INTERNATIONAL MASONIC REVIEW PUBLISHED BY BONISTEEL MASONIC LIBRARY

OUR BROTHER OUR PRESIDENT

Brother Masons, Family and Friends, Death and the dead are with us again, my Brothers; teaching us the brevity and uncertainty of human life and the instability of human fortune, and demanding of us the last sad offers of charity and brotherhood.
The nations 38th president and the only one not elected to the office or the vice presidency died at his desert home at Rancho Mirage, California on Tuesday, December 26, 2006. He was 93. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Betty Ford. They had three sons Michael, John and Steven, and a daughter, Susan. His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country, his wife, Betty, said in a statement shortly after his death. Our beloved Brother Ford was born on July 14, 1913 as Leslie L. King, Jr. He was later adopted and took the name of his mothers second husband who was also a Mason. He was sworn in as president on August 9, 1974 following the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Ford received the degrees of Masonry in Malta Lodge No. 405, Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was the 1974 recipient of the New York Grand Lodge Distinguished Achievement Award. Brother Ford was the latest Freemason to serve as president. Bro. Gerald R. Ford was Initiated in Malta Lodge No. 465 in Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 30, 1949. Columbia Lodge No. 3, District of Columbia, conferred the degrees of Fellowcraft and Master Mason on Brother Ford as a courtesy to Malta Lodge on May 18, 1951. Brother Fords father, Gerald R. Ford Sr., a 33rd degree Mason presented the lambskin apron. He received the Scottish Rite degrees in the Valley of Grand Rapids in 1957 and created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33rd degrees, and Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in 1962. He was awarded the Gourgas Medal by the Supreme Council on February 17, 1975. This is the highest honor that can come to a member of the Supreme, A.A.S.R. Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. Joined Saladin Shrine Temple, A.A.O.N.M.A.S. in 1959. Member of Court No. 11, Royal Order of Jesters. Honorary Member, DeMolay Legion of Honor. His first services to Freemasonry came way before this when he was selected for the Eastern Team on the Shriners East West Crippled Children game at San Francisco. This was on January 1, 1935. He was a member of the University of Michigans undefeated national championship football teams and in 1934, played in the Shriners East-West Crippled Childrens benefit classic in San Francisco.
QUOTES BY BRO. FORD Truth is the glue that holds government together. Compromise is the oil that makes governments go FACTS OF BRO. FORD PRESIDENTIAL YEARS In July 20, 1976 - The first NASA mission, Viking 1, Lands on Mars and transmits pictures and data from outer space. September 27, 1976 - First presidential TV debate between President Ford and Democratic candidate Jimmy Carter debate domestic issues before a live audience.

volume 9. issue 1 - Special edition - winter 2007

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

by Shih-ho (Simon) chao

FREEMASONRY IN TAIWAN FREEMASONRY IN RUSSIA

by LEON ZELDIS

....Page 3

....page 4

THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN TURKEY by CELIL LAYIKTEZ ....Page 9

FREEMASONRY IN THE ISLAMIC

By CELIL LAYIKTEZ

WORLD ....page 14

A EUROPEAN VIEW OF
by MICHEL L. BRODSKY

MASONIC GROWTH ....Page 16

BRIEF HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN JAPAN by LEO L. NOEL ....page 28

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WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL EDITION Winter 2007 RISING POINT The Bonisteel Masonic Library announces the Winter Edition of Rising Point featuring Masonic Scholars from European and Asian Lodges. The brotherhood will be able to learn about the active participation of Freemasons in Taiwan, the rebirth of Freemasonry in Russia, the Turks and their Masonic Lodges, Freemasonry as practiced in Islamic countries, a history of Freemasonry in Europe, and the influence of Masons in Japan. On the back cover is a special tribute to Brother Gerald R. Ford the 38th President of the United States. The Bonisteel Masonic Library prints multiple color hard copies and distributes to Lodges around the world.

THE RISING POINT is the official publication of Bonisteel Masonic Library and is published four times per year. Subscription rate; $6.00 per year available only in Black White print. Also is available by email, or from BML web site, which is free to members of any The Masonic Jurisdiction. Masonic Bodies are welcome to reprint from this publication provided that the article is reprinted in full, the name of the author and the source of the article are indicated, and a copy of the publication containing the reprint is sent to the editor. Submissions to this publication and all Correspondence concerning this publication should come through the Editor Mitchell Ozog. The Editor reserves the right to edit all materials received.

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30 Continued from page 29 stationed in England from 1900 to 1906 however, the membership has been on the and became a member of the Craft, while decrease and it now stands at just over 2,000. in England. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance the current list of lodges and their locations was concluded in 1902 and he signed this are found in an attached sheet. Today, the treaty on behalf of Japan. He was initiated in Grand Lodge of Japan is in amity with more Empire Lodge No 2108 in February, passed than 150 Grand Lodges around the world. to the Second Degree in March and raised to the Third Degree in May. Bro Hayashi In addition to those lodges operating became the Master of the lodge in January under the Grand Lodge of Japan, there are 1904. His rapid progress to that office several other lodges in Japan which were was due to the lodge members wishes to in existence at the time of its formation acknowledge his high official position and in 1957 one English lodge, two Scottish shi possible departure from England in the lodge, two Philippine lodges and one near future for appointment to some other American lodge (Massachusetts) which, post. As the Japanese mission in London originally founded in Shanghai, China, was was promoted to the legation to an embassy, reactivated in Tokyo in 1952. There are he became the first Japanese Ambassador several more lodges which meet in Japan to Great Britain. Japanese nationals were under the charter of the Prince Hall Grand initiated in some other countries as well, Lodge of Washington, with which the e.g., the United States and the Philippines. Grand Lodge of Japan established fraternal relationship in 1998. The outbreak of war The situation began to deteriorate fro Freemasons in Japan in the late 1930s when the government authorities began to crack down on the fraternity, especially after the outbreak of war in China in 1937. In the early 1940s the antiMasonic movements intensified and all the lodges had to cease their operation. After the war
Leo L. Noel, PM, Secretary From the booklet published in 1963 to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of Far East Lodge No. 1, F & AM

3 FREEMASONRY IN TAIWAN By Shih-Ho (Simon) Chao, Ph.D. Freemasonry in Taiwan originated from Mainland China. The first lodge appeared in China in 1767 in Canton (Home State of Dr. Sun Yat Sen), the No. 407 Yi Lodge which belonged to the Grand Lodge of England. All the Masonic membership in that Lodge were foreigners without Masonic descent. It was not until March 18, 1949, that the Grand Lodge of China was established in Shanghai, under the sponsorship of the Grand Lodge of Philippines. However, all Masonic activities were suspended in 1951 due to civil war between Communist Government (the current Chinese Government) and KMT Government (The Government in Taiwan before 2000). The Grand Lodge was reactivated in Taipei in 1954 after the KMT Government retreated to Taiwan. Under the excellent leadership of all the Grand Masters, including many from the United States and General Chiang, son of Chiang Kai-Shek, the Lodges grew stronger. Currently, there are 13 Lodges in Taiwan, with thousands of brothers. It is worth mentioning that the No. 7 Liberty Lodge is composed of Brothers all of whom are from other countries. Some of them were already Masons in their Mother Countries but needed to keep their light in Masonry growing and glowing. In addition to all the Lodges, the other Masonic bodies in Taiwan include: 1) The Ali Shan Oasis Shrine Club of Taipei, working on the care and foundation of Crippled and Burned Children); 2) YangMingShan Chapter No. 5, O.E.S. The Order of the Eastern Star is not an auxiliary of the Masonic Order but is an independent organization of its own. Its members are the wives, daughters, widows, mothers and sisters of Master Masons. 3) The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. Valley
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of Taipei, Orient of Taiwan. There are now 816 members in total and 32 Brethren have been coroneted with the Thirty-third degree (33 ). At this time, due to the business activities between China and Taiwan, a host of Brethren have stayed in China, mostly in Shanghai. The former Worshipful Master of No. 9 Tang Lodge, the authors Blue Lodge, just went to Shanghai on Nov. 1st, 2004, and serves as the manger of a Company. It has been proposed by some brother in Shanghai that a regular Masonic meeting be begun so that they can continue the Masonic activities. Hopefully, Masonic bodies can return to Mainland China in the near future.
Bro. Shih-Ho (Simon) Chao is member of No. 9 Tang Lodge, the Grand Lodge of China. Marshall, No. 262 Ann Arbor-Fraternity Lodge, and 32 Masons of the Valley of Detroit. Bro. Simon Chaos Joint Installation of the Grand Lodge of China, Taiwan. Summer , 2002

Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Japan. http://japan-freemasons.org/modules/ wfchannel/index.php?pagenum=13

For Long History of Masonry in Japan please visit page at: http://japan-freemasons.org/ After the war, Masonic activities were modules/wfchannel/index.php?pagenum=57

resumed. One English and two Scottish lodges survived. The Grand Lodge of the Philippines began to found lodges in Japan. During a 10-year period from 1947 to 1956, 16 lodges were founded. Gen Douglas MacArthur, who was the Supreme Commander of the Allies which occupied Japan after the war and himself a mason, was very supportive of Masonic activities in Japan. Eventually Masonic membership became available to Japanese nationals. Seven Japanese men including five Diet members were initiated in 1950 for the first time in Japan. In March 1956, 15 Philippine lodges operating in Japan formed the Grand Lodge of Japan. The membership of its roll steadily increased, reaching 4,786 in 1972. Since then,
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The Magus Of Freemasonry By: Tobias Churton

His writings help solve the debate between operative and speculative origins of Accepted Freemasonry, demonstrating that symbolic Freemasonry existed within the Masonic trade bodies. Ashmole was one of the leading intellectual luminaries of his time: a founding member of the Royal Society, a fellowship and later academy of natural philosophers and scientists; alchemist; astrological advisor to the king; and the creator of the worlds first public museum. While Isaac Newton regarded him as an inspiration, Ashmole has been ignored by many conventional historians. THE RISING POINT

Photos by Bro. Simon

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4 FREEMASONRY IN RUSSIA By Leon Zeldis There are many fascinating legends about the beginnings of Freemasonry in Russia. In this article I shall try to separate legend from historical facts. Here, in brief, is what the most widespread stories tell. According to them, Czar Pavel (Paul) I was initiated in Freemasonry as soon as he reached the right age, even, according to some, in the presence of his mother, Catherine the Great. However, when he ascended the throne, Paul I banned Masonry in Russia. His eldest son, Alexander I, born in 1777, who governed between 1801 and 1825, continued the anti-Masonic policy of his father, but after investigating the nature and principles of Freemasonry he completely changed his opinion and asked to be initiated himself. This is the legend. Unfortunately, it has little to do with reality. The first reliable document concerning our subject is the record of a session of the Grand Lodge of England - the Premier Grand Lodge, also known as the Moderns, founded in 1717 - dated 24 June 1731. There it is written that the Grand Master (Lord Lovel) and his Grand Dignitaries signed a document given to Very Worshipful Brother John Phillips, Esq., appointing him Grand Master of Free, Ancient and Accepted Masons in the Empires of Russia and Germany and their colonies and territories, and they raised a toast to the health of Freemasonry in those places. Truth is, the appointment was as Provincial Grand Master, but the existence of this document does not prove that a Grand Lodge did in fact exist in Russia or Germany, nor even the existence of individual Masonic lodges there. Coming down to it, we have no evidence allowing us to assume that Phillips created even one
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The end of isolation

