Major Rebellion Within the National Grand Lodge of France (GLNF)

GLNF Grand Master Francois Stifani

The French magazine L'Express is reporting a major dispute within the Grande Loge Nationale Francaise, the French grand lodge most recognized outside of its borders. My rather free translation is below, or read the original here.

Freemasons Still in Rebellion - by Francois Koch
L'Express
Thursday, March 25, 2010

The dispute never ends at the GLNF (National Grand Lodge of France). On Thursday, more than a thousand delegates from lodges made the trip to Paris to show their discontent.

The "Rebels of December 4," whose dispute is spreading beyond Paris and Tours, have prepared for this confrontation for several months. They accuse their Grand Master, Francois Stifani, of declining the examination of the accounts of the obedience by an independent auditor, and of offering his services to the President of the Republic [Sarkozy] and his government.

Out of 3,200 Venerable [Worshipful] Masters and Senior Wardens convened, nearly 1,850 brothers were present, whereas usually only a few hundred come. Because of the crowd, the meeting was not held in the Grand Temple on Rue Pisan, but in the Equinoxe Room of the Aquaboulevard. Even before the opening session of the Assembly, the atmosphere was heated, as security guards drove back dozens of the Brothers suspended by the Grand Master, in particular those from the principal site of the dispute, in Touraine.

In spite of the pressure, the "No" votes, by a show of hands, officially received at least 52 - 53% of the votes. However, the "rebels" estimate the votes against at approximately two thirds. They had appointed an officer of the High Court to verify the counting of the votes.

After the results of this dramatic turn of events, the Brothers rose while chanting, "Stifani Resign!" before singing the Marseillaise. The Grand Master agreed that the accounts of the [Grand Lodge], €17 million (about US$22.5 million), will be audited by an independent examiner, but refused to call into question the term of the Board of Directors, arguing that the issue was not on the agenda.

Although the protesters knew that the dissatisfaction of the 43,000 Brothers was underestimated by Francois Stifani, they did not expect such a disapproval, unprecedented in this obedience.

According to previous articles in L'Express, the Grand Lodge meeting last December was something of a free for all, when thirty brethren, led by 71 year old Claude Seiler, attempted to put a long list of questions about improprieties to the Grand Master from the floor, resulting in a walkout and a great gnashing of teeth. Since then, GM Stifani has expelled 24 brethren. The expulsion of Tourangeau Thierry Perrin, a 65-year old Provincial Grand Master of the Loire Valley has caused a major eruption, battled out loudly and publicly on blogs and internet sites.

GLNF brethren are hot about a number of topics. They demand an impartial audit of the books, as the above report stated. An 850 square foot Paris apartment costing €2.5 million (US$3.3 million) was recently purchased as a "venue more suitable and consistent with the current status of the grand lodge." Stifani said the new digs, several blocks away from the Grand Lodge's very large and modern multi-story building on Paris' north side in the 17th Arrondissement, were needed to receive "major players in civil society, politicians, intellectuals or religious, to the benefit of the reputation of our house." The rank and file strongly disagreed. And there is growing discontent over Stifani's cozying up to unsavory African leaders with murderous track records and criminal accusations against them. Stifani (and the other French obediences) have looked the other way at their personal histories, believing a Masonic head of state is a prestigious win for the fraternity, regardless of coups d'etat, tribal slaughters, or theft of national treasuries.

Stifani has hurled longstanding Masons from his committees, claiming they were attempting to stage palace coups, but some GLNF Masons believe he is leading the obedience down the wrong path. Freemasonry in France is dominated by three principal and competing grand lodges. The Grande Oriente de France is the largest, and is well connected politically. It is left-leaning, does not require belief in a Supreme Being, has recently allowed the initiation of women, and makes official public pronouncements about government and religious policies. The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise, on the other hand, is descended from English Freemasons in France after WWI. Like the majority of Anglo-derived Freemasonry, the GLNF has long followed the rule that politics and religion are not the business of lodges and grand lodges, until now. Stifani clearly wants his grand lodge to have the kind of influence (and President Nicolas Sarkozy's ear) that the Grande Oriente enjoys. He also seems to be especially steamed because he and Sarkozy are both on the Right politically (as opposed to the GO's former Grand Master, Alain Bauer on the Left).

Stifani has sought a more public image for the GLNF, opening some of its lodges to TV cameras, which caused some members no end of heartburn. Members were shown on TV giving the penal signs. African dignitaries were seen handing Stifani a lavish gift from Cartier. And he stated in a TV interview, "I have the onerous task of being a spiritual guide." Rebelling members agree it's onerous—they say his job description is not that of a guru. Author and editor John Sollis resigned from the GLNF and has taken his gripes public. His complaints, echoed by a growing and vociferous contingent, is that Stifani's methods are more suited to North Korea. Stifani clearly sees the competition with the Grand Orient and the smaller Grande loge de France (GLdF) as a blood sport, and has put great pressure on lodges to recruit new members - a common situation in the US, but unheard of before in France. In the 1980s, the GLNF was the smallest of the three GLs at work in France. Today, it claims some 42,000 members, and publicly claims that the Grande Oriente lies about its slightly larger membership, just to be able to say they are #1. True or not, the GO did manage to get a substantial government grant to finance its brand new rue de Cadet Museum. The museum is touted as the Museum of French Freemasonry, rendering the GLNF and the GLdF as little more than paté in the public eye.

It is entirely possible and even probable that the majority of members who are remaining silent are perfectly happy to see the GLNF grow in membership size, public awareness, influence with important figures, and everything else Grand Master Stifani has been achieving. I can't honestly say any of those things would be seen as especially heinous in the US.

