March 2014

Editor: RWBro George Tapley Volume 79, No. 3

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership Masonry in Manitoba, Summer Edition, 2013 Leadership. The very word conjures Mr. Maxwell illustrates his 21 laws explains that people first have to images of knights on horseback leading with examples with which we might be accept or buy into the leader. Once their armies into war, or of chairmen in somewhat familiar, but now we learn they accept him or her they will be the board room determining the path the rest of the story and how utilizing prepared to accept the vision as their their country or corporation will pursue, this law made such a difference to the own, to take ownership in the project. or of charismatic zealots inspiring their eventual outcome. Basically the 21 laws 15 Leaders always find a way for their followers to one cause or another. We are as follows: team to win, even if it is only a partial all like to imagine we can be a leader, 1 Leaders are not born but developed. victory and then celebrate that vic- inspiring the Brethren of our Lodges to A person’s leadership ability deter- tory. achieve the goals that we dare to dream mines his level of effectiveness. 16 Momentum is a leader’s best friend for our futures. One basic realization is 2 Leadership depends upon team ef- and must be carefully cultivated. It is that to be an effective leader one needs fort. The true measure of a leader is vital in sports and equally important to be in possession of a great number influence, nothing more, nothing less. to achieving success in any circum- of skills, more than any one person nor- 3 There is a process to be followed. stance. mally possesses. Hence the fact that in Leadership ability develops as you 17 This law is of priorities. Being busy most cases leaders are not born, they work on it; nothing is immediate. does not necessarily lead to success. are developed. There are many books 4 The fourth law is that of naviga- Ensure that your activities are con- written on this topic and while they tion. Anyone can steer the ship but tributing to achieving the goal. employ different terminology, the basic the leader is the one who plots the 18 The law of sacrifice is included in the fundamentals of leadership are common course. general charge. There can be no real to them all. 5 This is the law of addition. Develop- greatness without self-denial. Several years ago the Grand Lodge ing a team approach depends upon 19 Timing is critical. Plan to ensure that held a training session led by the Grand serving others. key events and activities are executed Master of Michigan, MWBro Bob Conley. 6 Trust is the foundation of leadership. at the most opportune times. His “bible” would be a book written by No one will follow a person in whom 20 This law deals with explosive growth. John Maxwell entitled The 21 Irrefutable they do not have faith. Its premise is that by working with Laws of Leadership. It was attended by 7 Hand in hand with trust is respect. or leading a group of followers you two Brothers from each district with the Both must be earned! may well experience growth, but by idea that they would, in turn, conduct 8 Sometimes intuition plays an impor- leading or training leaders growth is training sessions in their respective tant part, but evaluation ensures that more likely and may well be explosive! districts. This, it was hoped, would the course is advantageous. Hence our interest in developing the result in stronger leadership in our 9 Magnetism is important; you become leaders entering the Craft today. Lodges, more efficiently run districts what you attract! 21 Finally, he concludes with the law of and eventually a body of qualified, skilful 10 Connection is also vital. Knowing the legacy. We all want to leave something men who would gravitate toward Grand sources of needed resources helps to to be remembered by and this is a Lodge and through their united efforts reach the goal. powerful motivating tool in achieving strengthen the fabric of Freemasonry 11 These last two laws lead to the law the desired end or goal. in this jurisdiction. Like the widow’s of the inner circle. A son, it was hoped they would raise a leader’s potential de- superstructure perfect in its parts and pends upon his inner honourable to the builders, to the Craft circle of advisors. and to society as a whole. 12 A secure leader gives Perhaps now, with an influx of young power to others, em- men at the beginning of their careers, powering both col- the importance of leadership training leagues and staff. will be more evident and this project, 13 This law is the law of the which has sat on our tracing board for picture. People need to far too long, will be put into action. The share the vision, to see 10th District has conducted training this and realize the goal. spring. 