Continued from page 28

lodge in the vast territory entrusted to him. There are some references about a lodge in the Free City of Hamburg in 1733, but no document demonstrating a connection between this lodge and Phillips has been found. On the other hand, we should not be overly fastidious and should remember that lack of proof is not proof to the contrary. In other words, the issue remains undecided until concluding evidence appears to settle it. Masonic life in those times was extremely fluid, Masons moved freely form one country to another, taking with them degrees and ceremonies that are avidly tried by lodges unencumbered by Grand Lodge controls. Grand Lodges then were hardly capably of imposing their discipline over their lodges, and certainly not on individual members. Nine years later, in the minutes of Grand Lodge of England of 28 March 1740, the presence is recorded of James Keith, a General in the service of the Empress of Russia. That must have been Czarina Anna Ivanovna, who ruled between 1730 and 1740. Keith was a Scotsman, cousin of Grand Master John, Earl of Kintore. In that opportunity, Keith received the appointment as Provincial Grand Master for Russia. There is no mention of what happened to Phillips. James Keith was a brilliant soldier, but he had supported the wrong side in the wars between Scotland and England. After the defeat of the Stuarts, he fled to Spain and served in the armies of king Philip II. In 1728 he moved to Russia and there he distinguished himself by his leadership. He won many battles, and the same year of his appointment as Provincial Grand Master, the Czarina named him Governor of Ukraine. Freemasonry, established by Baron von Hund in Germany about 1755. From there, the rite spread rapidly in Central and Eastern Europe, where it enjoyed great popularity. The situation in Russia became even more complicated in 1771, with the arrival of the Zinnendorf Rite, also a knightly rite with a Christian character.
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While Japan was in a state of isolation, foreign vessels frequented its coasts from time to time. In the first half of the 19th century, their encroachment became particularly noticeable. They urged Japan to open ports. Eventually the government opened the country and concluded treaties with foreign powers. The treaties included extra-territoriality by which foreign residents in Japan came under the legal jurisdiction of their own countries consuls. The abolishment of seclusion policy threw the country into turmoil. The unequal treaties with those countries, rampant inflation largely due to the commencement of foreign trade and other unfavorable factors resulting from the opening of the country caused some Japanese, especially samurai (professional warriors), to entertain the idea of Sonno Joi (unifying the country under the imperial rule and repelling the incursions caused by foreigners). Dissatisfied with the government policy toward foreign countries, some samurai took advantage of the situations and assaulted foreigners in order to harass the now-weakening government. Such attacks became frequent in the late 1850s and early 1860s. As a result, foreign powers lodged strong protests. In 1863, the Japanese Government agreed to have the British and French troops stationed in Yokohama. The first lodge in Japan It was during this period that the first Masonic lodge was introduced to Japan. A military lodge called Sphinx Lodge No. 263, Irish constitutions, came to Japan with a detachment of the British 20th Regiment which arrived in Yokohama in 1864. While in Yokohama, the lodge held meetings and admitted civilian members. Being a military lodge however, it could not operate in Japan long. It held its last meeting in March 1866. The formation of local lodges Meanwhile, those brethren living in Yokohama felt it desirable to form a lodge of their own and they petitioned for a formation of such a lodge to the United Grand Lodge of England. Thus the first
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29 local lodge, Yokohama Lodge No. 1092, came into being, holding the first regular meeting on June 26, 1866. A total of six English and three Scottish lodges were formed in Japan before the last war. With the abolishment of the extra-territoriality in 1899, the brethren held their meetings in accordance with he gentlemens agreement with the Japanese Government that the government would not interfere with the fraternitys activities as long as the membership were conducted without ostentation. The members included those who contributed to the modernization of Japan, e.g. Bro E. Fischer, a German merchant involved in the development of Kobe; Bro. William G. Aston, a British diplomat and scholar of Japanese literature whose works introduced Japan and it is civilization to the English-speaking world; Bro. A. Kirby who built the first iron-clad warship in Japan; Bo. Thomas W. Kinder, a Briton who was in charge of the Mint Bureau in Osaka; Bro. John R. Black, a British journalist who published an English-language newspaper, the Japan Gazette and Japanese newspapers, Nisshin Shinhishi and Bankoku Shibun,and wrote and important book, Young Japan; Bo. William H. Stone, a British telecommunications engineer; Bro. Paul Sadra, a French architect; Bro. Edward H. Hunter, a British shipbuilding engineer; Bro John Marshall, a British port captain; Bro. Felix Beato, a Venetianborn British photographer; and Bro. Stuart Eldridge, an American doctor. Anyway, all the members of the lodges in Japan in those days were foreigners. Japanese masons before the war However, some Japanese joined the Craft abroad prior o the last war. Among them were two Japanese scholars Amane Nishi (1829-1897) and Mamichi Tsuda (18291903)- who studied at the University of Leyden in Holland from 1862 to 1865 under Professor Simon Vissering who was a Freemason. Nishi was initiated in La Vertu Lodge No. 7 in Leyden in October 1864 and Tsuda in November 1864. Count Tadasu Hayashi (1850-1913), a career diplomat and later a statesman, was
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28 Continued from page 27 The success of the growth of European Freemasonry does not depend on change within the Craft, but in having happy and prosperous Lodges with a large number of young enthusiastic Brethren. Michel L Brodsky
http://internet.lodge.org.uk/library/resbrodsky.php

Continued from page 4

Brief History of Freemasonry in Japan

Leo L. Noel, PM

BONISTEEL MASONIC LIBRARY Detroit Masonic Temple January 2007

The pre-modern era Japan being separated by water from t4h Asian Continent, its civilization developed in relative seclusion in pre-modern days. Foreign cultural influence gradually reached the then country mainly through the neighboring countries of China and Korea. The firs Westerner to reach Japan were Portuguese traders who landed on Tanegashima, a small island in southern Japan, in 1543. Subsequently other nationals arrived. In due course the then ruling shogunate became concerned about the growing foreign influence on its people. In 1639, it virtually secluded the country from the rest of the world, which condition lasted for more than two centuries until 1854. Under these circumstances only Protestant Dutch and non-Christian Chinese were allowed to do business with Japan. The first Freemason to visit Japan Among those Dutch traders who came to Japan during this period was Isaac Titsingh. He was believed to be the first mason to visit Japan. He was initiated in Batavia in 1772 when he was in the service of the Dutch East India Company. He came to Japan three times 1779 to 1780, 1781 to 1783, and 1784 and headed the Dutch trading post in Nagasaki. Bro. Titsingh made acquaintance with many Japanese in high place and Japanese scholars of western learning. His books, Crmonies usites au Japon pour les marriages et les funerailles (1819), Mmoires et anedcdotes sur la dynastie rgnante des djogouns, souverains du Japon (1820) and illustrations of Japan (1822), are valuable sources of information on Japan and its people and customs in the latter half of the 18th century.
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Finally, in 1776 a Grand Lodge of Russia came into existence, working a system of seven degrees. As we can see, there was no uniformity in Russian Freemasonry, and most of these lodges and Grand Lodge were not recognized by the Grand Lodge of England. A new division occurred in 1779, when a District Grand Lodge of the Swedish Rite was established, headed by Prince Gagarin. A great number of Russian aristocrats and intellectuals then joined the Masonic lodges. An author stresses the popularity of Freemasonry in the aristocratic circles of Russia with these words: so many prominent Russians were Freemasons in the second half of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries that it would be easier to number those who were not than those who were. This did not find favour in the eyes of the Empress Catherine II, the Great (governed between 1762 and 1796), who distrusted the secret nature of the lodges and feared they could be used for political purposes. Her natural aversion to all forms of mysticism was exacerbated after the revolt of Yemelian Pugachov, that took place between 1773-75, and which threatened the stability of the regime. In 1782 Catherine outlawed all secret organizations, but exempting Freemasonry for the time being The main domestic enemy of Catherine was her own son, Grand Duke Paul, who had become a Mason. On the foreign front, her principal foe was Emperor Frederick II of Prussia, also an active Mason (the Grand Constitutions of 1786 which form the foundation of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite are attributed to him). It is not surprising, then, that Catherine could consider Freemasonry as a permanent danger. In 1794 the Empress took a final decision and banned all Masonic activities in her realm. When Catherines son, Paul, ascended the throne in 1796, many expected that the ban on Freemasonry would be lifted, but he did nothing of the sort, although he did not persecute the fraternity either, and it began to organize again in a clandestine fashion. Pauls successor, Alexander, held a more favorable opinion of Freemasonry
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5 and he lifted the ban officially in 1810. The fraternity then experienced its golden age, and the Grand Lodge of Russia was created the same year. Internal divisions, however, continued and developed. While some lodges wished to become regular, that is, establish fraternal relations with the Grand Lodge of England, most had no interest in this and preferred to delve into mystical, rosicrucian and knightly traditions. Despite their division, Russian Masons fought valiantly against Napoleon. Marshall Kutusov, the military hero who defeated the French army, was a Mason, as were many of his officers. An irony of history is that many of the French officers were also Freemasons. A further division took place in 1815, with the creation of two rival Grand Lodges: a District Grand Lodge of the Swedish Rite, and Grand Lodge Astrea, which claimed jurisdiction over the three symbolic degrees only, leaving its members freedom to join any higher degrees. In a few years, the Masonic situation became chaotic; unsuitable persons entered the lodges and turned them into political or religious cells. In 1820, Igor Andrevich Kusheleov was elected Grand Master. He was an honest Mason, who witnessed with horror the multiplication of subversive movements under the mantle of Freemasonry. In an attempt to correct this situation, Kusheleov sent a report to the Czar, explaining what was happening, and suggesting that the fraternity be put under police supervision, to prevent their misuse for political purposes. The result was unexpected. On 1 August 1822 the Czar prohibited Freemasonry throughout the Russian empire. Although some lodges continued operating for some time in a clandestine way, this was the end of Freemasonry in Russia during almost a century. In the famous Rymantzev Library of Moscow are many documents relating to Masonry, and Leo Tolstoy made use of them when writing War and Peace, where he describes the initiation of its hero, Pierre Bezujov. The ceremony was described by Tolstoy in a negative light. A revolutionary movement took place in
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Continued on page 6

Bro. Richard H. Sands

Bro. Karl Grube

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6 1825, attempting to introduce democratic reforms in the autocratic imperial regime. The revolutionaries, known as Decembrists were young men, inspired by the ideals of the century of lights (that was also the time of the wars of independence in South America). As one historian notes, most of the Decembrists were Freemasons, members of lodges belonging to the Grand Lodge Astrea of Saint Petersburg. The Decembrist activities were stamped with the Masonic ideals of social progress, philanthropy, intellectual perfectibility and the use of secret means to achieve moral ends. A brief revival took place in 1908, when two irregular lodges, belonging to the Grand Orient of France, were established in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. The Grand Lodge of France also established several lodges in the two capitals mentioned and also in Kiev and Nizhni-Novgorod. At the break of the first World War there were some 40 lodges dependent from the Grand Orient of France. Many disappeared during the war, but others survived, and some of their members took active part in the Marxist revolution of October 1917. The White Russian Masons, opposed to communism, fled to exile in France, where they established a Russian-speaking lodge.