In the end, Stifani holds all of the cards, since he is the only grand master of the three principal French obediences who can suspend or expel without trial.

References:
http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/les-francs-macons-toujours-en-rebellion_858178.html
http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/societe/stifani-est-un-quasi-gourou-autoproclame_855889.html
Francmaconnerie Magazine Issues #2 & #3

GLNF: Stifani Won't Seek Second Term

In a July 20th blog entry, L'Express reporter Francois Koch reported that François Stifani, Grand Master of the Grande Loge Nationale Française, will not be seeking a second term as Grand Master. The embattled Stifani has been at the center of a turmoil over the last two years that has resulted in thousands of members demitting or being suspended, along with his own actions that have caused most of the recognized Masonic world to yank recognition of the GLNF.

A rough translation of Koch's article, courtesy Google:

It's official, speaking through Jean-Michel Grand Orator Baloup, the Grand Master of the French National Grand Lodge (GLNF) Francois Stifani decided not to seek a second term. The dignitary, the center of an unprecedented crisis for thirty-one months, made ​​the pledge after a meeting of Provincial Grand Masters and members of the Grand Council, which started this morning in Nice. The appointment of the new candidate of Grand Master will be made ​​at a meeting of the Sovereign Grand Committee (SGC) by Francois Stifani convened from 31 August 2012.  Why that date? "We wanted the CMS to meet before September, says Baloup. We hope indeed that UGLE [United Grand Lodge of England] would reconsider its proposed withdrawal of recognition of the GLNF. "Francois Stifani has been affected by the announcement of withdrawal of recognition of UGLE for September 12, 2012.  Why did Francois Stifani make this decision not to run? "He did not want to be accused of harming the GLNF while there is a fierce defender, says Jean-Michel Baloup. He therefore sacrifices his personal interest to the public interest, emphasizing that it has not failed in its task. "Francois Stifani reacts positively to the argument developed by Mr Monique Legrand, administrator temporary that it must draw the consequences of refusal to ratify two of the GLNF AG. The argument was first developed by opponents, but he had not heard.  Does Francois Stifani support a candidate?"According to tradition, he will present a successor in the person of Deputy Grand Master he will appoint very soon", says Baloup.Alain Cano, the last incumbent, who resigned July 7.  To Jean-Pierre and Jean Murat Servel, Jean-Michel Baloup announced, not without a touch of humor: "I will write to them telling them that, given the decision of Grand Master Francis Stifani, it would make sense that they does not represent either. Exits to turn the page, let it be done completely. This will prevent them from suffering another setback. "  It is indeed a page should look. But the crisis is it finished so far? Because evidence is to be obvious:CMS responsible for appointing the Grand Master candidate is not representative of the obedience. So will he choose this time a candidate likely to be ratified by the GA of Vénès 1st and supervisors?  Following the decision of François Stifani, the provisional administrator Monique Legrand issued a statement  In my capacity as director pro tem of the French National Grand Lodge, I have read the decisions taken by Sir Francis Stifani, following the meeting of Provincial Grand Masters of the GLNF, held TODAY 'Today, in Nice, at its option, under the "crisis". Mr. Stifani inter alia, decided that he would not run for election of the Sovereign Grand Committee, under the designation of a new candidate to the Grand Master.  Noting that decision, moreover, in accordance with the "customary logic", as restated in Note No. 10 entitled "what is the method of appointment of the Grand Master? (...) "It is imperative to respect, to carry out my mission as assigned following order on motion dated June 28, 2012, I will convene after the summer break, members of law General Meeting of the GLNF, otherwise known as the Sovereign Grand Committee, for the appointment of a new candidate for the Grand Master, according to the rules applicable to the process of electing the Grand Master of the GLNF.  Written and signed in Paris on 20 July 2012. By Master Monique LEGRAND, Judicial Administrator  On this reading, we feel that the standoff is not completely finished. Each intends to call the SGC.I Legrand does not specify the date. They will agree in calling the same institution the same day under two different names, one secular the other Masonic? Me and especially Legrand is based on the famous footnote 10 which advocates the appointment of a candidate with an absolute majority. The conflict on this issue between the two parties would be pending before the Court of Cassation. 

Grande Loge Nationale Française Imploding: UGLE Weighs In

GLNF Grand Master Francois Stifani

The Grande Loge Nationale Française continues to make the news in France, and they seem to be heading for a very ugly and very public implosion. At the heart of the troubles is Grand Master François Stifani. An internal battle has raged against Stifani and his actions and policies for over a year, and now, foreign grand lodges are stepping into the fracas.

The GLNF is one of the three principal Masonic grand lodges at work in France, and is the one most recognized as regular by the majority of the world's Freemasons, including US and Canadian grand lodges, and the United Grand Lodge of England.

GM Stifani has enraged GLNF members by exposing Masonic ritual openly on national television, by embracing brutal African leaders as Masonic brothers, by promoting membership increases over the quality of initiation, by failing to have the GLNF's books independently audited, and most of all, by officially cozying up to the President and ruling political party of France. At the grand session last January, many brethren stormed out in protest of Stifani, and several lodges in the Loire Valley have had their charters revoked by the GM.

An 850 square foot Paris apartment costing €2.5 million (US$3.3 million) was recently purchased as a "venue more suitable and consistent with the current status of the grand lodge." Stifani said the new digs, several blocks away from the Grand Lodge's very large and modern multi-story building on Paris' north side in the 17th Arrondissement, were needed to receive "major players in civil society, politicians, intellectuals or religious, to the benefit of the reputation of our house."

