A word about this site,
especially for visitors from outside Europe.
Only a few years ago, Europe was divided by a Wall that also used to
be called an "Iron Curtain ". When the Wall finally came down, people
on either side discovered to their joy, but also with some surprise,
that those on "the other side", were not basically different from
themselves, even if they had grown up in extremely different
conditions.
Let us imagine now that we sow two exactly identical seeds in two
bits of ground that are very different from each other and located in
different climates. The plants that grow out of these seeds will
probably look very different. For example, one may be very big while
the other, having been placed in a more hostile environment, may be
much smaller but perhaps somewhat hardier.
Dear Visitors from North America and elsewhere around the Globe,
you probably have a good idea by now of why I am saying all this:
What you will find in these pages may well surprise you -- and even
come as a shock. All we ask is that you should not to take what you
read in this website as criticism of other forms of Freemasonry -- it
is nothing of the kind. We do not want to take sides in the familiar
divide between "regular" and "liberal" Freemasonry. Nor do we seek to
push forward any kind of revolution in this field. We do not even
want to try and demolish this "wall" of regularity.
Our goal quite simply is to describe European Freemasonry as
objectively as possible. In doing so, we shall probably bring light to
both sides of this famous wall of Regularity without ever betraying
any of our symbolic "secrets".
If this light helps the two sides to understand each other and
maintain mutual respect for their differences, then we shall have
already achieved the greater part of our ambition.
And if this improved understanding can help Freemasonry as a whole,
be it in the smallest measure, to pursue its endeavors in the century
that is about to begin, then our sense of fulfillment will be
complete.
And so you must bear in mind that European Freemasonry (especially
on the Continent) did not necessarily grow in conditions similar to
those that you are familiar with. It would be logical then to expect
it to be somewhat different -- at least at first sight -- even if the
root-stock is the same.
When thinking about the history and development of European
Freemasonry, certain points need to be borne in mind:
- We cannot understand the development of European
Freemasonry without considering a number of historical facts. These
are, especially, the French Revolution (1789), the Napoleonic Wars
(1793-1815), the politics of Empire in the 19th century, and
totalitarianism in its various forms in the 20th century. Nor can we
disregard the fundamental difference between the notion of law in the
Anglo-American tradition (where it is based to a great extent on
usage) and in the Latin countries (where it is enshrined in written
codes).
- On the European continent, Freemasonry has often been
persecuted. It has gone through long periods when it had to be
extremely circumspect. There have even been instances in certain
countries where it has managed to survive underground for a few years
and then been temporarily extinguished. These persecutions have often
forged strong bonds between Masons of different "sensibilities". It
bears repeating that it would have been unthinkable, for example, for
Masons who had come out alive from the Nazi concentration camps to
reject one another on grounds of ritual, creed or the presence of
women in the Lodge.
- Roman Catholicism has long played a dominant role in most of
the countries of Southern Europe. And, until recently, the Roman
Catholic church has strongly condemned Freemasonry and its values of
tolerance towards different religions.
- A motto like " In God We Trust ", which seems so natural to an
American, would come across as a very militant and political statement
in certain European countries where religion has no place in matters
of State. It might even be perceived as a form of rejection of the
basic principles of national unity. Where an Englishman says "God
save the Queen", his French counterpart will say "Long Live the
Republic". Neither should be seen as a political statement. Rather,
they are simple tokens of attachment to the lawful authority of the
land, as enjoined by Masonic tradition.
It is natural in the USA and elsewhere to proclaim one's membership of
a "community". In the same way, there are certain countries in Europe
where it is felt that there should be only one community encompassing
all citizens, who are deemed to be free and equal in their rights and
duties whatever their life choices in religious or other terms.
In
other words, certain countries may see themselves as federations of
communities while, in others, the assertion of one's membership of a
"community" other than that of the nation would be perceived almost as
an act of rebellion.
- Again, the prevailing view in certain European countries, as in the
USA, is that works of charity should be left above all to the free
initiative of citizens. In other countries, however, it is felt that
the protection of the weakest is first and foremost a fundamental duty
of the State. This explains why the efforts devoted by Freemasonry to
charity may vary greatly from country to country. In some countries,
Freemasons will put in direct effort and set up hospitals for example.
In other countries, however, such action would be perceived as being
contrary to civic-mindedness. In these countries, Masons will prefer
to take part in reflection and discussion in order to devise ways for
the State to set up these hospitals, or else they may channel their
energies into non-Masonic charities.
After this rather lengthy introduction, we would like to thank you
for visiting us. We hope that our website will be able to give you
the information you are looking for.