Continued from page 26

or imaginary opponents, an agent in the service of the secret police was used to disclose the secrets of Freemasonry. The agent, a certain V.V. Arnold, was instructed by the prosecutor Vishinsky, who presented him as an expert Mason, but his answers revealed complete ignorance of Masonic procedures, making it clear that he had never been initiated in a Masonic lodge. Thus remained matters until the collapse of the Soviet regime, which allowed the rebirth of Freemasonry in Russia and the other countries comprising the former Soviet Union. A first step was taken by the French National Grand Lodge, the only recognized Grand Lodge in France, which on 14 January 1992 consecrated in Paris Lodge Harmony: No. 698, with George Dergachov as its first Master. The Senior Warden was Brother Alexander Rimsky Korsakov. In September of the same year the lodge moved to Moscow and there it initiated 14 new members. These were the first initiations in Russia in modern times. Three other lodges were created in the following years: Gamayon in Voronezh, Zotos in Moscow and New Astrea/Sphinx in Saint Petersburg. The first Chapters of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite were also organized.

authentic war against the Masonic Order. The main ammunition was prepared by two famous authors: LAbb Augustin Barruel (1741-1820) in French and Professor John Robison (1739-1805) of the University of Edinburgh. Their books (Memoires pour servir a lHistoire du Jacobinisme, 4 vols. and Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe) were both published in 1797 and bundled together Freemasonry and the Order of the Illuminati, accusing them of collusion to plot the French Revolution. To defend themselves and their liberal social values the freemasons had to counterattack. Therefore they had to convince their own members of their innocence. That was easy! Then they had to convert them to support such projects as universal free education for all children and the general improvement of the people of the country. Finally, they had to resort to political action. Without important modification of the inner working of the Lodge, a new system of instruction was introduced for the benefit of the members. In France and in Belgium the practice of the ritual was never considered important enough to warrant the memorisation of the texts. Reading the rituals is still today normal in the majority of the Lodges. And, as time became available, other meetings were used for lectures or conferences. Initially, they would cover educational or scientific subjects. Then ethical questions took over and the sense of social responsibility evoked. This led to plain politics! One should realise that in France, until the end of the reign of Napoleon III in 1870, all political discussions, whether in public or private meetings, were banned and only Government newspapers were authorised. In France, after the Franco-German War of 1870, a period of seven years followed before the Third Republic was finally secured, against a minority of Royalists and Imperialists who were supported by the Catholic Church. The Lodges of the Grand Orient de France, whose survival depended on the whims of the Ministry of the Interior, supported an involvement into politics. After the Convent of 1877 mentioned above, the GOdF considered itself, with
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27 good reason, to be the conscience of the Republic. Thus it declared its right to influence national politics. In Belgium the Catholic Church was anxious to obtain a monopoly of education and opened the hostilities against Freemasonry in 1837. These degenerated into a complicated warfare. In 1854 the Grand Orient de Belgique abolished Article 135 of its Constitution forbidding political or religious discussions in its Lodges. They became hotbeds of politics. If one examines the lectures given in Brussels Lodges during the period prior to 1914 one finds a program that would be valid for a popular university. There were some papers on Freemasonry and discussions on various projects presented in Parliament concerning education, compulsory military service and falsification of testaments by too well intentioned confessors etc. European Lodges in general favour above all intellectual work. The nature and import of symbolism and philosophy in general are major subjects, while the irregular Lodges have a tendency to study and sometime support social causes from environmental problems to the Third World needs. The management of the Lodges, the examination of the candidates files, the examination of the candidates as described occupy long evenings leaving less and less time for degree work. But for the young men joining Freemasonry this opens two challenges. On the human side, there is the challenge of integrating themselves in a very special society which assemble on the Level persons of different ages and social conditions. On the intellectual side there is the challenge to learn how to express ones concepts concisely and briefly on subjects that are new to them and especially Masonic symbolism. If the Masonic work pleases them and they enjoy it, they talk about it to their friends and incite them to apply to Initiation. Good young Freemasons contribute to the growth of Freemasonry as the moral influence of the Craft radiates through their personalities.
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The efforts of the French National Grand Lodge to reestablish regular Freemasonry in Russia culminated on 24 June 1995, when Grand Master Claude Charbonniaud, accompanied by a large delegation of dignitaries and officers, formally consecrated in Moscow the Grand Lodge of Russia and installed George Dergachov as Grand Master. The author of this lines also had the privilege of being present on that occasion, Four years later, a strange request from the while leading a delegation of Israeli Masons Mason Astromov to the dictator Stalin, to who were visiting Eastern Europe. allow Masonry to operate under official sanction, resulted in the arrest, torture On 6 July 1996. The Supreme Council and imprisonment of known Masons. of the 33o. Degree of the Ancient and Freemasonry disappeared totally during the Accepted Rite was created in Moscow by remaining years of soviet rule. Astromov the Supreme Council for France, headed by himself was detained, interrogated, its Sovereign Grand Commander, Henri L. revealed all he knew to the secret police, Baranger. The first Sovereign Commander and died soon after his release. In 1937, of the new body was Victor Kouznetsov. during the infamous public trials organized The historical study of Russian Freemasonry by the Stalinist regime to liquidate its real is only beginning, since only after the After the Bolsheviks had gained power, Masonic lodges were tolerated for a time. This situation, however, did not last long. In 1922 the Fourth Communist International formally declared that Masonry was contrary to communist ideology. Some lodges immediate closed doors, while others continued a precarious existence.
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26 Continued from page 25 only the Ancient (Scottish) and Accepted the French Rite to arrive to a total of Rite was known. Many Brethren joined this 33 Degrees, many already known and Order one year after their Raising. At least practised before the Revolution of 1789. 10 years are needed to reach the 30th Degree, provided a candidate attends punctually This fitted very well in the Empires the various ceremonies of the intermediate social system instituted by Napoleon Degrees and delivers the required essays at I. After 1815 most of the institutions stated intervals. Then he may be selected to established by the revolution and the receive the 32nd and later the 33rd Degrees. imperial regimes were kept intact, with From the day of his initiation to the 33rd the exception of the Austro-Hungarian Degree if ever reached, it requires a constant Empire where Metternich enforced a masonic devotion during at least 20-25 persecution of the freemasons especially years. Since 1960 other Degrees have been in the Italian provinces under Austrian introduced in Belgium from England and rule. For their part the Italian freemasons France but the path of a young freemason played a leading role in the long fight is slow and requires the fulfilment of many for their countrys independence and duties, not only in the Lodge, but also on unification. In the Russian Empire, the lectures, visits and teaching, etc. Tsar Alexander II abolished all masonic activities in Russia, Poland and Finland Despite the fragmentation of Freemasonry in 1821. None revived until 1919 and in Western Europe, the general level of even then with the exception of Finland membership is satisfactory. Where figures it was for a very short period only. In are available and published one finds that Germany the three Prussian Grand Lodges the actual increase in membership is around enjoyed the protection of the state and the 3 to 4% net in the Lodges. We have good King, later Emperor. Strictly reserved reason to believe that these figures are valid for Christians, they survived until 1933. whatever the masonic affiliation. Why this Other Grand Lodges existed, among them is so, is difficult to analyse, but obviously those in Hamburg, Dresden, Bayreuth and the attraction to Freemasonry is important Frankfurt. After the Treaty of Vienna in among men aged between 30 and 45. They 1814-15, Freemasonry was perceived by are often university trained and wish to the very conservative regimes as a hotbed meet other men having similar intellectual of revolutionaries or secret societies. It needs. Television or sports are compatible is true that some freemasons belonged but when one considers the distances to secret societies that were intent at the travelled by members to attend Lodge one overthrow of the regimes, but they were must conclude that they really find there simply worms within a healthy apple. something they cannot find elsewhere. A general trend appeared to have used Lodges time to examine the status of The reasons of this situation belong to citizens, propagating what they thought the history of the European Lodges since was freemasons duty to be involved in the the beginning of the 19th century. This is improvement of society. The charitable neither the time nor the place to present this and convivial English type of Freemasonry story which will be part of a paper to be was slowly and surely replaced by a pattern presented at the Canonbury Masonic Centre where the duty of Freemasonry was to act on 24 November 1999. Briefly, among as a lever or a motor for the good of the the elements which modified the relations citizens. Politics were not very far away! between the members of the Lodges and In the 19th century the main cause of the what was included in England as Pure involvement of European Freemasonry and Ancient Masonry played an important in politics originated from the actions role. Among them was the importance of of the Catholic Church. Renewing the the Higher Degrees and especially the condemnation of the previous century, (Scottish) Antient and Accepted Rite which the Church was no longer hindered in was introduced into France from America its action by the all-powerful monarchs in 1804. It includes the four Orders of of France and Austria. It engaged an
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collapse of the communist regime have Russian archives and libraries been open to researchers. Leightons book is the first to make use of these new opportunities, consulting the Masonic material in the archives of the Russian Literature Institute (Pushkin House) in Saint Petersburg and the Lenin State Library in Moscow. Bibliography:
1. Batham, Cyril N., Russian Freemasonry 17311979, Grand Lodge of Scotland Year Book 1985. 2. Zaf, Nisan, Habniyah Hahohshit BRusia mi 1792 vead Yameinu (Russian Freemasonry from 1792 to our day), The Israeli Freemason, 2-1994. 3. Troyat, Henri, Catherine la Grande, Flammarion, Paris 1979. 4. Troyat, Henri, Tolstoy, Dell, New York 1967. 5. Zelchenko, Henry, Freemasonry in Russia, The New Age, February 1973. 6. Southern California Research Lodge, Fraternal Review No. 663 (15-1-1993). 7. Rich, Paul, Freemasonry in Russia: Springtime for Decembrists, The Plumbline of the Scottish Rite Research Society, USA, Vol. 4, No. 3, September 1994. The article is copyright to Leon Zeldis, all rights including any redistribution rights are reserved by the copyright holder. Permission to quote from, redistribute or to otherwise use these materials must be obtained from the copyright holder directly by contacting Bro. Leon Zeldis.

