Russian Freemasonry 4

Russian Freemasonry 4

in Siberia and the Crimea. Many military lodges were formed during the

Napoleonic wars.

 

In 1810 the old adherents to the Yelaguin or English system of Masonry

joined with the Rosicrucian Masons to form the Grand Directorial Lodge of

Saint Prince Vladimir of Order as the unifying body for Russian

Freemasonry.(8) By this time the Craft was growing so fast that it attracted

the vigilant eye of the government who found a willing informant in John

Boeber. He was the leader of the Swedish system of Masonry which was

then the dominating influence in Russian Masonry. This system was closely

akin to the Rosicrucian movement and was dominated by the "higher

degrees" which were strictly Christian in character.

 

By 1815 their innate differences lead to its dissolution and the forming of

two Grand Lodges by August 30th. The Grand Lodge Astrea was the

dominant body which initially confined its interest to the blue lodge degrees

and freely admitted members with diverse backgrounds and interests. The

second, the Swedish Provincial Grand Lodge, was strictly regulated and of

less concern to the government. While the Grand Lodge Astrea had to

submit a constitution to the government for approval to exist, it remained a

concern to the authorities.

 

By 1820, when the Grand Lodge of Maine was formed, the Grand Lodge

Astrea was composed of 24 lodges but there was no real strength to it. Lodge

ritual work followed one of five offerings:

 

Hamburg modification of the English ceremonial,

 

Zinnendorf s rite,

 

rectified Strict Observance rite,

 

Swedish rite, and

 

Fessler's modified English rite.

 

In his article, Telepneff did an analysis of the Astrea lodges and it is clear

that its predominant character was German followed by Russian and Polish.

Russian Freemasonry had lost its national character from the days of

Yelaguin. No unifying ritual further weakened the Craft. It was but a house

of cards awaiting a strong wind.

 

Over the years, Alexander had grown from a young forward-looking ruler to

reactionary ruler over a suspicious government. Masonry no longer held a

favored position. Russian Masonry met its betrayer in a strong conservative

politician and a Mason from the old school, Egor A. Kushelev, Lieutenant-

General and Senator. He was elected Deputy Grand Master of Grand Lodge

Astrea in 1820 even though his ideal was the Swedish System. He found

himself at the head of a body whose members held entirely opposite views

from one another, both Masonically and socially. Some held dangerous

political strivings and could become nests of the "Illuminati."

 

This was all too much for Kushelev who sought to restore the old rules and

doctrines as he understood them even though they were opposed by his

members. In 1821, he wrote to his Emperor suggesting that Russian

Freemasonry be placed more strictly under the control of the government or

that the Craft be permanently closed.

 

On August 1, 1822, without warning Alexander decreed the closing of all

Masonic lodges and all secret societies in general. This struck as a

thunderbolt and it was meekly complied with by the lodges. On August 10th,

the last open meeting of Russian Masons was held. There were isolated

cases of lodges continuing to meet in St. Petersburg and Moscow and even

more so in the provinces, but Russian Freemasonry was broken.

 

The reign of Nicholas I, 1825-1855, was even more stringent than the

closing years of his father's. On August 21, 1826, he confirmed a decree

closing Masonic lodges. This brought about the abolition of the Craft

although secret meetings are known to have continued until at least 1830.

 

Masonry returned to Russia in the first quarter of the 20th century.

Unfortunately, these Masons were mostly involved in the political turmoil of

the age as witnessed by the 1905 uprising against the government and the

revolution of 1917, which toppled the last Romanov Tzar, Nicholas II.

 

Telepneff gives a very good synopsis of Russian Freemasonry in the first

quarter of this century from information provided from the Russian Assistant

Counsul-General in Paris in 1922. I quote for its succinctness:

 

"At the beginning of 1906 about fifteen Russian, well-known for their social

and political activities, mostly members of the constitutional-democratic

party, joined French Lodges; some became members of the Grand Orient,

but the majority entered two Lodges under the Supreme Council of the

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite— "Kosmos" and "Mount-Sinai." On

returning to Russian, they formed two provisional Lodges, "The Polar Star"

