Grande Loge de France (G∴L∴D∴F∴) is a Masonic obedience based in France. Its conception of

Freemasonry Freemasonry or Masonry refers to fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities ...

is spiritual, traditional and initiatory. Its ritual is centred on the

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry (the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in the United States often omits the ''and'', while the English Constitution in the United Kingdom omits the ''Scottish''), commonly known as simply the Sco ...

. It sees itself as occupying a unique position in the landscape of French Freemasonry but maintains its closest relationships with obediences belonging to

Continental Freemasonry Continental Freemasonry, otherwise known as Liberal Freemasonry, Latin Freemasonry, and Adogmatic Freemasonry, includes the Masonic lodges, primarily on the European continent, that recognize the Grand Orient de France (GOdF) or belong to CLIPS ...

. It is an independent and sovereign Masonic Power, and shares its motto Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité with

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

History

Origins of the name and Foundation

The name ''Grande Loge de France'' was used by the first French Masonic grand body of which the oldest records are dated 14 May 1737. However, it dates back to 1728 when French Masons had decided to recognize Philip,

Duke of Wharton Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ranke ...

(1698-1731) - who lived in Paris and Lyon in 1728 and 1729 and who had been Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of London and Westminster in 1723 - as Grand Master of all Masons in France. Two other jacobite Grand Masters succeeded him: James Hector MacLean (1703-1750) and

Charles Radclyffe Charles Radclyffe (3 September 1693 – 8 December 1746), titular 5th Earl of Derwentwater, was one of the few English participants in the Risings of 1715 and 1745. The Radclyffes were Roman Catholics from Northumberland, with long-standing ...

, Count of Derwentwater (1693-1746), elected Grand Master of the Order of Free Masons in the Kingdom of France on 27 December 1746. In the 1738 version, the Constitutions of Anderson mention the existence of a Grand Master and Lodges in France and defined them to be equal to the Lodges of York, Ireland, Scotland and Italy. In December 1736, Chevalier

Andrew Michael Ramsay Andrew Michael Ramsay (9 July 16866 May 1743), commonly called the Chevalier Ramsay, was a Scottish-born writer who lived most of his adult life in France. He was a Baronet in the Jacobite Peerage. Ramsay was born in Ayr, Scotland, the son of ...

(1686-1743) delivered a reception Discourse elaborating on what could be a connection between Freemasonry and the Crusader knights. This discourse had a great influence on the development of several side Degrees over the period 1740-1770 in France. Following the death of the Grand Master of all Regular Lodges in France Louis de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Duc d'Antin, his successor

Louis, Count of Clermont Louis de Bourbon (15 June 1709 – 16 June 1771) was a member of the cadet branch of the then reigning House of Bourbon. He is known for leading French forces in Germany during the Seven Years' War where he took command in 1758 following the ...

(1709-1771), blood Prince Bourbon-Condé and future member of the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosop ...

was elected on 11 December 1743. In the following years, many additional "Scottish" High Degrees are redacted in France. They were put in practise in Bordeaux, Lyon and Marseille. The Grande Loge de France did not take part in their development but recognized them as of 4 July 1755 in its General Bylaws, thus acknowledging different privileges to Scottish Masters. In 1773, a large number of Grande Loge de France Lodges gave themselves a new set of Statutes which lead to the creation the Grand Orient de France. Nevertheless, several Parisian Masters and several provincial Lodges objected to these new Statutes, and more particularly to the article which stipulated that Masters must be elected by the free-choice of their Lodge. As a result, they decided to pursue working under the name Grande Loge de Clermont, named after the Grand Master who had died in 1771. The

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...