Leon Zeldis, FPS, 33 PSGC, Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite for the State of Israel Honorary Adjunct Grand Master. ABOUT R.W. BRO. LEON ZELDIS. He was born on June 20 th in 1930 in Buenos Aires. He was the fifth child of his parents, who were Russian Immigrants. His family moved to Chile in 1931. He grew up and was educated in Valparaiso, Chile. He graduated as a Textile Engineer from Philadelphia University in 1952. He also graduated in Linguistics, History and Business
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Administration. He married Luisa Drapkin in 1956. They have four children and ten grandchildren. The family immigrated to Israel in 1962. He retired as Quality Control Engineer. As an Academician, he has been the Professor of Philosophic and Masonic Studies in La Republica University, Santiago in Chile from 1996, Visiting Professor Universidad Complutense, Madrid and Professor of Textile History and Technology, State Technical University, Santiago up to 1962. The Chilean Government has appointed him as Honorary Consul of Chile in Tel Aviv from 1963 and awarded the Order Bernardo OHiggins.He was initiated into the mysteries and privileges of Freemasonry in America Lodge (No.86) Chile. He was a Founder member of La Fraternidad, Lodge( No 62 )of Tel Aviv (1970),which was the first Spanish-speaking lodge in Israel, working in the AASR.and of which he became the W.M in 1971. He had held various offices in the Grand Lodge of Israel, of which he is the Honorary Assistant Grand Master from 1995. In Royal Arch, he was installed as the First Principal of Har Sinai Chapter in1985. He held various offices in R. A. Grand Chapter, including that of Grand Chaplain. He has taken the Degrees of Captivity, Royal Select and Super-Excellent Master Degrees and Royal Ark Mariner. . In Scottish Rite , he was elevated to 4th Degree AASR in 1969, Coroneted Active Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33 in 1991.He has served as Grand Secretary General in 1993-1995 and elected as Sovereign Grand Commander in19961998. He is an active member of various Masonic Research bodies as follows. Founder Member, Chair of Philosophical and Masonic Studies Dr. Ren Garca Valenzuela, Universidad La Repblica, Santiago, Chile., Fellow, Philalethes Society, Contributing Member, Scottish Rite Research Society (USA), Member, Society of Blue Friars and Correspondence member, Quatuor Coronati Lodge No. 2076, England. Honorary Member of Rey Salomn Lodge No 105, Lima, Per (1982), Supreme Council for Italy (1996), Academia Manica de Letras de Pernambuco, Brazil (1997), Salem Lodge of Perfection N 12, Haifa, Israel (1997),Supreme Council for France (1998) ,King Solomon Lodge of Perfection N 13, Raanana, Israel (1998), Montefiore Lodge N 753, Glasgow, Scotland (1999). Hermes Lodge N 13, Madrid, (2000), Max Polliack Rose-Croix Chapter N 4, Raanana, Israel (2002), and Lzaro Crdenas del Ro Lodge N 57, Mxico
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City (2002), Mount Moriah Rose-Croix Chapter N 2, Jerusalem, Israel (1975), Ramat Gan N 6 Lodge of Perfection, Ramat Gan, Israel (1978), La Esperanza N 72 Lodge, Haifa, Israel (1978), France Lodge N 77, Jerusalem, Israel (1993), Jerusalem Lodge N 909, Paris, France (1995), Jerusalem Lodge N 91, Roma, Italy (1996),Igualdad Rose-Croix Chapter N 3, Tel Aviv, Israel (1998) and Galilee Lodge N 31, Nazareth, Israel (2003) He was the Representative of the Grand Lodge of Chile near the Grand Lodge of Israel (1976-1993), Representative of Grand Chapter of South Carolina near the Grand Chapter of Israel (1983), Representative of the Supreme Council of Ecuador near the Supreme Council of Israel (1991). Representative of Grand Lodge of Spain near the Grand Lodge of Israel, He was awarded Tiradentes Medal, by the Supreme Council of the Federal Republic of Brazil (1992).Besides all those distinctions, he enjoys the unique reputation of an erudite Masonic scholar and a prolific writer and has presented many papers in the Research Lodges. Many of his articles have been posted in the premier Masonic website Pietre Stones Review of Freemasonry. He maintains the website www.freemasonry.org/leonzeldis/ in which his articles have been posted. Visits to that website is earnestly recommended for acquiring great Masonic knowledge.He has presented the following papers in International Conferences.1. Spanish-speaking lodges in Israel in International Symposium on the History of Spanish Masonry, Cceres, Spain, June 1991.2. Education as the Key to Tolerance in European Conference of Sovereign Grand Commanders, Berlin, May 1994.3. Freemasonry in the 21st Centuryin First World Reunion of Grand Masters, Mexico City, March 1995.4. Masonic Blue in International Congress of Masonic History and Geography, Goiania, Brazil, June 1995.5. Projection of the Values of Freemasonry in its Actions for the Benefit of Society, Inaugural lecture at the foundation of the Chair of Philosophical and Masonic Studies Dr. Rene Garcia Valenzuela, University La Repblica, Santiago, Chile, September 1996.6. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion in International Seminary on Anti-Freemasonry, Santiago, Chile, October 1997.7. The Scottish Rite Tradition and its Present Actualityin European Conference of Sovereign Grand
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Commanders, Paris, May 1998.8. Presence and Evolution of Freemasonry in the 21st Centuryin International Seminar Masonry: Myth and Reality, University La Repblica, Santiago, Chile, October 1999.9. Antisemitism and Freemasonryin International Conference on The Historiography and Methodology in the Study of Freemasonry, Canonbury Masonic Research Centre, London, November 1999.10. Freemasonry and Society in the Middle Eastin Summer Colloquium, Grand Lodge of Chile, Santiago, January 2000.11. Looking back - Moving forwardin Philalethes Annual Conference, Washington, February 2000.12. Facing the Future of Freemasonryin Academy of Masonic Knowledge, Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, October, 2000.13. AntiMasonry and Anti-Semitism, 9th Symposium on the History of Spanish Masonry, Segovia, Spain, October 2000.14. Iconography of the Tracing Boards in The Visual Arts and Freemasonry, Third International Conference, Canonbury Masonic Research Centre, November 2001.15. Freemasonry in the Middle Eastin Grand Lodge Valle de Mexico, Mexico City, February 2002.
His illuminating articles have been posted in his web site http://www.freemasonry.org/leonzeldis/ Please visit that site to peruse his articles. We are very thankful to this great Masonic Scholar for kindly permitting us to post this article in our Publication and web site.

what he conceives to be his duties to God, to mankind, his family and his country. He answers the questions put to him and after some time he is led, always hoodwinked, into the Lodge meeting in the Temple. He is seated and questions are put to him. When the Master of the Lodge decides that the Lodge is sufficiently informed about him, he is released and taken outside the Lodge building. In the Lodge a debate about his merits follows and the final ballot taken. If this is in his favour, the candidate receives an invitation to attend for his Initiation. More than one candidate can be initiated together at the same meeting. Once becoming Entered Apprentice he becomes a full member of the Lodge, but he may only vote when he becomes a Master Mason. Until that moment many months may pass. Generally, it takes one or two years for an Initiate to be Passed and about the same period of time to be Raised. Meanwhile, as Entered Apprentice, he is under the supervision of the Junior Warden and, as a Fellowcraft he is under the tutelage of the Senior Warden. These officers main duty is precisely the masonic instruction of their younger brethren and they are usually free to deal with it as best as they can. Some Lodges provide patterns or syllabuses of instruction but no standard rules apply.

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25 and the Raising and it creates among the younger Brethren a strong attachment to their Lodges. They discover new perspectives in symbolism and are taught to apply the principles of Freemasonry to their daily lives. The other members of the Lodge spend time educating their younger Brethren because they represent the investment in the future of the Lodge and of Freemasonry. Symbolism plays an important role in his process and all the elements present during the ceremonies of the three Degrees are explained to the recipients for their future benefit.

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y of Masonic Librar The Bonisteel oks, bo ic on as pts M Ann Arbor acce m Estates. fro lia ga re d jewelry, an and on, catalogue, We reconditi up x bo y pl ms. Sim display your ite will stop on as M a d your items an for pick up. by your home ., Grube, Ph.D . W l Kar t en id es Pr 734-347-9508 rg @bonisteelml.o Email: kgrube
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This is a general view of the education of a young freemason who may, in some cases, be a mature or even an old man. Once he is a Master Mason he is often invested with the duty of junior officer of the Lodge. Great variations do exist in this respect. Some Lodges have the same officers for three years; others change every two years and some annually. Some Lodges have 20 members and others have 200 so their policies regarding the recruitment and training of the young Brethren varies accordingly. But Lodges activities are also more extensive and for more than 150 years there existed and still exist forums of discussion. In France and in Belgium, where political activity was intense in the 19th century, the ritualistic part of the activities was often reduced to Before Passing and Raising, all candidates a subsidiary rank. for those Degrees should present a paper in Lodge enabling the elder Brethren to judge Presently, whatever the Lodges their progress in masonic knowledge. It is affiliations, if social and humanitarian not meant as an examination but as a test to subjects including environmental problems examine the integration and the intellectual are often presented in the lectures, pure work done by these new members. Of politics is rare. But it is known that there course, the level of the work presented varies are Lodges where politics play a big part. enormously between the Lodges according This educative role may assume another to the composition of the membership. The face. In some Belgian Lodges seminars level of education is never a pre-condition are given occasionally to those interested for membership, but obviously large city in subjects which are not exactly masonic. Lodges tend to have a high percentage of These seminar groupings of anything members with higher education such as between five and ten members of the same lawyers, bankers, engineers, doctors or Lodge meet once a month in the home of a university professors; but some members member and an expert leads the discussion are artisans and tradesmen. on philosophy, music, arts, etc. A large This long process often takes five years number of Master Masons carry on their or more between the original application symbolic quest in joining the so-called Higher Degrees. In Belgium until 1960
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24 Continued from page 23 constituted and recognised by England Church, in many European countries. No in December 1979. It is the only regular fixed rules exist concerning the contacts masonic body in Belgium, but there are two and probably most candidates discuss the Lodges, in Brussels and Antwerp, working matter with Brethren who disclose their under Warrants from the Grand Lodge masonic affiliations and introduce them of Scotland. There are also a Fdration to the Craft. Once a candidate decides Belge du Droit Humain and a Grande Loge to apply for Initiation he must normally Feminine de Belgique similar to their French have two sponsors. Both should be counterparts. Some of the distinguishing regular members of the Lodge and they characteristics of these bodies and of those are supposed to assist him in his masonic found in Italy, Switzerland, Spain and today progress. in some eastern European countries are similar. The Committee of the Lodge examines the application and transmits it officially In the Netherlands only the Groot Oost to the Grand Lodge. Then begins a long der Nederlanden, which is in amity investigating procedure. A candidate has with England, has any importance. In to provide references of persons who know Germany the Vereinigde Grosse Loge von him and who are likely to be members of Deutschland, also in amity with England, the Craft. In France a certificate issued by has five subsidiary Grand Lodges: Die Drei the municipality and stating that he has Weltkugel (The Three Globes) using a old not committed any criminal offence is German ritual, the Freimaurer Orderen fur required. A number of investigators are Deutschland which works the Swedish rite. appointed by the Lodge. They visit the Both were originally part of the old Prussian candidate, if possible in his home where Grand Lodges until 1933. The AFAM is the they usually have a conversation with largest Grand Lodge and there are also an his wife. This may sound curious but American-Canadian Grand Lodge and a maintaining happiness in a marriage is British Grand Lodge whose members are important and some wives may not like the mostly affiliated to the former Occupation absences of their spouses, or in some cases armies and the civilian services attached to they may have objection to Freemasonry them. In Europe the Lodges meet at least because of their Catholic upbringing. Each once a month except in the holiday months investigator prepares a report that is read of July and August. Some have twice in the Lodge but without revealing the monthly or even weekly meetings. They name of the respective author. A debate meet in dedicated buildings approved by the regarding the merits of the particular Grand Lodges. candidate is followed by a first ballot. A candidate is then often invited to meet the These are owned either by the Grand Lodges Committee of the Lodge. He has there and or by the local Lodges. A few Lodges then an opportunity to explain his motives meet in hotels or restaurants where they for applying to join the Craft. have access to discreet and secure rooms. Some premises are large and magnificent In many Lodges the next step is an buildings. Others are converted garages invitation for the candidate to attend a transformed by the members of the Lodges. very special meeting. He presents himself Catering facilities are essential because at the door of the building. He is then led the meals and banquets are an integral blindfolded into a small darkened room part of the development of fellowship. The with a small table and a chair. This room no solicitation rule in force in English- is called le cabinet de rflexion or the speaking Freemasonry is unknown in meditation room. It is decorated with Europe. On the contrary, applications that emblems of death, a skull, salt and other are not supported by masonic sponsors are implements. He is invited to write his rare and sometimes are seen as suspect and philosophical last Will and Testament. may even be refused. This is due to the long Standard questions are put to him on a sheet feud between freemasonry and the Catholic of paper on the table. He is asked to write
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9 THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN TURKEY

Celil Layiktez

1721 1826 A lodge which name is lost, operated in Istanbul, somewhere near the Galata tower, during the reign of Osman III (1703 1730). The lodge was founded probably around 1721 by Levantines (mainly Genoese people) living in the tower quarters. The first known Turkish Mason is Sait elebi, ambassador to France and later grand vizier. The French officer, Count de Bonneval, after some intrigues in the French Court during the reign of Louis XIV, emigrated to England and later came to Turkey to reorganize the Turkish army. Count de Bonneval took a Turkish name and became Kumbaraci Ahmet Osman Pasha. It is said that he was a mason. Another known mason in this period is Ibrahim Mteferrika, who together with Sait elebi, started the first printing press used by Muslim subjects of the Ottoman Empire. (The Christians and Jews already had their own printing presses).

