Masonic lodge - this is what? The Great Masonic Lodge of Russia

In the world there are more than a dozen secret organizations that have been dating since the Middle Ages. They have a lot of rituals, hidden from the eyes of strangers, and even about all the initiated members of the community know about all the purposes of the organization. The most closed and mysterious organization is the Masonic Lodge. This society has been of great interest to adventurers and those who want to know the true meaning of their existence for several centuries. However, just so to get to the Masons still no one succeeded, because the secret organization very carefully approaches the choice of their new brothers. Few people know that in Russia Masonic lodges also exist. They do not advertise their activities too much and deliberately avoid pointedly political issues, but modern society is increasingly interested in their activities. Therefore, we decided to dedicate our article to the consecration of the theme of Freemasonry in Russia and the history of the formation of this secret community.

A few words about Freemasons

It is difficult to find a country in which at least one Masonic lodge would not operate at present. This secret society managed to stretch its threads to almost every state, and it is almost impossible to find out whether a particular politician is in the society of Freemasons, unless he himself wants to disclose this fact. None of the members of the organization will ever voice the names of their brothers, this is one of the most important laws for all who entered the Masons.

Often Masons are accused of a worldwide conspiracy, the management of the world's leading leaders in their own interests and a mass of horrible things, which, however, no one can confirm. The members of society themselves claim that they are far from the political arena and are only determined to act for the good of their country. However, many journalists spend their energy trying to uncover the secret motives of the Masons and show them to the world community.

Where did these suspicions come from? And what really is a Masonic lodge? It's quite difficult to explain, even after studying all the available information about this society. After all, more than ninety percent of the rituals and rules of this brotherhood remain outside the curious eyes of the uninitiated. Therefore, we have a very approximate idea of the activities and the main objectives of the Masons.

If you make a literal translation from English, then the Masonic lodge is a workshop or a shelter, where members of the society gather to conduct their rituals and works. The brothers meet regularly and with a general majority vote to decide all the important questions for the lodge.

History of Masonry

A secret organization exists in the world for more than three hundred years. The official date of its founding is June 24, 1717. It was then in London that ordinary craftsmen who were engaged in the construction of temples, united in a single Great Masonic Lodge. It should be noted that it consisted of four different lodges, which previously gathered in various taverns and abandoned houses. It was from this time began the procession of a secret fraternity around the world, affecting almost every major state of the planet.

Initially, Masons, who, as artisans, spent many years building cathedrals, learned to subordinate themselves to common goals and ideals. They raised mutual assistance to the level of piety, and even acquired their philosophy. Therefore, when there was no need for craft associations, there were Masons who dreamed of building a free, humane and just society. It is not for nothing that they have been called "free masons" since ancient times.

Gradually, representatives of the intelligentsia, aristocrats, traders and financiers joined the secret organization. All of them dreamed to find here answers to their questions about the meaning of being and self-realization. Over time, society has grown to an incredible size. For example, at the moment there are about two million Masons in the United States, and in the United Kingdom there are three hundred thousand members of the secret society. Russia, of course, can not compare with European countries in terms of the number of masons, but already now we have more than one thousand people. Masonic lodges of Russia are actively developing and increasing the number of their members. However, skeptics say that in reality there are much more Masons in our country than official statistics say. Just many prominent politicians and oligarchs carefully conceal their belonging to a secret society. Is this really so, no one knows.

Classification of boxes

It is interesting that among the Masons there is a certain classification of lodges, which is not officially fixed. However, it affects all members of the brotherhood. For example, there are closed lodges focused on scientific research. They are engaged in important work and never accept new members into their brotherhood. Such an event can become a very rare exception to the rules. Some lodges are made up of brothers who live and work in the same village. And others can combine common interests or one profession.

Also, all lodges are divided into three categories:

• John's.
• Andreevsky.
• The Reds.

These associations are a Masonic hierarchy, but all members of a secret society are considered equal and free.

Interesting facts about Freemasons

For the entire history of its existence, no woman has been accepted into the Masonic lodge. The charter of the society does not contain any information about the prohibition of the adoption of female members, but this unspoken rule has been observed for almost three hundred years.

Each meeting of the box ends with dinner, during which the first toast is pronounced for his country, the second for the head of state and the third for the chairman of the lodge and all its members.

