Russian Freemasonry 1

 Russian Freemasonry 1

Russian Freemasonry

 

Introduction to Russian Freemasonry

 

Freemasonry in Russia has a really rich history. It is the heritage of Russia,

and world Masonry, as well.

 

Since the start of the Russian Masonry during the reign of Peter the Great

and up to now, Russian Masons have made valuable contributions to

Russian and world culture, the spiritual evolution of mankind, the perception

of a Human's place on the Earth under the God, the growth and

development, the maturing of the society. The spiritual ideals of Noble and

Ethical society, Freedom, Brotherhood, Equality, Faith, — have always been

the ideals of our Brethren. Russian Masonry has always been trying to "take

a good man and make him better", to make Masons - the men possessing a

strong belief in God, of high moral values.

 

And all the history of Russian Masonry, the list of Russian Masons prove,

that it has succeeded in this. The names of I. Yelagin, A. Suvorov, N.

Novikov, A. Pushkin, M. Garder, and others, are the best proof. During the

times of Catherine II the Great, Paul I, Alexander I, Nikolas I, Alexander II,

Alexander III, Nikolas II, our Brethren used to be the basis of Russian elite

and had introduced a lot necessary changes into the Russian Society,

propagated the ideals of humanitarianism, contributed to developing new

Laws, and so on.

 

Continuously, during all its history, Russian Masonry has evolved as a part

of the Whole — the Freemasonry. Deep and friendly relations with our

Brethren from Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and other countries

have always been characteristic of Russian Masons. Visiting our meetings,

exchanging new ideas and literature, helping in the organization of new

Lodges, foreign Brethren took part in the activities of the Russian Masonry.

Of course, Russian Brethren have visited the meetings of European and

American Lodges, took part in Masonic activities since the Willhelmsbad

Convention up to the present time. And now, our foreign Brethren take part

in the meetings of our Lodges, when staying in Russia. We are always

delighted to see them.

 

After the more than 70-years' recess, or "sleeping" period that was due to the

laws of our not long ago closed society, prohibiting the very existence of any

group, the aims of which were not precisely the same as the aims of

 

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governing party, the Russian Fremasonry has been revived. Actually, our

history has not interrupted, and all this time, Russian Masonry has been

keeping and developing its ideas, its principles and traditions, in other

countries. Feeling deep gratitude towards our Brthren like Mikhail

Vassilyevitch Garder, reading the history and the records of the meeting of

Russian Lodges in France, we without a shadow of doubt say, that the

Russian Masonry of today is the genuine offsping and descendant of the

Russian Masonry of the times of A. Pushkin and A. Suvorov. The Fraternity

not only has revived here, but it constantly grows and develops.

 

The Grand Lodge of Russia was constituted by the Grand Loge Nationale

Francaise on June, 24, 1995. We have been recognized now by 70 Grand

Lodges, including:

 

 

 

The Grand Lodge of Russia

 

Founded: 1995. Descent: France (GLNF)

 

Address: The Grand Secretary, P.O. Box 18, 109377 Moscow.

 

Telephone or Fax (709 5) 206 8176. Email glor@orc.ru

 

Lodges: 12. Membership: 200. Ritual: Scottish Rite Craft degrees.

 

Publications: Constitution.

History:

 

On 24 January 1731, when the Grand Lodge of England appointed a Captain

John Phillips as Provincial Grand Master of Russia and Germany, masonry

in Russia was mainly the preserve of foreign residents, chiefly British and

German. In c. 1741 1 Grand Lodge appointed as Phillips' successor a Scots

Jacobite, James Keith (1696-1758), who fought in the Russian and Prussian

service. Masonry took root in Russia in the reign of the Empress Elisabeth

(1741-62), particularly among the nobility, and flourished for most of the

reign of Catherine the Great (1762-96). The first regular lodge under the

English system, Perfect Unity Lodge No. 414, was constituted at St.

Petersburg in 1771. In 1772 Grand Lodge appointed the first native

Provincial Grand Master, Ivan Yelagin (1725-94), secretary and theatrical

adviser to Catherine. The 14 or so lodges under Yelagin's control united in

1776 to form a National Grand Lodge, which, under the aegis of the

combined English and Swedish systems, practised a heterodox mixture of

craft masonry, higher degrees masonry, Knights Templar and mystical and

esoteric rites introduced from Germany and Sweden.

By the early 1780s, according to one account, there were c. 100 lodges in

Russia, with an average membership of 25. Members included many of the

 

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foremost men of the day, including the writer and publisher Nikolai

Novikov. Masonry, however, was held in increasing disfavour by Catherine,

suspicious of its private meetings and even of its philanthropic activities.

Government pressure began in 1782, Novikov was imprisoned in 1792, and

by 1794 all lodges were forced to close. The Craft was tolerated under

Catherine's son, Czar Paul (1796-1801), and still more so under his son,

Czar Alexander I (1801-1825), who in 1810 formally permitted the

establishment of masonic lodges. The Grand Lodge Astrea, founded at St.

Petersburg in 1815, presided over 23 lodges by 1819, again largely under

German and Swedish influence. In the period of reaction following the

Napoleonic wars, however, with the spread of revolutionary secret societies,

Alexander in 1822 issued a decree prohibiting masonry. It was certainly a

fact that most of the army officers, who participated in the abortive

Decembrist revolution on Alexander's death in 1825, were former masons.

Alexander's brother and successor, Nicholas 1 (1825-55) suppressed

masonry under a further decree in 1826. Thereafter, the Russian Craft

existed in limbo. Masonry revived after the 1905 Revolution, and flourished

until 1917, but was once more suppressed after the Bolshevik Revolution,

formally in 1922.

 

Russian emigres in France founded Lodge Astrea No. 100 in 1922, working

in the Russian Language, under the Grande Loge Nationale Francaise

(GLNF). Members of the GLNF provided a catalyst for the return of regular

Freemasonry to Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Notes for Visitors

 

As will be appreciated in view of Russian Masonic history, Russian masons

tend to be discreet in relation to their membership. It is preferable to address

envelopes to the Grand Secretary without any Masonic reference.

An intending visitor could endeavour to telephone the Grand Lodge office in

Moscow when in the country, or attend it personally, in order to make

arrangements to visit a lodge. However, be aware that the Grand Lodge

office is not permanently staffed. The best recommendation is to contact the

Grand Lodge office by either email or fax, well in advance, asking for a

contact telephone number for use on arrival. Note that no mention of

Masonic interests should be put on Visa Applications.

Visitors are most welcome, and can expect to be met at a convenient public

place, then taken to a meeting. Presently, Russian lodges do not possess their

own Masonic halls, but use rented accommodation, such as schools.

Dress for Russian lodges is a dark lounge suit, though a collar and tie is

acceptable. Regalia is based on that of the GLNF, which in itself is similar to

English regalia. Visitors will need to bring their own personal regalia with

 

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them. The ritual used by Russian lodges is the Scottish Rite Craft degrees, as

used by Lodge Astrea No. 100 GLNF, and translated into Russian.

A festive board is held after every lodge meeting, analogous to the

GLNF/English pattern, which includes a light supper or buffet, often replete

with wine, beer, mineral water and, of course, vodka. A short formal toast

list, and speeches often accompanies a supper. An overseas visitor is likely

to be called upon to reply briefly to a toast in honour, while most Russian

lodges use the Russian language, quite a few members are bilingual, and English is understood.