Nations Runies in Izmir. The first charter having been lost during the great Izmir fire. According to the correspondence, this lodge had been consecrated after 1751 and before 1778, and was closed in 1826. In the last decade of the eighteenth century, Selim IIIs mother, Nakshidil Sultan happened to be the cousin of Josephine, Napolons wife. Under her influence, lodges from different obediences prospered in the Ottoman Empire. However in 1826, Mahmut II abolished the Janissaries to create a modern army and outlawed the order of the Bektashis to which they belonged. Thus it was possible to describe Freemasonry as a kind of Bektashism, and as a consequence it was also closed and the known Freemasons were sent into exile. 1826 1856 Mustafa Reshit Pasha, Grand Vizier, had promulgated the Reform Edict of 1839. It is said that he had been initiated while he was Ambassador in London although no evidence has been found for his Initiation. His lodge is not known and as there were no family names in usage at that time. Thus any search for the names of Reshit and Mustafa could be anyone of that name (the practice of having fixed names for families was only introduced by Kemal Ataturk in the twentieth century). His good friend the British Ambassador in Istanbul, Lord Reading, was however a known freemason. After 1839, with the unofficial permission by the Grand Vizier, freemasonry underwent a slow revival in Turkey.
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10 years after the excommunication of freemasonry by Clement XII in 1748, Mahmud II came under the pressure from his Christian subjects and also the Muslim clergy to take similar action. It was thought that the Pope would not charge a fraternity with atheism in vain, and freemasonry was outlawed in the Ottoman Empire. An English lodge was sacked by the police, but as the British ambassador gave notice in due time, the list of members had been rescued. In the Vatican archives, there is a letter by the Pope congratulating the French Cardinal Tencin, and wishing that the same could be done in Naples. The Crimean War The arrival of British, French and According to Gould, Alexander Drummond, Piemontise expeditionary forces and the British Consul in Aleppo, had been diplomats in Istanbul and Izmir in 1856 led appointed as District Grand Master for the to an explosion of lodges under a variety of Orient by the Grand Lodge of England. obediences. In 1857 the short-lived Grande Later in 1764, Dr. Dionysios Menasse Loge de Turquie was founded in Izmir by had been appointed District Grand Master the Grand Orient of France. After the end for Asiatic Turkey and Armenia. In 1786 of the Crimean War, with the departure a second charter had been given by the of foreigners, this grand lodge came to an Lodge Saint Jean dEcosse in Marseilles end. to the Lodge Saint Jean dEcosse des
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10 The creation of an irregular Irish Grand Lodge: In 1856 Captain Atkinson, an Irish officer in the 47th British Regiment, claiming to possess an Irish warrant created three lodges in Izmir and then The Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Turkey. (The constitution of this Grand Lodge is in the Irish archives). This was however a fraudulent commercial enterprise - Atkinson initiated some 200 masons and then disappeared with the funds. The creation of the District Grand Lodge of Turkey (English Constitution) The irregular masons started to visit or join English and French lodges. There was literally a panic in London and in a swift move, the Grand Master, Lord Zetland ordered the foundation of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Turkey, in Istanbul. The first Provincial Grand Master being the British Ambassador Sir Henry Bulwer. The consecration ceremony taking place on the 24th June 1862 in the Embassy. The Supreme Council of Turkey (1861) The founder (1861) and first Sovereign Commander of the Scottish Rite in Turkey (1864) was Prince Abdlhalim Pasha, or shortly, Halim Pasha, Brother of the Khedive (Governor of Egypt, then part of the Ottoman Empire). Halim Pasha was uncle of the Khedive Ismail Pasha under whose rule the Suez Channel had been opened. Halim Pasha was also Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Egypt (English Constitution). In 1869 this Supreme Council was recognised by the American Southern Jurisdiction. The extinction of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Turkey In 1869 Lord Bulwer had been recalled to London and at the same time Halim Pasha was in exile in Istanbul. Having good relations with the Sultan, he was proposed as Provincial Grand Master. But as his proficiency of the English language was insufficient, an American, John Peter Brown, Secretary at the American Embassy and known writer and researcher of the Islamic mysticism was elected in his place.
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Hyde Clark, the P.D. Regional G.M. in a letter to a Bro. Harvey (I could not read his family name) in London, proposes that there would be simultaneously two Grand Masters. This proposition was not carried on for obvious reasons. After Brown, Bro Stephen Scouloudi was elected Grand Master in 1873. The Provincial Grand Lodge was run inefficiently; dues were not or could not be collected. Thus in 1884 when Scouloudi resigned, no one was elected in his place. At that time there were four English Lodges in Istanbul and seven in Izmir. Lodges at the end of the 19th Century At the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, there were in total 11 English, 7 Scottish, 2 Irish, 1 Polish, 2 Spanish, 5 German, 15 Italian, 2 Greek, 6 French and 1 Hungarian lodges - plus a few chapters attached to the English, Scottish and Irish lodges in Istanbul, Izmir and Thessalonica alone. {There were many lodges in the rest of the big cities of the Empire too (in the provinces of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Bulgaria, Romania and Macedonia and also in different cities of Anatolia) but as they were not relevant to the creation of the Grand Lodge of Turkey, I did not include them in this study. Constitutional Monarchy Three sons of Sultan Abdulmedjit, the Princes Murat (later Sultan Murat V) and two of his brothers, Nurettin and Kemalettin had been initiated in the French Lodge Prodoos. Five Grand Viziers, including Midhat Pasha who masterminded the first Constitutional Monarchic regime, Turkish ambassadors to European countries and foreign ambassadors to Turkey, famous freedom writers and poets were members of this lodge. Louis Amiable, French Lawyer and politician, writer of the history of the Lodge les Neufs Soeurs cradle of the Encyclopedists in Paris before the Revolution, was the Orator of the Lodge. (He was in Istanbul on contract to reorganize the Turkish Bar Association). After the suicide (?) of Sultan Abdulaziz, Prince Murat acceded to the throne on the 30th May 1876, but due to a mental illness,
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de France is irregular, but the Groot Oost (Great East) of the Netherlands is regular. The Grand Orient de France took its name after the foundation of the National Grand Lodge of France in 1773, and originally the words designated its seat of power, Paris. Since the old Grande Loge de France still existed then, the new name was adopted generally.

