Gran Oriente de Chile

The Gran Oriente de Chile (Grand Orient of Chile) is a masonic obedience in the Republic of Chile, founded on 7 May 1961 in Santiago. It was formed by the union of three Chilean lodges: the Gran Logia Sol de Oriente de Chile, the Gran Logia Lautarina de Chile, and the Gran Masonería Universal del Rito de Memphis y Mizraím. The body was established according to the norms of European freemasonry — initiatory oaths, symbolic rules, operating regulations and declarations of principles — following the old traditions of French and Scottish freemasonry. Its origins lie in 1960, when high-degree masons from the Gran Logia de Chile decided to form an Orient independent of the United Grand Lodge of England. The founders were Antonio Quezada Urzúa and Carlos Francisco Blin Arriagada, who obtained a patent charter from the worldwide Grand Master G° 99 Robert Ambelain in June 1960 for the Rite of Memphis and Mizraím. The body was originally called Gran Oriente Masónico Chileno and was renamed Gran Oriente de Chile in November 2011 under Grand Master Luis Omar Roche Valenzuela. Initially male-only, it practiced the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis and Mizraim. It has active lodges in Santiago, Valparaíso, Villa Alemana and Rancagua, as well as triangles (future lodges) in San Antonio, Viña del Mar and Los Ángeles. It operates under a charter from the Grand Orient of France granted on 9 April 2010 for the Symbolic Grand Lodge and the Supreme Council G° XXXIII. Internationally, the Gran Oriente de Chile is part of the Confederación Interamericana de Masonería Simbólica (CIMAS), which it joined on 21 September 2002, and of CLIPSAS (Centre de liaison et d'information des puissances maçonniques signataires de l'appel de Strasbourg), which it joined on 22 May 2004. A key feature is that it does not require its members to believe in a Great Architect of the Universe or any supreme being.

The Gran Oriente de Chile traces its origin to May 1961, when high-degree masons from the Gran Logia de Chile decided to unite to form an Orient independent of the United Grand Lodge of England. These masons had already formed three lodges: the Gran Logia Sol de Oriente de Chile, the Gran Logia Lautarina de Chile, and the Gran Masonería Universal del Rito de Memphis y Mizraim. In its beginnings, the Gran Oriente de Chile was male-only, practicing the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis and Mizraim. The founders were the masons Antonio Quezada Urzúa and Carlos Francisco Blin Arriagada, who obtained a patent charter from the worldwide Grand Master G° 99 Robert Ambelain in June 1960 for its organization. This Orient was originally called Gran Oriente Masónico Chileno, and in November 2011, under the new mandate of Grand Master Luis Omar Roche Valenzuela, it changed its name to Gran Oriente de Chile. In its early days, this Orient worked with the legal personality "Club de la Patria," published in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile on 30 January 1961. Today, the Gran Oriente de Chile works with the legal personality "Centro de Cultura y Filantropía de Chile," published in the Diario Oficial de la República de Chile on 26 September 1967. During the period of French influence, in January 1960, Carlos Francisco Blin Arriagada, a friend and disciple of the Frenchman Robert Ambelain — with whom he shared the Martinist Order — asked him to help with the French decrees and patents necessary to give shape to this new Chilean Orient. Unable to hide his surprise at such a request, Ambelain suggested that Blin also contact another Martinist in Santiago named Antonio Quezada Urzúa, who at that time was forming two lodges in the Chilean capital. On 19 January 1960, Blin managed to meet with Quezada, and both began to prepare what for them was a dream. In June 1960, the worldwide Grand Master G° 99 Robert Ambelain granted them a French patent charter of the Rite of Memphis and Mizraím for all degrees corresponding to this Rite. The Gran Oriente de Chile was founded on 7 May 1961, one year after receiving the patent charter from Robert Ambelain, and Ambelain was named Grand Master of Honor of the old Gran Oriente de Chile on 9 May 1961. After its birth in Chile in 1961, this Gran Oriente began to grow, forming new masonic lodges in Santiago and provincial cities, constituted according to the norms of European freemasonry — initiation oaths, symbolic rules, operating regulations and declarations of principles. More than 150 years have passed since Freemasonry was established in Chile, and this Gran Oriente continues the legacy of these first American Freemasons. The Gran Oriente de Chile currently has several active lodges in Santiago de Chile, Valparaíso, Villa Alemana and Rancagua, as well as triangles (future lodges) in San Antonio, Viña del Mar and Los Ángeles, and operates with a charter from the Grand Orient of France granted on 9 April 2010 for the Symbolic Grand Lodge and for the Supreme Council G° XXXIII. In international masonic structures, the Gran Oriente de Chile is currently part of international masonic structures such as the Confederación Interamericana de Masonería Simbólica (CIMAS) and the Centre de Communication et d'Information des Puissances signataires de l'Appel de Strasbourg (CLIPSAS), the latter being an international organization of masonic jurisdictions. These jurisdictions are approved and accepted by many Grand Lodges of different countries around the world, in which women are accepted or not. A fundamental detail is that it does not require its members to believe in a Great Architect of the Universe or any kind of superior being. The Gran Oriente de Chile joined CIMAS on 21 September 2002 and CLIPSAS on 22 May 2004. Freemasonry in Chile dates back to the independence era, when most South American patriot leaders in Europe, led by the Venezuelan Francisco de Miranda, organized a system of societies with masonic characteristics called Lautarine Lodges, in order to free America from the Spanish Crown. After achieving their goal, the lodges dissolved in the 1820s. However, interest in freemasonry continued. In 1827, the Logia Filantrópica Chilena was founded in Santiago de Chile, which is said to have had some influence on the development of liberal thought, but after the conservative victory in the Battle of Lircay — a battle that took place on the banks of the Lircay River, near Talca, on 17 April 1830 — this initiative dissolved. Interest would be reborn in the port city of Valparaíso in the 1850s, when resident foreigners founded the French Lodge L'Etoile du Pacifique and the American Lodge Be…

• 2011

  In November, under Grand Master Luis Omar Roche Valenzuela, the name changes from Gran Oriente Masónico Chileno to Gran Oriente de Chile.

• 2010

  Receives a charter from the Grand Orient of France on 9 April for the Symbolic Grand Lodge and the Supreme Council G° XXXIII.

• 2004

  Joins CLIPSAS on 22 May.

• 2002

  Joins the Confederación Interamericana de Masonería Simbólica (CIMAS) on 21 September.

• 1967

  The legal personality "Centro de Cultura y Filantropía de Chile" is published in the Diario Oficial on 26 September.

• 1961

  On 7 May, the Gran Oriente de Chile is founded in Santiago; on 9 May, Robert Ambelain is named Grand Master of Honor.

• 1960

  In January, Carlos Francisco Blin Arriagada meets Antonio Quezada Urzúa in Santiago; in June, Robert Ambelain grants a French patent charter for the Rite of Memphis and Mizraím.

Independent Chilean masonic obedience aligned with French and Scottish traditions, open to members regardless of belief in a supreme being.

1. 1Gran Oriente de Chile - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Gran Oriente de Chile - Wikipedia (Spanish)es.wikipedia.org