Großorient of Austria
The Großorient von Österreich (GOÖ) based in Vienna is an umbrella organization of Masonic lodges , which were founded as just and perfect lodges according to the principles of the Strasbourg Declaration of CLIPSAS of January 22, 1961. His aim is to give these lodges the greatest possible scope for development as a grand lodge in the spirit of liberal Freemasonry .
The grand lodge sees itself as pluralistic . Different Masonic rituals are possible side by side with equal rights in men's, women's and mixed lodges. The Grand Orient of Austria unites Freemasons of both sexes in its lodges, regardless of origin, religion and worldview.
The Greater Orient of Austria is a founding member of CLIPSAS (Center de Liaison et d'Information des Puissances maçonniques Signataires de l'Appel de Strasbourg, 22 January 1961). In this spirit he is committed to absolute freedom of conscience and tolerance . CLIPSAS is a liaison and information center of the Freemason signatories of the Strasbourg Declaration, in which over 70 obediences worldwide are now connected.
history
At the beginning of the 1950s, the United Grand Lodge of England demanded from the Grand Lodge of Vienna for Austria, among other things, the end of all relationships with " irregular " brothers, as a prize for recognition . B. to those who belonged to the Greater Orient of France (GOdF) . Formal recognition took place in autumn 1952. A group of mostly younger brothers, almost all of them from the Vienna Lodge Zukunft , did not want to support this change of course.
From autumn 1953 they worked in the open air, i.e. outside the Grand Lodge of Vienna for Austria , and began to develop a contemporary form of Masonic work. In a detailed ritual discussion they questioned all rites and symbols with the aim of dusting them off. The temple was to become a construction hut again.
On September 24, 1955, the Independent Freemasons Lodge Vienna (UFML) was founded, which established connections with other lodges (with a similar history) in Europe. The Van Swieten and Sonnenfels lodges were founded in December 1960 through the division of the UFML, the Tradition lodge on January 12, 1961, and the Grand Orient of Austria founded by these three lodges on the same day.
On January 22nd, 1961, the Grand Orient of Austria was one of the 11 obediences that signed the Strasbourg appeal and thus founded the umbrella organization CLIPSAS, which reunited those obediences that were excluded by the recognition of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE).
Although the Grand Orient had to be "put to sleep" again after a few years, the remaining brothers continued to work in the UFML Lodge. One of the principles of the UFML from the beginning was an understanding of Freemasonry that also wanted to fall back on the earlier socio-political effects. New duties should be added to the old duties . One such document was drawn up in 1974 and is still valid today.
In its basic understanding, this text is an attempt to bring the old flame of enlightenment , the light of reason in a world of contradictions, inhumanity and indifference, back to shine.
From the beginning, so-called conference work was held alternating with the fortnightly lodge meetings, to which non-admitted persons were invited. These conferences should avoid Freemasonry sitting in an ivory tower. In 1973 it became an association. It serves as a platform in several respects: as a preliminary organization of the Greater Orient, it enables interesting presentations, the exchange of ideas between Freemasons and non-Masons and thus encourages getting to know each other better. Since 1978 women have also been invited to the discussion evenings.
For years, the UFML men's box was debated as to whether they should not implement the liberal principles, for example regarding the admission of women, so that the Brotherhood could become a human union.
In 1985 the group felt strong enough to dare to build a Greater Orient again. On May 8, 1985, the light in the Lodge Zu den Neue Duties was lit, followed by the Gotthold Ephraim Lodge on June 26th . On the same day the 3 lodges re-lit the light in the Greater Orient of Austria. On November 27, 1985, six women were finally admitted to the two new boxes. The traditional UFML box remained a men's box, but with visiting rights for sisters.
In 1990, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, an interobody training and research lodge called Perpetuum Mobile was founded under the auspices of the Greater Orient of Austria .
On September 19, 1998 the men's lodge Zu den Drei Spiegel , and on October 2, 1999 the mixed lodge Sapientia Cordis lit its light within the Greater Orient.
On May 16, 2001, the HIRAM Lodge was accepted into the Greater Orient of Austria, thus taking a step towards pluralism, as this Lodge works in the "Scottish Rite". On May 21, 2003, the Lodge Zur Königlichen Kunst was accepted , which works in a French ritual (in German).
In the summer of 2003 it came to confusion and the three founding lodges UFML , To the New Obligations and Gotthold Ephraim left the Großorient of Austria. Until they merged to form the Liberal Grand Lodge of Austria on June 24, 2007, they did not work under the umbrella of an obedience.
On September 28, 2005, the Euclid Mixed Lodge lit its light; on December 21st it was accepted as the fifth lodge in the Grand Orient. She explicitly emphasizes secularity and especially invites atheists of both sexes.
Through francophone Brr. Living in Vienna. & Srrn. the impetus for the establishment of a French-speaking lodge, which lit its light on March 13, 2010 under the name Confluences (= confluences). She works in the Rite français modern.
On May 1, 2010 the Phoibos Apollon Lodge lit the lights, its brothers working in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The sisters and brothers of the Bulgarian-speaking lodge "Orpheus Sophia" in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, also work in this rite. They lit their light on November 3, 2012 under the aegis of the Greater Orient of Austria, and the "Orpheus Sophia" (ОРФЕЙ СОФИЯ) lodge was ceremoniously accepted as a regular member of the Greater Orient by Austria during the 2012 Winter St. John's Festival.
The eight lodges of the Greater Orient of Austria uphold the basic idea that Freemasonry should achieve a socio-political significance again, a way of thinking in ethical and moral categories without dogmatism but with long-term perspectives that distinguishes Freemasons. They want to face more of the public and act as role models in society.