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American Co-Masonry
History:
American Co-Masonry traces its lineage to 1879 when twelve dissatisfied lodges separated from The Grand Orient of France and founded the Grande Lodge Symbolique de France.
The years that followed were full of controversy for the young Obedience when a woman journalist, Mademoiselle Marie Deraismes, who was a defender of women rights and the Craft, was initiated by the Lodge " Les Libre Penseurs" (The Free-thinkers). This lodge was one of the original lodges and had reserved in its charter the right to initiate women, proclaiming the essential equality of man and woman.
In vain Lodge Les Livre Penseurs sought recognition for Mademoiselle Deraismes from the Grand Lodge. Thus, on April 4, 1893, Lodge Livre Penseurs, and like-minded members, created an organization called Grand Loge Symbolique Escossaise Mixte de France, Le Droit Humain. The admission of women brought a complete change in the organization; it opened the doors to all of humanity who were ".. just, upright and free, of mature age, sound judgment and strict morals."
Eventually, the young Order became an international Order through the efforts of pioneers of the Theosophical Society such as Brothers Annie Besant, C. Jinarajadasa, Henry Steele Olcott and others who joined their ranks. Henceforth, wherever they took Theosophy, they also introduced Co-Masonry. In 1903 the first Co-Masonic Lodge was instituted in the USA.
In December 1993, when demands from the Supreme Council in Paris conflicted with the International Constitution and our own National Constitution, which mandated independence in internal affairs and Colorado law, the members were forced to voice where their loyalty lay. The majority of the lodges and members made the choice to remain faithful to the laws of Colorado and the precept of internal independence which had been respected since the founding of the Order in this country.
On April 11 of 1994, the Supreme Council of American Co-Masonry, The American Federation of Human Rights, was formed by Thirty-third Degree members of the Order. American Co-Masonry became an independent Obedience remaining with its Headquarters in Larkspur, Colorado.
American Co-Masonry is expanding not only in North America, but also in South America, and hopes to embrace all the Americas as one, in Brotherhood and service to Humanity.
American Co-Masonry traces its lineage to 1879 when twelve dissatisfied lodges separated from The Grand Orient of France and founded the Grande Lodge Symbolique de France.
The years that followed were full of controversy for the young Obedience when a woman journalist, Mademoiselle Marie Deraismes, who was a defender of women rights and the Craft, was initiated by the Lodge " Les Libre Penseurs" (The Free-thinkers). This lodge was one of the original lodges and had reserved in its charter the right to initiate women, proclaiming the essential equality of man and woman.
In vain Lodge Les Livre Penseurs sought recognition for Mademoiselle Deraismes from the Grand Lodge. Thus, on April 4, 1893, Lodge Livre Penseurs, and like-minded members, created an organization called Grand Loge Symbolique Escossaise Mixte de France, Le Droit Humain. The admission of women brought a complete change in the organization; it opened the doors to all of humanity who were ".. just, upright and free, of mature age, sound judgment and strict morals."
Eventually, the young Order became an international Order through the efforts of pioneers of the Theosophical Society such as Brothers Annie Besant, C. Jinarajadasa, Henry Steele Olcott and others who joined their ranks. Henceforth, wherever they took Theosophy, they also introduced Co-Masonry. In 1903 the first Co-Masonic Lodge was instituted in the USA.
In December 1993, when demands from the Supreme Council in Paris conflicted with the International Constitution and our own National Constitution, which mandated independence in internal affairs and Colorado law, the members were forced to voice where their loyalty lay. The majority of the lodges and members made the choice to remain faithful to the laws of Colorado and the precept of internal independence which had been respected since the founding of the Order in this country.
On April 11 of 1994, the Supreme Council of American Co-Masonry, The American Federation of Human Rights, was formed by Thirty-third Degree members of the Order. American Co-Masonry became an independent Obedience remaining with its Headquarters in Larkspur, Colorado.
American Co-Masonry is expanding not only in North America, but also in South America, and hopes to embrace all the Americas as one, in Brotherhood and service to Humanity.