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Another important factor is the almost total disappearance of Freemasonry in Europe before, during and after World War II. Freemasonry was forbidden under the Communist and Fascist dictatorships before the War and this was, of course, extended to the occupied countries. In most countries freemasons were patriots and opposed the enemy. Even when the German secret police did not systematically prosecute them, the lives of any freemasons arrested for any offence, or if their eventual Jewish origin was known, they were at great risk. In France, the lists of freemasons published in the Official Gazette were used to expel civil servants from the State Service and to exclude Brethren from many professions. The myth of the Judeo-Masonic-Communist plot causing the defeat of France in 1940 became an official doctrine of the Ptain regime. The interruption of masonic activities from five to nearly fifty years, as in the former Communist-dominated countries, created a vacuum, which even today is not yet fully filled. Most of the facts mentioned in this paper relate to masonic practices in France and Belgium and, as far as the present writer is aware, they apply more or less to most Grand Lodges in the other European countries. In France the Grande Loge Nationale Franaise is the only regular body in amity with the United Grand Lodge of England. It accepts only men and a belief in a Supreme Being is the essential condition for membership. Its Lodges work according to different rites: the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the Scottish Rectified Rite, the Modern French Rite, the York Rite and the Emulation working of the English Rite. The Grande Loge Nationale Franaise has over 1000 Lodges and 28,000 members.
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23 The Grand Orient de France is the oldest permanent masonic body in France and has never been recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. In 1877 it dropped the references to the Deity in its Constitution and lost nearly all its foreign masonic relations. It has circa 45,000 members and over 1,000 Lodges in France and overseas. The third body is the Grand Loge de France, which rose from the Craft Lodges working under the Supreme Council of France at the end of the 19th century. It is irregular and not recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. It still has very strong ties with the Supreme Council of France and authorises dual membership with the Grand Orient de France. The Droit Humain, known in England under the denomination of Co-Masonry, accepts both men and women as members. Its peculiarity lies in the fact it is the unique universal masonic body. Legally each of its national bodies is one member of the Central Federation whose seat is in Paris. Their membership and number of Lodges are not known. The most recently established body is the Grande Loge Feminine de France, whose origins are the ancient Adoption Lodges working under the protection of the Supreme Council of France. They became an independent body after World War II. Obviously they have only women as members. The estimated global membership of all these bodies is circa 100,000. There are also many splinter groups issued by secession from one of the main bodies and the members of these bodies are barred from regular Lodges. Regular freemasons may not visit their Lodges. The situation is more or less similar in Belgium, where the oldest and largest body is the Grand Orient de Belgique. The Grande Loge de Belgique seceded from it in 1959 to re-establish regular Freemasonry in the country. Recognition from the United Grand Lodge of England was obtained in 1975 but, unfortunately, had to be withdrawn in June 1979 because of some irregularity in masonic practices. Therefore, the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium was immediately
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22 Continued from page 21 European Lodges in general favour above Belgium, Italy, etc. In 1877, the Grand all intellectual work. The nature and import Orient de France abolished all references of symbolism and philosophy in general are to the Deity in its Constitution. They were major subjects, while the irregular Lodges replaced by a formula called the total have a tendency to study and sometime liberty of conscience. The Grand Orient support social causes from environmental de Belgique preceded this move in 1872. problems to the Third World needs. The Other Masonic bodies in Italy, Switzerland management of the Lodges, the examination and elsewhere followed this example with of the candidates files, the examination of variable success. A similar situation now the candidates as described occupy long occurs in the east European countries evenings leaving less and less time for where Freemasonry was only recently degree work. But for the young men joining permitted by law. There are a number Freemasonry this opens two challenges. of Grand Lodges founded after 1900 in which men and women are members on On the human side, there is the challenge an equal footing. Similarly, since the end of integrating themselves in a very special of World War II, society which assemble on the Level persons of different ages and social Grand Lodges that are open to women conditions. On the intellectual side there alone were instituted in a few countries. is the challenge to learn how to express All of these bodies differ for many ones concepts concisely and briefly on reasons, although within particular subjects that are new to them and especially countries they are very similar in terms of Masonic symbolism. If the Masonic work Masonic customs and practices. The main pleases them and they enjoy it, they talk difference lies between the Grand Lodges about it to their friends and incite them to recognised by the United Grand Lodge of apply to Initiation. Good young Freemasons England and the others. contribute to the growth of Freemasonry as the moral influence of the Craft radiates The former are usually called regular, the through their personalities. others are called irregular. Whether this is semantically correct is questionable. In The success of the growth of European present day practice the words regular Freemasonry does not depend on change and irregular describe their official within the Craft, but in having happy and connections with the United Grand Lodge prosperous Lodges with a large number of England, and do not reflect on their of young enthusiastic Brethren. August regularity of origin. In daily life, it means 1999 Michel L Brodsky A global view of that members of the regular Grand Masonic membership in Western Europe Lodges do not visit irregular Lodges is difficult to embrace, so this paper will and the regular Lodges do not admit endeavour to describe the main trends as visitors the members of the irregular within part of Europe only. One of the main Grand Lodges. obstacles lies in the impossibility to obtain accurate figures concerning membership and In each country all Lodges share a common thereby calculate growth ratios. In nearly national culture and the same languages. all European countries different groups of Usually their origin may be traced to one Freemasons share Masonic authority. Each original Grand Lodge. Often, the rituals claims exclusive authority and regularity they use have a common origin. Their within its country. There is, however, only Regulations show similarities and they one Grand Lodge in Norway, in Iceland share many social habits. Freemasons and in Sweden. Elsewhere fragmentation of within one family may be members the Masonic phenomenon originates either of different Grand Lodges. To dispel from historical reasons as in Germany or confusion, it may be useful to state that the from the different approaches to the basic words Grand Orient and Grande Loge principles of Freemasonry as in France, have the same meaning. The Grand Orient
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was deposed three months later and his brother Abdulhamit was enthroned, but only after bargaining with Bro. Midhat Pasha, and promising to start the constitutional process. He was not long to go back on his promise. On the 5th February 1878 Abdulhamit sent Grand Vizier Bro. Midhat Pasha into exile in various places, but finally to Taif (port city of Yemen, then a province of the Ottoman Empire) arranging his death by poisoning there. On the 13th February 1878 Abdulhamit adjourned the parliament indefinitely, starting a period of absolute despotism, which lasted 30 years. Cleanti Scalieri, W.M. of the Lodge Prodoos plotted a bloody but unsuccessful kidnapping of Murat V from the Ciragan Palace, to restore him on the throne. (Articles on the subject by Bro. Rizopoulos and myself in the Ars Quatuor Coronatorum Volumes 104 and 107 respectively A Masonic political party: Union and Progress, created according to the model of the Carbonaries in Italy. After the model of Young Italians, Young Germans and Young Swiss, the Young Turks organized in Paris with the aim of bringing back the constitutional monarchy. But the Young Turks talked a lot but did not act. Five freemason, military students in the faculty of medicine started a revolutionary party that later took the name of Union and Progress. Their model was the Italian quasi-masonic revolutionary society, the Carbonaries. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the main European powers had obtained an immunity for their subjects living in the Ottoman Empire. This immunity system was called capitulations. The Turkish police did not have the right to search a house belonging to a foreign subject. Thus the members of Union and Progress in Thessalonica were able to plot their revolution in Italian, French and Spanish lodges gathering in houses belonging to foreigners. To get around the Capitulations, the police organized a robbery in the temple of the lodge Macedonia Risorta, were the archives were kept, to obtain the members lists, but a Freemason in the police force tipped off the Worshipful
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11 Master of the lodge in time. The frustrated policemen took revenge on the furniture of the temple. The police tried also to harass the members by waiting in the street for them to leave the building. Abdulhamit and Freemasons Abdulhamit knew very well what freemasonry was about. As stated above, three of his brothers were Freemasons. The princes Kemalettin and Nurettin were in line for the throne. Most of the European powers were governed by Freemason kings and ministers. For these reasons, Abdulhamit did not want to alienate the Freemasons. Therefore, while persecuting the lodge members of the Italian, French and Spanish lodges in Thessalonica, he gave large donations to the charity efforts of English Lodges in Istanbul. He even planned the creation of a Grand Lodge in Istanbul, of which he would be the Grand Master. This lodge would act as a senate, assembling the leaders of the different warring communities in Istanbul, (mainly Turkish intellectuals, the members of the Italian, Levantine, Greek, Armenian and Jewish communities). This project was never realised but shows the intricacies of the way Abdulhamits mind worked. The Second Constitutional Monarchy A great number of high ranking officers were Freemasons and as well as being members of the Union and Progress Party, low ranking officers were not required to become Freemasons to be accepted into the Union and Progress Party, but they hoped to get a quicker promotion if they would be initiated first. The action of the Union and Progress Party, and its threat to invade Istanbul with the armies stationed in Thrace, obliged Abdulhamit to promulgate once more a Constitutional Monarchy on the 23rd July 1908. The reaction was not long to come. On the 31st March 1909 the fundamentalists took control of Istanbul. The Freemasons in Thrace, mainly from Thessalonica, organised an army of reservists. Almost all officers were freemasons. There were too many officers so some actually joined the expeditionary force as simple soldiers.
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12 Continued from page 11 The army recaptured Istanbul from the its first Grand Master, the Minister of the fundamentalists, there were bloody Interior Mehmet Talat S. Pasha, who later battles and hangings, and Abdulhamit was became Grand Vizier (Prime Minister). dethroned by a committee of five deputies, This Grand Lodge was consecrated by the all of them Freemasons. As a result of all Supreme Council. this, Freemasons became the target for the hatred of fundamentalist Islam. The closing of lodges in 1935 This Grand Lodge gave charters to a total The Masonic State of 66 lodges, mainly in Turkey but also According to the French historian Thierry in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Greece, Lebanon Zarcone, the period from 1908 to 1918 and Palestine. In 1935, the year when could be called The Masonic State. Freemasonry decided to hibernate, 6 The Union and Progress Party in power ministers, the President of the Parliament, used freemasonry in its foreign relations. more than 60 deputies and many state Deputations of mason parliamentarians governors, were Freemasons. Ataturks went to Italy, France, Hungary and private doctor, M. Kemal Oke, was a Germany. The Freemason deputies Past Grand Master. In 1935 the English, claimed that with their effort, democracy, Germans and Russians transformed Turkey that is the French slogan of liberty, equality into a vast stage for propaganda and and fraternity, was prevailing now in espionage. The Nazi propaganda machine Turkey and that the European powers was also stressing the Judeo-Masonic should be of assistance. The Albanians danger. The Ministry of the Interior, Sukru had revolted against the Ottoman rule Kaya, a 33 Scottish Rite Mason, in order and the Italian parliament was about to to curb these activities passed a law from vote an aid program for the rebels. After parliament closing all clubs and societies. the intervention of the Grand Lodge of Freemasonry was not mentioned in the Turkey, the Italian Freemasons in the text, but the minister warned his brothers parliament were effective and the motion that it would be wiser to stop the activity of failed to be carried. Freemasonry by its own free will. Thats how things happened and the reason Eleven months later, at the end of 1911, why Freemasonry was able to recover its after Italys expedition to Libya (which buildings after the war. was Ottoman territory at that time), the same scenario was repeated, but naturally All lodges did not close. The Supreme this time the Grand Orient of Italy could Council continued its activity behind not act against its own government. In closed doors, even chartered 3 new lodges. answer to the letter from the Grand Lodge Craft lodges met at the homes of brothers. of Turkey, the Grand Master issued a very The police showed a knowing tolerance general statement on the 29th September to all this, with the tacit approval of the 1911 (Per lImpresso di Tripoli, Rivista President of the Republic Ismet Inonu, Massonica, 1911, No. 15-16) and the who even gave a little financial aid to the relations between the Italian And Turkish Supreme Council. The awakening (1948) Grand Lodges were severely affected. Turkey wanted to be accepted by the U.N. The Turkish diplomats were told that The Creation of the Grand Lodge of Turkey Turkey was not a democratic nation and (Ottoman Grand Orient) On the 3rd March that even Freemasonry was closed, as it 1909, the dormant Supreme Council of was in all the totalitarian regimes. Turkey (1861) was revived. This Supreme The President approached his personal Council first consecrated 4 Turkish lodges. doctor, Supreme Grand Master M. Kemal These 4 lodges plus 3 Italian, 2 French, Oke, the same doctor who looked after 1 Spanish and 2 Egyptian lodges (One Kemal Ataturk, and told him that the time of them, Resne, English Constitution) to resume official working had come. assembled to form the Grand Lodge of In 1948 lodges, under the Supreme Turkey on the 13th July 1909, and elected Council, started to labour in Istanbul and
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After the Treaty of Vienna in 1814-15, Freemasonry was perceived by the very conservative regimes as a hotbed of revolutionaries or secret societies. It is true that some freemasons belonged to secret societies that were intent at the overthrow of the regimes, but they were simply worms within a healthy apple. A general trend appeared to have used Lodges time to examine the status of citizens, propagating what they thought was freemasons duty to be involved in the improvement of society. The charitable and convivial English type of Freemasonry was slowly and surely replaced by a pattern where the duty of Freemasonry was to act as a lever or a motor for the good of the citizens. Politics were not very far away! In the 19th century the main cause of the involvement of European Freemasonry in politics originated from the actions of the Catholic Church. Renewing the condemnation of the previous century, the Church was no longer hindered in its action by the all-powerful monarchs of France and Austria. It engaged an authentic war against the Masonic Order. The main ammunition was prepared by two famous authors: LAbb Augustin Barruel (1741-1820) in French and Professor John Robison (1739-1805) of the University of Edinburgh. Their books (Memoires pour servir a lHistoire du Jacobinisme, 4 vols. and Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe) were both published in 1797 and bundled together Freemasonry and the Order of the Illuminati, accusing them of collusion to plot the French Revolution. To defend themselves and their liberal social values the freemasons had to counterattack. Therefore they had to convince their own members of their innocence. That was easy! Then they had to convert them to support such projects as universal free education for all children and the general improvement of the people of the country. Finally, they had to resort to political action. Without important modification of the inner working of the Lodge, a new system of instruction was introduced for the benefit of the members. In France and
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21 in Belgium the practice of the ritual was never considered important enough to warrant the memorisation of the texts. Reading the rituals is still today normal in the majority of the Lodges. And, as time became available, other meetings were used for lectures or conferences. Initially, they would cover educational or scientific subjects. Then ethical questions took over and the sense of social responsibility evoked. This led to plain politics! One should realise that in France, until the end of the reign of Napoleon III in 1870, all political discussions, whether in public or private meetings, were banned and only Government newspapers were authorised. In France, after the Franco-German War of 1870, a period of seven years followed before the Third Republic was finally secured, against a minority of Royalists and Imperialists who were supported by the Catholic Church. The Lodges of the Grand Orient de France, whose survival depended on the whims of the Ministry of the Interior, supported an involvement into politics. After the Convent of 1877 mentioned above, the GODF considered itself, with good reason, to be the conscience of the Republic. Thus it declared its right to influence national politics. In Belgium the Catholic Church was anxious to obtain a monopoly of education and opened the hostilities against Freemasonry in 1837. These degenerated into a complicated warfare. In 1854 the Grand Orient de Belgique abolished Article 135 of its Constitution forbidding political or religious discussions in its Lodges. They became hotbeds of politics. If one examines the lectures given in Brussels Lodges during the period prior to 1914 one finds a program that would be valid for a popular university. There were some papers on Freemasonry and discussions on various projects presented in Parliament concerning education, compulsory military service and falsification of testaments by too well intentioned confessors etc.
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20 Continued from page 19 existed and still exist forums of discussion. meet other men having similar intellectual In France and in Belgium, where political needs. Television or sports are compatible activity was intense in the 19th century, the but when one considers the distances ritualistic part of the activities was often travelled by members to attend Lodge one reduced to a subsidiary rank. Presently, must conclude that they really find there whatever the Lodges affiliations, if social something they cannot find elsewhere. and humanitarian subjects including environmental problems are often presented The reasons of this situation belong to in the lectures, pure politics is rare. But it is the history of the European Lodges since known that there are Lodges where politics the beginning of the 19th century. This is play a big part. neither the time nor the place to present this story which will be part of a paper to This educative role may assume another be presented at the Canonbury Masonic face. In some Belgian Lodges seminars Centre on 24 November 1999. Briefly, are given occasionally to those interested among the elements which modified the in subjects which are not exactly masonic. relations between the members of the These seminar groupings of anything Lodges and what was included in England between five and ten members of the same as Pure and Ancient Masonry played Lodge meet once a month in the home of a an important role. Among them was the member and an expert leads the discussion importance of the Higher Degrees and on philosophy, music, arts, etc. A large especially the (Scottish) Antient and number of Master Masons carry on their Accepted Rite which was introduced into symbolic quest in joining the so-called France from America in 1804. It includes Higher Degrees. In Belgium until 1960 the four Orders of the French Rite to only the Ancient (Scottish) and Accepted arrive to a total of 33 Degrees, many Rite was known. Many Brethren joined this already known and practised before the Order one year after their Raising. At least Revolution of 1789. 10 years are needed to reach the 30th Degree, provided a candidate attends punctually This fitted very well in the Empires the various ceremonies of the intermediate social system instituted by Napoleon Degrees and delivers the required essays at I. After 1815 most of the institutions stated intervals. Then he may be selected to established by the revolution and the receive the 32nd and later the 33rd Degrees. imperial regimes were kept intact, with From the day of his initiation to the 33rd the exception of the Austro-Hungarian Degree if ever reached, it requires a constant Empire where Metternich enforced a masonic devotion during at least 20-25 persecution of the freemasons especially years. Since 1960 other Degrees have been in the Italian provinces under Austrian introduced in Belgium from England and rule. For their part the Italian freemasons France but the path of a young freemason played a leading role in the long fight is slow and requires the fulfilment of for their countrys independence and many duties, not only in the Lodge, but unification. In the Russian Empire, the also on lectures, visits and teaching, etc. Tsar Alexander II abolished all masonic Despite the fragmentation of Freemasonry activities in Russia, Poland and Finland in Western Europe, the general level of in 1821. None revived until 1919 and membership is satisfactory. Where figures even then with the exception of Finland are available and published one finds that it was for a very short period only. In the actual increase in membership is around Germany the three Prussian Grand Lodges 3 to 4% net in the Lodges. We have good enjoyed the protection of the state and the reason to believe that these figures are valid King, later Emperor. Strictly reserved whatever the masonic affiliation. Why this for Christians, they survived until 1933. is so, is difficult to analyse, but obviously Other Grand Lodges existed, among them the attraction to Freemasonry is important those in Hamburg, Dresden, Bayreuth and among men aged between 30 and 45. They Frankfurt. are often university trained and wish to
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Izmir, and in 1949 in Ankara. A troubled period started with lodges trying to liberate themselves from the Supreme Councils rule. The Grand Lodges of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir were created, and finally those three grand lodges united on the 16th December 1956 to create a totally independent Grand Lodge of Turkey. International Recognition After the initial recognition by some American and European Grand Lodges, in 1959 an official deputation by the Grand Lodge of Scotland visited Turkey. The recognition process was delayed to 1963, due to the military coup of 1960. Most of the regular Grand Lodges had recognized the Grand Lodge of Turkey, except England and Ireland. In order to satisfy them, the Grand Lodge of Turkey was reconsecrated by the Grand Lodge of Scotland in 1965. (That is why our Grand Officers regalia is green). In 1970 the Grand Lodges of England and Ireland recognized the Grand Lodge of Turkey. The schism of 1965 Friction was continuous between the Supreme Council and the Grand Lodge. At the end of 1964, The Grand Secretary, on his own, gave a letter to Bro. Suleyman Demirel, stating that he (Demirel) was not a freemason. The Grand Secretary was actually the Senior Warden of the lodge in which Demirel had been initiated in 1955. Demirel used this document against the fundamentalist wing in his political party, was thus elected to the Presidency of the party and reigned on Turkish Politics until 2000, when he retired as President of the Republic. In the 1965 Grand Master elections, the Brother who issued this letter was elected, in spite of the Supreme Councils secret opposition. The Supreme Council preferred the election of a Brother who would be obedient to them and tried to cancel these elections. This led to a lot of turbulence in the ranks of Turkish Freemasons. Finally a schism occurred, with a small group of brothers creating a separate Grand Lodge, which later attached itself to the French Grand Orient. Today this irregular grand lodge has about 3000 members and is in relations with a
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13 Turkish Womens Grand Lodge. This is a rather new body and has a few hundred members, organized in all major cities in Turkey. Today the Grand Lodge of Turkey has about 200 lodges in 10 cities, with 12000 active members. It is recognized by all the regular Grand Lodges and is active, promoting freemasonry in the Balkans, Russia and turkic language speaking former Soviet Union republics. We have a research Lodge that is publishing a quarterly research magazine Mimar Sinan (named after Sinan the famous Turkish architect). Since 1991, I have published the bimonthly Masonic magazine TESVIYE (level), in the name of the Grand Lodge of Turkey.
About Copyright:
Readers may redistribute this article to other individuals for non-commercial use, provided that text, all html codes, and this notice remain intact and unaltered in any way. This article may not be resold, reprinted, or redistributed for compensation of any kind without prior written permission of the author. If you have any questions about permissions, please contact the Tesviye (level) a Masonic magazine at: celil.layiktez@superonline.com Preferred citation: The History of Freemasonry in Turkey This paper may be found in the Tesviye (level) a Masonic magazine or the Grand Lodge of Turkey on its website at: http://www.mason.org.tr/en_index.htm Note: The archives of lodges in Turkey, prior to the foundation of the Grand Lodge in 1909, were in the hands of foreign obediences. These documents were lost due to wars, persecution, fires etc. I was able to reconstruct the history of Freemasonry in Turkey through a research in the archives of the Grand Orient de France, preserved from the Germans during the occupation in the Bibliothque Nationale Franaise (1890 pages microfilmed), plus the archives of the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland. The Greek and Italian Masonic archives had been destroyed during the German occupation. Sources: http://www.mason.org.tr/en_historycl.htm

