Freemasonry in France
Encyclopedia
Freemasonry
in France
has been influential on the worldwide Masonic movement due to its founding of Continental Freemasonry
.
There are many and varied Masonic rites and obediences in France. The main male-only masonic organisations are the Grand Orient de France
, the Grande Loge de France
and the Grande Loge Nationale Française
, the main female-only organisation is the Women's Grand Lodge Of France
, and the main mixed organisation is the Le Droit Humain
. Other organisations exist such as the Felicitaries.
was not however registered by the parliament of Paris and was never enacted in France. At the end of the 19th century, in the struggle between the French Republic and the Catholic Church, Freemasonry and its then-powerful networks definitively backed the state, leading to the Affaire Des Fiches
, and even came to be called "the church of the Republic".
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
has been influential on the worldwide Masonic movement due to its founding of Continental Freemasonry
Continental Freemasonry
Continental Freemasonry refers to those Masonic lodges, mainly on the continent of Europe, that recognise the Grand Orient de France or belong to CLIPSAS or SIMPA.-The two branches of Freemasonry:Today, Freemasonry...
.
There are many and varied Masonic rites and obediences in France. The main male-only masonic organisations are the Grand Orient de France
Grand Orient de France
The Grand Orient de France is the largest of several Masonic organizations in France and the oldest in Continental Europe, founded in 1733.-Foundation:...
, the Grande Loge de France
Grande Loge de France
The Grande Loge de France is the third largest Masonic obedience in France. It positions itself as occupying a unique position in the landscape of French Freemasonry, recognising and having relations with the obediences of Continental Freemasonry while still considering itself to be separate from...
and the Grande Loge Nationale Française
Grande Loge Nationale Française
The Grande Loge Nationale Française is a French Masonic Grand Lodge. It was founded in 1913, by two lodges, "Le Centre des Amis" Lodge splitting from the larger and older Grand Orient de France and "L'Anglaise" lodge, an independent lodge based in Bordeaux...
, the main female-only organisation is the Women's Grand Lodge Of France
Women's Grand Lodge Of France
The Women's Grand Lodge Of France is the Grand Lodge of France's women-only Masonic lodges.-History:Starting in the 18th century, a system of Masonic cooperation by adoption came to attention of the Masons' wives and families...
, and the main mixed organisation is the Le Droit Humain
Le Droit Humain
The International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain is a global Masonic Order, membership of which is available to men and women on equal terms, regardless of nationality, religion or ethnicity. The Order is founded on the ancient teachings and traditions of Freemasonry, using Masonic ritual...
. Other organisations exist such as the Felicitaries.
Obediences
- Grand Orient de FranceGrand Orient de FranceThe Grand Orient de France is the largest of several Masonic organizations in France and the oldest in Continental Europe, founded in 1733.-Foundation:...
- Grande Loge de FranceGrande Loge de FranceThe Grande Loge de France is the third largest Masonic obedience in France. It positions itself as occupying a unique position in the landscape of French Freemasonry, recognising and having relations with the obediences of Continental Freemasonry while still considering itself to be separate from...
- Grande Loge Nationale FrançaiseGrande Loge Nationale FrançaiseThe Grande Loge Nationale Française is a French Masonic Grand Lodge. It was founded in 1913, by two lodges, "Le Centre des Amis" Lodge splitting from the larger and older Grand Orient de France and "L'Anglaise" lodge, an independent lodge based in Bordeaux...
- Grand Lodge Mondial of Misraïm
- Women's Grand Lodge Of FranceWomen's Grand Lodge Of FranceThe Women's Grand Lodge Of France is the Grand Lodge of France's women-only Masonic lodges.-History:Starting in the 18th century, a system of Masonic cooperation by adoption came to attention of the Masons' wives and families...
- Le Droit HumainLe Droit HumainThe International Order of Co-Freemasonry Le Droit Humain is a global Masonic Order, membership of which is available to men and women on equal terms, regardless of nationality, religion or ethnicity. The Order is founded on the ancient teachings and traditions of Freemasonry, using Masonic ritual...
- Universal Mixed Grand LodgeUniversal Mixed Grand LodgeThe Universal Mixed Grand Lodge is a French Masonic jurisdiction, formed by a split in the French federation of Le Droit Humain by those who felt that this jurisdiction's Supreme Council was too important in the jurisdiction's functioning The Universal Mixed Grand Lodge (Grande Loge mixte or GLMU)...
- Mixed Grand Lodge of FranceMixed Grand Lodge of FranceThe Mixed Grand Lodge of France is a Masonic lodge in France, made up of men and women. It formed in 1982, with the support of the Grand Orient de France, by splitting from the Universal Mixed Grand Lodge ....
- Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Symbolique Opéra
- Loge Nationale Française
- Grande Loge Féminine de Memphis-Misraïm
- Grand Orient Arabe Oecuménique
- Grande Loge Rectifiée
Critiques and scandals
In the 18th century, the Pope banned Freemasonry, for reasons linked to the situation in Tuscany that were more political than religious The relevant bull, Eminenti Apostolatus SpeculaEminenti Apostolatus Specula
In eminenti apostolatus specula was a Papal Bull issued by Pope Clement XII on 28 April 1738, banning Catholics from becoming Freemasons.He noted that membership of Masonic Lodges, "spreading far and wide and daily growing in strength" was open to men of any religion or sect, who were sworn to...
was not however registered by the parliament of Paris and was never enacted in France. At the end of the 19th century, in the struggle between the French Republic and the Catholic Church, Freemasonry and its then-powerful networks definitively backed the state, leading to the Affaire Des Fiches
Affaire Des Fiches
L'Affaire des Fiches de délation was a political scandal in France in 1904-1905 in which it was discovered that the militantly anticlerical War Minister under Emile Combes, General Louis André, was determining promotions based on a huge card index on public officials, detailing which were Catholic...
, and even came to be called "the church of the Republic".
Documentaries
- "Grand Orient les frères invisibles" - script by Alain Moreau, directed by Patrick Cabouat, produced by France 5 / Program 33.
Other authorities in this area
- Pierre Chevallier, Histoire de la franc-maçonnerie française, 3 volumes, Fayard, 1974.
- Laurent Jaunaux, Concise History of the French Regular Freemasonry, Philalethe Society, 2001