CHARTER OF TRADITIONAL INITIATIC FREEMASONRY

The signatory Grand Lodges:

Grand Lodge of the French Masonic Alliance
Grand Lodge of the 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 Respectable Lodges work to the Glory of the Great Architect of the Universe, in the presence of the Three Great Lights of Freemasonry, namely 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 structure of Higher Degrees.

. Non-mixity in their ritual work.

. That they gather Free Men, answerable only to their own conscience, and forbidding any political or religious controversy within the Lodges.

. The initiatic, progressive and spiritual character of the Masonic approach.

Have entered, or are about to enter within six months, into treaties of friendship and recognition.

By reason of their common approach and their regular practice of Traditional Freemasonry, these Obediences have developed trusting and lasting friendly relations between them.

They now wish to affirm these relations.

The purpose of this Charter is to solemnly witness their attachment to Masonic Tradition and their will to deepen their cooperation, and to attest to their fraternal friendship, in strict respect of the sovereignty, prerogatives, practices, usages and customs proper to each of the signatory Grand Lodges.

This Charter is intended to be open to other Obediences claiming adherence to Initiatic and Traditional Freemasonry, provided that they fully respect its principles.

1/ Masonic values and Traditional Freemasonry

The Declarations of Principles to which the signatory Obediences subscribe, 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 diversity of paths of personal fulfilment.

These declarations are appended to this Charter.

Any differences that these texts may contain should be regarded as a source of enrichment and an incentive to advance the fundamental themes of Traditional Freemasonry, which are as follows:

Traditional Freemasonry rests on the acceptance and freely consented approach to Transcendence, understood as "that which surpasses man", thereby giving meaning to the notion of universal Fraternity.
Masonic spirituality, through its various modes of expression, the symbolic language practised, 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 proceeds first and foremost from the assiduous practice of a regular Rite within a legitimately constituted Lodge, the sole place of initiatic transmission.
The progressive approach proposed aims at individual and collective perfection: the Mason must first improve himself if he wishes to contribute to improving society, and beyond that, to contribute to the development and harmony of the world.

2/ Common protocol and ceremonies

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

The signatory Obediences undertake to invite one another respectively to their Conventions, Congresses and solemn ceremonies.

Seniority of the Obedience's constitution determines the order of protocol.

3/ Common studies, research and conferences

In a spirit of deepening their body of reference, the signatory Obediences undertake to encourage, notably within their Research Bodies, joint work of study and reflection on the founding themes of Traditional Freemasonry which unite them.

They undertake to consult one another beforehand regarding the organisation of conferences and events, whether joint, internal to their Obedience, or open to other Obediences, media and secular institutions, or organised by the latter.

They may promote and organise research outside of obligatory and ritual meetings, together with the sisters and brothers of all the Masonic Obediences of Initiatic Tradition.

Each of the signatory Obediences also undertakes to welcome, in its publications, authors from the other signatory Obediences.

4/ Adherence to the Charter

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

Its duration is unlimited.

However, each signatory Obedience may terminate it, in the manner proper to its own rules and procedures.

Signed in Sofia On 20.05.2023

CHARTER OF TRADITIONAL INITIATIC FREEMASONRY

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