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14 prohibited in all Arab countries except Lebanon and Morocco. The lodges laboring in the American bases in these There is a general reaction to Freemasonry countries are an exception. in the Islamic world. After Clement XII excommunicated Freemasonry in 1738, Morocco under the pressure of his Christian subjects The Grand Lodge of Morocco has been and with the approval of the ulema consecrated by the GLNF in1999. M.W. (Islamic theologians) who were thinking Bro. Claude Charboniaud, Grand Master that If the Pope declares that Freemasons of the GLNF, wishing to accomplish this arte atheists, there must be some truth in ceremony with the participation of the his words, Sultan Mahmut I outlawed Grand Master of a Grand Lodge existing in Freemasonry. Since that date Freemason an Islamic country, has gracefully invited became synonym to atheist in the the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Ottoman Empire. of Turkey, Bro. Sahir Talat Akev, for a joint consecration ceremony. Our Grand After the declaration of the second Master could not come because of his ill constitutional monarchy in the Empire health and he passed away to the Eternal (1908), the Islamic reaction organized a East, on the 14th June 2000, the day of revolt in Istanbul. This revolt has been the consecration of the Grand Lodge of crashed by the Action Army and Sultan Morocco. The Grand Lodge of Turkey Abdulhamid II has been dethroned. had been represented by another Grand The Action Army had been organized Officer. Earlier, on the 23rd March 1973, and commanded by Freemasons. The the High Court of Casablanca, after a long committee of five deputies that came to court procedure, had given the verdict that announce to Abdulhamit that he had been Freemasonry was compatible with Islam. dethroned, were Freemasons, all five of This verdict has been published in Tesviye them. These facts have reinforced the No. 51[1] , both in Turkish and in its official existing reaction to Freemasonry by the French translation. radical Islamic community. The Sultan was also the Caliph of all Islam and the Egypt guardian of the sacred grounds in Mecca The Egyptian Freemasonry had been hand and Medina. Anything that happened in the in hand with Ottoman Freemasonry. When Ottoman Empire influenced the Arab and the Grand Lodge of Turkey, after being Islamic world at large. recognized and later recons-crated by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, to obtain its In the years preceding the Second World recognition by the UGLE and the G.L. of War and also during the War, the Nazi Ireland, proved that its origin was regular propaganda of a Judeo Masonic plot to showing that the Lodge Resne, one of its govern the world, the actions of Sheriff founding lodges, had its charter from the Hussein in Jerusalem and finally the Grand Lodge of Egypt, a regular obedience creation of the State of Israel have all at the time. The Grand Lodge of Egypt strengthened this anti-Masonic feeling, this had regular and irregular periods in its time with a touch of anti-Semitism going history. Halim Pasha, the son od Mehmet with it. The Arabs regard Freemasonry as a Ali Pasha from Kavala who was the first force against Islam, which even makes fun Khedive (viceroy) of Egypt, founded of Islam, and which was the cause of the the Scottish Rite in Turkey in 1861 and success of European imperialism in Arabia. in Egypt in 1866, and has been supreme The atheist and anti clerical stance of Grand Commander in both countries. the Grand Orient of France is reinforcing As the Grand Lodge of Egypt started to this current. Freemasonry is outlawed, in accept some irregular rites, as the Rite of general, in Arab countries. There was a Memphis Misram, the UGLE declared flourishing Freemasonry in Algeria, before it irregular and founded its own District it gained independence. Freemasonry is
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FREEMASONRY IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD By Bro. Celil Layiktez

report that is read in the Lodge but without revealing the name of the respective author. A debate regarding the merits of the particular candidate is followed by a first ballot. A candidate is then often invited to meet the Committee of the Lodge. He has there and then an opportunity to explain his motives for applying to join the Craft. In many Lodges the next step is an invitation for the candidate to attend a very special meeting. He presents himself at the door of the building. He is then led blindfolded into a small darkened room with a small table and a chair. This room is called le cabinet de rflexion or the meditation room. It is decorated with emblems of death, a skull, salt and other implements. He is invited to write his philosophical last Will and Testament. Standard questions are put to him on a sheet of paper on the table. He is asked to write what he conceives to be his duties to God, to mankind, his family and his country. He answers the questions put to him and after some time he is led, always hoodwinked, into the Lodge meeting in the Temple. He is seated and questions are put to him. When the Master of the Lodge decides that the Lodge is sufficiently informed about him, he is released and taken outside the Lodge building. In the Lodge a debate about his merits follows and the final ballot taken. If this is in his favour, the candidate receives an invitation to attend for his Initiation.

19 Lodges provide patterns or syllabuses of instruction but no standard rules apply. Before Passing and Raising, all candidates for those Degrees should present a paper in Lodge enabling the elder Brethren to judge their progress in masonic knowledge. It is not meant as an examination but as a test to examine the integration and the intellectual work done by these new members. Of course, the level of the work presented varies enormously between the Lodges according to the composition of the membership. The level of education is never a pre-condition for membership, but obviously large city Lodges tend to have a high percentage of members with higher education such as lawyers, bankers, engineers, doctors or university professors; but some members are artisans and tradesmen.