14 The law of the buy-in Some thoughts on Ritual Ciphers The Voice of Freemasonry in the National’s Capital, Grand Lodge of F.A.A.M. of the District of Columbia, Vol. 30, Number 2, 2013 [The following article is based, for the most part, on two MSA Short Talks (1952 and 1956) and a Digest (1987.) A new hard- cover, fourth edition of the D. C. Masonic Cipher was published in June of 2013.] From the early years of Freemasonry, of the ritual are still in print; they may do, but little harm to a great fraternity. the secrecy of its rituals and their safe- be seen in any Masonic and most city Ritual requires a Lodge and a candidate keeping has been a preoccupation for libraries; they can be bought either new and officers to bring forth the spirit the leaders of the fraternity. or second-hand from many booksellers. from the works and translate them into To teach only by word of mouth; Grand Lodges which permit the ritual Freemasonry. to teach mouth to ear and use cipher ciphers believe that such ciphers are Many Grand Lodges still do not have for help; to depend wholly on ciphers; far less expensive than exposés; that a Master Copy of the work and or per- these are the questions that have vexed they are far more secret; that forbidding mit the use of ciphers or mnemonics of some, if not all, of the Grand Lodges in ciphers encourages the printers and esoteric work and in some cases their the United States, and in some jurisdic- sellers of exposés. use is considered a Masonic offense, or tions these issues are still of concern. even high crime. The uniformity of work Many Grand Lodges at one time did is maintained through the link between not allow the existence of a Master copy the Grand Lecturer and Assistant Grand and or forbade the printing of Masonic Lecturers, DDGMs, Inspectors, and rituals, but commercial printers stepped lodge officers. in and met the “demand” by Masons Those Jurisdictions which do permit and profanes alike. Masonic rituals ciphers have a wide range of policies have been videotaped, passed around governing their preparation, produc- on the internet, and even broadcast on tion, availability and protection. cable television • Ciphers are produced in one, two, Whether ciphers are used or forbid- three, four, and sometimes in five den, and whether or not there is a master letters. copy of the ritual, is strictly the business • Unauthorized production of ciphers of each Grand Lodge. Ciphers do, how- is forbidden. ever, have an inter-jurisdictional aspect; • Ciphers are sold by the Grand Lodge any cipher, purporting to conceal a to Lodge Secretaries for use by the Above: a collection of Masonic ciphers, or ritual from the profane and reveal it to members. monitors (rituals) that have been printed the initiated must have a point of origin. • Copies of the ciphers with serial num- in a form of code. as shown in a N Dak The use of ciphers in the Masonic bers (in some cases with recipient’s Lodge ritual below. jurisdictions in the United States ap- name) are sold to Lodges and lodge parently began, around the middle of secretaries must account for each nineteenth century (1861), with the ap- copy at the end of each year. pearance of the Conservators of Symbolic • Most cipher books begin by an admo- Masonry of Rob Morris, a prominent nition that under no circumstances Freemason, and his “Mnemonics,” a should the words be written out in complicated compilation of letters and this ritual nor should be given to the figures in one book, which was to his candidates for the purpose of learn- mind, “unreadable” by the non-initiated, ing any part of their proficiencies. and so “perfectly safe.” • Protection of the manuals in most Modern, commercially published cases is entrusted to the integrity of ritual ciphers of the so-called “standard the Brethren authorized to purchase work” are used in some Grand Lodges them. and forbidden in others, which print It is generally the thinking of Masonic • A few Grand Lodges print the text of their own. Both are entirely forbidden students that exposé is the skeleton the three degrees in book form and in still some others. without the flesh; the body without the sell to Lodges. Only obligation and It is common knowledge of all well- spirit of Freemasonry. Objectionable pass words are coded. informed Masons that many exposés as they are, they have done and now • Some are sold without restriction,

