Freemasons, Freemasons, Freemasons ... Today this word is found often, especially in newspapers calling themselves "patriotic". Masons are blamed for everything - for the collapse of the USSR, for the collapse of the economy, for the impoverishment of people, although it is worth seriously starting to understand everything, then no one can find anywhere even signs of "Masonic intrigues".

So who are these Masons? Where did they come from, what do they do and what do they strive for? Why does their existence cause so much misinterpretation? Why, despite the most fantastic accusations against them, did many worthy and outstanding people belong to them, not only in other countries, but also in Russia?

In fact, in today's world it is difficult to find a country where there would be no people who call themselves "free masons." Whether in Europe, America, Asia or Africa - everywhere you can find buildings with compasses and squares on the pediment. These are Masonic temples, where, by the light of candles, unnoticed Masonic work has been going on for almost 300 years. People who gather in these houses can be black or white, have slanting eyes like Asiatic, profess Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, any other religion, and still feel one. What brings them under the shadow of the Masonic temples, how could they not only preserve their brotherhood for centuries, but also spread its ideas around the world?

Today we are rediscovering our own history and see that what was passed off as it for 70 years has little to do with reality. Some historical characters, who were previously mentioned only in passing, grow into outstanding figures of the Fatherland, others, on the other hand, are shrinking. New, or rather, old facts make the past voluminous, fill it with living people.

Origin of the Order of the Freemasons

Freemasons (Freemasons)- members of the oldest and most numerous fraternal secular societies existing in the modern world, which are rooted deeply in the past.

The spectrum of opinions on the origins of the Order of Freemasons is extremely wide. Many scholars believe that the history of the old Masonic organizations is closely related to the general history of the craft guilds and brotherhoods in England, and that modern Freemasonry was formed directly from the organizations of builders - masons and architects, which had many ramifications throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. Others trace a direct connection between the Order of Freemasons and the Order of the Poor Brothers - Warriors of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, which went down in history as the Order of the Knights Templar. Some Freemasons are sincerely convinced that the history of the Order began with the advent of a new era, and that the first Freemason was Jesus Christ. Others go even further, referring the beginning of the movement to Pythagoras, Moses, Abraham and even to the mythical Enoch.

In one way or another, Freemasonry is certainly related to the initiatory Brotherhoods of the distant past. Such communities, of course, have always bore the stamp of their time. They were born and died, changed their organizational structure and tactics. The original goals were forgotten, they were formulated and understood in different ways, new ones. But the carriers of the original Idea were preserved and the unions were revived. So it was with those who now call themselves Freemasons, for whom the striving for Self-improvement, for the highest Truth, the highest Justice has always remained unchanged. This is why Freemasonry is of the most ancient origin. In essence, Freemasonry, in one form or another, has always existed as a way of thinking and behaving, as a "state of mind".

The modern Order of Free Masons was organizationally formed at the beginning of the 18th century. On Christmas Day, St. John the Baptist On June 24, 1717, the world's first "Great Lodge" was established in the London tavern "Goose and Spit", uniting four "Small Lodges", which had gathered until that time in other city taverns. Thus, the Masonic organization of the new era was created, which laid the foundation for the institution of modern Freemasonry, which spread a couple of decades later throughout the European continent. In 1723, The Book of Constitutions by James Anderson (1680 -1739) was published under the title Constitutions of Freemasons, Containing the History, Responsibilities, and Rules of this Ancient and Most Venerable Brotherhood, which was approved and adopted as the basic law by the Freemasons. The "Constitutions", among other things, contained the mythical history of Freemasonry from the Garden of Eden to 1717. The goal of the Free Masons union was designated as the desire for moral self-improvement, knowledge of the Truth and oneself, as well as love for one's neighbor.

And today the Brotherhood sets as its main task to contribute to the moral and spiritual improvement of a person, the development in him, in an atmosphere of commonwealth and mutual assistance, of high spiritual qualities - the basis of both his personal happiness and his greatest usefulness to his neighbors. The Brotherhood is actively involved in education, charity, promotes a high level of education and social responsibility, while setting the highest standards of moral principles.

Skin color, nationality, political or religious beliefs cannot become an obstacle to membership in the Order, since it is forbidden to discuss in the lodges of the Brotherhood that which may divide people. One of the most amazing aspects of Freemasonry has always been that so many different people from completely different walks of life can communicate peacefully with each other, never discussing politics or engaging in religious debate, in mutual harmony and friendship and address each other "Brother" ... Regardless of their position in society, Masons treat each other as "equal among equals."

In their work in the Lodges, the Brothers learn to focus on what unites them. They step by step deepen their understanding of morality and find that the range of values ​​that unites them has expanded. This makes the brothers more open and able to learn from each other what each one needs to move on his own path. “We are interesting to each other because we are different”, “Always do with others as you would like to be treated with you” and “Never do to another what you would not want to be done to you” - axioms for real Masons ...

The Order of Freemasons (Freemasons, Freemasons, from the French Franc-Maçon - freemason) is a traditional universal initiatory Order based on the Brotherhood.

It is an alliance of people of free and good morals, of all races, of all nationalities and of all religions. It unites those for whom the preservation and development of the spiritual values ​​of mankind is a task of paramount importance.

"Freemasonry" is traditionally defined as "a moral and ethical system, hidden in allegories and illustrated by symbols." But this is, at the same time, the school of Morality, and the Code of Ethics, and the method of Cognition. It is authentic "Royal art".

The purpose of the Order of Freemasons, i.e. the main spiritual task that the Brothers set themselves and solve is formulated as "self-improvement and enlightenment of people for their improvement."

To this end, Freemasons work diligently in the Lodges, spiritually improving themselves, setting examples of morality, promoting enlightenment, and conducting extensive charitable activities.

Personal spiritual self-improvement of everyone and fraternal unity are the core ideas of Freemasonry. This is the path to a single universal Morality, built on the idea Of good... To human relationships based on the principles of brotherhood, love, cooperation and harmony. To a single higher Wisdom leading all the scattered phenomena of the world to the highest Harmony.

The duty of spiritual self-improvement commands the Free Mason, both in his personal life and in the world around him, to be wise, virtuous and just. He unwittingly becomes a worthy and attractive role model.

Freemasonry is based on a sense of the unity of Life and the Highest Moral Law. The rules: "Do with others as you would like to do to you" and "Do not do to another what you would not want, what they would do to you" - the law for the Free Mason. The brothers must strictly follow him both in the Lodge and in the world of the profane.

Freemasons recognize themselves as Brothers and should provide each other with help and support, even in the event of danger to their lives. They are also obliged to provide assistance to any person in danger.

In a relentless search Truths and Higher Justice Freemasons do not recognize any obstacles or limitations.

They are absolutely committed to respecting the personality and freedom of another person, recognize that everyone has the right to their own opinion and its free expression.

They always strive to reconcile opposites and unite people on the basis of universal morality and respect for everyone's personality.

They see work as their duty and right.

Freemasons are obliged to respect the laws and legal authority of the country in which they live and freely gather. They are enlightened and disciplined citizens, otherwise guided by the imperatives of their conscience.

In practicing Royal Art, they respect the traditional rules, manners and customs of the Order.

Freemasons recognize each other by the words, signs, and light touches with which they traditionally communicate in the Lodge during initiation ceremonies.

These words, signs and light touches, as well as rituals and symbols, constitute an unbreakable secret and cannot be communicated to anyone who does not have the appropriate status in order to know them.

Each Freemason is free to disclose or not disclose his status, but he cannot disclose the status of a Brother.

Freemasons unite among themselves to form - according to the Masonic tradition - autonomous collectives called Lodges.

Any Lodge is governed according to the decisions made by the majority of the Master Freemasons, properly dressed, but cannot deviate from the general principles of Freemasonry and from the laws of Obedience to which it belongs.

Lodges are grouped into Grand Lodges - independent national structures, keepers of tradition, exercising exclusive and undivided jurisdiction within the framework of "symbolic Freemasonry", i.e. over the three symbolic degrees: Apprentice, Apprentice, and Master.

Grand Lodges are governed according to tradition, "Ancient Obligations" and their own Constitutions and Laws.

They respect the sovereignty and independence of other Masonic structures and avoid any interference in their internal affairs.

They maintain the necessary relationships among themselves for the cohesion of the universal Order.

They, at their discretion, conclude treaties and fraternal unions among themselves, but do not recognize any superior national or international Masonic authority.

They independently regulate their legislation and administration, justice and internal discipline.

So, through respect for the personality of each Masonic national entity, the autonomy of each Lodge and the individual freedom of each Brother, the universality of the Order of Freemasons is preserved, so that among all the Freemasons reign Love, Harmony and Concord.

The fundamental principles of Freemasonry in historical literature were formulated as follows:

Masons have markings and words.

Symbolic Freemasonry is divided into three degrees.

The legend of Hiram in the third degree.

The Brotherhood is governed by the Great Master, who is elected from among the brothers.

The Great Master has the right to preside over any meeting of the Brotherhood, wherever and whenever it takes place.

The Grand Master has the power to grant the right to open the Lodge and carry out work in it.

The Grand Master has the right to give permission for the initiation of any brother into any degree without observing the terms stipulated by tradition.

The Grand Master has the right to conduct initiation into the Brotherhood without following the usual procedure.

