75-75 ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY

News from the desk of the Grand Commander

THE SUPREME COUNCIL, 33rd
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREEMASONRY


In re: REGULAR AND IRREGULAR FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE

Some Recent History

The Sovereign Grand Commanders and Grand Secretaries General of all Peculiar Councils

The Officers and Active Members of the Three Supreme Councils in North America-Canada, Northern Jurisdictions, U.S.A.

The Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries of all Regular Grand Lodges

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Dear Brethren,

The news of a serious schism among the Members of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council for France caused considerable uneasiness among the Officers and Members of the regular Supreme Councils throughout the world. Among Masonry scholars and others familiar with the situtaion it is generally considered that the root of the trouble is easily traceable to the unstable condition of the Symbolic Freemasonry in France. For many years, three different Grand Bodies have claimed supervision of Symbolic , or Blue Lodge Masonry, in that country.

The Grand Orient of France is now, and has been for a long time, hopelessly irregular because it refuses to adhere to the ancient Landmarks, which is a fundamental requirement for regularity. It is considered to be irregular, illegitimate and clandestine.

The Grand Lodge of France has vacillated between irregularity and illegitimacy, therefore, only a limited number of regular Grand Lodges have given it[...] (Le reste est illisible.)