in Petersburg and "Regeneration" in Moscow. In May, 1908, both Lodges

were solemnly opened by two members of the High Council of the Grand

Orient, specially sent for that purpose from Paris. At the same time the

Grand Lodge of France established two Lodges" one in Petersburg

("Phoenix") and one in Moscow. Russian Lodges obtained the right to

establish further Lodges without interference from Paris, and accordingly in

1908 and 1909 two more Lodges were opened: "The Iron Ring" in Nijni-

Novgorod and one in Kiev. The existence of Masonic Lodges was

discovered by the Russian Government in 1909; it also became known to the

authorities that they were of French origin. It was then decided by the

Russian Lodges to suspend work, and this was accordingly done till 1911,

when some of their members decided to renew with due prudence their

activities. One would not call these activities Masonic in any sense, as their

chief aim was purely political— the abolishment of autocracy, and a

democratic regime in Russia; they acknowledged allegiance to the Grand

Orient of France. This political organization comprised in 1913-1914 about

forty v Lodges.' In 1915-1916 disagreements arose between their members

who belonged to two political parties (the constitutional democrats and the

progressives) and could not agree on a common policy; ten Lodges became

dormant. The remaining thirty Lodges continued to work, and took part in

the organization of the 1917 March revolution and in the establishment of

the Provisional Government. Their political aim being attained, the

organization began to decay; twenty-eight Lodges existed on the eve of the

Bolshevik revolution, and since then most of their members have left

Russia." (9)

 

Writing in the fall of 1922, Telepneff reported that two Russian Lodges had

been formed in Paris under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of France while

a Russian lodge existed in Berlin, The Northern Star Lodge, under a warrant

of the Grand Lodge of the Three Globes.

 

Futile attempts to reestablish Russian Freemasonry met with the mandate of

the 4th Congress of the Communist International in Moscow which required

all Communist Masons to sever their lodge membership. They could not be

considered for important posts in the new reign until two years after their

severance. In 1925 Telepneff wrote that "regular Masonic activities of every

description have ceased in Russia proper, due to the severe restrictions

imposed by Bolshevist authorities. "(10)

Simon Greenleaf, the second Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine,

1822-1824, compiled a book entitled A Brief Summary into the Origin and

Principles of Free Masonry from a series of lectures he gave while he was

the District Deputy Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in

the District of Maine. He wrote, as regards the character of Masonry,

 

"Yet still, the fraternity, bound together by the most solemn obligations, and

these strengthened by the remembrance of the common danger to which they

had recently been exposed, continued to assemble, at the customary periods,

for purposes of charity and brotherly love. Masonry contained something too

excellent and attractive, and its secrets were too curious and valuable, to be

abandoned on light grounds. It was a strong bond of union. It possessed a

key which unlocked the middle chamber of the heart. Its secrets always

served as letters of recommendation, and to the present day have continued

to entitle their possessor to the benefits of hospitality and protection. At

various periods it has declined, and sometimes has suffered severe

oppression. Despotic governments have always been afraid of secret

assemblies; and all the governments of Europe have, in their turn, been

despotic, and have enacted laws against such associations. But by

persecution, Masonry has never been suppressed; on the contrary its

foundations have been strengthened. Even in times of war and anarchy its

benign principles have continued their salutary operation on society, and the

order still flourishes with increasing reputation. "(1 1)

 

The persecution of Russian Freemasonry has been long and hard but like the

Phoenix, the Craft is rising again. With the collapse of communism and with

the greater opportunity of Russians to travel abroad, some have been

exposed to and have embraced Freemasonry. What an affirmation these

brethren bring to the observations of M.W. Bro. Greenleaf. What an

obligation rests on us to aid their endeavors.

 

This writer has been advised in a letter of April 22, 1996 of the following by

George Dergachev, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Russia. On January

14, 1992, the first regular Lodge "Harmony" was constituted in Moscow by

the Grand Lodge National Francaise. This lodge now has 41 members.

 

September 8, 1993 will be a memorable day in Russian Freemasonry for

three more lodges were constituted by the Grand Lodge National Franchise;

Lotus No. 2 in Moscow with 36 current members; New Astrea No. 3 in St.

Petersburg with 19 current members; and Gamaioun No. 4 in Voronezh with

13 current members. Voronezh is a city lying south southeast of Moscow on

the Voronezh River shortly before its joining with the River Don.

 

M. W. Bro. Dergachev writes "Most of the Brothers have graduated from the

Universities. Among then there are scientists, journalists, businessmen,

bankers, officers of the Army, Navy, policemen, engineers, writers,

producers and lawyers."

 

These four Regular Daughter Lodges of the Grand Lodge Nationale

Francaise formed the Grand Lodge of Russian on June 24, 1995. In addition

to their Mother Grand Lodge, they have been recognized by the Grand

Lodges of Poland, Hungary and New York. The Grand Master and Bro.

Vladimir Djanguirian, his Grand Secretary, attended by invitation the

Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of New York this past May.

 

While this paper has only quickly hit upon some of the high points in the

history of Russian Freemasonry as provided by Bro. Telepneff, it is hoped

that it will make us realize that the Craft has a long history in Russia. May

we realize how it has suffered at the hands of autocratic and totalitarian

leaders. May we be moved to seek to help our Brothers prevail in their

endeavors to advance Freemasonry in Russia at this time.