Freemasons should meet in Lodges.

When the brothers gather in the Lodge, they are to be guided by the Worshipful Master and two Overseers.

During the meeting of any Lodge, it must be properly guarded.

Every Freemason has the right to be represented in any general meetings of the Brotherhood, and to instruct his representatives accordingly.

Every Freemason has the right to appeal the decision of his brothers to the Grand Lodge or General Assembly.

Every Freemason has the right to attend and attend the meetings of any regular Lodge.

No visitor, not known to the brothers present or to any one of them, has the right to enter the Lodge until he has passed a survey or examination in accordance with ancient traditions.

No Lodge has the right to interfere in the internal affairs of another Lodge or to assign degrees to brothers-members of other Lodges.

Every Mason is obliged to obey the Masonic laws of his jurisdiction (in the place of residence), regardless of whether he is a member of any Lodge or not.

Candidates for initiation into the Brotherhood must meet certain requirements.

Belief in the existence of God, called the "Great Architect (Builder) of the Universe."

Belief in the Renaissance to the Coming Life.

The Book of the Sacred Law is an unchanging, irreplaceable and integral part of the decoration of any Lodge.

The equality of Freemasons is recognized.

The secrecy of the organization is respected.

The foundation of speculative (speculative) science on an operational (effective) basis.

Symbolic use and explanation of the terms of the craft for the sake of teaching religious and moral principles.

Freemasonry in Russia

Like any significant social and cultural phenomenon, the Brotherhood of Free Masons of Russia has absorbed its spirit, its centuries-old history, religion and culture. Being unconditionally and inextricably linked with the history and traditions of the world Masonic community, it was permeated with purely Russian high spirituality and sacrifice, the desire to comprehend God and merge with him in the process of spiritual search and service to humanity.

Russian Freemasons determined the religious and moral education of a person as their goal and worked to cleanse them from the vices of sin. They have always sought to actively participate in the formation of people's ideas about the Highest Values, about Man and his place in this world, in no way claiming a "monopoly" in the formation and definition of views. The moral lights of Freemasonry - Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood, Faith and Honor - were guiding stars for them in the ocean of life, and they offered these guidelines to the then society when choosing the path of their development.

Freemasonry for a long time remained the first and in fact the only secular ideology of Russia, which gave the country and the world many brightest names - writers, artists, composers, military men, public figures, lawyers, scientists ...

The great Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev stated: “Freemasonry was our only spiritual and social movement in the 18th century, its significance was enormous ... The best Russian people were Freemasons ... Freemasonry was the first free self-organization of society in Russia, but it was not imposed by the authorities from above ”.

The Free Masons Order came to Russia, apparently, during or immediately after the reign of Peter the Great. There is a legend, not confirmed, however, by any documents, that it was Tsar Peter Alekseevich who was the first Russian Mason to take initiation in 1699, during his stay in England with the Grand Embassy from Christopher Wren himself, an outstanding English architect and one of the fathers of New England Freemasonry. According to the legend, the lodge, in the works of which, allegedly, Peter I took part, was called "Neptune". It is hardly possible to confirm or deny these legends, however, it is known for certain and documented that the great reformer enjoyed great respect among Russian free masons and Russian masons preferred to lead their genealogy from Peter the Great, to whom many Masonic hymns are dedicated, in particular the famous "Song Peter the Great "Derzhavin. So, the ideological and spiritual connection of Russian Masons with Peter's reforms is beyond doubt.

The earliest historically reliable information about Freemasonry in Russia dates back to 1731, to the era of Empress Anna Ioannovna, when, according to an official English source, the Grand Master of the Great London Lodge Lord Lovel appointed Captain John Phillips as a provincial grand master "for all of Russia." Ten years later, he was replaced by General James Keith, a Scotsman in the Russian service. Thus, the original Freemasonry came to Russia, as elsewhere on the continent, from England. Probably, in the early years, the teachings of the Order spread only in a close circle of John Phillips' tribesmen who moved to Russia. Russian Freemasonry begins to develop in the forties, during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna and among the Russian Freemasons there appear the names of the most prominent Russian nobles, representatives of old noble and even princely families (Count Nikolai Golovin, Counts Zakhar and Ivan Chernyshevs, Kirill Razumovsky, Empress' favorite Ivan Shuvalov and etc.). The future emperor Peter III was also a Freemason.

The real dawn of Freemasonry in Russia falls on the first decades of the reign of Catherine II the Great, when the lodges of two Masonic systems - Elagin and Zinnendorf (Swedish-Berlin), which enjoyed immense popularity, were simultaneously opened in Russia. Masons were both the favorite of the Empress Grigory Orlov, and the head of the foreign collegium, the mentor of the future Russian emperor Count Nikita Panin, Generals I.N.Boltin, N.M. Borozdin, Counts A.A. Brus, A.K. Razumovsky, A.S. .Stroganov, princes Yu.V. Dolgoruky, G.P. Gagarin, A.B. Kurakin, M.M. Shcherbatov and others.

An outstanding role in this period in the history of Russian Freemasonry belongs to Ivan Perfilievich Elagin - a writer, a senator, manager of imperial theaters, one of the most active promoters of Freemasonry in our country, the founder of a number of Masonic lodges in St. Petersburg. One cannot but recall Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov - the great Russian educator, thinker, writer, journalist, publisher, public figure and benefactor. He became a Free Mason in 1775, having been consecrated in the "Astrea" lodge in St. Petersburg.

Even in the last years of the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna, the great Russian commander Alexander Vasilyevich Suvorov became one of the first Russian Masons. He was consecrated and elevated to the third degree of a master in St. Petersburg in the "Three Stars" lodge. Later, during the Seven Years War in Prussia and visiting his father in Konigsberg, on January 27, 1761, he was promoted to the Scottish master in the lodge "To the Three Crowns". From that day until his departure from Konigsberg at the beginning of 1762, Suvorov was a member of the lodge. In the list of its members, submitted on March 16, 1761 to the Lodge of Three Globes, Alexander Suvorov is listed as number 6.

Another great Russian commander, Field Marshal, Prince Mikhail Illarionovich Golenishchev-Kutuzov (Smolensky) joined the sacraments of the Order in 1779 in Regensburg, in the box "To the Three Keys". Subsequently, he reached the highest degrees and was one of the most influential members of the Russian brotherhood of free masons.

The names of Masons are inscribed in gold letters in the history of Russia: Mikhail Matveyevich Kheraskov, Alexander Nikolaevich Radishchev, Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky, Fedor Petrovich Gaaz, Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin, Alexander Sergeevich Griboyedov, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, Vasily Lvovich Pushkin, Mikhail Ivanovich Pestel, Baku Nikolaevich Yablochkov, Maximilian Alexandrovich Voloshin, Mikhail Andreevich Osorgin (Ilyin) and many, many others. Many more famous and glorious names can be named.

The history of the Order of Freemasons in Russia is full of drama. The brothers experienced periods of prosperity and stagnation, the rise and fall of the Order, which occurred both as a result of their own mistakes and external circumstances. Masonic lodges in Russia were repeatedly persecuted and banned three times by special imperial decrees.

Catherine II, who treated Freemasonry with favor, if not sympathy, in 1792 accused the Freemasons of all mortal sins, including the fact that they “used different methods ... to trap a person known from their papers into their sect ( that is, the heir to the throne Pavel Petrovich) ". Many of the Brothers, among them Nikolai Novikov, were arrested, "with partiality" interrogated and convicted. Others, such as I.V. Lopukhin, N.N. Trubetskoy and I.P. Turgenev, “after the true repentance of those interrogated,” were forgiven by the empress’s mercy, who commanded: the capitals of their villages and have a stay there. " The Russian Lodges were dispersed by the decree of 1794.

Pavel I Petrovich, who was solemnly admitted to the Freemasons while still Tsarevich - in 1784 and even later accepted the title of Grand Master of the Order of Malta, a year after accession to the throne in 1797 (according to other sources in 1799), issued a decree prescribing to apply the law of 1794 (on the prohibition of Masonic lodges) "with all possible severity."

Alexander I, who actively collaborated with the Freemasons, openly allowed the activities of Masonic lodges, and, possibly, he himself took initiation in 1803, on August 13, 1822, issued a rescript banning all secret associations, including Masonic lodges.

However, despite the prohibitions of the authorities, the Masonic lodges in Russia continued to operate until 1918, when they were already banned by the Soviet government.

Unfortunately, totalitarian regimes, with rare exceptions, such as modern Cuba, cannot afford to tolerate the existence of a society of free people in their countries, albeit purely spiritually. Freemasonry was persecuted both during the domination of the Catholic Church in Europe, and much later, under the communist and fascist regimes. After the 1917 revolution, the Russian brothers moved their work abroad, primarily to France, where the work of Russian lodges was not interrupted for a day for the entire time that passed from then until the beginning of the 1990s, when the first citizens of the USSR and, after a more than seventy-year hiatus, Freemasonry in Russia was revived.