The most recent furor revolves around an official letter, sent on GLNF stationary a year ago, and with the Grand Master's signature, pledging support of the Grand Lodge to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Blatant political dabbling has long been the activity of the irregular, largely unrecognized, and Left wing Grand Orient de France, which has often taken public stands on political issues and government policies. But the more Right wing GLNF has historically steered clear of such political activity, until now. The letter was made public and published in L'Express Magazine.

Last week, the Deputy Grand Master, Jean-Claude Tardivat, resigned as DGM and from the Board of Directors. He follows in the wake of other resignations by Jacques Studer, Provincial Grand Master of the Rhone Valley, and John Dugeny, Deputy Grand Master of Honor.

Members have resorted to the civil court system, and on December 7th, 2010, a Paris High Court demanded the GLNF's General Assembly be convened to consider removing Stifani. Stifani remains defiant—the Grand Master also serves as president of the governing board, and his public position is that he can be removed as president, but remain as Grand Master.

In the meantime, grand lodges in Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg have fired off official letters of complaint to the GLNF and Stifani, protesting his supportive communication to President Sarkozy as being in violation of the most basic tenets of Freemasonry. Stifani shrugged off those contacts, but on December 9th, the United Grand Lodge of England also weighed in with an official message of protest, saying it "clearly offends against one of the basic principles of Freemasonry—that a Mason acting in his Masonic capacity does not make any comment on state of social policy, or which could be construed as allying himself or his Grand Lodge with a particular political party or faction. . . If the letter is genuine, it could seriously affect the close relations that have always existed between the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Masters of your Grand Lodge."

Them's fightin' words. (Click the letter to enlarge it.)

Such a strongly worded official commentary on a foreign grand lodge jurisdiction is rare in the regular Masonic world. But the battles in the GLNF have been splashed across the web, newspapers, magazines, TV, and courtrooms, and dozens of lodges and hundreds of GLNF Masons are in turmoil.

The wrinkle in the story is that Stifani contends that the letter supposedly sent to Sarkozy pledging the political support of the GLNF was a forgery. Yes, it was sent on GLNF stationary, and yes it had Stifani's signature, but he contends the letter is a forgery, the stationary was stolen, and his signature was attached from an electronic file without his approval. Somewhat belatedly, he has filed a police report to that effect.

The drama continues to be played out across the internet, and in a very public blog about Freemasonry in France by L'Express Magazine's reporter Francois Koch.

Paris Court Appoints Attorney To Administer GLNF

The French saga of the Grand Loge Nationale Française (GLNF) and its beleaguered Grand Master François Stifani has taken a sudden new twist. Stifani resigned last Friday as President (essentially Chairman) of the Board that runs the business side of the grand lodge, but did not resign as Grand Master. The rest of the Board resigned, as well. Observers believed this was an attempt to stall for further time in reaction to a court ruling by Paris' Grand Tribunal (TGI) that ordered an immediate convening of a general assembly of the GLNF's members to remove Stifani as President of the Board, select new leadership, pass a budget, and authorize an accounting of previous years, while carefully monitoring the vote to assure no funny business. Stifani's resignation as President implied that he felt that he could stay as Grand Master, and a dissolved Board of Directors meant no real action could be taken immediately to force the assembly to convene.

Au contrere, said the court. The Paris Tribunal announced yesterday that it has appointed a female attorney, Monique Legrand, to a six month post as the ad hoc administrator of the all-male GLNF's business.

The language and cultural details can be confusing—articles refer to the administrator as "Master Monique Legrand," which gets WAY too bewildering when Masonic terms sound the same, but the term "Master" in her case seems to be the US equivalent of "Esq." for an attorney.

The most important line in this whole story appears at the bottom of the page: The Justice of the Republic does not distinguish the functions of Grand Master and President. It seems that Stifani is out as GM, whether he agrees with the Court's opinion or not.

From the French article by Francis Koch at L'Express magazine, who has been reporting all of this (many thanks to Bro. Adam Thompson for the clearer translation):

Justice of the Republic shall take the direction of the GLNF
January 25, 2011 7:33 p.m. | by Francis Koch

In a ruling handed down this morning, the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris [TGI] has appointed attorney Monique Legrand, judicial administrator, as ad hoc administrator of the French National Grand Lodge (GLNF) second largest allegiance in France with 43,000 brothers. The mission of the administrator is expected to last six months and will cease as soon as the bodies of the GLNF decide.

This order was obtained today by lawyers for Regular Freemasonry (FMR), an association of brothers of the GLNF in conflict with [its Grand Master] Francois Stifani since December 2009.

According to this ruling, signed on behalf of a vice-president of TGI, the ad hoc administrator has 5 assignments:

1. Administer GLNF with the assistance of employees and take all measures made necessary by the situation;

2. Represent GLNF in all judicial proceedings;

3. Take all measures to enable the GLNF to have a President, a Board and an Office;

4. Convene a General Assembly, the agenda of which is to be the approval of the 2008-2009 accounts, the approval of the 2010-2011 Budget and the ratification of the appointment of President [and Grand Master] by the Supreme Grand Committee;

5. Access any relevant documentation, including membership and financial records.

Consequently, Monique Legrand henceforth has full authority to administer the GLNF. It would therefore appear that the ruling deprives Francois Stifani, who as recently as yesterday signed a letter to the Supreme Grand Committee as “Grand Master”, of any power regarding the current management of the Order.

