Grand Orient of Poland

The Grand Orient of Poland, known in Polish as Wielki Wschód Polski, is a Masonic grand lodge operating in Poland within the liberal or continental branch of Freemasonry. Its institutional history reaches back to 26 February 1784, when a Polish grand body was established under a patent issued by the Grand Orient of France. The organization’s early existence was interrupted in the nineteenth century after Freemasonry was prohibited in Polish lands controlled by the Russian Empire. The ban formed part of the wider political repression imposed after the partitions of Poland and prevented the original institution from continuing its public organizational life. Attempts to revive Polish Masonic activity appeared around the beginning of the twentieth century. Two progressive lodges associated with the Grand Orient of France operated in eastern Poland, but these efforts did not immediately recreate a Polish grand lodge. A more consequential revival began in 1990, when the French lodge Victor Schoelcher established the Polish lodge La Liberté Recouvrée, translated as Restored Liberty or Wolność Przywrócona. This lodge became the central foundation for the reconstruction of the Grand Orient of Poland. In 1997, the Grand Orient of France issued a renewed founding patent and additional patents authorizing work in the French Rite, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and the Scottish Rectified Rite. The restored organization was registered as an association by the provincial court in Warsaw on 14 November 1997. The first grandmaster of the reconstructed body was Andrzej Nowicki, a Polish philosopher and writer with an international reputation. The organization subsequently developed a network of lodges in several Polish cities, including Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, Kraków, Lublin, Poznań, Szczecin, Toruń, Wrocław, and other locations. Its lodge structure supports several Masonic rites and includes an English-speaking lodge. The listed network also includes a travelling lodge and an international lodge based in Riga, Latvia, reflecting the organization’s cross-border activity. The Grand Orient of Poland presents itself as distinct from the Polish National Grand Lodge, or Wielka Loża Narodowa Polski, which represents a different Masonic jurisdiction and tradition. It also distinguishes itself from the so-called Grand Orient of the Republic of Poland, an unofficial association established in 2017 whose relationship to the historical Grand Orient of Poland is not recognized as equivalent. The Grand Orient of Poland participates in international Masonic cooperation through bilateral friendship agreements and membership in organizations including the European Masonic Alliance, of which it is described as a founding member. It is also represented in the Adogmatic Association Central and Eastern Europe and the Universal League of Freemasons. Its international relationships include Masonic organizations in France, Switzerland, Italy, Romania, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Slovenia, Greece, Mauritius, the Philippines, and other jurisdictions. As a fraternal institution rather than a commercial consumer brand, its activities center on lodge meetings, ritual work, philosophical and ethical discussion, institutional cooperation, and the maintenance of Masonic traditions.