The first North Star Masonic lodge was opened on April 28, 1991 by the Grand Orient of France, representing the so-called liberal Freemasonry. In April 1992, under the jurisdiction of the Grand East of France, the Free Russia lodge was founded, on July 11, 1993, the Nine Muses and Northern Brothers lodges were opened, and on June 12, 1994, in Arkhangelsk, the Pole Star lodge. In August 1991, a delegation from the Grand Lodge of France arrived in Moscow and the opening ceremony of the Nikolai Novikov Lodge took place. In 1992, the Grand Lodge of France opened the Sphinx lodges in St. Petersburg and Geometry in Kharkov, and in 1993 - the Lutetia lodge in Moscow. The Grand National Lodge of France in Moscow on January 15, 1992 founded the Harmony Lodge, and in October 1993 the Lotus Lodge.

The First Grand Lodge of Russia (VLR) was founded on June 24, 1995 by the Grand National Lodge of France. It included 5 legally established symbolic workshops. In 2000, a significant part of the Brothers who left its membership, who did not agree with the internal policy of the VLR leadership, formed the Russian Regular Grand Lodge, which, having united in 2007 with the part of the Free Masons that had left the VLR again, became part of the United Grand Lodge of Russia.

On October 11, 2008, at its Representative Assembly in St. Petersburg, the United Grand Lodge of Russia was finally formed and acquired its new Constitution and General Regulations.

Gallery "Famous Freemasons"

RENT Nikolay Fedorovich (1786-1859) - surgeon

As a military doctor, a participant in the wars of 1805-1807. and 1812-1814, chief physician of the Russian occupation corps in France, physician-in-chief of Emperor Nicholas I. On behalf of the emperor, he operated on the mortally wounded A.S. Pushkin. In 1847 he was appointed inspector of all institutions of the Department of Empress Maria Feodorovna. Founding member of the lodge "St. George the Victorious", 1818-1819, 3 gr.

ATATYURK (Mustafa Kemal Pasha)

(1881 - 1938) Founding father of the modern Turkish state. Prominent public and political figure. Until his death, he was a member of the Italian lodge "Macedonia resorta et veritas" (Macedonia Risen and Truth).

BAZHENOV Vasily Ivanovich (1737-1799) - an outstanding Russian architect.

Bazhenov was the link between the Moscow Masons and N. I. Novikov (Moscow Rosicrucians) and the heir to the throne Paul. Through Bazhenov, Masonic books, published in Moscow printing houses, were transferred to the Tsarevich. Upon accession to the throne, Paul I promoted Bazhenov from collegiate counselor to actual state counselor, and awarded him the Order of St. Anna of the 2nd degree and 1000 souls of peasants. By decree of February 26, 1799, he was appointed the first vice-president of the Imperial Academy of Arts. Dedicated in the lodge of "Latona" or "Deucalion" not earlier than 1774 Rosicrucian.

BATENKOV, Gavriil Stepanovich (1793-1863)

Lieutenant Colonel of the Corps of Railway Engineers. Poet. Member of the Patriotic War of 1812 and foreign campaigns in 1813. During his service in Tomsk (1813-1817), he became close to M.M. Speransky and became his closest collaborator. Decembrist, member of the Northern Society. After the Decembrist uprising, he spent about twenty years in solitary confinement, demonstrating rare courage and self-control. Left "Masonic Memories". Participated in the development of the plan for the uprising on December 14, 1825, speaking out for decisive action and involving the masses in the uprising. He was designated as a candidate for membership in the Provisional Government. During the investigation, he presented a statement about belonging to a secret society and agreement with its plans, wrote that the speech on December 14 was “not a rebellion, as to my shame I called it several times, but the first experience of a political revolution in Russia, an experience respected in everyday life and in the eyes of other enlightened peoples ". Of the surviving Decembrists, he suffered the most severe punishment: he was sentenced to eternal hard labor, but was kept from 1827 to 1846 in the solitary cell of the Alekseevsky Ravelin of the Peter and Paul Fortress. In the fortress he was not allowed to communicate with anyone, from books he was allowed to read only the Bible. Member of the Lodge “Chosen Michael” in 2 gr. Founding member and Grand Secretary of the "Eastern Sun" lodge in Tomsk, 1818-1819

BONAPART, Napoleon (1769 - 1821)

He is said to have been initiated into the Masonic Order around 1765. His four brothers (Joseph, Jerome, Louis and Lucien) were Masons. Empress Josephine was initiated into an adoptive degree at the Lodge of the "Free Knights" (Les Francs Chevaliers) in Paris in 1804.

WASHINGTON, George (1732 - 1799)

Outstanding public and political figure of the American colonies, later the United States, the first President of the United States (1789 - 1797). Dedicated to the Brotherhood at Friedrichsburg's Lodge in Virginia, November 4, 1752. He paid 2 pounds and 3 shillings for the initiation. He became an apprentice on March 3, 1753 and was exalted to the rank of Master on August 4, 1753. Washington was a founding member and first Honored Master of Alexandria Lodge No. 22 in Virginia, which he held for two terms, from April 28, 1788 to December 27, 1789 Served as an Honored Master until his inauguration as President of the United States on April 30, 1789. Since 1805, after the death of Washington and to this day, this Lodge is called "Alexandria-Washington" No. 22.

GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749 - 1832)

German poet who significantly influenced the development of German literature in his time. Author of Faust and the Masonic novel Wilhelm Meister, the best Masonic narrative of the time, and the poem The Way of the Freemason. Erected in the Lodge "Amalia" in Weimar in 1782

DE MOLE, Jacques (about 1243 - 1314)

Grandmaster of the Medieval Knights of the Temple on the island of Malta. The King of France authorized him, along with other knights, to come to France to discuss a new Crusade, but upon arrival they were arrested, and their property was confiscated and divided by the King and the Pope. De Molay and others were burned in the square. The De Molay Order for Boys was named for this revered martyr.

ELAGIN Ivan Perfilievich (1725-1793)

Privy Councilor, Senator, Chief Hofmeister, Writer, Playwright, Translator. A prominent figure in Russian Freemasonry; in the early 1770s. headed the united and reorganized by him Russian Masonic lodges, creating the so-called. Elagin system of Freemasonry. He played a significant role in Russian Freemasonry, to which he belonged from a young age; at the end of his life, this changed for the worse the attitude of Catherine towards him, once jokingly signed: "the chancellor of Mr. Elagin." In the Petersburg provincial lodge of the English system, opened in 1770, Elagin was the first to receive the title of great master. In 1777 Elagin took part in the introduction of the Swedish Masonic system of "strict obedience" among Russian Freemasonry. Carried away at one time by the secret sciences, he was an ardent adherent of Cagliostro. He left behind an interesting (unfinished) note on Freemasonry, mainly Russian (published in 1864). From 1766 to 1779 he was director of the court theater. Author of a satire, translations from French, of the historical work "Experience in the Narrative of Russia"

True / False About Freemasonry

Is Freemasonry a Gathering of Old Men? Isn't Freemasonry extinct yet?

There are many people of all ages among Masons, starting from the age of 21 (or 18 years old depending on the jurisdiction). Masons are millions of people in the world and hundreds in Russia. The spiritual and moral light of Freemasonry has not gone out and attracts people who are looking for their place in the world, looking for the place of Man before God. In addition, it can be added that almost half of the brothers ordained as Freemasons in Russia in 1999 are under 30 years old.

Freemasons are racists or elitists?

Freemasonry declares the equality of people regardless of their skin color, religion, nation, social origin and social status. Freemasonry not only declares, but also professes this principle. Among the brothers there are people of all races and nations. A person's access to the Lodge can never be limited by national or racial criteria. In many ways, the principle of human equality has spread throughout the world thanks to the Freemasons Order.

Elitism is a rather difficult term to define. If you mean the question of whether Freemasonry makes strict demands on its members, then the answer is yes. These requirements are known to all and are clearly declared by the order: faith in God and the fulfillment of his Testaments, high spiritual and moral development, constant concern for neighbors, adamant loyalty to the ideals of the family and the state. Do most people meet these requirements? If you think not, then Freemasonry is elitist.

Rumors that Freemasonry is open only to the "upper classes", to businessmen and high-ranking politicians are incorrect. The source of these rumors is false ideas about the goals of Freemasonry, unfounded suspicions that the order is striving for world domination.

Is the lodge a place for businessmen to conduct common affairs?

No. Moreover, most Freemasons believe that a business preference given to someone because they are a Freemason is a non-Masonic act. A person who tries to become a Freemason because he hopes to get economic or political benefits from it will never become a Freemason.

If you are interested in organizations or partnerships created for joint business, we recommend joining the Rotary Club.

In Freemasonry, the titles "Venerable Master" and others are used. Is Freemasonry a sect or some kind of religious organization?

No. The titles used in Freemasonry are simply full of beauty, grandeur, ancient symbolism. And they persist for these reasons, but do not carry the meaning of worshiping their owners, or recognizing them as secular authority over other members of the Brotherhood. The fact that a brother is an Honored Master or someone else speaks only of his role in the rites of Freemasonry and can in the administration of the Order. The attainment of a degree by a person gives him authority, because Freemasonry is very scrupulous and strict in establishing the correspondence of a brother's merits and their official recognition.

Freemasonry contains many mechanisms to prevent rebirth into a sect. One of the important principles of Freemasonry is the constant rotation of leading officials. Thus, the head of the lodge, the Venerable Master, cannot hold this position for more than 3 years in a row.

Is Freemasonry a Secret Organization? What is a Masonic secret, and what can you talk about publicly?