This information is all the more surprising since Francois Stifani appeared to make a power play by splitting himself in two. On 21 January 2011, he in effect resigned from his position as Chairman of the GLNF ... all the while claiming to remain Grand Master. In essence, he wanted to remain at the head of the Order as Grand Master, while leaving it to a legal agent to carry out the December 7, 2010 decision of the TGI of Paris (the convening of a [General Assembly] for the purpose of removing the President).

Francois Stifani claimed the Order could be run by two brothers: a Grand Master and a separate Chief Manager (which the statutes of the GLNF do not really provide for). His resignation [has] therefore turned against him.

With the resignation of Francois Stifani, the Paris TGI has affirmed that it is no longer necessary for the agenda of the next GA to include the removal of the President and certain members of the Board, but the Assembly must proceed with "the ratification of the appointment of the President pursuant to the provisions of Article 2.3 of the Rules of Procedure." As Article 2.3 is for the nomination of a "candidate for Grand Master" and "ratification of the Association at the General Assembly," it is clear that the Justice of the Republic does not [as Stifani does] distinguish between the functions of Grand Master and President.

GLNF Grand Master Stifani Resigns . . . Sort Of

GLNF Grand Master Francois Stifani

Drama continues in the Grande Loge Nationale Française. Wednesday, 38 Provincial Grand Masters, officers and other luminaries handed Monique Legrand, the court-appointed administrator for GLNF, a petition announcing their support of a major insurrection against GM François Stifani from April 2010. The 38 Masons who submitted the petition did so in the wake of action by Stifani on April 9th in which he dismissed 8 provincial Grand Masters who refused to acknowledge his authority.

Shortly after that message was released to the press, Stifani issued a letter in which he says he will "surrender his mandate", but then sets out his own directions for the June General Assembly, which Legrand is supposed to be in charge of.

In December, a Paris court required Grand Master Stifani and the GLNF to convene a General Assembly to hold a new vote for the position of Grand Master, and to answer to the membership for a series of allegations and complaints against his actions. It was alleged that Stifani was illegally elected to serve a second five year term, in violation of the GLNF's constitutions. The Board of Directors resigned in January, and Stifani later stepped down as president of the administrative side of the fraternity, but not as Grand Master (technically two separate positions). A hearing was held on April 5th, and the new date for the Assembly was set for June 27th. Meanwhile, Stifani continues to cling to his position, in spite of the very public and embarrassing unraveling of the grand lodge.

L'Express magazine's blog, La Lumiere by François Koch, is reporting every twist and turn in the ongoing saga.

The GLNF is the second largest Masonic obedience in France, with approximately 38,000 members, and is overwhelmingly recognized as the sole regular body in that country by the majority of grand lodges around the world.

See also Grande Loge Nationale Française Imploding: UGLE Weighs In from January.

PGM Stifani Suspended

According to the Romanian Masonic Press Agency, Jean-Pierre Servel, the new Grand Master of Grande Loge Nationale Française decided on December 4, 2012, to suspend Past Grand Master François Stifani.

Stifani was suspended for unethical Masonic conduct, violation of fundamental rules, attempt against the Fundamental Principles of the Craft and attempting against the image and proper functioning of the French National Grand Lodge.
According to this decree, Stifani is forbidden to attend GLNF's Lodge meetings, the Annual Communication and Board of General Purposes. After years of internal struggle, Stifani is temporarily removed from GLNF, which may indicate that Servel wants to show to the United Grand Lodge of England that GLNF can have once again credibility.

Stifani, GM of GLNF, Challenged In French Court

The Grande Loge Nationale Française' (GLNF) Grand Master, François Stifani, continues to battle opponents within his obedience. Now they have taken their complaints to the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris, The TGI is the French equivalent of the civil court system in the U.S., which settles disputes between individuals, corporations and associations.

From La-Croix.com (any translation errors are mine and Google's):

Freemasons: Judgment against the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, who is appealing.

Paris, December 10, 2010 (AFP)

The Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris has ordered the current Grand Master of the Grande Loge Nationale Française (GLNF), Francois Stifani, to convene a general meeting which will [consider] his dismissal, his representatives announced on Friday.

The TGI gave its judgment on Tuesday and Mr. Stifani appealed.

He had been sued by [his opponents], who criticized his method of governing as too personal and opaque in its accounting and decisions. They felt that the last such meeting was not consistent with their statutes, and the district court ruled in their favor.

It serves notice on the current Grand Master to convene a new General Assembly that will [audit] the 2009 accounts, establish a new budget, and decide on the dismissal of the Grand Master.

On Friday Francois Stifani informed the members of the obedience in writing of the ruling, saying that "the Board of Directors of the GLNF, meeting on December 10, 2010, notes the decision of the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris on December 7, and its enforceability." The Board decided to "unanimously appeal the decision and request the suspension of the provisional order."

In March, the General Assembly had rejected the accounts and report of the GLNF. The Grand Master asked for an audit of the accounts of 2008-2009, which did not calm his opponents, who want the departure of the Grand Master and of the current Board of Directors (the majority of whose members are appointed by the Grand Master), an opponent told AFP under condition of anonymity.

The date of the judgment on appeal is not yet known.

The only obedience recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England, the Grande Loge Nationale Française is the second largest [French] obedience in number of Brothers (after the Grand Orient of France) and boasts more than 41,000 members and 1,700 Lodges.

