UGL NSW & ACT re International Co-Freemasonry

[Tamrin]

Special Report of the Board of General Purposes relating
to a charge of attending a meeting of an association, society,
or Lodge prohibited by edict of the Grand Master made from
time to time (Regulation 180 of the Book of Constitutions)

1.0 Introduction

This Report deals with the cases of two Brethren who were alleged to have attended meetings of International Co-Freemasonry within the last two years.

2.0 Status of International Co-Freemasonry

International Co-Freemasonry, Le Droit Humain, colloquially known as Co-Masonry came into being as a result of an independent Lodge in France, Les Libres Penseurs (a name meaning Freethinkers, and quite expressive of its members), initiating, on 14 January, 1882, into its membership a well-known French writer on woman’s suffrage and other sociological questions, one Mademoiselle Maria Deraismes.

Following this startling departure from the traditional Masonic rule disturbances arose within the Lodge and on 9 June 1882, a majority of members demanded the restoration of their former discipline.

Other ladies, however, were initiated into other irregular lodges, and, in 1889, a Co-Masonic Order was formed in Paris.

In 1902 International Co-Freemasonry spread to England when the first Co-Masonic Lodge was established in London.

Co-Masonry exists in Australia. Its numbers are small and its influence not noticeable. It is thought to have about fourteen Lodges meeting in Australia, of which about three are in New South Wales. Here the governing body is named ‘International Co-Freemasonry, Australian Federation, Le Droit Humain.’

In his book entitled ‘A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies,’ Arthur Preuss referred to Co-Masonry in the following terms:

“Co-Masonry
A ‘spurious’ body which professes to work the three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry, to admit women, confer signs and secrets said to be Masonic, and which endeavours in different ways to copy genuine Freemasonry. The officials of the latter have repeatedly declared that any Mason attending any of these lodges violates his obligation and renders himself liable to Masonic discipline.”

In 1912, a warning was given against Co-Masonry by our Board of General Purposes and this was repeated in June 1918 by the Grand Master MW Bro William Thompson, with the words: “It having been brought under my notice lately that some of our Brethren having attended the meetings of this spurious organisation, I re-issued to all our Lodges the edict of this Grand Lodge interdicting such visitation. I trust those who have pursued this practice will be warned of the risk they incur in failing to conform to this edict.”

A ‘Special Report of the Board of General Purposes re Co-Masonry’ was presented to Grand Lodge in September 1933.

That report sustained the traditional view of the irregularity of C0-Masonry on a number of counts in that —

(i) it professes to work the three degrees of Ancient Craft Masonry
(ii) it admits women
(iii) it confers signs and secrets said to be Masonic
(iv) it uses Masonic emblems — particularly the square and compasses.

The 1933 Report of the Board was supported by a statement from the Grand Master, MW Bro Dr F A Maguire, and adopted by Grand Lodge.

The present members of the Board of General Purposes are unaware of any change in the circumstances or practices of International Co-Freemasonry which would alter our attitudes toward that body. It is irregular on the counts listed previously in this report. It is regarded as an irregular body by all of our Sister Constitutions and there is no doubt that this Grand Lodge would, itself, run a real risk of being branded as irregular if it allows visitation to or cross membership with International Co-Freemasonry.

Furthermore, the Board re-asserts what is stated in our Articles of Union (as printed in the Book of Constitutions) in that the practice of Pure and Ancient Freemasonry in the then colony of New South Wales was given to the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales in 1888. No body or organisation can conduct pure Ancient Masonry (as defined in our Regulation 1) within the territory of this jurisdiction without the approval of this Grand Lodge. International C0-Freemasonry does not have such an approval and therefore its Lodges which operate in New South Wales are irregular on this count as well.

3.0 Judicial Procedures

On 2 August 1994 summonses were issued under Regulation 82 of the Book of Constitutions to two subscribing members of Lodges in this Jurisdiction for them to appear before the Board of General Purposes on Wednesday, 17 August 1994 and to show cause why they should not be found to be in breach of Regulation 180 of the Book of Constitutions in that it was alleged that they had attended meetings of International Co-Freemasonry.

The Brethren so summonsed were:

• A Worshipful Master of a Metropolitan Lodge
• A Master Mason of a Metropolitan Lodge

Hearings in respect of the two brethren took place separately and each admitted that he had, within the last two years, attended meetings of International Co-Freemasonry in Sydney.

The Brother who is a Worshipful Master also admitted that he is an affiliated member of a Lodge of International Co-Freemasonry.

The Brother who is a Master Mason admitted that he had twice petitioned to join a Lodge of International C0-Freemasonry. On the first occasion, he petitioned to join that body as an initiate but was not accepted ballot. On 20 September 1993 he was initiated into a Lodge warranted under the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and subsequently petitioned to join another Lodge of International Co-Freemasonry as an affiliate. He gave evidence to the Judicial Hearing that this petition had been accepted on 16 August 1994.

In respect of each Brother the Board sought an assurance that he would, forthwith, terminate his attendance at meetings of International Co-Freemasonry and withdraw his membership thereof. Neither Brother was prepared to give that assurance.

The Board records its disappointment that neither of the two Brethren who were called before it on 17 August 1994 chose to provide the assurances which would have enabled the Board to recommend the continuance of their membership in Lodges of our jurisdiction. Their actions in respect of International Co-Freemasonry are in breach of Regulation 180 and if the matter is not dealt with firmly in accordance with our laws the recognition of this Grand Lodge by Sister Constitutions will be put in jeopardy.

4.0 Recommendations of the Board

Regulation 180 of the Book of Constitutions provides for a penalty of suspension or expulsion of a Brother who is guilty of the specified offence.

By their own admission both of the Brethren, the subject of this report, are guilty of a Masonic offence under Regulation 180. The names of the Brethren concerned will be advised and the motion for the expulsion of each of them will be moved by the Grand Registrar at the Regular Communication on 14 September 1994.

RW Bro H Harris, President, BGP

VW Bro J E Armfield, Grand Registrar

19 August 1994