Freemasonry does not hide the fact of its existence. Some lodges also do not hide the fact of their existence. For example, on the Russian Web you can find the names of almost all Russian lodges operating under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Russia. Over time, many of them will be presented separately on our website.

At the same time, the brothers consider it inappropriate to discuss deeply personal issues related to the sphere of spiritual development in public. This position is at least worthy of understanding. According to our traditions, each brother has the right to declare his membership in the Order without any approval. However, he is not entitled to name the other members of the Order without obtaining their direct consent.

So far, in Russia, Masons cannot speak so broadly and openly about their affiliation with the organization as in the United States or in Europe. This is a consequence of the negative attitude towards the Order of a small but extremely aggressive part of our fellow citizens. We also remember that we have a long history of persecution by the authorities.

In addition to the lists of members of the order, the secret is represented by Masonic rituals, secret words, identification marks.

Why are Masonic rituals secret?

The initiation process has an esoteric side. The brother gets acquainted with the ritual of each degree only at the moment of initiation into this degree. Thus, the maximum effect is achieved from initiation. This provides material for deep reflection, creates inner spiritual tension.

Is Freemasonry a Religion?

No. Freemasonry requires its members to believe in God. But Freemasonry does not force a person to adhere to a certain faith, does not impose on him any system of his own for the performance of religious rituals, and does not even require a certain confessional affiliation.

All the rituals of Freemasonry and its symbolism are means of spiritual improvement of a person, but we avoid judgments about God. Such judgments for a brother are determined by confessional affiliation (if any) or inner spiritual feeling. The order only contributes to the disclosure of a person's inner religiosity, strengthens his faith, making it deeper and more sincere. But Freemasonry does not add any color to personal religious beliefs.

But you consider the Great Architect of the Universe to be your God?

Quite the opposite is true. We call God the Great Architect of the Universe, since He created everything that exists. You have probably heard how He was called the Creator. Agree, there is a difference: consider God the Builder or the builder - God!

Freemasons control the world?

No. Authors putting forward such thesis need the immediate help of a psychiatrist. We recommend that you read "Foucault's Pendulum" by Umberto Eco. This book, in particular, shows how people come to such mental deviations. This thesis is completely frivolous. Therefore, it is not specifically considered here. It also does not consider the theses of authors like S.A. Nilus, Leo Taxil, O. Platonov that the Masons allegedly worship Satan, that he is present in the form of a goat at every meeting of the lodge and constantly beats the table with a hammer, etc. The reputation of such people is the best refutation of everything that they have written. The work of these people is full of deliberate falsifications. The "lists of Russian masons" published in these works are an absolute lie. The Masonic rituals published there are nine-tenths false.

Are Masonic rituals demeaning for a candidate?

No. There is nothing further from the truth. The purpose of the rituals is to teach a person the virtues of Freemasonry and this cannot be achieved by means of humiliation. Our rituals are very beautiful and full of symbolism. Their origin was overshadowed by the glory of the great mysteries of various religions of many peoples of the Earth throughout its history, with the only amendment that modern Masonic rituals in no way threaten the life, physical and mental health, honor and dignity of the candidate and his loved ones.

Have Masonic rituals been simplified lately?

The United Grand Lodge of Russia uses rituals that basically have not changed much for the last hundred years. A number of jurisdictions, primarily in the United States, use simplified rituals. To a greater extent, this applies to degrees of Scottish Rite.

Freemasons call the buildings that belong to them Temples. Are the rites of religious worship performed there?

No. According to the definition of many dictionaries, the Temple is a building that serves for the special purposes of an organization. For example, for holding meetings of the Lodge. In addition, according to the ritual, the Lodge symbolically sits on the site of the construction of the Jerusalem Temple, that is, before its consecration, therefore, strictly speaking, it is not yet a religious building.

Does the Masons control the tripartite commission or does it control them? Is Freemasonry related to the Bilderberg Conference?

Trilateral Commission. It was created in 1973. Three leading industrial formations in the world - the European Union, North America (USA and Canada), Japan - form it. The members of the commission are 330 citizens of these countries who have distinguished themselves in business, science, politics (but not in government organizations), in the media.

The entire commission meets once a year. During the meeting, issues of vital importance for the regions covered by the commission are considered.

Neither the organizers of the commission, nor its current administrative composition were and are not Masons.

The Bilderberg Conference was founded by Prince Bernard in 1954 in Osterbek, the Netherlands. An annual three-day conference, which is attended by about 100 bankers, economists, politicians, government officials. The participants are elected by a committee of the commission in The Hague.

The following document can give an idea of ​​the work of the commission: A public statement by the Bilderberg Conference. This commission also has nothing to do with Freemasonry.

"And soon, soon the fighting among the slave people will cease, you will take the hammer in your hand and call: freedom!" - wrote A.S. Pushkin, referring to one of the most famous Freemasons of Russia - General Pushchin. Who are they - Masons? This society seems overly encrypted, but it always seems curious to lift the veil of secrecy. Successful old people in long robes with big hoods who build their conspiracy theories while drinking whiskey - this is exactly the image of the Freemasons.develops in people, thanks to mass culture. What exactly do Freemasons do? Few people are able to give a confident answer to this question. Let's try to understand the system of Masonic lodges and symbols, answer the main questions about their history and activities, and make this "secret society" not so secret.

Who are the Freemasons?

Freemasons are such an organization of religious and ethical orientation, which is spread throughout the world. People belonging to this organization strive for self-improvement and knowledge of the world in accordance with certain principles. In total, there are about five million members of this society in the world. The philosophy of Freemasonry includes elements of different beliefs, but it is not an independent religion. Initially, the Freemasons gathered to resolve some issues of ethics and morality. However, over time, they began to be occupied with the problems of world order and world governance. This is how the famous Masonic conspiracy theories came about.

Are Freemasons a Secret Society?

Not really. The Masons themselves call themselves not a secret society, but a "society with secrets." They can calmly talk about their belonging to the clan of the Freemasons. The only thing they should always keep silent about is the secrets of their order.

By the way, Masons have their own hierarchy: apprentice, apprentice and master. The degree of a Freemason correlates with the level of his personal development.

So, at the stage of the student, the Mason is engaged in self-knowledge and self-improvement. In the second degree, a person carefully studies the world around him, the philosophy of his perception, the human mind. A master's degree involves the study of the subject of death. There is no higher grade than a master, but some lodges may award additional degrees.

What is a Masonic Lodge?

The Masonic lodge is where the members of the community hold meetings (meetings in the language of the Masons are called "works").

Lodges, like their members, have their own hierarchy.

The main ones - the great lodges - govern the smaller ones - the Masonic ones. As a rule, lodges are formed according to the principle of proximity to the place of residence. In some cases, they can be formed according to interests, professions. Master Masons can also create special research lodges in which members study Freemasonry itself. Masonic lodges are also, depending on the adopted charter and faith, divided into Ioannovsky, Andreevsky and Red. Moreover, depending on the rituals, for example, a separate drinking bed or a bed of sorrow is distinguished.

Who rules the Masons?

The Masons do not have a single leader. No member of the Masonic lodges can speak on behalf of the entire fraternity. Only the Grand Lodge has this right. Even in the landmarks (the so-called commandments of Freemasonry), the principle of equality of members of the brotherhood before each other is spelled out.

Where did they come from - Masons?

Freemasonry has its origins in the late 16th - early 17th centuries.

It is believed that the first Freemasons were masons, which is quite logical, since the literal translation of the word "freemason" from French is "free mason". The date of the beginning of the movement of the society of Masons around the world is considered to be the day of the founding of the Grand Lodge of London - June 24, 1717. It was on this day that four craft lodges: "Apple", "Crown", "Grape brush", "Goose and a baking sheet", so named after the taverns where they gathered, united into one "Grand Lodge of London".

In the 18th century, Freemasonry gained popularity in Europe. Secret society lodges appear in Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland. Moreover, they expanded at a tremendous pace: in Paris alone in seven years (from 1735 to 1742) the number of Masonic organizations increased from 5 to 22.

I heard that Peter the Great brought Freemasonry to Russia. It's true?

Yes. According to historians, it was Peter the Great with his associates Franz Lefort and Patrick Gordon who founded the Russian Lodge.

According to legend, Peter the Great was a member of one of the lodges in Amsterdam. These are just assumptions.

It is only known for certain that the first Masonic lodge in Russia arose in 1731. Masons in our country have always been disliked. Catherine II, for example, believed that Western European rulers would pursue their policies through secret societies. Masonic lodges were either opened or forbidden. And if in the Russian Empire the Freemasons had the right to exist, for example, under Alexander I, then in the USSR this became impossible. Only on June 24, 1995, the Grand Lodge of Russia was re-established. Its members meet once a month. At their meetings after the official part, during dinner, they always raise toasts to Russia, to the president of our state and to the box. Women, by the way, are not allowed to join the ranks of Russian "free masons".

