Grande Loja Regular de Portugal

The Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal was created under a warrant from the Grande Loge Nationale Française by Decrees 762 and 763 of June 29, 1991. It was incorporated as a civil association under Portuguese law some days afterwards, on July 15, 1991, on the official books of the 3rd Public Notary of Lisbon.

Almiro Gaspar Marques is the current Grand Master of The Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal .

History

Freemasonry in Portugal has had a turbulent history, since it was first introduced by the Premier Grand Lodge of England in 1800. In 1743 John Coustos and two other members of his lodge were arrested by the inquisition and questioned under torture. His book detailing his sufferings under the inquisition has been an important source work of early ritual Masonic practice. The history continues with Bro. Da Costa who also arrested by the Inquisition because of his Masonic activities, but escaped and fled to London in 1805, where he joined the Lodge of Antiquity. [http://www.gllp.pt/noticias/2002/2002072700/discurso_marques.htm]

In the 1980s the National Grand Lodge of France set up to number of Lodges in Portugal and in 1989 English Freemasonry returned with the warranting of the Prince Henry the Navigator Lodge. In 1991 the National Grand Lodge of France constituted its district in Portugal into The Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal. [http://www.gllp.pt/noticias/2002/2002072700/discurso_marques.htm]

Recognition and Schism

Regularity is a constitutional mechanism by which Grand Lodges (or Grand Orients) give one another mutual recognition. This recognition allows formal interaction at the Grand Lodge level, and gives individual Freemasons the opportunity to attend meetings at Lodges in other recognized jurisdictions. Conversely, regularity proscribes interaction with Lodges that are "irregular".

Grand Lodges that afford mutual recognition and allow inter-visitations are said to be "in amity". Regularity as far as the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) Constitution is concerned, is based around a number of "Landmarks", set down in their constitution and the constitutions of those Grand Lodges with which they are in amity. Even within this definition there are some variations with the quantity and content of the Landmarks from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Other Masonic groups organise differently. However, even without formal recognition of regularity, some Grand Lodges continue informal relations.

The Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal was recognized, by a letter from the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) on March 12, 1992; and hence by almost all other regular Grand Lodges all over the world. UGLE ceased to include the "GLRP" as a Grand Lodge in 1996.

Two bodies currently claim to be the regular Masonic Authority for Portugal: the Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal (GLRP), and the "Grande Loja Legal de Portugal". UGLE recognizes the latter. [ [http://www.grandlodge-england.org/provinces/olodges/euro.htm The United Grand Lodge of England - Home Page ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.glrp.pt Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal - Grande Loja Regular de Portugal]
* [http://www.gllp.pt/ Legal Grand Lodge of Portugal - Grande Loja Legal de Portugal/GLRP]
* [http://www.glrp.com.pt/GLRP_revista.htm Entre Colunas Magazine of the G.·.L.·.R.·.P.·. - Grande Loja Regular de Portugal]
* [http://www.glrp.com.pt/CETAD.htm CETAD Centro de Estudos Tradicionais Afonso Domingues]