CHARTER OF INITIATORY FREEMASONRY OF TRADITION

The signatory Grand Lodges:

Grand Lodge of the French Masonic Alliance
Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Bulgaria
National Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic
Grand Lodge of Bulgaria
Grand Lodge of Morocco
United Grand Lodge of Portugal
Grand Lodge of Madagascar

Affirming their strict adherence to the principles, customs, and usages of Traditional Freemasonry, and having noted:

. That their Worshipful Lodges work to the Glory of the Grand Architect of the Universe, in the presence of the Three Great Lights of Freemasonry, which are the Volume of the Sacred Law, the Square, and the Compasses.

. Their exclusive sovereignty over the symbolic degrees, as well as their independence from any High Degree structure.

. The non-mixing in their ritual works.

. That they bring together Free Men, who answer only to their conscience and prohibit any political or religious controversy within the Lodges.

. The initiatory, progressive, and spiritual nature of the Masonic path.

They are linked, or will be linked within six months, by treaties of friendship and recognition.

Due to their common approach and their regular practice of Traditional Freemasonry, these Obediences have developed trusting and lasting relations of friendship among themselves.

They wish to affirm these relations today.

The purpose of this Charter is to solemnly testify to their attachment to Masonic Tradition and their desire to deepen their cooperation, as well as to attest to their fraternal friendship, in strict respect for the sovereignty, prerogatives, practices, usages, and customs specific to each of the signatory Grand Lodges.

This Charter is intended to be open to other obediences that claim to belong to Initiatory and Traditional Freemasonry, provided they fully respect its principles.

1/ Masonic values and Traditional Freemasonry

The Declarations of Principles to which the signatory Obediences adhere, and to which they bear witness, reflect a comparable approach to Freemasonry, beyond the diversity of Rites which, in their equal richness, offer a wide variety of paths for personal fulfillment.

These declarations are annexed to this charter.

The differences that these texts may contain should be seen as a source of enrichment and an incentive to advance the great founding themes of Traditional Freemasonry, which are as follows:

Traditional Freemasonry is based on the acceptance and freely consented approach to Transcendence, understood in the sense of that "which surpasses man", thus giving meaning to the notion of universal Brotherhood.
Masonic spirituality, through its different modes of expression, the symbolic language practiced, and the constant search for harmony with the Cosmos and benevolence towards all men, essentially seeks to give meaning to the life of every human being.
Masonic Work stems, first and foremost, from the assiduous practice of a regular Rite within a legitimately constituted Lodge, the unique place of initiatory transmission.
The progressive approach that is proposed aims at individual and collective improvement: the Mason must first improve himself if he wishes to contribute to improving society, and, beyond that, contribute to the development and harmony of the world.

2/ Protocol and common ceremonies

French is the official language of the International Confederation of Independent and Regular Grand Lodges (CIGLIR).

The signatory Obediences commit to inviting each other to their Conventions, Congresses, and solemn ceremonies.

The seniority of the Obedience's constitution determines the protocol order.

3/ Common studies, research, and conferences

In a spirit of deepening their reference corpus, the signatory Obediences commit to encouraging, notably within their Research Bodies, common works of study and reflection on the founding themes of Traditional Freemasonry that unite them.

They commit to prior consultation regarding the organization of conferences and events, whether they are common, internal to their Obedience, or open to other Obediences, media, and profane institutions, or organized by them.

They may promote and organize research outside of mandatory and ritual meetings, together with the sisters and brothers of all Masonic obediences of Initiatory Tradition.

Each of the signatory Obediences also commits to favoring, in its publications, the inclusion of authors from the other signatory Obediences.

4/ Adherence to the Charter

Adherence to this Charter is materialized by the signature of the Grand Master in office, or his representative, accompanied by the seal of his Obedience.

Its duration is unlimited.

However, each signatory Obedience may terminate it, in the forms specific to its rules and procedures.

Signed in Sofia on 2023-05-20

CHARTER OF INITIATORY FREEMASONRY OF TRADITION

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