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This is a list of all verifiable organizations that claim to be a Masonic Grand Lodge.
A Masonic "Grand Lodge" (or sometimes "Grand Orient") is the governing body that supervises the individual "Lodges of Freemasons" in a particular geographical area, known as its "jurisdiction" (usually corresponding to a sovereign state or other major geopolitical unit). Some are large, with thousands of members divided into hundreds of subordinate lodges, while others are tiny, with only a few members split between a handful of local lodges. Sometimes there will only be one Grand Lodge in a given area, but the majority of the time there will be at least two. More often, there will be several competing Grand Lodges claiming the same jurisdictional area, or claiming overlapping areas. This fact leads to debates over legitimacy: Not all Grand Lodges and Grand Orients recognize each other as being legitimate. However, such recognition is not relevant to this list, yet recognition is foundational within the fraternal order. Inclusion in this list only requires the establishment of a physical (as opposed to a virtual, or online) presence, and lodges (regular, unrecognized or clandestine) which acknowledge their governance.
Membership numbers are subject to change; for current figures, check the sources which are indicated in the reference section.
External organizations or affiliations are higher governing bodies where grand lodges are gruped, within each external organization, the grand lodges may have treaties of friendship and recognition with each other. This does not mean that there is a direct relationship or recognition between external organizations.
Abbreviation | Name | Founded | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
AACEE | Adogmatic Associations of Central and Eastern Europe | 2001 | The AACEE brings together all Liberal Masonic Obediences from Central and Eastern Europe respecting the same values and willing to participate to a common mission. [1] |
L'AMIL | L'Association maçonnique intercontinentale libérale | 1996 | |
CATENA | International Masonic Union Catena [2] | 1961 | Grand lodges with male and female membership. |
CGLREU | Confederación de Grandes Logias Regulares de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos | An association of Mexican state grand lodges, many of whom are in amity with CGMNA jurisdictions and UGLE. Some older and larger CGLREU jurisdictions have also joined the multi-national association of CMI, although the two organizations are not linked. | |
CGLEM | Confederation of Grand Lodges of Europe and Mediterranean [3] | An association of grand lodges in the Mediterranean area and Southern Europe. Not to be confused with GLUDE. Established by the Traditional and Modern Grand Lodge of France, the National Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Italy, Grand Lodge communities of Andalusia, The Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal, and The National Grand Lodge of Morocco ( GLNM). | |
CGMNA or COGMNA | Conference of Grand Masters in North America | 1928 | An organization of Grand Lodge leaders, representing 64 sovereign jurisdictions located throughout the US, Canada, Mexico and Germany. Its members are broadly recognized by jurisdictions throughout the world. Today, these CGMNA jurisdictions serve over 2 million Freemasons in North America. [4] Its oldest constituent Grand Lodge dates itself to 1733. [5] |
CIMAS | Confederación Interamericana de Masonería Simbólica | 2002 | Independent Liberal and Adogmatic body. [6] |
CIGLU formerly known as GLUE | Confédération Internationale des Grandes Loges Unies | 2000 | Confédération des Grandes Loges Unies d'Europe (GLUE) was founded in Paris on June 18, 2000. It only admits grand lodges using the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, founded by the Grand Lodge of France (GLdF), la Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Symbolique Opéra (of France) and la Grande Loge Nationale de Serbie (then Yugoslavia). [7] In 2014, they increase their influence beyond Europe, changing their name to Confédération Internationale des Grandes Loges Unies (CIGLU). [8] |
CLIMAF | Centre de Liaison International de la Maçonnerie Féminine | 1982 | An association of women's grand lodges, mostly in Europe. |
CLIPSAS | Centre de Liaison et d'Information des Puissances maçonniques Signataires de l'Appel de Strasbourg [9] | 1961 | Organized by the Grand Orient of France (GOF), member jurisdictions reject Anderson's 1723 constitutions, do not require belief in a supreme being, and make no distinction regarding participation by men or women. |
CMI | Confederación Masónica Interamericana (CMI) (Interamerican Masonic Confederation) | 1947 | An organization of South and Central American Grand Lodges. Its members are broadly recognized by CGMNA grand lodges and the United Grand Lodge of England. Founded by the grand lodges of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, by 2014 the CMI had almost 75 member grand lodges. [10] |
CMB | Confederacion Masonica Bolivariana | 1990 | An organization of grand lodges in South America (Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Panamá, Perú and Venezuela). |
CMC | Confederacion Masonica Colombiana | 1982 | An organization of state and national lodges within Colombia. |
CMCA | Confederacion Masonica Centroamericana | An organization of state and national lodges in Central America. | |
COMAB | Confederação Maçônica do Brasil | 1973 | An association of independent Grand Orients in Brazil [11] |
COMAM | Conferencia Masónica Americana (American Masonic Conference) | This Masonic organization, formed by Grand Lodges and Grand Orient of the American continent, was created in Santiago de Chile in order to serve as a nexus and union of the Liberal and adogmatic, male, female and mixed Obediences that aim at the work of individual perfection with absolute freedom of conscience. | |
CMSB | Confederação da Maçonaria Simbólica do Brasil | 1965 | An association of grand lodges in Brazil |
