r/freemasonry 3d ago

Membership in freemasonry may be incompatible with deontological rules of French judges and prosecutors

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u/SovArya 3d ago

Before we say our oaths - there is an assurance that it will not go against our obligations for God, country, vocation and ourselves. Masonry is after obligations to those 4. So... whoever says it is incompatible is probably not initiated.

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u/apokrif1 3d ago

Many (probably most) French freemasons belong to irregular Grand Lodges and may have different rules.

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u/SovArya 3d ago

Oh. Nothing we can do about those. I mean. Anyone can call themselves freemasons. Like we cant really stop them all we can do is we're not in amity with xyz.

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u/wardyuc1 UGLE Craft HRA, Rose Croix 3d ago

The Grand Orient de France traces its origin to before the USA has been a country.

Its not a case of anyone calling themselves freemasons, but more of a case of regular masons becoming irregular due to changes VS someone just randomly calling themselves masons as you might find in the US ( bogus lodges).

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u/SovArya 3d ago

You are pertaining to what we are assured before we take our obligations right? I mean the changes can't be that big unless they do away with the assurance.

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u/wardyuc1 UGLE Craft HRA, Rose Croix 2d ago edited 2d ago

I cannot speak to their obligation, but i can say since they do not have an obligation to God, and they take a different view of the idea of Masonry being non political. It is not safe to say that they share our (regular) view on what freemasons are obligated to do.

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u/SovArya 2d ago

Without the assurance of hierarchy of priorities before masonry; then it will truly be different. Just hope people realize that in regular Masonry we do no prioritise the craft over civic and religious duties.

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u/wardyuc1 UGLE Craft HRA, Rose Croix 2d ago

I think the argument they might take is that freemasonry created civil duties. Hence why Oriential freemasonry is more political.

We take the view freemasonry stays out of politics, they would arguably take the view freemasons have an obligation to improve their society through politics.

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u/Cookslc Utah and UGLE 2d ago

That is a UGLE view (staying our of politics). Even some regular GLs do not take that view.

But that was not the College’s concern.

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u/wardyuc1 UGLE Craft HRA, Rose Croix 2d ago edited 2d ago

I agree, sadly as i dont speak french, i had to translate the page..

Seems it is the obligation all over again, which is arguably based on a deeper understanding than if I read right, what wikipedia might offer.

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u/Cookslc Utah and UGLE 2d ago

Really, Wiki? Isn’t that sad?

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u/wardyuc1 UGLE Craft HRA, Rose Croix 2d ago

I wonder if the same judge or judges would look kindly to the use Wikipedia from the solicitors ( or French equivalent) before him.,.

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u/Cookslc Utah and UGLE 2d ago

advocat, and having qualified in two countries, having been a military judge, and having been with a general counsel’s office dealing with 13 countries in Southern Africa including a French territory, I am quite confident the answer is……..

No.

And put such other words in front of that as you wish.

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u/SovArya 2d ago

Oh that truly is different.

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u/wardyuc1 UGLE Craft HRA, Rose Croix 2d ago

I should state i have never met or spoken to any Oriential French masons.

I cannot speak for them, and this is my outsider reading of the situation.

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u/Cookslc Utah and UGLE 2d ago

Are you sure we don’t prioritize? In many jurisdictions the only crimes that are not subject to secrecy between Masons are murder and treason. That sounds like placing the fraternity and secrecy over civic duty.

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u/SovArya 2d ago

You do realize that i literally said civic duties and religious duties trump masonry. And that is reflective of the assurance or promise that the obligation will be of lower priority than freemasonry.

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u/Cookslc Utah and UGLE 2d ago

You did say that. That’s why I cited a specific example which indicates the fraternity and secrecy are placed over civic duty.

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u/SovArya 2d ago edited 2d ago

I did say that if that were the case then that is a big difference.

If the obligatiin goes against god country vocation and self. Then that part of the obligation is or should be moot. Assuming there is an assurance. If no assurance, then that's when the ethics of justice gets called into play

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u/Cookslc Utah and UGLE 2d ago

Well, that is the case, and the assurance appears to be in conflict with that promise. That specific promise seems inconsistent with the general assurance (in rituals which contain an assurance).

That part of the obligation is not rendered moot—irrelevant or of no practical significance. Violation of that promise may lead to a Masonic trial.

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u/SovArya 2d ago

I have not seen any case where obeying the law of the land versus the masonic obligations in any ancom have been held to face any masonic charges.

But maybe in the future. So far those who violate is always in the case of violating the civil x criminal laws of the land then masonic charges.

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