An Ugly Meeting Saturday in France (GLNF)

A report from Paris via François Koch's blog, La Lumiere, on the L'Express magazine website:

Annual Meeting of the GLNF. Brothers Shout "Resign" at the Grand Master

December 3, 2011
by Francois Koch

The brothers shouted "Resign!" and "Thug!" at the address of the Grand Master François Stifani at the Annual Meeting of the Grande Loge Nationale Française (GLNF). It was this afternoon, in Levallois-Perret. Due to demonstration by opponents of Francois Stifani outside the main entrance, the few foreign delegations [in attendance] came into the room through another door.

Only 1200 delegates attended the meeting in an room set up for 3000. According to the accounts I have received, about two-thirds of the participants shouted "Resign!" and "Thug!" to the Grand Master. So, Francois Stifani was hardly able to speak, in this meeting, which lasted two and a half hours. The witnesses refer to a "climate of insurrection." It was like the Annual Communication of March 2010. Except that this was a ritual meeting, where order is supposed to reign. The reports were jeered. And it did not proceed to any vote.

[snip]

It was nothing like the atmosphere of the meeting yesterday (December 2) of the Sovereign Grand Committee, whose members are appointed by the Grand Master. In the Grand Temple de Pisan, François Stifani received a standing ovation. He gave a speech saying the GLNF was located in another dimension than the secular world, "JUSTICE CAN NOT SET IN our case. Contrary to what has been said for too many months, French Freemasonry is not and can not be restricted to being a simple association like thousands of others, including operating procedures which must be modified according to circumstances and interests of one or the other. "

Someone has posted a video of the meeting here.

==================

UPDATE:

Read the English translation of GM François Stifani's speech before the assembly here. (Big file, slow connection. Please be patient.)

GLNF Deemed Irregular by North American Grand Masters

The Conference of Grand Masters of North America is going on this week in Atlanta, and there are major issues in the Masonic world that the GMs will be discussing: the situation with the Shrine in Michigan and Alabama, the Grande Loge Nationale Française with its embattled GM François Stifani, and the Grand Encampment's Rectified Rite, just for starters.

The first news to leak out is from the Commission on Information for Recognition, chaired by William Holsinger, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California. According to the LML in English website, the Commission found that the Grande Loge Nationale Française has engaged in irregular behavior worthy of losing its recognition. It is VERY important to understand that this does NOT mean, as the LML website states, that the North American Grand Lodges have yanked recognition of the GLNF. The Commission cannot do that, and neither can the Conference. Only individual GLs can pull their recognition (as the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia did, to a certain extent, last week, joining 32 other worldwide GLs that have derecognized or severely limited their relations with the French GL). The Commission only reports on the regularity of other GLs and issues an opinion that North American GLs are free to follow or ignore. Nevertheless, if the rumor is true, this is very bad news for Stifani and the GLNF.

A new obedience is forming from the hundreds of lodges Stifani has either suspended or who have refused to pay their Grand Lodge assessments. The Union des Loges Régulières Françaises (ULRF) is forming the Grande Loge Unie de France (United Grand Lodge of France) that will either strike out on its own, or will merge back with the GLNF once Stifani is gone and the troubles are settled (if that is possible).

For the long version of what has been transpiring in France, read the ULRF's version here.

In the meantime, no word has leaked out yet in reference to the Shrine and the RER. More as it becomes available. The final Report on Recognition will be read later this week.

Regular European Grand Lodges May Abandon GLNF

Le Myosotis Ligerian blog in France is reporting that regular, recognized grand lodges from across Europe met last weekend (May 8th) in Kiev, and have decided to withdraw recognition of the Grande Loge Nationale Française. The only holdout was the United Grand Lodge of England, whose representative wanted to take a few more days to consider the situation.

". . . a number of European Grand Lodges (we were the first to inform you the Germany was on the list) had decided to withdraw their recognition of the GLNF as a regular Grand Lodge. Things are moving quickly. Top representatives of all the Grand Lodges of Europe, including the UGLE, are meeting in Kiev, Ukraine this weekend. A former Supreme Commander of one of the 3 major jurisdictions here in France has just informed me that all the Grand Lodges of Europe present at this meeting, with the exception of the UGLE, have decided to withdraw their recognition of the regularity of the GLNF. Formal notification of this decision will be made to the GLNF in the mail next week. The UGLE, “extremely disturbed at the situation in France” (we quote a most senior official of the UGLE) will decide its official position in the next few days.

All the Grand Lodges, including the UGLE, wish the possibility of continuity for the Brethren and Lodges of the GLNF. The creation of a French territorial branch of the joint European Grand Lodges to which GLNF Brethren and Lodges could join is one possible solution envisaged."

No verification of any of this yet, but if the UGLE yanks recognition, this will be huge. Already, thr Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium, the United Grand Lodges of Germany, the National Grand Lodge of Poland, the Grand Lodge of Luxembourg and the Grand Lodge ALPINA of Switzerland have officially withdrawn recognition.

These events are occurring in light of the ongoing meltdown with the GLNF leadership that centers around Grand Master François Stifani. A Paris court found that the GLNF elections last year were improper, along with financial improprieties, and the court appointed an administrator until proper elections could be held. Stifani has done a legalistic dance since January, resigning as CEO of the business side of the grand lodge, but claiming he is still GM. Meanwhile, it's only been 154 days since the Paris court ordered Stifani to call for a General Assembly (their version of a grand lodge meeting) for new elections, "without delay."

The GLNF is the grand lodge currently most recognized by regular Freemasonry around the world, including the UGLE and US grand lodges.