They say Pushkin, Suvorov, Kutuzov were Masons

Of course, singing the ideals of freedom and self-improvement, Freemasonry attracted the intellectual elite of Russia. The official website of Russian Masons says that Kutuzov, Suvorov, and Pushkin were Masons. Pushkin wrote in his diary: "On May 4 I was admitted to the Freemasons." However, according to literary scholars, he was only a freemason on a piece of paper and soon left the lodge. But it is known for certain about the involvement of Chaadaev, Trubetskoy, Zhukovsky, Bazhenov in the “society with secrets”. By the way, literary circles were actively created around the Masonic lodges. And in the works of L.N. Tolstoy, Pisemsky, Gumilyov, Masonic themes can be traced.

How do you recognize Masons?

There are no special signs, symbols, algorithms that would help to calculate the Freemasons. The lists of all members of the Freemasons are kept secret. To distinguish "friends", certain signs and gestures are used. For example, a pyramid symbol (rhombus or triangle), a triple six (666 or "okay"), the devil's horn, the sign of the hidden eye. Also, Masons have a special style of handshaking (the thumb is placed on the space between the second and third fingers of another Mason's hand).

In Freemasonry, as in any closed society, there is a certain symbolism. Among the main symbols are those associated with construction: a level is a symbol of the equality of estates, a plumb line is a striving for perfection, a hammer is a symbol of the fact that there is no need to give up life outside of brotherhood, a compass is a symbol of moderation and prudence, a goniometer is justice.

One of the main symbols is acacia, which stands for purity and holiness. It is also common to use the "Radiant Delta" - a triangle with an open eye inside. This image itself is borrowed from Christianity: the triangle denotes the trinity, and the eye - "All-seeing eye". In Freemasonry "Radiant Delta" is a symbol of the Creator's all-pervasiveness, and in liberal Freemasonry (yes, there is such a thing) it is a sign of enlightenment.

However, all the images of the "All-Seeing Eye" on architectural monuments should not be immediately ranked as Masonic symbols. According to urbanists, everything that is passed off as Masonic symbols, in fact, or the symbols of the guild of architects, or the symbols are originally Christian.

Freemasons and conspiracy theorists see their symbols in everything: on the American dollar, on the Ukrainian 500 hryvnia banknote and even on the emblem of the USSR (the intersection of the hammer and sickle can be interpreted as the establishment and retention of the power of the Freemasons through severe repression. Wheat ears mean a symbol of wealth, money and prosperity).

What is Liberal Freemasonry? Is it like a liberal party?

What we have in common with the liberal party is the principle of freedom. In the case of liberal Freemasonry, this is the principle of absolute freedom of conscience. This trend was born in the homeland of everything liberal - in France.

It was the Liberal Freemasons who allowed women to join their ranks.

There are two main streams of Freemasonry: regular, which is subordinate to the "United Grand Lodge of England" and liberal - under the leadership of the "Grand Orient of France".

Also, all American presidents were Freemasons.

Ironically, many US presidents were indeed members of Masonic lodges. Among them: George Washington, Warren Harding, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Gerald Ford. The creator of the Statue of Liberty, Frederic Bartholdi, was also a Freemason, among other things.

How to become a Freemason?

Contrary to the popular stereotype, one does not need to possess any supernatural wealth. All requirements for candidates follow from the basic Masonic principles. According to them, a person must have the means to pay membership fees. However, in some countries, Freemasons abolish this property qualification (for example, in Italy).

The main thing is that a person must prove his faith in God, reach adulthood (in most great lodges - 21 years), be "free and of good morals", that is, make an independent decision to join the brotherhood, have a good reputation and have no problems with the law ...

After the decision is made, you need to go to the local lodge and get some recommendations from its full members. The decision to be admitted to Freemasonry takes place by secret ballot. In some lodges, if only one person voted against, then the candidacy is already rejected.

I'm an atheist. Will I not be accepted into the box?

Maybe. Freemasonry is always based on religious beliefs: Christianity, Judaism and others. To become a Freemason, you must believe in any higher power. In liberal Freemasonry, however, it is assumed that a potential member of society adheres to the philosophy of deism or believes in God as an abstract principle. The Grand Lodge of Russia, for example, sometimes even admits membership of atheists.

P.S. We hope that after reading the article, you will not search all over the place for secret symbols and conspiracy theories. By the way, Masons are very fond of Mozart. In their opinion, in his "Magic Flute" he revealed Masonic secrets, for which he was later poisoned. When it is played at the Vienna Opera, Freemasons always get up. Well, this is already so, another interesting fact.

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Freemason symbol.

Every Freemason honors God, being in Freemasonry, he is addressed as “the Great Builder (Architect) of the Universe”, and any traditional religion is allowed. Freemasonry is not a religion or a substitute for religion, Freemasonry does not have its own theology, and discussions on religious issues are excluded from Masonic meetings. Each Mason continues to profess the religious beliefs with which he came to the lodge, and his greater attention to his religion is welcomed. The recognition of faith in God as the basis of Freemasonry and its principles goes back to the founders of modern speculative Freemasonry at the beginning of the XVIII century and this is adhered to by the dominant majority of world Freemasonry (the so-called regular or Conservative Freemasonry), emphasis is placed on mandatory monotheism.

Freemasonry is positioned as a moral and ethical system, expressed in allegories and illustrated with symbols, most of the symbolism is borrowed from other cultures, legends with biblical characters are played up in rituals. The attention of Masons is drawn to the need for moral self-improvement, as well as spiritual growth within the framework of the religion that each of them professes. The philosophy of Freemasonry includes the external elements of both Christianity and other religions.

The Radiant Delta reminds the Mason of the all-pervading Creator, the Supreme Being. This is the main Masonic symbol of the first degree, the degree of the disciple. Stylistically, the eye is often replaced by a circle inscribed in a triangle. In liberal Freemasonry, the Radiant Delta is considered a sign of enlightenment or the principle of consciousness.

One of the symbols of Freemasonry is also the acacia, which is considered one of the main symbols used in Freemasonry and is associated with the so-called Legend of the Death of Master Hiram - the thematic base of the Master Mason's degree. Further: a plumb line is a symbol of striving for perfection, a level is a symbol of equality, a square is a symbol of balance and reconciliation of an unchanging striving for perfection with what is actually achievable, a symbol of the earthly, a compass is a symbol of moderation and prudence, as well as a striving for the higher and spiritual, a trowel is a symbol of strengthening brotherly ties, etc. The biblical legend about the construction of the Temple of Solomon is widely used in Freemasonry.

Loyalty to the authorities of those countries and territories where Freemasonry exists is one of the Masonic principles. Working for the good of society is considered one of the Masonic virtues. For most of the world's Freemasons, this is realized by their participation in charitable activities.

Regular Freemasonry

Regularity (see also Freemasonry, Regularity) is the mechanism by which relationships in Freemasonry (brotherhood) are established. It is realized practically with the help of the system of recognition of the Grand Lodges (VL) to each other on a reciprocal basis.

The concept of regularity in Freemasonry is relatively young, it arose at the beginning of the 20th century, as a result of the spread of Freemasonry in the world. The Basic Principles (see also) were first published by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGL) in 1929 and later reaffirmed by it in 1938 in Aims and Relationships of the Craft. Other Grand Lodges of the world, with minor variations, have adopted similar principles and standards of regularity. At present, adherence to regularity and its recognition allow, with the autonomy of national Grand Lodges and mutual respect for their sovereignty, the world regular Freemasonry to be in an integrated state and create conditions for the preservation of Masonic traditions, testify to adherence to basic Masonic values.

Among the regularity standards:

With organizations that are not recognized as regular, but nevertheless consider themselves Masonic, relations in regular Freemasonry are excluded, regular Freemasons are not allowed to attend their meetings. Grand Lodges usually publish in special editions lists of Masonic jurisdictions (Grand Lodges, Grand East) in a relationship of recognition with them (see, for example, UGLE Recognized Grand Lodges).

Issues of recognition and relations are often dealt with by special commissions (systematizing information and developing expert opinions on the compliance of a particular Grand Lodge with regularity standards), in the United States, where Grand Lodges operate in each state, and recently Prince Hall Grand Lodges (created African Americans), there is a general recognition commission that meets annually.

In many countries (including Russia), the principle is that there can be only one regular Grand Lodge inside a country or territory, however, historically and at the present time, there are countries in the world where more than one overhead line operates in the same territory if there is between these overhead lines agreements on the so-called. "Division of territory" or mutual recognition.

Regular Freemasonry in the world is the strongest and most numerous. In modern Russia, it is represented by the Grand Lodge of Russia (VLR). This is the only organization in Russia related to regular Freemasonry.

Requirements for candidates

The basic requirements for candidates follow from the general principles of the movement. The candidate confirms his faith in God, the Supreme Being. In the "Book of Constitutions", compiled by the London preacher James Anderson, the Freemason was instructed not to be "neither a stupid atheist, nor an irreligious freethinker", to support civil authorities. The candidate must be of a mature age (in most of the Grand Lodges of the world at least 21 years old), decide to become a Freemason of his own free will, have a good reputation, be "free and of good morals."

The traditional rule when joining the Order sounds like "to be a Freemason, ask a Freemason about it", "2 be 1 ask 1", the initiative for admission to the lodge should come from the candidate. The candidate can apply to the Lodge at the place of residence. To join the lodge, recommendations of its full members are needed, one way or another, the entry is preceded by a certain period of acquaintance with the Freemasons who recommend the candidate. Some jurisdictions require a candidate to apply 3 times to join, however this is becoming less common. In some jurisdictions, membership information is open so that a potential candidate knows where to find additional information.