Provided to Freemasons of Alberta and the Northwest The Committee on the Grand Lodge Bulletin Territories west of the 4th Meridian who are members of RWBro George Tapley (Chairman); The Grand Lodge of Alberta, A.F. & A.M. MWBro Robert E. Juthner, Editor emeritus; WBro Garth Cochran; WBro Loren Kline; 330 – 12 Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2R 0H2 Bro Trevor Morris; Ex Officio: Grand Master, Tel 403-262-1140 — Fax 403-290-0671 Published each month except July and August by Deputy Grand Master & Grand Secretary www.freemasons.ab.ca Annual subscription rate for non-members of the GLA The Grand Lodge of Alberta, A.F. & A.M. is C$10.00 plus mailing costs. Republication rights are Grand Master MWBro John Cameron Editor: RWBro George Tapley granted to other Masonic Jurisdictions, but acknow­ ledgement of the source is requested. The Editor reserves Deputy Grand Master RWBro John Slade 339 Whitefield Dr NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 5S2 Senior Grand Warden RWBro Chris Batty the right to accept, reject and re-write material submitted Junior Grand Warden RWBro James Ratchford Tel 403-280-6776 — Fax 403-290-0671 for publication. Deadline for copy is the 1st day of the Grand Secretary RWBro Jerry W. Kopp e-mail: [email protected] month, two months prior to the month of issue. 2 some with certain restriction and in only intended as an aid for a poor mem- both ineffective and probably a remedy some cases a number of copies of ory, a reminder of the correct sequence, worth than the disease. Give them away the cipher is lent, but never sold, to and as a schedule of completeness. All free of charge or for a minimal charge? line officers. the Grand Lodges fully recognize the The correctness of either standpoint • Use of ciphers is not permitted during great value of the personal relation of of those who approve of and permit or ritual or exemplification. oral instruction. those who disapprove of and forbid • In some cases working copies of the The consensus seems to be that any ciphers should not be of great concern, Master Copy are kept in strategic and legal action proceeding against such since it cannot be said that either was secure locations over the jurisdic- publications, instituted against publish- less devoted to Freemasonry or had tion. ing houses the officials of which are not less reverence for its secret ritual than • Master copies of the work are held members of the fraternity, would be the other! at the Grand Lodge and the Grand Master, Grand Secretary, Grand Lec- However, the cipher used on the trac- turer, a special committee, board or Other Masonic Ciphers What many think of when hearing the ing board reads from right to left . The a combination thereof, act as custo- term cipher is a brief message prepared cipher grids are laterally reversed such dians. in code. One prominant use of such a that ABC= CBA and T=> becomes T=<. The arguments for permitting ciphers cipher is on a 3° Tracing Board. Thus, the symbols in the trestleboard are that they result in greater accuracy read (r to l) TC at the top, HAB over and uniformity, that they save time, and AL3000 in the box above the scull, etc. that they save the expense of having travelling officers, in some jurisdic- Copiale Cipher tions, whose function is to maintain the In 1970, a hand written, 105 page, standard instruction. It is also said that brocade bound manuscript dating from ritual in Lodges is better as a result of the late 1700s was found in East Germany the ciphers, and that it then has a greater containing 75,000 characters in a unique appeal to candidates. code (a portion of a page below). The argument against ciphers is that they violate the Masonic obligation and jeopardizes the secrecy of Masonry. It is also said that passing on the work “mouth to ear” heightens the dignity of the ritual and increases its impressive- ness. The ciphers are said to reduce ritual learning to a mere mechanical act. Joseph Fort Newton, great speaker The cipher was finally broken in April and writer of Freemasonry, might have 2011 by a team from the US and Swe- had this idea in mind when as Editor of den. S. Brent Morris, 33°, a retired U.S. The Builder he wrote, government mathematician, explained, …what is secret in Masonry now is not A 3° Tracing Board used in St. Andrews “This is a homophonic cipher, or a sub- the truth it teaches but the method by stitution cipher with ‘variants.’ In other which it teaches it — its ceremony and Lodge. Note the use of a cipher on the top half of the coffin. words, low frequency letters (e.g. q, j, symbolism, and the signs and tokens etc.) map to only one cipher character, by which it protects the privacy of its Often called the “pigpen cipher, its while high frequency letters (a, e, n, etc.) lodge room that it may teach more simplest variation is below. can be represented by several cipher impressively. characters. The goal of such a cipher is What is the efficiency of Masonry? to ‘flatten’ the frequency distribution of Surely it is something more than the cipher characters. As just one example, accuracy of the letter, valuable as it in normal English e is about 13 per cent is. It is also the communication of of all letters; with five cipher variants, a spirit, and this highest and most each would