DH | Le Droit Humain | 1893 | International mixed (male and female) Freemasonry. Also known as "Co-Masonry". |
EMA | European Masonic Alliance | The EMA (AME) is referenced in the Register of Transparency of the European Commission, and has several meetings a year with the president or vice-president of the European Commission, as well as meeting European Senators. [12] | |
EME | L'Espace Maçonnique Européen | 2002 | Promotion of human rights and secularism |
GLIM | Gran Logia Itinerante de Mexico | 1788 | A military-founded masonic body. The itinerant lodges were established by the Spanish soldiers that arrived to Mexico previous to the Independence Movement. Their lodges were inherited by their founders descendants, all part of the freemasonry on their cities. This lodges have the attribution to work anywhere there are at least 3 Master Masons. |
GLMAE | Gran Logia Mixta de los Andes Ecuatoriales (GLMAE) | 2011 | Ecuadorian association of mixed (male and female) lodges |
HC [13] | High Council (HC) or Masonic High Council (MHC) | 2005 | An association of jurisdictions styling themselves as High Councils. Organized by the Regular Grand Lodge of England (RGLE), which serves as the HC's Mother High Council. Highly volatile, These groups do not publish member counts nor addresses, and may exist only on the internet or as a function of one or two persons. External citations needed. |
IMF | Institut Maçonnique de France | 2002 | Instigated by the GOF, with collaboration by the GLdF and seven other French masonic bodies, the IMF allows low-level cooperation on promotion of Masonic book fairs and events that address the conditions of man and society. The GLdF left this organization in 2006. |
Int. FM | International Freemasons | An African-American oriented group of grand lodges in the United States | |
LFB | Les Franc-maçons Belges | An organization of Belgian grand lodges | |
National Compact | Prince Hall - National Compact | 1847 | Subordinate Grand Lodges of the Prince Hall National Grand Lodge |
NUGLB [14] | National United Grand Lodges of Bulgaria | 2016 | Association of Grand Lodges in Bulgaria (Shared United Bulgarian Orient - shared jurisdiction) |
PHA | Prince Hall Affiliation (PHA) | 1870 | An association of 49 historically black Grand Lodges located throughout North America, the Caribbean, and Liberia, which trace their origin to Prince Hall, of Massachusetts. Many of these GLs are in amity with their CGMNA counterparts and with the United Grand Lodge of England. Today there are over 4,500 PHA lodges worldwide, and of them, the oldest constituent PHA lodge dates itself to 1797. [15] |
PHCGM | Prince Hall Conference of Grand Masters | 1887 | An organization of Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) Grand Lodge leaders, [16] from 49 Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA) grand lodges. |
REHFRAM | Rencontres Humanistes et Fraternelles Africaines et Malgaches | An organization of African regular and liberal lodges, meeting annually in an African capital. | |
SCIC | Suprême Conseil International du Canada (International Supreme Council of Canada) | 2019 [17] | SCIC is the governing body that maintains uniformity for the 4th–33rd degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite practiced by the Grand ANI Lodge of Canada and the Grand Orient of Quebec. [17] |
SIMPA | Secrétariat international Maçonnique des Puissances Adogmatiques | 1998 | Some of the larger Grand Lodges in CLIPSAS left in 1998 to form their own organisation. Most have now rejoined and SIMPA is currently dormant. |
SOGLIA | Society of Grand Lodges in Alliance | 2010 [18] | SOGLIA is confederation of Grand freemason Obedience's which all members obey principles of Regularity. Assembled annually, in different places of the world, in order to share fellowship and to promote Masonic tradition, SOGLIA members are respecting the autonomy of each Grand Lodge. That is expressed by variety of accepted and recognized Rituals practiced in our Grand Lodges around the world. Our association was born in the year 6010.Y:T:L: by signing the Treaty of Arezzo, in the city that welcomed eight Grand Masters representing eight Grand Lodges. Subsequently, more Grand Lodges have join SOGLIA spanning our society to the five continents. |
UMM | L’Union Maçonnique de la Méditerranée (UMM) (Masonic Union of the Mediterranean) | 2000 [19] | An association of fifteen adogmatic and liberal jurisdictions from countries bordering the Mediterranean and Mediterranean culture. Since 2012, the UMM has been controlled by the Grande Loge Féminine de France and the Fédération Française du Droit Humain. |
UMMT | Unione Mondiale Massonica Tradizionale (UMMT) (World Traditional Masonic Union) [20] | 2013 | Self-reported as "approximately 30 members", the UMMT includes European jurisdictions not in amity with UGLE or the larger jurisdictions in their nations. Admits mixed Grand Lodges and use of the Ancient and Primitive Rite de Memphis-Misraïm. |
VGLvD | Vereinigte Großlogen von Deutschland (United Grand Lodges of Germany) | 1958-04-27 | A sovereign federation of five autonomous Grand Lodges, it serves as the national Grand Lodge of Germany to all outside German Masonry (Masons of other nations and the German public) [21] |
GLM | Grand Lodges of the Mediterranean | 2024 | The Grand Lodges of the Mediterranean (GLM), a transcontinental Masonic alliance that unites Brothers from Europe, the Orient, and Africa. Drawing from the rich cultural, intellectual, and spiritual heritage of Mediterranean civilizations, the GLM is committed to promoting fraternity, freedom, and tolerance. Together, we aim to build a vibrant, inclusive Masonic community that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. |
Freemasonry or simply Masonry includes various fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of stonemasons that, from the end of the 14th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their interaction with authorities and clients. Freemasonry is the oldest fraternity in the world and among the oldest continued organizations in history.