The historical roots of the Grand Orient of Poland date to 26 February 1784, when a Polish Masonic grand body was created under a patent from the Grand Orient of France. Its first phase coincided with a period in which Poland’s political sovereignty was being eroded and its territories were divided among neighboring powers. During the nineteenth century, the organization’s activity in the Polish lands under Russian rule was brought to an end after the Russian tsar prohibited Freemasonry. The prohibition prevented the original grand lodge from maintaining its institutional continuity in the normal manner. At the start of the twentieth century, efforts were made to re-establish progressive Masonic activity in the eastern Polish lands through two lodges connected with the Grand Orient of France. These initiatives represented an attempt to restore a Polish liberal Masonic presence, but they did not immediately produce a fully reconstructed Grand Orient of Poland. The decisive revival came after the political changes of the late twentieth century. In 1990, the French lodge Victor Schoelcher created the Polish lodge La Liberté Recouvrée, or Restored Liberty. This lodge served as the principal nucleus of the later grand lodge. In 1997, the Grand Orient of France granted a renewed founding patent to the Polish organization and supplied further patents for several rites: the French Rite, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and the Scottish Rectified Rite. The rebuilt Grand Orient of Poland was legally registered as an association by a Warsaw provincial court on 14 November 1997. Andrzej Nowicki, a Polish philosopher and writer, became the first grandmaster of the reconstructed organization. Following its restoration, the Grand Orient of Poland established or supported lodges using different rites and operating in multiple cities. The documented lodge network includes Wolność Przywrócona in Warsaw, Galileusz in Bydgoszcz, Cezary Leżeński in Warsaw, Atanor in Warsaw, Astrolabe in Kraków, Falcon and Owl in Poznań, Pyramid of North in Toruń, Free Plowmen in Lublin, Three Compasses in Szczecin, Fosforos and Eye of Horus in Wrocław, and other bodies. The network also includes Universe, an English-speaking lodge in Warsaw; Witelon, a travelling lodge; Synergy, operating at a European level; and Moria in Riga, Latvia. The listed lodges work in the French, Scottish, Scottish Rectified, and Memphis-Misraim traditions. The organization belongs to the liberal or continental current of Freemasonry and is separate from the Polish National Grand Lodge. It also rejects confusion between its historical and legally registered body and the unofficial Grand Orient of the Republic of Poland, reportedly formed in 2017. Internationally, it maintains cooperation with numerous grand or symbolic lodges and related Masonic organizations. It is identified as a founding member of the European Masonic Alliance and is also represented in the Adogmatic Association Central and Eastern Europe and the Universal League of Freemasons. These links place the Grand Orient of Poland within a broad European and international network of liberal, mixed, female, and other Masonic jurisdictions.

• 2017

  Unofficial rival association established

  [1]Grand Orient of Polanden.wikipedia.org

  An organization calling itself the Grand Orient of the Republic of Poland was established; it is described as separate from the Grand Orient of Poland.

• 1997

  Grand Orient of Poland reconstructed

  [1]Grand Orient of Polanden.wikipedia.org

  The Grand Orient of France issued a renewed founding patent and patents for several Masonic rites; the restored organization was registered as an association in Warsaw.

• 1997

  Andrzej Nowicki became first grandmaster of the reconstruction

  [1]Grand Orient of Polanden.wikipedia.org

  Polish philosopher and writer Andrzej Nowicki served as the first grandmaster of the reconstructed Grand Orient of Poland.

• 1990

  Restored Liberty lodge founded

  [1]Grand Orient of Polanden.wikipedia.org

  The Grand Orient of France lodge Victor Schoelcher established the Polish lodge La Liberté Recouvrée, later known in Polish as Wolność Przywrócona.

• 1784

  Original Polish grand lodge established

  [1]Grand Orient of Polanden.wikipedia.org

  A Polish Masonic grand body was established on 26 February under a patent granted by the Grand Orient of France.

A liberal and continental Masonic grand lodge emphasizing plural Masonic rites, philosophical inquiry, secular or adogmatic cooperation, and international relationships.

• Masonic rite · 1997

  French Rite

  A principal ritual tradition authorized for the reconstructed Grand Orient of Poland through a patent from the Grand Orient of France. It is used by several lodges, including Wolność Przywrócona and the English-speaking lodge Universe, and forms part of the organization’s liberal continental Masonic identity.

• Masonic rite · 1997

  Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite

  One of the rites covered by the renewed patents granted during the 1997 reconstruction. A number of Grand Orient of Poland lodges are identified with Scottish Rite work, including lodges in Warsaw, Bydgoszcz, Kraków, Poznań, Toruń, Lublin, Szczecin, and Wrocław.

• Masonic rite · 1997

  Scottish Rectified Rite

  A further Masonic tradition included in the renewed authorization issued by the Grand Orient of France in 1997. It forms part of the organization’s broader multi-rite framework.

• Masonic rite

  Memphis-Misraim Rite

  A rite associated with the lodge Abraxas under the Light of Sirius. Its inclusion demonstrates that the organization’s lodge network is not limited to the French and Scottish traditions.

1. 1Grand Orient of Polanden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Grand Orient of Poland official websitewielkiwschod.pl