appear about 2½ per cent precious result is better achieved by of the time.” oral instructions. It goes deeper, it The team that broke the cipher stays longer, and it touches parts of thought it was a secret society ritual our nature which are not reached by dealing with ophthamology. But Art de decoding a cipher. To abandon the oral Hoyos recognized a logogram used in teaching of Masonry would mean the German texts instead of the word “mau- loss of something unique, particular, rer” or mason. It turns out the find is fine, and we know of nothing to take an early German Masonic ritual. — SGC its place. Thus, a simple message would look http://scottishrite.org/about/media- No Grand Lodge which permits the as follows. publications/journal/article/the-copi- use of ciphers intends it as a substitute ale-cipher-an-early-german-masonic- for mouth to ear instruction. Ciphers are ritual-unveiled/ 3 United Grand Lodge of England’s Position on the Grande Loge Nationale Française Quarterly Communication, September 2013 Twelve months ago UGLE voted to Lodges, none of which has ever been The “blogosphere” is, as usual, full withdraw recognition from the Grande recognised by UGLE, are: the Grande of rumour and misinformation, particu- Loge Nationale Française (GLNF). Since Loge de France; the Grande Loge de larly regarding what the United Grand then its Board of General Purposes and 1’Alliance Maçonnique Française; the Lodge of England is supposedly plan- its External Relations Committee have Grande Loge Traditionnelle et Sym- ning in relation to France. We continue continued to monitor the situation in bolique Opéra; and the Grande Loge to believe that the problems in France France. Indépendante de France. In June they are internal to that country and that the Last December the GLNF installed a agreed on a charter outlining the basic French Brethren should be allowed to new Grand Master, MWBro Jean Pierre principles on which the Federation will sort out their problems without interfer- Servel, as a result of which the mandate be founded but have not yet given any ence from outside. Whilst we welcome of the Court-appointed administrator details as to how it will be organised the changes taking place within the ceased, so that the GLNF is once again and administered. So far the discussions GLNF, we do not have under active in full control of its affairs. His prede- have not included the GLNF, despite its consideration any plan to recognise or cessor as Grand Master, having failed having been internationally recognised re-recognise any Grand Lodge in France. to attend a disciplinary hearing, has for almost one hundred years as the only We will continue to monitor the situa- been expelled. The new Grand Master representative of regular Freemasonry tion and, in doing so, will not enter into has already made changes welcomed in France. any formal discussions with any of the by his Brethren and is setting in train Whilst the five European Grand Lodg- Grand Lodges in France. constitutional processes to return to the es have kept us informed of the progress Grand Lodge and its constituent Lodges of the discussions it is important to Grand Master’s Itinerary powers and authority removed by his note that UGLE has not been a party to March predecessor. His actions appear to be them nor has it given any sanction to 11 Patricia Lodge Blarney Night, restoring harmony within the GLNF. the project. It is equally important to Freemasons’ Hall, Edm Five Grand Lodges in Europe — Aus- note that, should the Federation come 22 Sakara Temple, Daughters of the Nile tria, Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and into being, before we could consider Installation, Al Azhar Shrine Temple, the Swiss Grand Lodge “Alpina” — have extending recognition UGLE would have Calgary been in discussion with four other Grand to be wholly satisfied that each of its For changes or updates, please check Lodges in France with regard to the constituent Grand Lodges fully complied the Itinerary at the Grand Lodge of formation of a “Federation of Regular with our Basic Principles for Grand Alberta Website: French Grand Lodges.” The four Grand Lodge Recognition. www.freemasons.ab.ca