Masons have a lot of secret signs, which the initiates exchange with each other. Thanks to them, the members of the brotherhood will not go unnoticed in a foreign country. There is also a special phrase that notifies that there is a stranger among the members of the lodge.

Dedication to the members of the lodge

It's just that you can not get into freemasons. Man from the outside has absolutely no chance to touch the ancient secret society. After all, at least two members of the brotherhood must surely vouch for him.

If you have such guarantors, then there is a chance to become an equal member of the Masonic lodge. The brothers gather together once a month, it is at this time that the initiation procedure takes place.

She looks very unusual and mysterious. The applicant is blindfolded and taken to a secret place, where many questions are asked. The answers to them will depend on the membership of the Masons. Usually questions concern the purpose of joining a box and the benefits that a beginner can bring to his country and his brothers.

Each member of the fraternity votes "for" or "against" the applicant's acceptance into a secret society. Voting takes place through balls of black and white. It is interesting that if a person types three black balls, then he loses all chances of ever being accepted into the Masons. And this applies not only to the lodges where the voting took place, but also to all associations on the planet.

If the candidacy is approved by the brothers, then immediately follows the initiation ritual. His details are still kept secret.

Masons in Russia: historical facts

Masonic lodges in Russia were very common. Many aristocrats were their members, which gave rise to a large number of rumors and gossip over the conspiracies of a secret society against the current authorities. In fact, these conversations had some basis, it was given by the very manner of the monarchs to lead Russian politics, solving all matters behind the scenes. Such a habit was formed even during the Byzantine Empire and smoothly passed into the palaces of Russian monarchs. It was on this fertile soil that rumors arose that the Masonic lodges of Russia are practically the creators and ideological inspirers of the country's domestic and foreign policy.

Masonic lodges in Moscow and other cities reached their heyday in the first half of the nineteenth century with the blessing of Alexander I. The emperor himself was also a member of the brotherhood, except for him the dedication was held by Peter I, Paul I, and even the great poet Alexander Pushkin. Members of the Masonic lodge began to actively interfere in the politics of the country, and in 1822 Alexander I issued a decree prohibiting the activities of a secret society in Russia.

During this period, many Masons left the country and continued their activities beyond its borders. Especially often meetings were held in France, where all the active members of the society came.

Revival of Masonry in Russia

The Great Masonic Lodge of Russia was established in the ninety-fifth year of the last century. It has a connection with more than a hundred other lodges of the world, including English. Without this, the bed does not have the right to conduct its work, because recognition is a patent that gives the opportunity to touch the ancient secrets of society and to be its full members.

Initially, four Masonic lodges were created in our country: two in Moscow and one in St. Petersburg and Voronezh. However, their number quickly increased - a year after the founding of the Great Masonic Lodge of Russia in the northern capital, there were already two asylum freemen, and in Moscow - three.

Georgy Dergachev was elected chairman of the Masonic lodge of Russia, having served in this rank until 2007.

Masonic lodges today

According to the latest data in Moscow, Masonic lodges are already more than sixteen, in addition, they exist in more than thirteen cities of Russia. These include St. Petersburg, Voronezh, Kazan and Krasnodar. All members of the brotherhood are subordinated to the master magistrate and pay contributions annually.

It's interesting that being a freemason is far from an expensive pleasure. After all, monthly contributions, for example, in Russia are about three hundred dollars. To this figure, it is necessary to add voluntary donations, and a fairly round sum will be obtained, which is available only to very well-off people. In every country in the world, the amount of contributions can be different, this is determined by the internal charter of the brotherhood. For example, in the US Masons pay not more than one hundred dollars a month.

Chairman of the Masonic Lodge of Russia

Since 2007, the same man has been elected the master of Russian Masons - Andrei Bogdanov. According to the regulations, the chairman is elected for a period of five years, in the future he has the right to re-election. The next elections will take place in the Masonic lodge in 2020.

Conclusion

Many journalists like to write articles that, thanks to the conspiracy of Freemasons, the world will soon be plunged into chaos, and only the elite who are members of the brotherhood will survive in it. It is interesting that no proofs and refutations of this theory have so far been found. We can only wait for the Masons to reveal their most important secret to the world - the goal of their three-hundred-year existence.