The embattled François Stifani was reelected as Grand Master of the Grande Loge Nationale Francaise on March 30th, receiving 45% of the vote. The strong internal protest movement against him was not enough to beat Stifani, although he has suspended or expelled many who sought to unseat him. With his own actions at the center of the worldwide Masonic reaction that have resulted in numerous grand lodges withdrawing or limiting recognition of the GLNF, it seems there will be no quick solution to the situation.See the article in Le Figaro for news of the election.
What I truly don't understand is why the same pattern keeps repeating itself over and over again in France. There will be a Grand Lodge that's recognized as "regular" and abiding by all of the Landmarks of Freemasonry. Then a group will start agitating to break from the Landmarks and admit atheists, and/or admit women, and/or not require an open Volume of Sacred Law on the altar. Eventually they're successful in changing the Grand Lodge's constitutions, and every regular Grand Lodge in the world withdraws recognition and suspends all fraternal relations with this Grand Lodge. Eventually, a group that is committed to abiding by the Landmarks successfully founds a new Grand Lodge...and the process starts all over again, as once again a group of individuals starts agitating to change the Grand Constitutions.
ReplyDeleteWhy does this keep happening over and over and over again? If someone wants to be a part of a Grand Lodge that admits atheists or women or doesn't require a Volume of Sacred Law when Lodge is in session, why not just join one of the many other French Grand Lodges that have already gone through this process? Why join the one that abides by the Landmarks only to force it to change? Do they think that they'll get away with it and that maybe "this time, nobody will notice that we've changed our Constitutions and are no longer abiding by the ancient landmarks?"
Bro. Dave Brown, Garden City Lodge, Newtonville, Massachusetts
Perhaps it is because the French have always been better at seeing reason than has the Anglophone world. After all, this battle has nothing to do with the landmarks that Bro. Brown has mentioned, but rather has been all about corruption and political game playing.
ReplyDeleteBro. Dave, the split with the Grand Orient of France did not occur because the Grand Orient changed their constitution in response to "agitators". It was, in fact, the English who changed the belief requirements in their constitution first, not the French. However, Grand Lodges have every right to change their constitutions, and it is purely a matter of opinion whether this is a change in any perceived "landmarks". The reality is that English and French Freemasonry simply grew in different directions over the years, and developed substantively different ideas about the landmarks and different visions as to the direction Freemasonry should go.
ReplyDeleteHowever, E C Ballard is right: what is happening in the GLNF is a completely different animal. It is not about landmarks or differing visions of Freemasonry. It is about accusations of corruption, and the fact that this has resulted in the Grand Lodge being run by a court-appointed administrator.
Allan Randall, MM, LDH
Umm. Yeah. That must be it. Le État Français (40-44) était articulièrement raisonnable.
ReplyDeleteUmm. Yeah. That must be it. Le État Français (40-44) était particulièrement raisonnable.
ReplyDeleteCHRIS - sorry, am having trouble with my French tonight:
ReplyDeleteThis is what I meant to post:
Le État Français a été particulièrement raisonnable.
Essayons-nous de faire semblant d'être ce que nous ne sommes pas? Comment maçonnique de vous!
ReplyDeleteI imagine the edicts of derecognition will now start cascading from US Grand Lodges.
ReplyDeleteIf the GLF could get their act in gear and disavow association with the GOdF, now would be the time for them to seek recognition.
No, I'm a gadfly in any language.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that GLNF find for now recognition by UGLE.
ReplyDeleteAlso perhaps an another Grand Lodge here in France.
And for me the GLTMF - Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Moderne de France - could have these recognition. Because its follow the Landmarks and practice the Traditional Masonry.
Here the link if you would want to see : http://www.gltmf.com/ but it's in French.
Best Wishes and sorry for my english mistakes...
Jeff Barani from Vence (FRANCE)
I don't think that GLNF find for now recognition by UGLE.
ReplyDeleteAlso perhaps an another Grand Lodge here in France.
And for me the GLTMF - Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Moderne de France - could have these recognition. Because its follow the Landmarks and practice the Traditional Masonry.
Here the link if you would want to see : http://www.gltmf.com/ but it's in French.
Best Wishes and sorry for my english mistakes...
Jeff Barani from Vence (FRANCE)
I love the brethren of the GLNF I meet every time I give a tour (I'm a tour guide of the Masonic Temple of Philadelphia, the second most beautiful masonic temple in the world next to Stockholm's temple for the Grand Lodge Of Sweden) and they approach themselves to me.
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, albeit unrecognized, brethren of both the GLF and the GOF (as well as the Feminine GL of F (or Belgium)) are often quite cordial, nice and understanding.
I Understand, contextually,. the concept of various obediences. Though I'll only visit those that my GLs ( I am in two jurisdictions, CT and PA), I dont think less of the GOF (or GOB) and the GLFOF (or GLFOB).
The point is, the GM of the singular "regular" GL of France, that of the GLNF, seems to be giving their obedience more trouble than it deserves. Were he to truly adhere to masonic conduct, he's not run or GM and, or, maybe even resign. The brethren of the GLNF I've met seem similarly frustrated with his leadership.
At the very least, the innocent members of the GLNF can still visit my lodge (the GL of PA F&AM) without consequence
us
Seamus (Columbia, F&AM< of PA) and Madison (87)( (GL OF AF&AM of CT)
Dear Bro.,
ReplyDeleteAnd I know that the GLTMF - the Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Moderne de France - gave all the useful information for this recognition by Commission on Information for Recognition.
Also wait and see ;-)
Best wishes.
Jeff Barani from Vence (France)