See also:
• Grande Loge Nationale Française Imploding: UGLE Weighs In
• France: GLNF Board of Directors Resigns
• Paris Court Appoints Attorney To Administer GLNF
• GLNF Grand Master Stifani Resigns . . . Sort Of

Recognition of GLNF Suspended Across Europe

As expected after a meeting earlier in the month in Kiev, an official joint statement was issued by five European Grand Lodges on May 18th, regarding withdrawal of recognition of the Grande Loge Nationale Française.

Communication

Statement on the current problems within the National Grand Lodge of France

Since its founding in 1913 the National Grand Lodge of France (GLNF) has been the stronghold and warrant of Masonic regularity in France.

The GLNF, and its members, have always observed the rules and obligations of regularity. Unfortunately, since October 2009, this grand lodge has increasingly been disrupted by discord and disharmony. It is regrettable that under the current leadership these internal quarrels have led to law suits in the civil courts of Paris.

These civil actions have resulted into two facts:

1) the day – to – day governance of the GLNF is now in the hands of a court appointed “ad hoc administrator”, and

2) the internal problems of the GLNF have been widely covered in the national and local press in France.

In addition, the various groups within the GLNF have been airing their differences in public, often using an excessive, un-masonic and - at times - libellous language.

These events and the ensuing institutional turmoil, are not only bringing the GLNF but also regular Freemasonry itself into disrepute.

For the sake of regular Freemasonry and in order to protect our Grand Lodges, we, the Grand Masters signing this declaration, therefore distance ourselves from the events within the GNLF.

Moreover, we have agreed to initiate within our Grand Lodges and according to the provisions of our respective statutes and by-laws, the procedures leading to the suspension of our recognition of the GLNF.

We all wish and hope that harmony, peace and concord can be restored in order to allow the Brethren of the GLNF to live once again according to the Principles and Values of universal Freemasonry.


Die Großloge von Österreich, Nikolaus SCHÄRZLER, GM
Grande Loge Suisse Alpina, Jean-Michel MASCHERPA, GM
Grande Loge de Luxembourg, Paul GEISEN, GM
Vereinigte Großlogen von Deutschland, Ruediger TEMPLIN, GM
Grande Loge Régulière de Belgique/Reguliere Grootloge van België, Eli PEETERS, GM

Brussels, Berlin, Luxembourg, Vienna, Lausanne, the 18th of May 2011

Though not listed in this joint declaration, the Grand Lodge of Poland has also withdrawn recognition from GLNF.

The other shoe that hasn't dropped—yet—is the question of whether the United Grand Lodge of England will also yank recognition. According to the LML in English blog, "Rumours suggest that the UGLE will meet and announce its own position on June 20th, 4 days prior to the court decision on the GLNF appeal. LML in English is attempting to obtain additional information, including the attitude of the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland."

And will any U.S. grand lodges follow suit?

If that happens, who will assume the new position of regular, recognized Freemasonry in France? A new group that has split from the GLNF, a newly reorganized GLNF leadership (if they can ever manage to kick GM Stifani into the alley and hold a legal election), or perhaps even the Grande Loge de France?

Meanwhile, Stifani continues to whistle in the graveyard, issuing firings, suspensions or expulsions on a weekly basis (last week his own Grand Secretary resigned).

See also:

• Grande Loge Nationale Française Imploding: UGLE Weighs In
• France: GLNF Board of Directors Resigns
• Paris Court Appoints Attorney To Administer GLNF
• GLNF Grand Master Stifani Resigns . . . Sort Of

UGLE Formally Severs with GLNF

The Grande Loge Nationale Française (GLNF) situation in France shows no sign of improving, and the United Grand Lodge of England has now taken the formal steps to suspend recognition of them. According to the LML in English blog site today,

At the UGLE Quarterly Communication today, in accordance with the published agenda, the Grand Lodge passed a resolution formalizing the suspension of Masonic relations with GLNF. Suspension was announced in July as an administrative recommendation, but is now confirmed and enforceable as a Grand Lodge edict.

No-one spoke against the resolution, and the vote appeared to be unanimous.

Since the GLNF remains legally recognised, UGLE Brethren who are also members under GLNF were warned that, if their GLNF Lodge repudiates the GLNF, then those Brethren might be required to resign from either that Lodge or from the UGLE. It appears that this latter point remains under consideration, and further advice may follow at a later date. This point only concerns a very small minority of GLNF members but it could have implications for those Lodges or individual masons who rally to the ULRF.

URLF is a new confederation made up of regular lodges that have split from the GLNF. So far, more than 600 lodges have left. This leaves France with no recognized Freemasonry for a growing number of GLs around the world (approximately 19 have suspended relations with GLNF, including much of Europe, and the GL of Massachusetts in this country).

GM Stifani continues to cling to power, even though he is at the center of all controversies in this imbroglio.

See also:

• France: 30% of GLNF Lodges Vote To Break With Stifani
• GL of Massachusetts Withdraws Recognition of GLNF
• GLNF Meltdown: Grand Lodge of Ireland Rumored To Be Next
• Grande Loge Nationale Française Imploding: UGLE Weighs In
• France: GLNF Board of Directors Resigns
• Paris Court Appoints Attorney To Administer GLNF
• GLNF Grand Master Stifani Resigns . . . Sort Of

France: 30% of GLNF Lodges Vote To Break With Stifani

The situation with the Grande Loge Nationale Française (GLNF) and its embattled Grand Master François Stifani took unusual twists in the last week.

• The hearing in which the Paris Court of Appeal would examine financial reports, scheduled for the end of June, has been postponed until September 8th, because of records submitted late to the court by GLNF.