The Crowning Glory of Freemasonry 50 Years Ago in The Alberta Freemason, Vol. 29, No. 7 (March 1964) The philosophy of Freemasonry is to siastical or theological sense. It creates man in the relationships of life. prepare, educate and train its members no church, administers no ordinances The vitality of Masonry is not due to for the higher relationships of life. In so and has no ministerial or sacerdotal exalted patronage or to social influence. doing it demonstrates its faith in man- class. It is an ally of religion, indeed the It is due to the moral effect of its teach- kind and, in return, invites confidence, most powerful auxiliary to religion we ing, to the sense of duty by which its trust and loyalty. It believes that the know, but it is in no sense a substitute members are animated and sustained humblest life launched on the sea of for it. Religion is at the foundation of in ungrudging and unwearying devotion humanity has within it the slumbering Masonry and fundamentally it is spiri- to every good work. Masonry may be forces of noble manhood waiting only tual. It teaches the essential spiritual likened to a mighty stream penetrating for the sympathetic touch to rouse and truths on which all religion is based — every hill and mountain, gliding over stimulate the innate qualities of the soul. faith in God, love to man and hope of plain and valley, bearing on its benefi- Masonry invites no one to join its immortality. Religion builds civilization cent bosom the abundant waters of love ranks, but it embraces men of all creeds, and Masonry works on the civilization and charity for the needy, and for the colour and conditions. By the practice built. The one supplements the other. widows and orphans of Brethren in all of the spirit of charity, the toleration of Masonry does not seek to usurp the lands. This ever-flowing stream vitalizes varied and ofttimes opposite creeds, and place of the Church. It aims, rather, to every man who seriously participates by a universal Brotherhood, it brings and aid and support all the ethical teachings in it, and the result is seen in men liv- holds together men of every country and of the Church. A man should not be less, ing more deeply, more bravely and nationality who otherwise would have but more religious, through his associa- consistently, and in their being drawn remained apart, but who, by means of tion with Freemasonry, for it instills and closer together in mutual goodwill and Masonry, meet on the level and separate enforces the sacred duties of brotherly service. It cannot be otherwise so long on the square. love, relief and truth, and inculcates all as Masonry instructs its members in the Masonry is not a religion in the eccle- mutual duties and obligations of man to active principle of universal beneficence 4 and charity, and bids them solace their better… nothing more delightful.” One sterling character it seeks to implant in own distress by extending relief and of; our great English poets [Shakespeare] the lives of its members. Masonry does consolation to their fellow creatures in says, not measure men by the standards of the hour of affliction. knowledge, eloquence or wealth but by In the shaping and moulding of char- The friends thou hast and their their character and service. It delights acter, Freemasonry makes a valuable adoption tried, in the development of a Fraternity of contribution to the life of the modern Grapple them to thy soul with hoops great hearts, of Brethren who are never world. It really exists for this, and when of steel. knowingly rude, selfish, resentful, never it has succeeded in implanting in its Hamlet, Act I, Sc. iii, 62–63 glad when others go wrong, but always members the great cardinal virtues of Freemasonry promotes friendship courteous, generous, eager to believe friendship, morality and brotherly love, and the kind of friendship the world is the best, ever ready with outstretched supported by an unswerving faith in craving for, a friendship that means a hand to lift the fallen, cheer the disheart- T.G.A.O.T.U., before whom all Masons better spirit of concord and harmony ened, and to give relief and comfort to must humbly bow, and sends them forth between nations, a deeper fellowship those in distress. This is the surest way to live after this manner before their between communities, and a more warm to secure “Peace on earth” and “goodwill fellowmen, then it has accomplished a hearted sympathy between individuals. among men.” great task and made a supreme contri- If there must be another war, let it be a bution to the lift of the world. He who war against ignorance, selfishness, sin- We are building every day learns these lessons will not only walk ful indulgence and greed, and led by the In a good or evil way; humbly before his God, but will express spirit and teaching of Masonry, victory And the structure as it grows his Masonic character in an inflexible will be assured. Must our inward self disclose, fidelity to his country’s ideals and laws, Freemasonry is a life to be lived, not Till in every arch and line for Freemasonry is rooted deeply in the a formality to be perfunctorily observed All our hidden faults outshine. sterling virtue of patriotism; and will give or a set of empty creeds to which lip himself in a ready and helpful service service is given. It is a life grounded on Do you ask what building this, to his fellowmen insofar as he can do religion, organized in morality, mellowed That can show both pain and bliss — without