The decision to join the lodge is made by closed ballot. Members voting to join use white stones (balls are most often used in the ritual); those who are against are black. The number of negative votes required to reject a candidate's application is set by the local Grand Lodge, and in some jurisdictions is equal to 1 vote.

Lodge Membership and Religious Beliefs

A candidate's religious convictions are the subject of his conscience. Upon joining, the candidate brings a commitment to the Holy Book of the faith that he professes, and which embodies the Revelation above his faith, it can be the Bible, the Koran, the Torah, etc. Usually the candidate belongs to one of the traditional confessions, respectively, Christianity, Islam, Judaism , etc. (in lodges that are recognized as regular ones), however, in the irregular lodges of continental European Freemasonry, the requirements for the candidate's faith are weakened, it is allowed for the candidate to accept the philosophy of deism or God - the "Great Architect of the Universe" as an abstract idea-symbol, or are canceled altogether , and atheists and agnostics can enter the lodge.

Rite of passage

Rite of passage

At the beginning of the ritual, a candidate for Masonry is brought into the Room of Reflections, painted black, the furnishings of which correspond to the name; there may be objects in it that remind the candidate of the frailty of life. In it, the candidate will write on paper a moral and philosophical testament, his wishes and vows regarding himself and other people, his country, family and humanity as a whole. Then he will be asked to once again confirm his faith in God.

Before entering the temple, where the dedication takes place, the candidate is blindfolded. As a sign of humility, the candidate is “neither dressed nor undressed” (partially undressed, and the left breast is bared as a sign of an open heart), all values ​​(“metals”) are taken from him, his right leg is rolled up and his left shoe is removed. A rope is put around his neck, symbolizing the bond of human imperfection. The candidate is taken to the premises of the temple (the meeting room of the lodge), where he goes through ritual tests, listens to instructions of a moral and philosophical nature, participates in small scenes and dialogues, the purpose of which is to clearly present the moral instructions of the ritual. At the end of the ceremony, he makes a solemn commitment to the Holy Book of the religion he professes (usually the Bible, a compass and a square are also placed on it). Then the bandage is removed to the candidate, saying that he has now “passed the tests and is worthy of the Light”, a Masonic apron is put on him, and after that the presiding officer of the ceremony (the Worshipful Master) announces to those present that they have now found a new brother and calls on to help him in difficulties, being confident that he will help them in difficult times. Often the initiation ceremony is performed with musical accompaniment, which further enhances the experience of the candidate.

The initiation rite is described by L. N. Tolstoy, who himself was initiated into the first degree, in War and Peace (an episode with the dedication of Pierre Bezukhov), but there are also more modern scientific sources about Masonic rituals.

Freemasonry in Russia

Freemasonry in Russia appeared in the middle of the 18th century. In Masonic legends, the founders of Freemasonry in Russia are often called Peter I and his associates Franz Lefort and Patrick Gordon. This version, however, has no documentary evidence. The first reliable news of the beginning of Freemasonry in Russia dates back to 1731, when the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of London, Lord Lovel, appointed Captain John Philips as Provincial Grand Master for Russia. The widespread spread of Freemasonry in Russia began with the founding of several lodges by the general of the Russian service, James Keith, in the 1740s. The documents of the Grand Lodge of England indicate that in 1740 he was appointed provincial Grand Master for Russia. Initially, most of the members of the Russian lodges were foreigners - officers in the Russian service and merchants, but soon the number of Russian Masons by birth also began to grow. In the 1750s, a lodge worked in St. Petersburg under the leadership of Count R. I. Vorontsov.

An alternative Elagin Masonic system was the so-called Swedish or Zinnendorf system, founded by P.-B. Reichel. In 1772-1776 Reichel founded several more lodges: "Apollo" (St. Petersburg), "Harpocrates" (St. Petersburg), "Apollo" (Riga), "Isis" (Revel), "Horus" (St. Petersburg) , "Latona" (St. Petersburg), "Nemesis" (St. Petersburg) and "Osiris" (St. Petersburg - Moscow). In 1776, after negotiations, the Elagin and Reichel lodges merged into a single system.

A new stage in the development of Russian Freemasonry is associated with the name of N.I. Novikov, who joined the Freemasons in 1775 in one of the Elagin lodges. Together with Johann Schwartz, Novikov launched widespread propaganda in Moscow, where the center of activity of Russian Freemasonry shifted. On August 1, 1822, the Masonic lodges were officially closed by the highest rescript of Alexander I.

A new stage in the spread of Freemasonry in Russia dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, when the lodges of the so-called “Great East of France” became widespread in Russia - then transformed into the “Great East of the peoples of Russia”. Freemasonry at the beginning of the 20th century was overtly political in nature.

After the October Revolution of 1917, Masonic organizations were banned, the Freemasons were persecuted by the Cheka -GPU -NKVD.

A small number of Russian lodges worked in exile, primarily in France. Over time, the number of Russian Masons declined due to the aging of the emigrants. During the German occupation of France during World War II, the remaining Russian lodges were closed along with all French lodges.

Freemasonry historians

• Sergey Karpachev

Freemasonry in the cinema

• The mystery of Villa Gretta ()
• The Bankers of God ()

"All-seeing eye" on banknotes

The "All-Seeing Eye" is depicted on banknotes of several countries. So on the reverse side of the 1 US dollar bill from 1935 there is the Great Seal of the United States, which depicts a truncated pyramid with an eye. The initiators of the change of the banknote were G. Wallace and F. Roosevelt, its designer - Edward M. Weeks, supervisor of the Engraving Department of the Bureau of the Issue of Banknotes and Securities at the US Department of the Treasury (artist Nicholas Roerich, to whom some authors mistakenly attribute the idea of ​​drawing the bill, not has nothing to do with it). The "All-Seeing Eye" is also depicted on the Nicaraguan banknote (1 cordoba) and on the Ukrainian 500 hryvnia banknote (by Grigory Skovoroda).

Miscellaneous links

Notes (edit)

1. After merging in 1813 with another Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons (Ancients), which arose in 1751, see History of the OVLA, 18/19 century (eng.)
2. which in turn refer to an older origin of this and other basic Masonic principles, see, for example, the Anderson Constitution of 1823.
3. T. A. Sherkova. "The Eye of Horus": a simovlic eye in pre-dynastic Egypt. "Bulletin of Ancient History", No. 4, 1996
4. Amulets and symbols of the Egyptians
5. Pendant "Eye of Horus"
6. Landmarks are ancient commandments, a set of traditional principles of Freemasonry, the Freemasonry, "milestones" that separate Freemasonry from what is not. The most famous collection of landmarks is the Landmarks of Makei. Landmarks are reflected in the constitutions of modern lodges, the principles of regularity.
7. http://www.gumer.info/bibliotek_Buks/History/masony/4.php
8. S. P. Karpachev, Secrets of the Masonic Orders, M., "Yauza Press", 2007.
9. V.S.Brachev. Freemasons in Russia
10. "The Charter of Freemasons"
11. About the Grand Lodge of Russia, VLR website.
12. S. P. Karpachev, Guide to Masonic Secrets (Free Mason's Library), M., "Center for Humanitarian Education", 2003.

- To begin with, I’ll ask a naive, but the main question that torments everyone: who are the Freemasons and what do they do?

Freemasons are quite ordinary people of different ages and professions who entered into a brotherhood with ancient history and beautiful rituals in order to gather a couple of times a month to discuss reports on philosophical and other humanitarian topics, as well as engage in joint projects in the fields of book publishing, charity, well and just spending time in each other's company, enjoying companionship. To join the lodge, they underwent an ancient ritual of initiation, developed at the beginning of the 18th century and since then practically unchanged.

The main occupation in the boxes is learning to think in symbols, to comprehend the symbols of different traditions, to penetrate into their meanings and to look for symbolic keys in ourselves.

When did Freemasonry begin to be demonized by society? Where did the legends about the connection of Freemasonry with esotericism, Satanism and the world conspiracy come from?

These are all very different things. Esotericism is generally any symbols, teachings, knowledge, activities that one group of people practices or studies in secret from other groups of people. Occultism is ancient arcane sciences like alchemy and astrology, or practices like spiritism. Satanism is generally the devil knows what, everyone calls this word differently. But suppose it is religious worship of the devil. The world conspiracy is such a religion of our time, when people have lost faith in the gods of ancient churches and began to believe that the world is ruled not by gods, but by people like themselves, but only very rich and evil.

Freemasonry has nothing to do with all this, but people interested in religion and the occult, who gathered behind closed doors (that is, "esoterically"), have always joined it, so they are constantly suspected of preparing some kind of conspiracies.

Any government hates when people without its control gather among themselves and do not report what they are discussing there. No official church likes it when people stop bringing money to it and start discussing religious issues in their closed club.

Therefore, from time immemorial, the official propaganda of most countries worked against Freemasonry, and until now the consequences of this dominate in the information sphere.

- How do you yourself feel about esotericism?

As a kind of worldview, one of the ways of development of human thought and morality. Indeed, in the usual everyday sense, esotericism is the study of the secrets of nature and the human soul by the forces of a narrow group of interested associates who do not seek to make their hobbies the property of the general public. Such esotericism is close and interesting to me. I relate to the ancient occult sciences and practices more like a modern person - with respect, as stages in people’s knowledge of the world and themselves, but without much faith in their truth and effectiveness. In this regard, modern science is closer to me.