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a rite within the broader context of Freemasonry. It is the most widely practiced Rite in the world. In some parts of the world, and in the Droit Humain, it is a concordant body and oversees all degrees from the 1st to 33rd degrees, while in other areas, a Supreme Council oversees the 4th to 33rd degrees.
In Freemasonry, regularity is one of the factors by which individual Grand Lodges judge whether to recognise one another for the purposes of allowing formal interaction at the Grand Lodge level and visitation by members of other jurisdictions. Each individual Grand Lodge determines which other Grand Lodges it considers Regular.
The Grand Orient de France (GODF) is the oldest and largest of several Freemasonic organizations based in France and is the oldest in Continental Europe. The Grand Orient de France is generally regarded as the "mother lodge" of Continental Freemasonry.
Prince Hall Freemasonry is a branch of North American Freemasonry created for African Americans founded by Prince Hall on September 29, 1784. Prince Hall Freemasonry is the oldest and largest predominantly African-American fraternity in the United States.
A Grand Lodge, also called Grand Orient or by another similar title, is the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country.
Co-Freemasonry is a form of Freemasonry which admits both men and women. It began in France in the 1890s with the forming of Le Droit Humain, and is now an international movement represented by several Co-Freemasonic administrations throughout the world. Most male-only Masonic Lodges do not recognise Co-Freemasonry, holding it to be irregular.
Masonic landmarks are a set of principles that many Freemasons claim to be ancient and unchangeable precepts of Masonry. Issues of the "regularity" of a Freemasonic Lodge, Grand Lodge or Grand Orient are judged in the context of the landmarks. Because each Grand Lodge is self-governing, with no single body exercising authority over the whole of Freemasonry, the interpretations of these principles can and do vary, leading to controversies of recognition. Different Masonic jurisdictions have different landmarks.
Freemasonry has had a complex relationship with women for centuries. A few women were involved in Freemasonry before the 18th century, despite de jure prohibitions in the Premier Grand Lodge of England.
Continental Freemasonry, otherwise known as Liberal Freemasonry, Latin Freemasonry, and Adogmatic Freemasonry, includes the Masonic lodges, primarily on the European continent, that recognize the Grand Orient de France (GOdF) or belong to CLIPSAS, SIMPA, CIMAS, COMAM, CATENA, GLUA, or any of various other international organizations of Liberal, i.e., Continental Freemasonry. The larger number of Freemasons, most of whom live in the United States–where Regular Freemasonry holds a virtual monopoly–belong to Masonic lodges that recognize the United Grand Lodge of England and do not recognize Continental Freemasons, regarding them as "irregular".
Continental Freemasonry in North America is relatively rare, but there are a few continental-style organizations active.
The history of Freemasonry in Turkey stretches back to the 18th century under Ottoman imperial rule.
Freemasonry in Germany started in several places during the second quarter of the Eighteenth century. After the extinction of the Rite of Strict Observance, which had a wide following and claimed Templar origins for its higher degrees, the several Grand Lodges in Germany defied all attempts at unification, although a largely ineffectual central organisation came into being with the unification of Germany. During the 1920s Freemasons were harassed alongside Jews by those taken in by the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and blamed for the German surrender of 1918. This culminated with the suppression of Freemasonry by the Nazis in 1935, with many Masons in Germany and occupied countries being executed or sent to concentration camps. Freemasonry returned to Germany after World War Two. A single central body now represents five "regular" Grand Lodges. Liberal, women's, and mixed lodges also exist.