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Freemasonry
in
Bulgaria
Recently,
a number of new Grand Lodges have been recognised by The Grand Lodge of
Scotland, some of these “new” Grand Lodge have a long and
distinguished history. This month we look at the early beginnings of
Freemasonry in
Bulgaria
.
The
first references of the existence of contemporary Masonic brotherhoods on
Bulgarian territory date from early nineteenth century. Brothers from
different nationalities united so as to promote Masonic ideals. Members of
such lodges were brothers from
Bugaria
,
Greece
,
Turkey
,
Russia
,
Italy
,
Spain
,
France
.The lodges were installed in Rousse,
Vidin
, Svishtov,
Varna
. Unfortunately information from that time is both scarce and unreliable.
The first Bulgarian mason, however is known to be Ivan Nikolov Vedar (1827
- 1898), who was initiated on the 12.12.1863 in the Oriental Lodge 687
Constantinople. He was the forefather of a long family Masonic tradition,
which has been followed to his day for over 140 years. There is no
historical evidence of the existence of independent Bulgarian lodges. It
seems that Bulgarian intellectual effort was concentrated on the national
liberation issue. Some renown Bulgarian intellectuals and revolutionaries
were however initiated into a number of English, French and German lodges.
There is no historic data of the existence of organized Masonry on the
territory of the First and
Second
Bulgarian
States
(681 - 1396). Bearing in mind the proximity to
Jerusalem
, which was primarily accessible in those days through Bulgarian lands, it
is probable that Masonic units existed in Medieval Bulgaria. Masonic ideas
began to spread in the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century
but there were no organized Bulgarian lodges. Many Bulgarian men, however,
worked and gained necessary experience while working with brothers from
England
, ,
France
and
Germany
.
They
got aquainted with the organization of lodges of great experience, which
was useful for the development of Freemasonry in
Bulgaria
. The Bulgarian Prime Minister Konstantin Stoilov (1894 - 1899) worked in
the lodge Appolo in
Saxony
,
Germany
.
Contemporary
Masonry was introduced into
Bulgaria
after the establishment of the
Third
Bulgarian
State
. The first Bulgarian lodge '1880 Balkan Star' was installed in Rousse on
March 20th,1880
and received light from the Great East of Portugal under no.134. The lodge
'Brotherhood' in
Sofia
was consecrated in 1883 under no.162 from the Great East of Portugal.
On
January 19th, 1914
the temporary masonic lodge
Zaria
was created, which was acknowledged as regular on
March 2nd 1914
by the Grand Lodge of France under no.463. Its official installation was
performed on April 15th of the same year in
Sofia
. The educational institute
Zaria
was created on
August 18th, 1914
with the aim of popularization of Masonic moral ideals among Bulgarian
citizens.
The
most important year for Bulgarian masonry was 1917. The Grand Symbolic
Lodge of Bulgaria, consisting of two constituent lodges -
Zaria
and Svetlina with 100 brothers was consecrated; first official connections
with foreign brothers- the Swiss lodge Alpina and the International Bureau
for Masonic relations were established. All necessary formalities related
to the establishment of the Grand Symbolic Lodge of Bulgaria - adoption of
a Constitution and election of a Board - were executed, as well as such
related to its foreign recognition . On June 22 -23rd, 1919 the First
Grand Communication was convened and it approved all documents for the
independent existence of the Lodge. The big family of world masonry was
joined by a new member. The Grand Symbolic Lodge of Bulgaria was quick to
increase its influence. Prominent personalities from politics,
universities, industry and the military were members, who, united by
Masonic ideals worked for the prosperity of their Motherland.
In
the years between the two World Wars Bulgarian masons established contacts
and were recognized by 88 brotherhoods around the world. They sent and
received grants on various occasions.
The
Grand Symbolic Lodge of Bulgaria became a founding member of the
International Mason Association (1921). In the years to follow, its
representatives took part in all the Association bodies and in 1939 it
became member of the Executive Committee. Bulgarian masons participated in
all meetings of the Convention of the IMA as well as the work of the
Administrative and Consultative Committee.
The
Grand Symbolic Lodge of Bulgaria actively engaged in the dissemination of
Masonic literature. Its Publishing activities increased in reaction to
attacks from different organizations and persons.
Meanwhile
new Masonic lodges were consecrated in different cities.
By
the end of 1940 the number of regular Freemasons in
Bulgaria
was over 240.
On
January 23rd, 1941
the Bulgarian Parliament adopted the Defense of the Nation Law, which
banned the existence of Masonic lodges in
Bulgaria
.
Thus
an important era in the existence of freemasonry in
Bulgaria
was laid to rest until it's resurrection in 1992.
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