Norwegian Freemasons from Spain joined the Grand Lodge of Spain

Thursday, 27 August 2015

Madrid, Spain. More than 150 Norwegian Freemasons (Grand Lodge of Norway) joined the Grand Lodge of Spain. The document regulating this situation was signed by the Grand Master of Spain an the Grand Chancellor of the Norwegian Freemasonry.

In the next period there will be established three new Lodges within the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Spain, so that the Norwegian Freemasons can work properly. Those Lodges will be located in Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Gran Canaria.

Ivan Sariev is the Grand Master of the unified Freemasonry in Bulgaria

Sofia, Bulgaria. This summer took place the unification of Freemasonry in Bulgaria after 15 years of divisions and negotiations. On June 20, 2015, over 1,300 Brethren and 44 Lodges of the Grand Lodge of Bulgaria merged with the United Grand Lodge of Bulgaria.

Ivan Sariev is the undisputed leader of the Bulgarian Freemasonry as a result of the unification process. The unification ceremony held in Sofia (Hotel Marinella, 11.00 o'clock) was attended by Grand Masters and delegations from Germany, Austria, Russia, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland and the United States of America.

Andrei Bogdanov re-elected at the helm of the Grand Lodge of Russia

Moscow, Russia. During the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Russia (20 years since its establishment) elections were held for the office of Grand Master and Andrei Bogdanov was elected again to lead the Grand Lodge for another 5 years. The event was attended by delegates and Grand Masters from the United States, France, Romania, Moldova, Chad, Switzerland, Austria, Japan, Georgia, Armenia, Israel, Malta, Gabon etc.

The Grand Lodge of Russia took an active role in supporting Freemasonry in the Caucasus, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Countries such as Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan will have in the near future, with the support of Grand Lodge of Russia, their own Grand Lodges.

Grand Lodge ALPINA re-recognized the French National Grand Lodge

Wednesday, 26 August 2015

Paris, France. In early June, the Grand Lodge ALPINA (Switzerland) decided to resume bilateral relations with the French National Grand Lodge and recognize GLNF again as the sole regular Grand Lodge in France.

The same decision was taken by the Grand Lodge of South Carolina. This year many US Grand Lodges will adopt the same decision during their Annual Communications.

General Assembly of the Confederation of Feminine Grand Lodges of Mexico | 2015

Zacatecas, Mexico. From July 24 to 26, 2015 took place the General Assembly of the Confederation of Feminine Grand Lodges of Mexico. On this occasion also took place the Feminine Masonic National Council headed by Eva Silverio Gallegos.

National Grand Lodge of Romania celebrated 135 years since its foundation

Bucharest, Romania. The National Grand Lodge of Romania celebrated in june 135 years since the founding of the Romanian National Grand Lodge in 1880. On this occasion, NGLR organized a series of events to mark the historic moment.

A few days before the Grand Lodge Annual Communication it was held a ceremony where the Grand Master offered the "Faith and Virtue" Medal to thank several personalities and institutions for their contribution to the welfare of the Romanian people. The event was attended by former President Emil Constantinescu, Chief of the Presidential Chancellery (Dan Mihalache), Deputy Prin Minister Gabriel Oprea etc. The medal was received by President Klaus Johannis, Emil Constantinescu, Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Romania's current ambassador to Washington D.C. (George Maior), Laura C. Kovesi (Chief of the NAD), Chief of the Romanian Intelligence Service etc.

The Annual Communication which marked the 135 years was attended by delegations from all continents (France, Guatemala, Brazil, Spain, Moldova, Russia, Italy, USA, Germany etc.) and a number of more than 1,000 Brethren.

Also on this occasion, took place an Executive Committee of the World Conference of Regular Grand Lodges (Grand Master Balanescu occupying the office of Executive Secretary of this forum). The ceremonies culminated with the NGLR's Awards Gala, an event which already become a tradition and is hosted annually by the Romanian Athenaeum.