After all, alchemy is just medieval chemistry, and the initiation ritual with water and fire tests is just medieval psychotherapy with constellations and shock elements.

I am a historian by profession, and most of all in our time I value its continuity with respect to the past, consistency and knowledge of its origins. Therefore, it is strange and stupid to love science and not love esotericism, honor religion and despise esotericism, because all these are stages in the formation of a human worldview, elements of its complex spiritual life.

- How can you join a Masonic organization? What are the restrictions?

Nowadays, entering Freemasonry is both easy and difficult at the same time. Almost all Masonic organizations have websites on the Internet where you can send an application with a phone number.

Anyone over 21 years of age who believes in God and the immortality of the soul, strives for spiritual growth and is ready to spend time (1-2 evenings per month) and money (contributions from 3 to 10 thousand per year) can become a Freemason in most obediences. ...

The criteria may vary. In Russia, women are admitted to only three out of eight Masonic organizations. Unbelievers are accepted in two out of eight. But in general, after getting acquainted with the sites of different lodges, everyone can find for themselves what suits best.

- What lodges can a woman join if she wants to become a Freemason?

These are the Great Symbolic Lodge of Russia of the charter of Memphis-Misraim, the Order of the "Right of Man" and the lodge of the Great East of France. And only women are admitted to the group of the Grand Women's Lodge of France. The admission criteria remain the same everywhere as for men.

- Is there a condescending attitude towards women even in mixed lodges?

No, they are completely equal, they occupy the same officer posts as men, and are engaged in all kinds of activities on an equal basis with men. They say that the atmosphere in mixed lodges is more harmonious and calmer than in single-sex lodges, and I myself can confirm this.

- Does the brotherhood condemn romantic relationships between members of a mixed lodge? Or were there no such cases?

In principle, this is not encouraged, because the lodge is not a dating club, but a place for spiritual search. But people are people, and their freedom is a prerequisite for admission: a person must confirm several times during the initiation ritual that he acts of his own free will and without compulsion. Well, how to accept a free person and start limiting him in his personal life? Therefore, of course, couples both form and disintegrate, and it happens that Masons bring companions or companions of life to the box. According to unwritten laws, it is recommended that they be bred into different lodges so that personal relationships do not interfere with brother-sister relationships. But in reality this is rarely observed, except that this happens more often during the decay of pairs.

- Why can they be expelled from the Masonic society?

All those convicted under criminal articles by the ordinary court are immediately excluded. Deducted for constant non-payment of contributions and absence from the lodge without good reason for a long time. In the event of serious violations of Masonic laws: disclosing the names of other Masons, introducing discord into the lodge, financial dishonesty, etc. - they collect a special Masonic court of honor from authoritative brothers and / or sisters and can also decide on expulsion.

- Does the kind of activity of the future Freemason matter for the brotherhood?

None. Members of all professions and lifestyles are accepted into Freemasonry. The main thing is compliance with the Masonic criteria for selecting candidates and the consent of all members of the lodge to accept him or her to their company.

What do you think - why is Freemasonry still full of prejudices and wrong judgments, although the information is in the public domain, and many Freemasons are open to communication?

There is a well-known Pushkin expression: "We are lazy and incurious." This is indeed the case. People don't like it when stereotypes are broken. They are not interested in learning new things. If someone is fond of the topic of Freemasonry (and any other topic), he will find out the real state of affairs. Nowadays it’s a matter of five minutes. Well, if this is not important to a person, not necessary, not interested, then what difference does it make to him? As Seth from “From Dusk Till Dawn” said: “Live for two hundred years - or die tomorrow. I do not care".

- Is it true that the main secret of Freemasonry is that there is no secret?

This has always been the case. The first publications in the open press of Masonic rituals appeared in the very first years of Freemasonry in England. Now any, even the once most secret, Masonic text can be found on the Internet in a couple of clicks. But it is noteworthy that in general the very idea that Freemasonry keeps some "secrets" was created not by Freemasons, but by anti-Masonic propagandists. The Masons themselves never talked about this, but emphasized that they only let in those whom they consider suitable for them personally. That is, Freemasonry is not a secret, but simply a closed society.

Outside, closedness, of course, is perceived with malice and provokes thoughts of secrets. The secret implies some kind of content: knowledge, skills, information inaccessible to others. But this is not the case in Freemasonry.

There is a unique way of moral improvement: the old way of developing the soul and mind, well, how physical exercise develops the body. However, it can only be recognized in the process of Masonic work, therefore, it is possible to penetrate into this secret (if this method is considered a secret) only by becoming a real Freemason, that is, by legal right, and it is impossible to “steal” this secret, because it is not recorded anywhere and defies description at all. It can only be lived. Officially, identification marks and passwords are considered a Masonic secret, but they have also been made public hundreds of times in the press.

- What kind of literature on Freemasonry would you recommend?

Those who are interested in the topic of Freemasonry can buy or download my books "The Scythe and the Stone" and "Freemasons Will Answer" for free, which are easy to find in online libraries and shops. I tried to write exactly the course "educational program" for those who would like to begin acquaintance with the topic, in order to then turn to more serious literature. However, it is mainly devoted to the history of Freemasonry (the works of A.I.Serkov, Yu.E. Kondakov, R.F. Gould, A.E. Waite, etc.), and on philosophy, modern structure, the social role of Freemasonry, read almost nothing. We can recommend the lecture courses of the late L.A. Macikha, survey works on Freemasonry by T. Dedopoulos, K. McNulty, J. Ridley, T. Sokolovskaya, D. Smith and others. You can still visit me on the page to ask any question in real time and get an answer to it.

What is the situation of Freemasonry in modern Russia? How many lodges are currently operating on the territory of the Russian Federation?

Freemasonry in modern Russia is already 25 years old, the first lodge after a long break was established during the Soviet era, in April 1991 in Paris, and in Russia it first worked during the August putsch, on August 20, 1991. Since then, Russian Freemasonry has developed quite rapidly, while encompassing a rather small number of participants.

The number of Russian lodges has always been small, but at the same time, all types of Freemasonry available in the world are represented in the country by now - organizations of all world Masonic unions of all types.

There are four independent independent organizations in the country that cooperate on equal terms with organizations of Freemasons of other countries: the Grand Lodge of Russia, the United Grand Lodge of Russia, the Great East of the peoples of Russia and the Great Symbolic Lodge of Russia and the allied countries, and there are also four local branches of foreign unions: two lodges Of the Grand Orient of France, one lodge of the Grand Lodge of France, one lodge of the International Mixed Masonic Order "Human Right" and a group of dedicated people of the Grand Lodge of France, awaiting the opening of their own lodge in Russia. In all obediences together, there are no more than a thousand people.

Masonic groups in Russia, as well as throughout the world, are not necessarily friends with each other and in any case are not something united: they are independent separate organizations that are either friends and go to each other's meetings, or ignore each other , or they are at enmity - everything is like everyone else.

- How is the present-day Freemasonry fundamentally different from Freemasonry, say, the nineteenth century?

Basically - nothing. The same rituals, the same vestments, the archaic language, absolutely the same moral foundations of brotherhood, the same symbols, the same activities as before, and always.

Only the external forms change: in our time, freemasons read their reports in a box not from a manuscript, but from a tablet, they heat their churches not with braziers with coals, but with gas and water, and their candles are now quite often electric.

Aprons for them are not embroidered by wives by hand on long nights, but by German programmable machines in a Chinese factory.

- Do Masons need to maintain anonymity outside the fraternity? Or is this not a prerequisite?

There is no need. Every Mason has every right to tell anyone about his membership in the fraternity. But at the same time, he is strictly forbidden to disclose the membership of other people without their consent. Well, since any public speech of a Freemason is perceived by viewers and readers as speaking on behalf of Freemasonry, it is advisable to notify the management of the lodge about such speeches in advance if the Freemason is offered to speak somewhere, although in any case, no Freemason has the right to speak on behalf of the entire brotherhood as a whole. , but only expressing your personal opinion is also an old and strict law.

How do people react when they find out that they are a Freemason? Indeed, for the majority, Freemasonry is something fabulous and even devilish, they are more like cellars with burning candles and sacrifices than a charitable organization.

For a very long time I have not met people who would not have known me in advance in absentia, so it is difficult for me to judge such a reaction. But I remember that earlier this aroused mistrust or irony. People, no matter how much they write and talk about Freemasonry, they still think that it is something dusty, old, from past centuries, in our time does not exist or does not exist, but "not real", "disguised". And meanwhile, Freemasonry, as it was, has remained so, and the contingent in it has not changed significantly over time. I have never seen hostility, fear in real life - only on forums and in social networks, but in general there is nothing there.

There are several factors involved. Work associated with a round-the-clock presence on the Internet and the daily ability to switch from it to other activities, but also on the Web. High printing speed. But the main thing, of course, is the natural tendency to explain, answer questions, share everything that I know or learn. By all indications, I was supposed to become a university teacher, I even worked for them for three years, but it was in the nineties, it didn't work out. Well, Freemasonry is famous for the fact that, in particular, it helps to reveal in any person exactly the gift with which he can be useful to the brotherhood. With age, I became a good popularizer, so I use it.