forced the Grande Loge de Clermont to suspend its activities in November 1792. After the Terror, they will resume on 17 October 1796, with only 10 Lodges in Paris and 8 in the provinces. The Grand Orient de France had its number of Lodges also drastically reduced over that period. It was able to resume its activities a bit later, on 24 February 1797. Alexandre Roëttiers de Montaleau was appointed Great Worshipful Master to operate the merger between the Grande Loge de Clermont and the Grand Orient de France on 10 June 1799. Pursuing its path for reformation, the Grand Orient de France then reorganized its system of High Degrees of the French Rite, defined in seven degrees. In its general circular dated 12 November 1802, the Grand Orient de France prohibited the practice of any other system of High Degrees to all its member Lodges. Maurin - Cambaceres

The Scottish Rite in France between 1804 and 1894

In 1804,

Alexandre Francois Auguste de Grasse Alexandre Francois Auguste de Grasse, known as Auguste de Grasse and Comte de Grasse-Tilly (February 14, 1765 – June 10, 1845), was a French career army officer. He was assigned to the French colony of Saint-Domingue in 1789, where he married ...

, Count de Grasse-Tilly recently arrived in Paris brought news of the birth of the

in the United States in 1801, the Rite being based on the Scottish Degrees originating from

French Antilles The French West Indies or French Antilles (french: Antilles françaises, ; gcf, label= Antillean Creole, Antiy fwansez) are the parts of France located in the Antilles islands of the Caribbean: * The two overseas departments of: ** Guadeloup ...

. He received a warm welcome from brethren and founded on 22 September 1804 the first continental Supreme Council of the

. The same enhanced the transformation of Lodges recently aggregated around « Saint-Alexandre d’Écosse » into a new symbolic Obedience in charge of the first three symbolic Degrees: the ''Grande Loge Générale Ecossaise''. The « Grande Loge Générale Ecossaise » elected Prince

Louis Bonaparte Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (born Luigi Buonaparte; 2 September 1778 – 25 July 1846) was a younger brother of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. He was a monarch in his own right from 1806 to 1810, ruling over the Kingdom of Holland (a French ...

as its first Grand Master. However,

Napoléon I, Emperor of the French Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

imposed its merger with the Grand Orient de France on 5 December 1804 under the authority of

Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès, Duke of Parma (, 18 October 17538 March 1824), was a French nobleman, lawyer, freemason and statesman during the French Revolution and the First Empire. He is best remembered as one of the authors of the N ...

. The vocabulary applicable to Freemasonry in France evolved at that time: ''Scottish Lodge'' which characterised High Degrees became of use to define all Lodges not pertaining to the French Rite. Elements from the ''Grande Loge des Anciens'' founded in England in 1751 rooted the first Three Degrees of the Rite in 1804. Its completion was reached in 1821 with the publishing of the ''Guide des Macons Ecossais''. It was enacted by the who then administered the 33 Degrees of the

. In 1838, the

Élie, duc Decazes Élie, 1st Duke of Decazes and Glücksbierg (born Élie Louis Decazes; 28 September 178024 October 1860) was a French statesman, leader of the liberal ''Doctrinaires'' party during the Bourbon Restoration. Early life and family Élie Decazes ...

is appointed Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Conseil de France: he will occupy the charge until 1860. In 1862,

Napoléon III Napoleon III (Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was the first President of France (as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) from 1848 to 1852 and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870. A nephe ...

personally appointed

Bernard Pierre Magnan Bernard Pierre Magnan (7 December 1791 in Paris – 29 May 1865 in Paris) was a Marshal of France. Magnan started his career as an enlisted soldier of the 66th Line in 1809. Promoted to sergeant in 1810, the next year he entered the officers r ...

Marshall of France to be the successor of Prince Lucien Murat as Grand Master of the Grand Orient de France.

intended to impose the reunification of all Rites then practised in France within the Grand Orient de France. He failed to do so due to the valiant opposition of

Jean-Pons-Guillaume Viennet Jean-Pons-Guillaume Viennet (18 November 1777 – 10 July 1868) was a French politician, playwright and poet. He was also a member of the Académie française and a prominent Freemason. His long career as a soldier then a politician, playwright a ...

, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Suprême Conseil de France from 1860 to 1868.

Recent history

The current Grande Loge de France (G∴L∴D∴F∴) was revived in 1894 when the Scottish Rite masonic streams were unified. In 1904, privileges to fully administrate the first Three Degrees of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite were delegated by the Suprême Conseil de France. The first Constitution of the revived Grande Loge de France - based on the Declaration of Principles from the Convent of Lausanne of 1875 - defined Freemasonry as a "universal alliance based on solidarity" aiming at the ''promotion of emancipatory evolution'' of Humanity. In the early 20th century, the Grande Loge de France grew from 3,000 members in 1894 to 8,400 in 1912. In 1914, it accounted with 149 Lodges. Some of these Lodges were specifically centered on the study of symbolism: the ''Anglo-Saxon Lodge'' as well ''Thebah'', Lodge of which

René Guénon René Jean-Marie-Joseph Guénon (15 November 1886 – 7 January 1951), also known as ''Abdalwâhid Yahiâ'' (; ''ʿAbd al-Wāḥid Yaḥiā'') was a French intellectual who remains an influential figure in the domain of metaphysics, having writte ...

was a member. In 1911, Grande Loge de France purchased a former franciscan monastery at 8 rue Puteaux in Paris 17th district to establish its current Headquarters. During the First World War and even though activity was reduced, an International Conference was held in January 1917 between Obediences from France, Belgium, Italy and Serbia. The creation of the

League of Nations The League of Nations (french: link=no, Société des Nations ) was the first worldwide intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was to maintain world peace. It was founded on 10 January 1920 by the Paris Peace Conference th ...

was favourably voted on that occasion. An exceptional Convent was held on 30 and 31 January 1926 with the purpose of fighting fascism. In June 1940, the archives of Grande Loge de France were seized by the Gestapo and the german authorities occupied the building of 8 rue Puteaux. However, the Scottish Freemasonry tried to survive in the clandestinity imposed by wartimes, but and following the Principles that had been edicted by the Grand Master Dumesnil de Gramont at the end of 1940. At the time of the

Libération ''Libération'' (), popularly known as ''Libé'' (), is a daily newspaper in France, founded in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973 in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Initially positioned on the far-left of France' ...

and due to the deaths of many members in Deportation, the Grande Loge de France resumed its works with only 3,600 brethren. It focused on its works and the initiatory and symbolic dimensions of traditional Freemasonry. In December 1948, a major Temple of the Grande Loge de France Headquarters was named in honor of Brother Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was inaugurated by

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt () (October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four ...

in person. In the 1960s and 1970s its Grand Master, Doctor played a key role in the elaboration of the law on contraception presented to Parliament by

Simone Veil Simone Veil (; ; 13 July 1927 – 30 June 2017) was a French magistrate and politician who served as Health Minister in several governments and was President of the European Parliament from 1979 to 1982, the first woman to hold that office. ...

in 1975. During the second half of the 20th century, Grande Loge de France has steadily grown from 438 Lodges and 17,500 members in 1989 to 640 Lodges and 25,000 members in 1998. As of 2020 it accounts with 930 Lodges and over 33,000 members. The Grande Loge de France works the first three Degrees of the

(A&ASR).

Principles and governance

Principles of Freemasonry

The Grande Loge de France imposes the strict observance of the fundamental following principles: * Invocation to the Great Architect of the Universe, * Presence in Lodge of the Three Great Lights: the Volume of the Sacred Law (Bible) opened and exposed with the Square and the Compass, * Exclusive sovereignty over the Symbolic Degrees * Total independence of any other structure including of High Degrees * Male-only attendance in all Ritual works * Exemption of any political or religious discussion in the Lodge * Progressive and Spiritual approach to the initiatory process As such, the Grande Loge de France operates in the respect of fundamental Principles of traditional Freemasonry and refers constantly to the motto ''Ordo Ab Chao'' of the

