Freemasonry in Asia

This is a general survey on the history, presence and influence of Freemasonry in Asian countries.

Armenia

The Grand Lodge of Armenia [ [http://www.glarmenia.org/ Official website of the Grand Lodge of Armenia] ] is a national organization, supervising Freemasonry in Armenia. It was consecrated in 2002 by representatives of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, the Grande Loge Nationale Française and the Grand Lodge of Russia.

The Grand Lodge of Armenia is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England ("the mother lodge of the world") as adhering to the ancient Landmarks of Freemasonry.

India

The Grand Lodge of India was founded in 1961, it has 315 lodges with 14 900 members and is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England.Ref: [http://bessel.org/glsinfo.htm GLs Information] ] [ [http://www.masonindia.org GLI] ]

The Confederation of United Grand Lodges of India was founded in 2001 and is recognised by the Grand Lodge of Belgium [http://www.glb.be/FR/buitenlandse_bezoekers.htm#Internationale%20Relaties Official list on the Grand Lodge of Belgium website] ] [ [http://www.glui.org/united_gl.htm GLUI] ] .

Israel

The Grand Lodge of the State of Israel was founded in 1953, it has 53 lodges with 2000 members and is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. [ [http://www.freemasonry.org.il/ GLSI] ]

Le Droit Humain also has an Israeli juridiction founded in 1989. [ [http://www.droit-humain.org/israel/anglais.html DH-Israel] ]

Japan

The Grand Lodge of Japan was founded in 1957, it has 18 lodges with 2500 members and is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. [ [http://www.japan-freemasons.org/ GLJ] ]

Lebanon

Unlike most Islamic countries Freemasonry is allowed in Lebanon and there are a number of different Grand Lodges and Grand Orients.Layiktez, Cecil [http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/layiktez1.html Freemasonry in the Islamic World] Pietre-Stones Review of Freemasonry 1996] Grand Lodges include the "Grande Loge Centrale du Liban", the "Grande Loge de Cèdres" and the "Grande Loge Bet-El", all in the tradition of Continental Freemasonry. There are also UGLE recognised lodges active in Lebanon (such as the Lodges operating under the "District Grand Lodge of Syria and Lebanon", which is chartered by the Grand Lodge of New York).

Philippines

The Grand Lodge of Philippines was founded in 1917, it has 278 lodges with 16 500 members and is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. [ [http://www.glphils.org/ GLP] ]

Taiwan

The Grand Lodge of China was founded in 1949, it has 10 lodges with 750 members and is recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England. [ [http://www.glphils.org/ GLP] ] [http://www.grandlodge-england.org/provinces/olodges/olodges.htm Official list on the United Grand Lodge of England website] ]

Turkey

In Turkey Freemasonry had been introduced by foreign merchants in the eighteenth century and was outlawed by Mahmud I in 1748, although it slowly came back and Freemasons were exiled as part of a crackdown on the Bektashis in 1826. [ [http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/layiktez.html THE HYSTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN TURKEY] , by Celil Layiktez]

A Grand Orient was formed in 1909. Freemasonry was suppressed from 1935 to 1948. [ [http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/layiktez.html THE HYSTORY OF FREEMASONRY IN TURKEY] , by Celil Layiktez]

A schism occurred in 1964, with a small group of freemasons creating the "Grand Lodge of Liberal Freemasons in Turkey", [ [http://www.mason-mahfili.org.tr/main/unlimitpages.asp?id=4 Grand Lodge website] ] which later attached itself to the Grand Orient de France [ [http://eng.mason.org.tr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=31 Grand Lodge of Turkey website] ] and is currently a member of CLIPSAS. [ [http://www.clipsas.com/en/members_f.htm CLIPSAS members] ]

References