- How can you figure out a Freemason? Do you have a special cultural code, your chips outside the temple?

Most Freemasons these days are proud of their membership in the lodges, well, or it’s just fun for them.

Therefore, usually you do not need to "calculate" anyone: Masons very often wear rings, badges, ties, brooches with easily recognizable Masonic symbols in everyday life.

Among themselves, of course, they exchange some words and phrases for internal use: quotes from the ritual, comparisons and examples from the life of the lodge, they have their own special jokes - well, like any social professional group, like programmers, Tolkienists, doctors or gamers.

Speaking of the temple, can an outsider somehow recognize a Masonic temple? As far as I understand, his goal is to remain invisible.

There are still no houses in Russia that would be built as Masonic temples. Russian lodges gather in rented premises, which are being rebuilt from basements, assembly halls - and more often they simply rent rooms in hotels for holding meetings, where they bring their equipment in trunks and boxes, and then take it back. Therefore, it is impossible to distinguish a Masonic temple from other premises. But if and when special Masonic temples are built in the country, as in Europe and America, then, as there, they will surely be guided tours for everyone. The Masonic temple itself is not a secret. In Russia, the addresses of churches are not advertised and are only reported to their own people solely because of the ambiguous attitude towards Freemasonry in society.

How many people join the lodge purely out of curiosity (which, as far as I know, is strictly forbidden)? How quickly are they exposed?

A certain percentage of such people definitely exist. A modern person with a couple of convolutions, by the age of 20, is perfectly able to disguise his real thoughts, pass interviews when entering universities, when hiring, say what they want to hear from him - well, and as a result, the human factor leads to the fact that the pre-interviewing Masters can admit to the reception of the one who managed to circle them like that. But it will not do such a person any good. After a couple of meetings, he will satisfy his curiosity and leave, because Freemasonry is mostly boring. If you are not interested in him.

Leaving the lodge is easy: just write a statement addressed to its leader. The dropout rate within the first year after administration is usually about a third.

This includes those who are "led by a single spirit of curiosity" (this is really a phrase from a ritual), and those who wanted to rule the world or learn how to make gold - and they were cruelly broken off, and are not ready to pay for the opportunity to discuss the symbolism of cathedrals or "Pythagorean pants" on weekends. and those who do not want to be bound by the obligation to attend meetings once a month, and who did not see the presidents of corporations or deputies of the Duma among the members of the lodge (although they were warned that they would not see), and so on. The main reason for dropping out is unfulfilled expectations, therefore, during the interviews before admission, it is most important for the candidate to be as honest and detailed as possible with the Mason who came to him about everything he would like to know about the brotherhood in advance. Just so that no one gets upset later.

It is clear that each person experiences different experiences and develops in his own way, but still - what in a broad sense will gain the one who decides to join the Masonic lodge?

In our time, the process of atomization of society has actually been completed, primarily due to the digital technological revolution and the breakdown of ideological systems, which have all turned into a parody of themselves.

Liberal democracy, socialism, fascism, monarchism, anarchism, the traditional family, traditional churches, trade unions, mass culture - they are all rotten for a modern person, they do not work, they mean nothing, they sold out and turned into their opposites, that is, they ceased to be different. from the other.

Therefore, people with a minimum of working convolutions during this crisis transition period experience loneliness, anxiety, fear and really need a family, associates, like-minded people, although they do not necessarily admit this to themselves. The modern youth hipster ideal - unsociable, hysterical, "strange" and very sweet autistic - is a typical manifestation of the collective unconscious, the fear of people and the need for people. And the ideal of a gopnik is his "gang", his "mother and father". In the late Middle Ages, in the era of the then technological and social crisis, these images were the same - a Christian hermit and an eternally drunk mercenary.

What am I doing? To the fact that it was then that craft corporations emerged in the form in which they were able to become a real support for their members, serving as centers of material and moral support for themselves and their relatives. They saved the artisans and, more broadly, the middle class in general, which closely adjoined them, from the dangers that surrounded them. When merchants and intellectuals began to join these craft guilds in search of the same support, and Freemasonry as we know it appeared.

And today it performs the same function: it provides a person with a circle of like-minded people with similar ideals, interests, level of culture, and these people can and will help in spiritual and intellectual development, support them in a friendly way, help in business - the same waiting and in response. And all together they can do something that pleases both themselves and others (which also pleases them). In our time, this primary task of Freemasonry, in my opinion, is much more important than teaching religious and esoteric world traditions, which is also part of its functions, but nowadays it is already quite possible for a person to join without entering anywhere.

Already in modern times, the Freemasons created texts where they proved the ancient origin of their order. If you ask who the Masons are and what they do, you will notice that they are seriously different from their predecessors. The first texts, written in the late Middle Ages in England, talked about the ancient craft of masonry and the acquisition of its secret by English craftsmen. After the formation of the London Lodge, the history of the order began in biblical times. The emergence of Masons (experts in the secret of masonry) in England was attributed to the era of King Athelstan (X century).

In England in the XIII - XIV centuries, the documents recorded the appearance of the name "Freemasons" as a designation of masons. The documents also call them "Freemason", which may mean that the masons were not enslaved or serfs.

The Master Mason was supposed to receive a good education in his teens: learn Latin, serve as a page with a knight, in order to learn manners. Then he studied the profession of a bricklayer and geometry. In his youth, a Freemason received the status of an apprentice and had to submit a "masterpiece" (to do construction or design work) in order to obtain the status of a qualified worker.

To become a master, a bricklayer had to complete some large and significant project. Master Masons are mentioned in the documents as supervisors of works with high social status. Those who received this status passed through an initiation ceremony, the details of which were kept secret.

Already in the Middle Ages, Masonic lodges were mentioned as organizations of masons. In the XVI-XVII centuries, their members were people who had nothing to do with the craft of masons. Among them were philosophers, alchemists, as well as nobles ("noble students").

Gradually admitted to the brotherhoods, they became the keepers of the traditions of free masons' lodges. Practicing bricklayers, on the other hand, forgot them, focusing on their direct activities. The traditions and teachings of medieval masons began to be interpreted in a new way and laid the foundations of the esoteric society of Freemasons.

The beginning of speculative Freemasonry

In 1717, four London lodges, whose names derive from the taverns where their members gathered, united into the Great London Lodge. Its members began to collect materials on the history of Freemasonry. In 1723, the "Book of Charters" was published, which included a list of the duties of the Freemasons and information on the history of the brotherhood.

Most English lodges continued to maintain their independence from London and even criticized it. In 1753, the opposition created their own "Grand Lodge". They showed respect for the old rules, and their charter was a pamphlet against the Book of Rites of Londoners. In 1813, both organizations created a Grand United Lodge and two years later a new charter.

Under the influence of the British, their own Masonic lodges appeared in Ireland and Scotland. After 1649, Freemasonry entered France with English emigrants.

In the 18th century in France, lodges of the "Scottish" type and new ones subordinate to the Great London one operated. The number of Masonic societies in the kingdom grew throughout the 18th century - by 1771 their number exceeded 300. Only a few of them were recognized by the Grand Lodge of London. In 1738, the French aristocrat Louis de Pardalyan was elected as the great master of the French kingdom. In 1773, French Freemasons founded a national lodge - the Grand East of France.

Freemasons were not persecuted and enjoyed the public interest. Members of the lodges were representatives of the most noble families, including the Counts of Provence and Artois, who would later become Kings Louis XVIII and Charles X. It was said that King Louis XV himself was a member of the lodge.

In the 1720s, Masonic lodges appeared in Spain, in the 1730s in Italy, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Portugal and India. In 1733, the Great American Provincial Lodge began operating in Boston. In the Netherlands, their activities were soon banned.

In 1756, Freemasonry on the mainland was organized into the so-called orthodox system. The territory of the order was divided into nine provinces and covered the whole of Europe. The members of the order were divided into six degrees. In addition to these, in the 1760s and 1770s, there were the highest degrees of Initiated Freemasons and Vowed Greats. They supervised the affairs of the order, while remaining unknown to the rank and file.

Lodges appeared in Russia after the era of Peter I. In 1731, the first great master was appointed in the country. In 1792 and 1822, the activities of Freemasons in Russia were prohibited by imperial decrees. The revival of Freemasonry in the country began at the beginning of the 20th century.

Who are Masons and what do they do today

Freemasonry is primarily an ethical system. Membership in a Masonic lodge assumes that a person is a believer in one of the world's religions. Some legends of the Freemasons are based on the Old Testament.

Members of a Masonic organization should engage in moral self-improvement. A Freemason must improve as a member of a religious denomination. The veneration of God, whom they call the Great Architect of the Universe, has been at the heart of ideology since the 18th century. Discussions on religious issues are prohibited among Masons.

Another principle of Freemasonry is loyalty to government. Freemasons should not oppose the authorities of the country where their lodge is located.

The main task of this society is charity. Members of Masonic lodges collect money that goes to help orphanages, medical and educational institutions. Members of the fraternity found charitable organizations.

There is a medical research laboratory in the United States, which was founded by the Grand Lodges of the United States. It appeared in 1918 when the United States entered the First World War. After the war, the organization began to open its centers throughout the country and abroad.