Freemasonry in Belgium

History

At the 18th century, Belgium consists of two States: Austrian Netherlands and the episcopal Principality of Liege.

The first Belgian cabin was most probably founded in 1721, with Mons, under the name of " Perfect Union". It since changed several times of name and obedience, but it exists always today with number 1 with the Great East of Belgium.

Starting from 1740, many cabins are formed under the influence of the French Armies which occupy the country. Then others are established with licenses of the Big room of Londres.
In 1770, constitutes the Big room of the Austrian Netherlands, which will count up to 26 loges.
In 1784, an imperial decree of Joseph II tiny room to three the number of the cabins with Brussels and the interdict in the other cities.

In the Principality of Liege, the first cabin seems to have been " Nymphe" in 1749. In 1760, the prince-bishop prohibits freemasonry. On the other hand its successor François-Charles de Velbrück (1772-1784) belongs to the Order and protects it. During the 18th century, many catholic priests will have belonged to freemasonry.

In 1795, at the time of the French annexation, the " Perfect Union" was the only workshop which had survived the Austrian Netherlands. The meeting with the France (1795-1814) and the presence of the French military cabins because a new expansion of the cabins in the nine joined together departments (see list Ci below). These cabins were highly revolutionists, francophile anticlericals and .

After the wars which follow the French revolution and the Napoleonean Empire, the treated of Paris and the Congrès of Vienna join together the Belgium with the kingdom of the Netherlands. There are 27 Cabins in 1815. At that time, the Great East of the Netherlands is constituted, with 2 Big rooms of administration, one for North (Holland), the other for the South (Belgium). Prince Frederic of Orange-Nassau becomes about it Sérénissime Grand Main.

With the birth of the Kingdom of Belgium in 1833 the Great East of Belgium constitutes, supported by the king Léopold I {{er}}, which would have been initiated itself with the Cabin the Hope with Bern in 1813.
One proposes to him to become about it Sérénissime Grand Main but it declines the offer and places one of its collaborator close relations there, the baron Goswin de Stassart. Certain cabins, like North with Ghent, will remain faithful to the Grand Lodge of France of the Netherlands until in 1883 and will be excluded from the Great East of Belgium.

Because of the letter of the cardinal Englebert Sterckx and the episcopate in 1837, which prohibited the membership of freemasonry with the catholics, following the Encyclique Mirari Your of 1832, Belgian freemasonry changes then, becomes less catholic and is interested in the state education so much so that the Cabin " The Philanthropes" Friends; found in 1834 the free and laic University of Brussels. Many are the catholic freemasons who choose freemasonry instead of the Catholic church. The founder of the Universit3e libre de Bruxelles, Pierre-Theodore Verhaegen is un.
Gradually masonry will recruit its members in the anticlericals mediums.

During the First World War, Belgium is almost entirely occupied and the cabins suspend their work. Found peace, they takes again force, but is made new enemies: the dictatorships of right-hand side find them dangerous because of their love for freedom of thought, the dictatorships of left reproach them their “collaboration of class”. In 1928 is founded the Belgian Federation of the human right.

May 10th 1940, Belgium is invaded by Germany hitlérienne, freemasonry is prohibited, of many brothers is stopped, off-set, assassinated. The occupants are helped by a list of freemason published by a preserving and catholic newspaper. However a continuous Belgian maconnic life in exile with London and New York, and even in a clandestine way and with the risks which one imagines, in the concentration camp of Esterwegen (the cabin Most cherished liberty) and in the prison camp of war of Prenslau (the cabin the Stubborn person).

With the Release, the maconnic life takes again its course, but 5 cabins, eager to return to “regular” practices more, found in 1959 the Big room of Belgium.

Current location

Currently, the situation of freemasonry in Belgium is different from the majority of that of the other countries in the world. Only a minority of cabins belongs to the freemasonry of principal group ( mainstream ), in particular workshops of the Regular Big room of Belgium. The GLRB was created on June 15th, 1979 by more than 300 Brothers coming from the Big room from Belgium, which was not recognized any more by this group. It currently counts 46 workshops, including 24 French-speaking people. The other cabins in Belgium belong to freemasonry known as liberal . They are defined humanistic and laic. It is about:

the Big room of Belgium (GLB), which would have approximately 2.500 members in 59 workshops, including 20 in Wallonia, 18 in Brussels and 21 in Flanders. The women are not allowed.
the Female Big room of Belgium (GLFB-VGLB) where the men are not initiated. There are approximately 1600 members in 33 workshops.
the the Great East of Belgium (GOB), which is greatest obedience with approximately 10.000 exclusively male members. It counts 122 workshops, including 43 in Wallonia, 32 in Brussels and 29 in Flanders.
the Belgian Federation of the Human right (DH), international mixed order, which counts approximately 6.000 members in Belgium, for the majority female, in 61 workshops: 21 Dutch-speaking and 40 French-speaking people.
the Belgian Big room of Memphis-Misraïm, obedience dedicated to the practice of the Old and Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraïm, counts four Cabins, that is to say approximately 70 members.

(The number of members are only estimates)

Complements

List cabins at the time Frenchwoman

department of Dyle

Brussels: the Friends Philanthropists, Frankness, the Hope, the Happy Meeting, Peace, Perfect Friendship, Friendly Truths of the Union,
Leuwen: constancy, Disciples of Solomon,
Bubbles: discrete Friends

department of Deux-Nèthes

Antwerp: friends Commercial, Universal Harmony, Malignant Pupils of THEMIS
: the Harmony

department of the Scheldt

Audenarde: the Dawn
Flessingue: French Friends
Ghent: beneficial Happiness, Saint-Napoleon of North, North, Truths Friendly,
Lokeren: the Triad

Department of the Forests

Luxembourg: harmony strengthened.

department of Jemappes

Boussu: truths Philanthropists
Mons: the Harmony
Charleroi: the Friends of the Virtue
Turned: the Brotherhood of Saint-Sebastien, tested Constancy, brought together Brothers

department of the Lily

Bruges: friendship, the Meeting of the Friends of North
Courtrai: the Friendship
Ostend: the Three Levels

department of Meuse-Lower the

Maastricht: constancy, the Perfect Meeting
Ruremonde: constant Freedom

department of Ourthe

Chaudfontaine: the Star of Chaudfontaine, the Nymph of Chaudfontaine
Huy: friends of the Perfect Intelligence
Liege: the Star of the Friendship, Perfect Equality, the Perfect Intelligence
Spa: indivisible the
Verviers: Philadelphes

department of Sambre-and-Meuse

Namur: the Good Friendship

Belgian obediences

the Great East of Belgium
Regular Big room of Belgium
G.L.B
D.H.
Big room of Memphis-Misraim
mason.be GOB, GLFB, GLB, DH (common site)

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