• In the wake of the GL of Massachusetts and perhaps more U.S. grand lodges temporarily suspending fraternal relations with the GLNF, along with more than a dozen European GLs (including the United Grand Lodge of England cautioning its members not to visit GLNF lodges), Stifani emailed preemptive letters to U.S. jurisdictions on June 29th. Apparently to attempt to curry favor with American Masons, he extensively quotes Pennsylvania Past Grand Secretary Thomas Jackson from a speech apparently given at this year's World Conference of Grand Lodges in Columbia.

• On June 30th, a list was released of 581 GLNF lodges that have voted "To suspend temporarily our Masonic links with the Grande Loge Nationale Française, until such time as a Masonic body that respects the criteria of universal regular Freemasonry shall have been established once more on French territory." The list of lodges that have severed ties is not anonymous, and the decisions required a 2/3 vote of each lodge's members.

That's 1/3 of the approximately 1,665 GLNF chartered lodges, and the number is expected to climb as more internal votes continue this week.

GLNF Elects New GM; UGLE Yanks Recognition

Jean-Pierre Servel was elected on September 10th as the new Grand Master of the Grande Loge Nationale Frainçaise, replacing the embattled François Stifani, but that has not prevented the United Grand Lodge of England two days later from de-recognizing them. Serval is seen by many French Masons as a continuation of the Stifani officer's line.

The GLNF has lost nearly a third of its membership over the Stifani flap, and the majority of the world's grand lodges have yanked recognition of the grand lodge, leaving France without a regular, recognized branch of Masonry for the majority of brethren.

Stifani Reelected as GLNF GM

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.

Regular Grand Lodge of Monaco Constituted On Saturday

The new Grande Loge Nationale Régulière de la Principauté de Monaco was constituted on Saturday, February 19, 2011. The new Grand Master of Monaco is Jean Pierre Pastor, Consul of Monaco in Cuba.

The grand lodge was formed from lodges already at work in the country of the United Grand Lodge of England and the United Grand Lodges of Germany. MWBro. Glen Cook, Past Grand Master of Utah F&AM, reports that the event was conducted on the 1st degree and in English, by MW Pro Grand Master Peter Lowndes of the United Grand Lodge of England, with the immediate Past Grand Master of Grande Loge Nationale Française, Jean-Charles Foellner, and a Grand Master from Germany sitting as the installing Grand Wardens. Brethren from 35 foreign delegations across Europe and Africa were invited to the ceremony.

More than 700 attended the evening gala. The new grand lodge is believed to have approximately 200 members, in a nation of about 30,000 people.

The political fallout over scandals involving embattled GLNF Grand Master François Stifani weren't far from the Monaco events. Stifani was notably absent from the ceremony, and grand lodge representatives from Luxembourg, Switzerland and Belgium stayed away, presumably to protest his attendance. One blogger is reporting that Stifani was actually barred from entering the ceremony, and that PGM Foellner was apparently a last minute substitution.

France: GLNF Board of Directors Resigns

The Grande Loge Nationale Francaise (GLNF) saga continues...

The GLNF issued a press release on Friday, January 21, 2011, announcing the sudden resignation of the members of the Board of Directors of the fraternity. This is on the heels of a Paris court decision on December 7th, 2010 requiring Grand Master Stifani and the GLNF to convene a General Assembly in the next few weeks to hold a new vote for the position of Grand Master, and to answer to the membership for a series of allegations and complaints against his actions. It is alleged that Stifani was illegally elected to serve a second five year term, in violation of the GLNF's constitutions.

The text of the press release (errors in translation are mine):
============

Given the urgency of ensuring good conditions in the organization of the General Assembly ordered by the Judgement of December 7, members of the Board of the Grande Loge Nationale Francaise have decided today to submit their resignation, which will in effect expand the prerogatives of court justice.

The reasons pertaining to this decision are twofold:

1. To avoid for members and the Chairman of the Board conflicts with the constitutions of the order they are asked to defend. Indeed, in accordance with the constitutions and statutes and rules of procedure, the Grand Master of the Order is, by law, the president of the association. He is appointed by the Sovereign Grand Committee by secret ballot. This appointment is subject to ratification of the Grand Lodge convened for that purpose in holding Masonic ceremony. He in no way has to undergo during his term a revocation of the general meeting "civil."

2. The second concern is to ensure the implementation of court decisions under conditions of transparency and indisputable objectivity. The meeting of more than 4,000 people in one place with a voting method of a show of hands represents a challenge, both in terms of security, and in the counting of votes, as a management practice. The appointment of an attorney is a guarantee of impartiality in the selection of a place, a date, and commitment of expenditure.

The resignations may very well be a ploy to buy more time. In fact, Stifani clarified last week if he resigned as President of the Board, that did not mean his resignation as Grand Master. A date for the new Assembly has still not been set.

Meanwhile, on January 19th, dignitaries from nine other grand lodges at work in France met in Paris under the banner of La Maconnerie Francaise. The GLNF was pointedly not involved in the meeting. Collectively representing 120,000 male and female Masons, they gathered as a show of cooperation with each other, in the face of embarrassment from public stories over the GLNF's problems.

One undercurrent flowing through French Masonry is the longstanding desire of the regular Grand Loge de France to again be recognized in the mainstream world, as it was for decades. The GLNF was formed with the blessing of the United Grand Lodge of England, and eventually gained exclusive recognition by most regular grand lodges worldwide because of that association. If the GLNF continues down the path it is pursuing, the GLdF might very well have a chance again.

