Freemasonry in the World.

In all countries where the authorities protect, accept or support their activities, Freemasons are grouped into Lodges, under the authority of a Master of the Lodge, or ‘Worshipful Master’, who is elected for a limited period. Lodges are grouped into Grand Lodges, generally having a national jurisdiction.

Contrary to a widespread but false impression, there is no central organisation with authority over the entirety of world Freemasonry.  Masonic structures are national and each country has one Grand Lodge, which has sole jurisdiction over the Lodges within its territory. In some countries, such as the United States, there is a Grand Lodge for each State.

The Grand Lodges -and there are over a hundred of them – are independent, autonomous and sovereign. Each Grand Lodge has its own character and specific customs reflecting, to some extent, its local mentality and traditions; but all of them are interrelated by a consensus with regard to the principles and customs forming the indispensable basis of Masonic Regularity.

These common standards are known as the Landmarks, in other words the borderlines which may not be transgressed, at the risk of stepping outside the limits of the Order.

Relations between Grand Lodges are entered into through mutual recognition. These bilateral relationships ensure the effective cohesion of the institution throughout the world, whilst asserting the responsibilities of each of the partners involved..

Even the United Grand Lodge of England, the oldest and most important Grand Lodge, with some 240,000 members and 7950 Lodges, has no other direct influence internationally than granting, withdrawing or refusing its recognition; but the scrupulous way in which it respects – and leads others to respect – the principles which it was the first to set down, lends considerable influence and particular prestige to the decisions it takes in this context.

The United Grand Lodge of England recognises the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium as the only Masonic authority in Belgium.  Our Constitution is also recognised by virtually all the world’s Regular Grand Lodges.

Regular Freemasonry today includes some 3 million members worldwide (sources : List of Lodges 2011 ; Bessel.org. ; University of Lund, Sweden)

R.L. Les trois Briques, n° 9 – O. Waterloo