- Freemasonry in Belgium
Freemasonry in Belgium consists of a wide range of
Masonic obediences: A Grand Orient of Belgium, a Grand Lodge of Belgium, a Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium, and a Women's Grand Lodge of Belgium.History
Freemasonry began in Belgium whilst the region was ruled by Austria, and later came under influence from Freemasonry in France (following the area's annexation) and the Netherlands (in the period between 1815 and 1830). When the state of Belgium was formed in 1830, Freemasonry there expanded greatly, but faced dramatic changes and challenges over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today
Grand Orient of Belgium
The
Grand Orient of Belgium (French: Grand Orient de Belgique, Dutch: Grootoosten van Belgie G.O.B.) is for men only and works in the first three degrees of Freemasonry.It was founded in 1833, three years after the independence of Belgium, and joined the
Grand Orient of France and other Continental jurisdictions in not requiring initiates to believe in a Supreme Being.In 1989 the Grand Orient of Belgium, the Grand Lodge of Belgium, the Women's Grand Lodge Of Belgium and the
Belgian Federation of Le Droit Humain signed an agreement of mutual recognition.Grand Lodge of Belgium
The Grand Lodge of Belgium (French: Grande Loge de Belgique, Dutch: Grootloge van België, G.L.B.) is for men only, and works in the first three degrees of Freemasonry. It was founded in
1959 by 5 lodges of the Grand Orient of Belgium in order to regain recognition by the United Grand Lodge of England. When in1979 this recognition was lost again, 9 lodges founded the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium. In1989 , the Grand Orient of Belgium, the Grand Lodge of Belgium, the Women's Grand Lodge Of Belgium and theBelgian Federation of Le Droit Humain signed an agreement of mutual recognition.Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium
The Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium (French: "La Grande Loge Régulière de Belgique", Dutch: "Reguliere Grootloge van België", R.G.L.B.) is for men only and works in the first three degrees of Freemasonry. It was founded on
15 June 1979 by 9 lodges after the Grand Lodge of Belgium lost its recognition from the United Grand Lodge of England. Today it has nearly 50 lodges throughout Belgium.Women's Grand Lodge Of Belgium
The Women's Grand Lodge Of Belgium (French: Grande Loge Féminine de Belgique, Dutch: Vrouwengrootloge van België) is a Masonic obedience for women only which works in the first three degrees of Freemasonry. The Grande Loge Féminine de France founded its first lodge in
Brussels on20 April 1974 , followed by three more inLiège , Brussels andCharleroi . The Women's Grand Lodge Of Belgium was founded on17 October 1981 .ources
*
Leo Apostel , "Freemasonry, a philosophical essay", VUB, 1985.
* Hugo De Schapheleire, Roger Desmed,Els Witte , Maur. A. Arnould, "Een eeuw vrijmetselarij in onze gewesten 1740-1840", Brussel 1983
* Hervé Haquin (ed.), "Visages de la franc-maçonnerie belge du XVIIIe au XXe siècle", Ed. ULB, Bruxelles, 1983External links
* [http://www.rglb-glrb.org/en/index.htm Regular Grand Loge of Belgium]
* [http://www.gob.be/ G.O.B.]
* [http://www.glb.be/ G.L.B.]ee also
*
Freemasonry in Brussels
*Regular Masonic jurisdictions
*International Secretariat of the Masonic Adogmatic Powers
*Co-Freemasonry
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