This long process often takes five years or more between the original application and the Raising and it creates among the younger Brethren a strong attachment to their Lodges. They discover new perspectives in symbolism and are taught to apply the principles of Freemasonry to their daily lives. The other members of the Lodge spend time educating their younger Brethren because they represent the investment in the future of the Lodge and of Freemasonry. Symbolism plays an important role in his process and all the elements present during the ceremonies More than one candidate can be initiated of the three Degrees are explained to the together at the same meeting. Once recipients for their future benefit. becoming Entered Apprentice he becomes a full member of the Lodge, but he may This is a general view of the education of only vote when he becomes a Master a young freemason who may, in some Mason. Until that moment many months cases, be a mature or even an old man. Once he is a Master Mason he is often may pass. invested with the duty of junior officer Generally, it takes one or two years for an of the Lodge. Great variations do exist in Initiate to be Passed and about the same this respect. Some Lodges have the same period of time to be Raised. Meanwhile, officers for three years; others change as Entered Apprentice, he is under the every two years and some annually. Some supervision of the Junior Warden and, as a Lodges have 20 members and others Fellowcraft he is under the tutelage of the have 200 so their policies regarding the Senior Warden. These officers main duty recruitment and training of the young is precisely the masonic instruction of their Brethren varies accordingly. younger brethren and they are usually free But Lodges activities are also more to deal with it as best as they can. Some extensive and for more than 150 years there
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after World War II. Obviously they have only women as members. The estimated global membership of all these bodies is circa 100,000. There are also many splinter groups issued by secession from one of the main bodies and the members of these bodies are barred from regular Lodges. Regular freemasons may not visit their Lodges. The situation is more or less similar in Belgium, where the oldest and largest body is the Grand Orient de Belgique. The Grande Loge de Belgique seceded from it in 1959 to re-establish regular Freemasonry in the country. Recognition from the United Grand Lodge of England was obtained in 1975 but, unfortunately, had to be withdrawn in June 1979 because of some irregularity in masonic practices. Therefore, the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium was immediately constituted and recognised by England in December 1979. It is the only regular masonic body in Belgium, but there are two Lodges, in Brussels and Antwerp, working under Warrants from the Grand Lodge of Scotland. There are also a Fdration Belge du Droit Humain and a Grande Loge Feminine de Belgique similar to their French counterparts. Some of the distinguishing characteristics of these bodies and of those found in Italy, Switzerland, Spain and today in some eastern European countries are similar. In the Netherlands only the Groot Oost der Nederlanden, which is in amity with England, has any importance. In Germany the Vereinigde Grosse Loge von Deutschland, also in amity with England, has five subsidiary Grand Lodges: Die Drei Weltkugel (The Three Globes) using a old German ritual, the Freimaurer Orderen fur Deutschland which works the Swedish rite. Both were originally part of the old Prussian Grand Lodges until 1933. The AFAM is the largest Grand Lodge and there are also an American-Canadian Grand Lodge and a British Grand Lodge whose members are mostly affiliated to the former Occupation armies and the civilian services attached to them. In Europe the Lodges meet at least once a month except in the holiday months
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of July and August. Some have twice monthly or even weekly meetings. They meet in dedicated buildings approved by the Grand Lodges. These are owned either by the Grand Lodges or by the local Lodges. A few Lodges meet in hotels or restaurants where they have access to discreet and secure rooms. Some premises are large and magnificent buildings. Others are converted garages transformed by the members of the Lodges. Catering facilities are essential because the meals and banquets are an integral part of the development of fellowship. The no solicitation rule in force in English-speaking Freemasonry is unknown in Europe. On the contrary, applications that are not supported by masonic sponsors are rare and sometimes are seen as suspect and may even be refused. This is due to the long feud between freemasonry and the Catholic Church, in many European countries. No fixed rules exist concerning the contacts and probably most candidates discuss the matter with Brethren who disclose their masonic affiliations and introduce them to the Craft. Once a candidate decides to apply for Initiation he must normally have two sponsors. Both should be regular members of the Lodge and they are supposed to assist him in his masonic progress. The Committee of the Lodge examines the application and transmits it officially to the Grand Lodge. Then begins a long investigating procedure. A candidate has to provide references of persons who know him and who are likely to be members of the Craft. In France a certificate issued by the municipality and stating that he has not committed any criminal offence is required. A number of investigators are appointed by the Lodge. They visit the candidate, if possible in his home where they usually have a conversation with his wife. This may sound curious but maintaining happiness in a marriage is important and some wives may not like the absences of their spouses, or in some cases they may have objection to Freemasonry because of their Catholic upbringing. Each investigator prepares a
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Grand Lodge in 1867, with Halim Pasha as its first Master. The nephew of Halim Pasha, the Khedive Ismail who had the Suez Channel opened, was probably a Freemason, but there is no written record to prove it. On the other hand, his son has been initiated without any doubt. In 1952, after the King Farouk had been dethroned, Freemasonry was disgraced and was closed after the 1956 Suez crisis, by Gamal Abdelnasser. Today, in spite that the Rotarian wife of Husnu Mubarek, President of Egypt, organizes the foreign relations of the Egyptian Rotary, this organization is regarded as a camouflaged Freemasonry by the radical Islamic community.

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15 At its meeting on 15 July 1978, it issued an opinion concerning The Freemasons Organization The IJC declared: After complete research concerning this organization, based on written accounts from many sources, we have determined that Freemasonry is a clandestine organization, which conceals or reveals its system, depending on the circumstances. Its actual principles are hidden from members, except for chosen members of its higher degrees. The members of the organization, worldwide, are drawn from men without preference for their religion, faith or sect. The organization attracts members on the basis of providing personal benefits. It traps men into being politically active, and its aims are unjust. New members participate in ceremonies of different names and symbols, and are frightened from disobeying its regulations and orders. Members are free to practice their religion, but only members who are atheists are promoted to its higher degrees, based on how much they are willing to serve its dangerous principles and plans. It is a political organization. It has served all revolutions, military and political transformations. In all dangerous changes a relation to this organization appears either exposed or veiled. It is a Jewish Organization in its roots. Its secret higher international administrative board is Jews and it promotes Zionist activities. Its primary objectives are the distraction of all religions and it distracts Muslims from Islam. It tries to recruit influential financial, political, social, or scientific people to utilize them. It does not consider applicants it cannot utilize. It recruits kings, prime ministers, high government officials and similar individuals.
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Mustafa El-Amin, in his book, Freemasonry, Ancient Egypt and the Islamic Destiny compares the symbolism of the Ancient Egyptian mysteries and Islamic scriptures with those of the craft. According to El-Amin, although the Masonic rites and symbols are derived from Egypt, they have reached us through the Jews. Thus, the Jews had been operational in the ridiculization of the wisdom of Egypt in Masonic lodges. The writer says that the Shriners, with their fez and crescents are mocking the Islamic religion. The problem of Masonry mocking the Moslem Faith is also treated by Dr. Paul Rich[ 2 ] ; he states that: The prohibition of Masonry in the Muslim Countries of the Middle East is paltry because there are aspects of Masonry which religious people feel verge on mocking their faith. An example of Masonic ritual which offends some, and that shows the gulf between believers and Masons, is the resemblance between the assassination and exhumation of the candidate in the third or Master Mason degree and religious accounts of resurrection. Almost nothing can be said to correct their common interpretation of the third degree that the Mason is saved by Freemasonry and not by religion. El Azhar University in Cairo and the Islamic Jurisdictional College Possibly the most influential body in promulgating and interpreting Islamic Law is the Islamic Jurisdictional College (IJC).
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16 It has branches under different names as a camouflage, so people cannot trace its activities, especially if the name of Freemasonry has opposition. These hidden branches are known as Lions, Rotary and others. They have wicked principles that completely contradict the rules of Islam. There is a clear relationship between Freemasonry, Judaism and International Zionism. It has controlled the activities of high Arab officials in the Palestinian problem. It has limited their duties, obligations and activities for the benefit of Judaism and International Zionism. Given that Freemasonry involves itself in dangerous activities, it is a great hazard, with wicke d objectives, the Jurisdictional Synod determines that Freemasonry is a dangerous, destructive organization. Any Muslim, who affiliates with it, knowing the truth of its objectives, is an infidel to Islam
Bro. Celil Layiktez celil.layiktez@superonline. com Lodge Zeytin Dali No. 146 Grand Lodge of Turkey, Editor of TESVIYE (The level) since 1992. http://www.tesviye.org/ sayi63/english.htm The Masonic Magazine of the Grand Lodge of Turkey.

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P.M. of Quatuor Coronati Lodge, No. 2076 Prestonian Lecturer for 1994

A EUROPEAN VIEW OF MASONIC GROWTH by WBro. Michel L. Brodsky

A global view of masonic membership in Western Europe is difficult to embrace, so this paper will endeavour to describe the main trends within part of Europe only. One of the main obstacles lies in the impossibility to obtain accurate figures concerning membership and thereby calculate growth ratios. In nearly all European countries different groups of freemasons share masonic authority. Each claims exclusive authority and regularity within its country. There is, however, only one Grand Lodge in Norway, in Iceland and in Sweden. Elsewhere fragmentation of the masonic phenomenon originates either from historical reasons as in Germany or from the different approaches to the basic principles of Freemasonry as in France, Belgium, Italy, etc.

is semantically correct is questionable. In present day practice the words regular and irregular describe their official connections with the United Grand Lodge of England, and do not reflect on their regularity of origin. In daily life, it means that members of the regular Grand Lodges do not visit irregular Lodges and the regular Lodges do not admit as visitors the members of the irregular Grand Lodges.

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17 as in the former Communist-dominated countries, created a vacuum, which even today is not yet fully filled. Most of the facts mentioned in this paper relate to masonic practices in France and Belgium and, as far as the present writer is aware, they apply more or less to most Grand Lodges in the other European countries. In France the Grande Loge Nationale Franaise is the only regular body in amity with the United Grand Lodge of England. It accepts only men and a belief in a Supreme Being is the essential condition for membership. Its Lodges work according to different rites: the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, the Scottish Rectified Rite, the Modern French Rite, the York Rite and the Emulation working of the English Rite. The Grande Loge Nationale Franaise has over 1000 Lodges and 28,000 members. The Grand Orient de France is the oldest permanent masonic body in France and has never been recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. In 1877 it dropped the references to the Deity in its Constitution and lost nearly all its foreign masonic relations. It has circa 45,000 members and over 1,000 Lodges in France and overseas. The third body is the Grand Loge de France, which rose from the Craft Lodges working under the Supreme Council of France at the end of the 19th century. It is irregular and not recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. It still has very strong ties with the Supreme Council of France and authorises dual membership with the Grand Orient de France. The Droit Humain, known in England under the denomination of Co-Masonry, accepts both men and women as members. Its peculiarity lies in the fact it is the unique universal masonic body. Legally each of its national bodies is one member of the Central Federation whose seat is in Paris. Their membership and number of Lodges are not known. The most recently established body is the Grande Loge Feminine de France, whose origins are the ancient Adoption Lodges working under the protection of the Supreme Council of France. They became an independent body
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with the symbolism of Freemasonry, evident even in the smallest details. The temple stands as an artistic work of architecture and as the physical embodiment of the history, traditions, and symbolism of Freemasonry. What are the secrets of the craft? Just look; they are carved into the walls, inlaid in the marble floors, and depicted in woodcuts on every floor. Price - $13.59 at - www.Amazon.com

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The main difference lies between the Grand Lodges recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England and the others. The former are usually called regular, the others are called irregular. Whether this
THE RISING POINT

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Continued on page 18

In 1877, the Grand Orient de France abolished all references to the Deity in its Constitution. They were replaced by a formula called the total liberty of conscience. The Grand Orient de Belgique preceded this move in 1872. Other masonic bodies in Italy, Switzerland and elsewhere followed this example with variable success. A similar situation now occurs in the east European countries where Freemasonry was only recently permitted by law. There are a number Detroits Masonic Temple By Alex Lundberg and Greg Kowalski of Grand Lodges founded after 1900 in The largest Masonic temple in the world, which men and women are members on an Detroits Masonic temple is a monumental equal footing. Similarly, since the end of structure with a rich and colorful history, World War II, Grand Lodges that are open befitting one of the most historic organizations to women alone were instituted in a few in the world. Encompassing more than 1,000 rooms and more than a million square feet, countries. All of these bodies differ for the temple has served Masons since 1926 and many reasons, although within particular provides a venue for many leading entertainers countries they are very similar in terms of and theater productions. Its lodges, chapels, and masonic customs and practices. ballrooms are masterpieces of architecture rich

In each country all Lodges share a common national culture and the same languages. Usually their origin may be traced to one original Grand Lodge. Often, the rituals they use have a common origin. Their Regulations show similarities and they share many social habits. Freemasons within one family may be members of different Grand Lodges. To dispel confusion, it may be useful to state that the words Grand Orient and Grande Loge have the same meaning. The Grand Orient de France is irregular, but the Groot Oost (Great East) of the Netherlands is regular. The Grand Orient de France took its name after the foundation of the National Grand Lodge of France in 1773, and originally the words designated its seat of power, Paris. Since the old Grande Loge de France still existed then, the new name was adopted generally. Another important factor is the almost total disappearance of Freemasonry in Europe before, during and after World War II. Freemasonry was forbidden under the Communist and Fascist dictatorships before the War and this was, of course, extended to the occupied countries. In most countries freemasons were patriots and opposed the enemy. Even when the German secret police did not systematically prosecute them, the lives of any freemasons arrested for any offence, or if their eventual Jewish origin was known, they were at great risk. In France, the lists of freemasons published in the Official Gazette were used to expel civil servants from the State Service and to exclude Brethren from many professions. The myth of the Judeo-Masonic-Communist plot causing the defeat of France in 1940 became an official doctrine of the Ptain regime. The interruption of masonic activities from five to nearly fifty years,