detriment to himself and those by good fellowship, humanized in char- That can be both dark and fair? dependent upon him. ity, dedicated to service, and must ever Lo! Its name is Character. Freemasonry also makes for friend- stand for the love of God, the dignity and Build it well, what e’er you do! ship. Friendship-Fraternity is indispens- worth of man and for the realization of Build it straight and strong and true! able in human life. Friendship should true brotherhood. Build it clean and high and broad— be simple, sincere and reliable. As “iron The glory of our ancient landmarks Build it for the eye of God! sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth can never be preserved better or be “Build it Well” the countenance of his friend” are words more enhanced than when we as indi- 1800s hymn by I.E. Diekenga credited to Solomon in the far distant viduals are giving ourselves in obedi- [Editor’s Note: This article was origi- past [Proverbs 27:17] but they are still ence to our God, in patriotic devotion nally published in The Masonic Record, true and pregnant with meaning. Cicero to our country, and in deeds of service circa 1927, by WBro the Rev. Joseph said, “They seem to take away the sun to our fellowmen. Let us not forget that Johnson, PAGChaplain. WBro Johnson from the world who withdraw friendship the crowning glory of Freemasonry is not was also the Prestonian Lecturer for from life, for we have received nothing in its forms and ceremonies, but in the 1937.] Will The Freemason Movie Show Too Many Secrets? to grips with powers beyond his natural senses as well as his own mysterious past ties to Freemasonry in order to unmask the killer before he strikes again. The Freemason is described as a suspense thriller — part Sherlock, part Hitchcock — with Freemasonry weaving throughout. Producer Joseph James (a Mason himself) wanted to give the moviegoer’s appetite for the mysterious a glimpse into the secretive world of Freemasonry and its A wealthy banker lies ritualistically and brutally murdered. rituals. James says “The Freemason is the first film of its kind The banker’s daughter and only heir, Rana (Alex McKenna), to highlight actual initiation practices.” calls upon Cyrus Rothwell (Randy Wayne), a brilliant but Some think the movie may show too much, but one re- eccentric freelance writer, to assist in the investigation. viewer on IMDb said, “I am somewhat knowledgeable about Teaming up with veteran homicide detective Leon Weed (Sean Freemasonry and I greatly appreciated that the scenes Astin), they suddenly find themselves thrust into the cryptic including “Masonic Ceremonies” revealed enough to peek world of Freemasonry — pitted against a killer searching for someones interest, yet respected the privacy and discretion a legendary relic, shrouded by hundreds of years of myth of the organization by not revealing too much. and mystery. A pre-release of the film played to mixed reviews, but it Rothwell’s troubles multiply as he deduces the killer is is also up for several State awards in Utah (it was filmed in one of the banker’s close inner circle. He is forced to come Salt Lake City). It went into limited release in February, 2014. 5 Among the most successful in the early Russian Freemasonry and the West — 1770s was Baron Georg von Reichel, from Brunswick, who promoted the The Master-Apprentice Dynamic Zinnendorf System. By the early 1780s, Natalie Bayer, Ph.D, California Freemason, December–January 2014 Johann Schwarz, a Transylvanian Ger- Natalie is an assistant professor at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Her re- man, had gathered a circle of devoted search focuses on the transmission of ideas to Russia via Masonic channels in the Russian adherents, including the famous 18th century. In 2010, Bayer worked with Masonic scholar Margaret C. Jacob, Ph.D., to publisher Nikolai Novikov, who were at- develop a European Freemasonry course at the University of California, Los Angeles, tracted to his espousal of high degree as part of UCLA’s partnership with the Masons of California. Rosicrucianism. During the last years of the Gor- 18th century, when Freemasonry flour- We are the teachers now bachev era, when perestroika had hit ished in Russia on a scale far greater than By the early 1780s various leading the buffers and the Berlin Wall had its current modest standing. The founda- Russian Freemasons began to express been breached, Georgii B. Dergachev tions for the growth of Freemasonry in their distaste at how they were still befriended a French Freemason who was Russia were, to a large extent, laid by bowing down to the authority of foreign visiting the Soviet Union. The French- Peter the Great, who endeavoured to Masonic masters. In 1782, for example, man did not shy away from discussing learn from the West in order to reform Pyotr