Raul Arturo Gomez Mariscal (President of the Confederation of Regular Grand Lodges of Mexico) passed to the Eternal Lodge

Tuesday, 16 June 2015

Mexicali, Mexico. Yesterday, June 15, 2015, at 6 AM, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Baja California, Raul Arturo Gomez Mariscal, passed to the Eternal Lodge. Brother Gomez Mariscal was Chairman of the Confederation of Regular Grand Lodges of the United Mexican States, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Supreme Council for Mexico and member of the Commission of Regularity of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges.

The F & Secretary-General of the Masonic Agency regrets the loss of Brother Gomez Mariscal, remembering the happy moments shared with him and the collaboration between the Masonic Press Agency and the Grand Lodge of Baja California (during his term in office): "He was a man of value, he appreciated youth and he knew how to give each man his place. Our thoughts go now to his family and to all Brethren of the Grand Lodge of the State of Baja California".

Regular Norwegian Freemasons ceased their Masonic activity in Spain

Monday, 15 June 2015

Oslo, Norway. Since 1978, Regular Norwegian Freemasons (Grand Lodge of Norway) have conducted Masonic activities in Costa Blanca, Spain. In 1981 in Costa del Sol and in 1989 in Gran Canaria.

To comply with Masonic customs and practice the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Norway, Tore Evensen, decided to cease the work of Norwegian Brethren in Spain. Currently there are discussions between the Grand Lodge of Norway and the Grand Lodge of Spain so that Norwegian Freemasons can continue their Masonic activity in the jurisdiction of Spain. So far it was not reached any agreement, but there are a number of possibilities that are to be considered.

Masonic stamps for the 135th anniversary of the National Grand Lodge of Romania

Bucharest, Romania. Celebrating 135 years since the founding of the National Grand Lodge of Romania, Romfilatelia will bring to market a postage stamps special edition starting with 16 June 2015. The two stamps show elements of Masonic symbolism (the moon, the sun, the 12 signs of the zodiac, the G letter and the project of the Grand Masonic Temple in Bucharest).

The mintage is limited to 565 copies. The NGLR is the only Romanian Grand Lodge recognized by the Mother Grand Lodge of the World and Grand Master Radu Balanescu currently occupies the office of Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges.

III World Meeting of the Francophone Lodges

Bucharest, Romania. On 11-13 June 2015 took place the 3rd World Meeting of Francophone Lodges. The event was organized by Les Sages d'Heliopolis Lodge #53 of Bucharest (jurisdiction of the National Grand Lodge of Romania).

The world meeting was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Bucharest. On Thursday the organizers offered a cocktail reception for all Brethren attending the evetd. Friday was by two conferences: "Culture and Masonic esotericism" & "History and Society", and on Saturday was held a Masonic (ritualistic) meeting (at the Brâncovenesc Hall of the Parliament Palace) followed by a gala dinner. Saturday's event was attended by Grand Master Radu Balanescu, Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges.

The European Conference of Grand Masters was held in Serbia

Monday, 8 June 2015

Belgrade, Serbia. From 5 to 7 June 2015 took place the European Conference of Grand Masters, event organized by the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia. On Friday evening was offered a reception and the conference began on Saturday morning. On Sunday took place the 47th Annual Communication of the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia.

The conference was attended, among others, by Peter Lowndes (Pro Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England), Radu Balanescu (Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania & Executive Secretary of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges), Jean Pierre Servel (French National Grand Lodge), Stefano Bisi (Grand Orient of Italy), Rudiger Templin (United Grand Lodges of Germany), Andrei Bogdanov (Grand Lodge of Russia), Alfonso Ortega (Grand Lodge of Spain) etc.

It was the largest and most important Masonic event ever organized in Serbia. The leaders of (regular) Freemasonry discussed about the contribution of Freemasonry to the development of humanity, generally speaking, and particularly in Europe.

Grand Master Ranko Vujacic was reelected, and at the Annual Communication which took place on Sunday were awarded medals for those Brethren who have contributed to the development of the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia.

Photo: Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia

Serbia's Masonic Academy was inaugurated on June 1, 2015

Belgrade, Serbia. The Masonic Academy of Serbia was inaugurated on June 1, 2015. The initiative belongs to the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia headed by Grand Master Ranko Vujacic. The event was attended, among others, by Thomas Jackson (Honorary President of the Academy) and Rudiger Templin (Grand Master of Germany) who gave a lecture on: "Freemasons in civil society and their responsibility in the 21st century".

Masonic & European Union leaders (Frans Timmermans & Antonio Tajani) meeting | 2015

Religious and Masonic leaders will have a multilateral dialogue with the leaders of the European Union

Brussels, Belgium. On June 2, 2015 took place the meeting of the First Vice-President of the European Commission (Frans Timmermans) with the leaders of 7 European Masonic organizations and of 4 secular organizations. The discussions were focused on how we can live together respecting disagreements. Within the multilateral dialogue were reached topics such as freedom of expression, youth education, immigration and economic crisis.

The event was attended by Nieves BAYO GALLEGO (Spanish Symbolic Grand Lodge), Catherine Jeannin-NALTET (Women's Grand Lodge of France), Daniel KELLER (Grand Orient of France), Dimitrios LYBERIS (International Masonic Order DELPHI), Yvette RAMON (International Mixed Masonic Order HUMAN RIGHT), Tomasz SZMAGIER (Grand Orient of Poland) and Steven WARMOES (Grand Lodge of Belgium).

For the first time since this multilateral meeting is organized it was requested that the next meeting to be attend also by religious leaders during the same session with those of Freemasonry in Europe. Both First Vice-President of the European Commission (Frans Timmermans) and Vice President of the European Parliament (Antonio Tajani) agreed.

The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Montenegro was held in Budva

Budva, Montenegro. The Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Montenegro gathered in Budva the Masonic leaders of Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, Spain, Slovenia, Hungary, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania. The event was also attended by Thomas Jackson, Honorary President of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges.

Steven P. Boring is the new Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Florida

Wednesday, 3 June 2015

Jacksonville, United States. At the end of May the Grand Lodge of Florida announced that Steven P. Boring (Past Senior Grand Warden) was installed as Grand Master. He will be assisted by Stanley Hudson (Deputy Grand Master).

Steven P. Boring (born in Elizabethton, Tennessee) worked for 28 years at Florida Power Corporation and served in the Army National Guard in Florida for 36 years. He was initiated into Freemasonry in East Gate Lodge #355 in Clearwater, being raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on December 23, 1974.

Marie Thérèse Besson is the new Grand Master of France

Paris, France. From 29 to 31 May 2015 took place the Annual Communication of the Women's Grand Lodge of France and the Installation Ceremony of the new Grand Master. Marie Thérèse Besson has replaced Catherine Jeannin-Naltet at the helm of the GLFF. The Annual Communication was attended by the representatives of the 430 Women's Lodges. They have voted overwhelmingly in favor of the new Grand Master. The event was also attended by the Sovereign Grand Commander of the Women's Supreme Council of France, Gilberte Colaneri.

Marie Thérèse Besson (born in Lyon) was initiated in Freemasonry in 1979 and was part of the Federal Council in 1991-1994. The new Grand Master managed the internal relations and the Rhône-Alpes region. Due to her profession she had the opportunity to learn more about the aspects of Women's Freemasonry in Africa.