The country's largest grand lodge, the Grand Orient de France, voted last year to admit women into its lodges. That leaves the GLNF and the GLdF as the two largest male-only obediences in France. Both GLs should be reaping the benefits of men leaving the Grand Orient in protest. But with the high visibility of turmoil in the GLNF, the GLdF may have its day in the limelight sooner than anyone ever thought.

See: Grande Loge Nationale Française Imploding: UGLE Weighs In

Stifani Expelled

According to Romania's Masonic Press Agency, France's Past Grand Master François Stifani has been expelled from the Grande Loge Nationale Française today. Grand Master Jean-Pierre Serval issued General Order 1584 on April 24th, expelling the embattled PGM.

For background on this story, see here. Because of Stifani's actions over the last two or three years, relations between the GLNF and numerous jurisdictions have been suspended, leaving France without a regular, recognized Grand Lodge for much of the Masonic world.

GM of Spain Insists French Invasion Not True

The Spanish online publication El Confidencial has reported a story that has been picked up by bloggers around the world, in the wake of the current very public meltdown of the Grande Loge Nationale Française and its Grand Master, François Stifani. The Spanish tale is that 10,000 French Masons are fleeing the GLNF and are seeking membership in lodges of the Gran Logia de España (Grand Lodge of Spain).

From "Unos 10.000 masones franceses quieren afiliarse a la Gran Logia de España" (Google translation):

[A] sector of the GLNF Masons have initiated contact with their Spanish counterparts of the Grand Lodge of Spain to probe the possibility of leaving the institution militancy in French and Spanish to join the lodges, especially those found in areas near the country neighbor as Catalonia, Aragon, Navarra and the Basque Country. Between the French and Spanish organization there are strong links, both are considered "regular lodges, which depend on what is known as English obedience," the oldest and largest in the world.

Sources of the Grand Lodge of Spain consulted by El Confidencial suggest that "what has been, so far, are some contacts of the brothers of France to see if the Grand Lodge of Spain would open its doors, as the organization in that country has suffered hit hard by the actions of its Grand Master. " These sources emphasize that "the crisis in the GLNF is very strong and many members have sent us their intention not to be affiliated with the organization since they are very disappointed by the political manipulation that has been made of the institution. One thing that may have Masons in policy and quite another to put such an institution serving some interests, which is prohibited. Stifani Freemasonry has betrayed. "

In Spain, the GLE is currently headed by lawyer Oscar Alfonso Valencia, which has been calm the waters within the organization after a turbulent period for some actions of the former Grand Master, Joseph Carter Tarragona. The number of Masons affiliated with GLE is about 2,500. Still, is the largest of the lodges that exist in our country. Therefore, a massive influx of members from the neighboring country could open a doubt about the future of the organization, as they could clearly dominate the caucuses. "While ultimately not the 10,000 who escaped from France, yes there are several thousands who are willing to take the plunge. But first we need to see how they could integrate without endangering the stability of the GLE. The limitation of the vote or certain conditions of eligibility could be the solution to accommodate this major injection of human capital.

An emphatic message of denial of this supposed French invasion of disaffected GLNF Masons has been posted today by Oscar de Alfonso Ortega, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Spain (Google translation):

In relation to information published in the secular press of Spanish, I say:

It is completely untrue that 10,000 French Brothers want to join the Grand Lodge of Spain. As of today, January 31, 2011, the number of French brothers who have applied for membership of the Grand Lodge of Spain that I have the honor to lead is ... zero. Again, zero. Indeed, there has been no request to that effect, contrary to what has transpired in the secular press. The contents of the article in a digital media does not correspond to reality and can only be understood as a sort of trial balloon launched by someone, I fear that a Mason in lower case, which is still far from certain polish stone to heat up the atmosphere and create an environment conducive to that possibility. But reality is stubborn and, as I said, there has been no movement of French Brothers to join the Grand Lodge of Spain. In this regard I must reiterate that, in my opinion, every Grand Lodge is sovereign and independent, so that should be resolved internally the events that occur within it, and no other Grand Lodge should interfere or meddle in matters that concern them.

I take this opportunity to make some publicity: on March 12, 2011 held in Barcelona (Spain) Great Regular Meeting of the Grand Lodge of Spain and would be a great honor for Spanish Brothers have the assistance of our Latin American Brothers. So far seven Great Masters of Europe and Latin America have confirmed their attendance, with their respective delegations. Hope to see you soon if your time and possibilities permit.

A fraternal hug,

Oscar de Alfonso Ortega
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Spain

Connecticut Withdraws French Recognition

WBro. Simon Laplace from Connecticut reports that the Grand Lodge of Connecticut AF&AM has joined the growing worldwide list of grand lodges that have withdrawn recognition of the Grande Loge Nationale Française. The vote took place at today's semi-annual communication.

Most of the regular western European grand lodges have yanked recognition of GLNF over a number of issues revolving around Grand Master François Stifani who continues to cling to his purple apron like a great clinging thing. More than 600 GLNF lodges have either withdrawn from the Grand Lodge or have had their charters pulled by Stifani, and three weeks ago a full blown fight broke out as a 65 year old member attempted to enter the GL headquarters in Paris and was knocked to the ground and dragged out by security officers for failing to show his dues card. Nothing good is coming of this catastrophe, and the court appointed female attorney the civil courts in Paris installed to oversee operations seems to be ineffectual and slower than an escargot. The question remains how much longer can this situation go on?

BTW, congratulations to my friend Simon who will be installed Deputy Grand Master of Connecticut in March 2012.