I. Melissino berated his Russian Freemasonry, and in Dergachev found his realm. The personal ring-seal that Brethren for “sending out missions to a receptive listener. Indeed, Dergachev he adopted encapsulates his willingness buy wisdom from abroad.” In short, he was so interested that he took up an to learn from Western masters and is was proclaiming that Russian Masons invitation from the Frenchman to visit inscribed with the following motto: “I should cast off their apprentices’ robes France, where he was initiated into a am in the rank of an apprentice and seek and “apply ourselves to expanding our Lodge. those who can teach me.” knowledge” without the aid of their In 1991, as the Soviet Union was col- After serving out his apprenticeship, erstwhile masters. Prince Nikolai N. lapsing, Dergachev established the first Peter the Great devised a new seal Trubetskoi was even more strident Russian Lodge in more than 70 years, about 1711–1712, which depicts him in his denunciation of those Russian Northern Star. Four years later, after as a skilled stonemason transforming a Masons who trailed “after every kind six more Russians travelled to France rough rock (Russia) into a majestically of [European] vagabond” who passed to be initiated into Freemasonry, he sculpted form. themselves off “for something great.” became the first Grand Master of the Peter the Great’s apprenticeship in Trubetskoi could have had Count Ales- Grand Lodge of Russia, when it was of- Western Europe served as an example sandro Cagliostro in mind when he wrote ficially recognized by the Grande Loge to emulate for the sons of Russia’s elite. these words. The notorious adventurer Nationale Française. By the end of 1997, It became commonplace for Russian spent six months in St. Petersburg be- the Grand Lodge of Russia had also noblemen to send their sons to study in tween 1779 and 1780, where he sought been recognized by the United Grand Europe, where from the 1730s an increas- to promote his evolving form of Adop- Lodge of England, heralding the onset ing number also embraced the burgeon- tion Rite Freemasonry, as well as offer of a new era of Masonic legitimacy in ing phenomenon of Freemasonry. alchemical panaceas to ailing Russian Russia. After absorbing the traditions aristocrats. of Western European Freemasonry, Learning from the Western Masters, In the 1780s, against a background Russian brothers were now entitled to 1730s–1780s of growing hostility from Catherine officially practice these rituals in their For roughly half a century, Russian the Great, many leading Russian Free- own country. Masons were guided by their Western masons tried to seek knowledge from While there were more than 800 Ma- European Brothers. This knowledge ex- within the cultural traditions of their sons in Russia belonging to 28 Lodges change took place in Lodges in France, homeland. In doing so they embarked by 2009, the Fraternity has failed to Holland, Prussia and elsewhere, and on the difficult process of stepping out appeal to the overwhelming majority of also on Russian soil. By the 1740s, Rus- of the shadows of their Masonic mentors Russians and is still viewed with deep sian noblemen were returning from the in the West in order to develop their own suspicion and hostility by large seg- West, having embraced Freemasonry, identity. However, this was a journey ments of the population. This is partly and seeking to spread the light in their bedeviled by the hostile forces of the due to the perception of Freemasonry motherland. At the same time, a stream Russian state, including the monarchical as an alien cultural import, in which of Western European teachers ventured opposition to the Fraternity displayed initiates are effectively apprentices to to Russia in order to promote a dizzying by Catherine the Great and Alexander I, Western masters. The rise of Russian variety of Masonic rites. The first to ar- and the repressive actions of the Soviet nationalism in the Putin era has not lent rive was James Keith in 1728, who was government. Ultimately, when Freema- itself to the expansion of Freemasonry appointed provincial Grand Master of sonry re-emerged in post-Soviet Russia in Russia, with Western instruction in Russia in 1740 by the Grand Lodge of in the early 1990s, the members of the general being dismissed as patronizing England. Russian Freemasons continued newly opened Lodges had no teachers and unnecessary. to look to England for authority until within their own country. They were the 1770s. once again apprentices who had to The Tsar Apprentice opens the way At the same time, however, Russian venture west in order to re-establish a for Freemasonry in Russia Freemasons were increasingly seeking tradition that had never fully established This was not the case for much of the alternative authorities and teachers. deep roots. 6