 2002 California Masonic Symposium, archived from the original on 18 July 2009 
• New Catholic Encyclopedia (New York: McGraw-Hill) 6, 1967: 135 
• Franklin, James (2006), "Freemasonry in Europe", Catholic Values and Australian Realities, Connor Court Publishing Pty Ltd, pp. 7–10, ISBN 9780975801543 
• Glazier, Michael; Hellwig, Monika K., eds. (January 2005), The Modern Catholic Encyclopedia, Liturgical Press, p. 330, ISBN 0-8146-5219-0 
•  Gruber, Hermann (1910). "Masonry (Freemasonry)". Catholic Encyclopedia 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 
• Hodapp, Christopher (January 18, 2011), More squabbles in the irregular world, Freemasonry for Dummies website 
• Hodapp, Christopher (September 5, 2009), Grand Orient of France Votes Against Women Members, Freemasonry for Dummies blog 
• Johnston, Charles. (February 24, 1918), "Caillaux's Secret Power Through French Masonry", The New York Times Magazine: 71, retrieved August 2013