Governance

The Grande Loge de France is governed by a Federal Counsel of 33 members elected by the Representative of each of the 930 Lodges during the annual Convent (General Assembly). The duration of the charge is 3 years. The Federal Counsel is presided by the Grand Master also elected by the Convent for the same duration of mandate. Since June 2018, the Grand Master of Grande Loge de France is Pierre-Marie Adam. The Grande Loge de France is defined by its Constitution and General Bylaws which apply to all members of the

Grand Lodge A Grand Lodge (or Grand Orient or other similar title) is the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country. In Freemasonry A Grand Lodge or Grand Orient is the us ...

().

Grande Loge de France outside France

The Grande Loge de France has 36 lodges in 17 countries outside France as a result of history (Lodges in former French colonies) or when no Amity between a foreign

and the Grande Loge de France yet existed in the country at the time of the foundation. *Belgium: Two lodges in Tournai and Baisieux *Canada: One lodge in Montreal *Cambodia: One lodge in Phnom Penh *Congo: Ten lodges in Brazzaville, Dolisie, Goma, Kimshasa and Pointe Noire *Costa Rica: One lodge in San Jose *Dominican Republic: One lodge in Saint Domingue *England: One lodge in London *Israel: One lodge in Jerusalem, one lodge in Tel Aviv *Lithuania: One lodge in Kaunas *Madagascar: One lodge in Antananarivo *Mauritius: Six lodges in Grand Baie, Pamplemousses, Port-Louis, Saint-Pierre and Vacoas. *Poland: One lodge in Warsaw *Russia: One lodge in Moscow *Senegal: Three lodges in Dakar and Saly Portudal *Spain: One lodge in Barcelona *Thailand: One lodge in Bangkok, one lodge in Phuket *Vietnam: One lodge in Ho-Chi Mihn

International Confederation of United Grand Lodges of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite

In 2000, together with other European Grand Lodges, the Traditional and Symbolic "Opera" Grand Lodge (G∴L∴T∴S∴O∴) and the G∴L∴D∴F∴ formed the Confederation of the United Grand Lodges of Europe. As of 2020, the structure evolved and became the International Confederation of United Grand Lodges of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite with 30 constituent members: * Grand Lodge of Bulgaria * Grande Loge Unie du Cameroun * Gran Logia de Canarias * Grand Lodge of Czech Lands * Gran Logia Escosesa de Colombia * Grande Loge Unie de Cote d'Ivoire * Gran Logia de Ecuador A&ASR * Gran Logia General de Espana * Grande Loge de France * Grande Loge Symbolique du Gabon * Grand Lodge of Greece A&ASR * United Grand Lodge of Greece A&ASR * Grand Lodge of Hungary A&ASR * Grand Lodge of South India * Serenissima Gran Loggia d'Italia * United Grand Lodge of Latvia * Grande Loge Unie du Liban * Grande Loge Unie du Maroc * National Grand Lodge of Moldova * Gran Logia de Mexico A&ASR * Gran Logia de Libres y Aceptados Masones de Paraguay * Gran Logia Nacional de Filipinas * National Grand Lodge of Romania * United Grand Lodge of Russia * Gran Logia Simbolica del Salvador * National Grand Lodge of Serbia * Regular Grand Lodge of Slovenia * Mexican Grand Lodge of Texas A&ASR * Grande Loge du Togo * Gran Oriente de Uruguay * National Grand Lodge of Portugal

Bibliography

*''Connaître la Grande Loge de France'', édit. Ivoire Clair, collection ''Les Architectes de la Connaissance'' dirigée par Philippe Morbach, Paris, 2000 *Daniel Ligou (dir.), ''Histoire des Francs-Maçons en France'', tome 2, ''1815-2000'', Privat, Toulouse, 2000

References

External links

* {{Authority control

Freemasonry in France 1894 establishments in France