Grand Lodge of the F & AM of Lebanon - Home of Regular Freemasons in Lebanon
Turning interest into action
On October 24, 2018, MW William M. Sardone, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of F.& A.M. of the State of New York, upon the request of the warranted Lodges of the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon, authorized and empowered the formation of the “Grand Lodge of the Free & Accepted Masons of Lebanon” in the Republic of Lebanon. The three Lodges initially forming the new Grand Lodge are Fakhr Ud Din Lodge, Chouf Lodge and Ani Lodge. The founding Lodges from the District Grand Lodge are legitimate, regular and recognized chartered by the Grand Lodge of F&AM of the State of New York.
The 2023 report of the “Commission on Information for Recognition” of the Grand Masters of North America stated:
“There were no minutes showing the 3 founding Lodges approved the founding of the Grand Lodge and it concluded that GLL does not seem to meet the basics of recognition.”
A note on precedence:
On September 17, 1844, a convention of Masonic lodges was called for the purpose of reorganizing Masonic work in the State of Michigan that it might stand in its true fraternal relations with other jurisdictions, and to this end it was proposed that a new Grand Lodge should be formed to take the place for the one that had been working in the state for the past three years. This placed the Grand Lodge of Michigan upon its proper footing with the rest of the Masonic world.
The need to have an independently sovereign Grand Lodge, regularly formed in Lebanon and established on solid grounds by following various protocols, motivated Masons from several Lodges from the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the F & AM of the State of New York to take action.
In a formal Stated Meeting, each Master presented the idea to their respective lodges to establish a new Grand Lodge. The motion seconded and discussed. The lodge’s membership decided that a resolution needed to be created, read, discussed, and voted upon at the following stated meeting.
The three Lodges were: Lebanon Lodge No. 1910, Amitie Lodge No. 1913, and Baakline Lodge N6 No. 1914. All three Lodges adopted the resolution individually.
The three lodges then held a convention on May 20, 2023, where after properly discussing the matter, the convention unanimously resolved to proceed with the formation of the “Lebanese Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. in Lebanon”, (LGL), elect and install its officers in due form.
All three Lodges: Lebanon Lodge No. 1910, Amitie Lodge No. 1913 and Baakline Lodge N6 No. 1914 surrendered their old, Grand Lodge of the F & AM of the State of New York (GLNY), charters to the District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Syria-Lebanon of the GLNY.
The LGL leadership next met with the leadership of the Grand Lodge of the F. & A.M. of Lebanon (GLL) on the 21st of May 2023. After careful and detailed deliberations, it was agreed that there should only be one independently sovereign Grand Lodge regularly formed in Lebanon. Since the LGL shared the same intention and goal, GLL next called for a meeting on May 26, 2023, to vote on an amalgamation with the LGL.
The GLL unanimously voted in favor of totally conceding its name, logo, history, belongings, relations, territory, Lodges, and all that is associated with its existence as the transferee to the LGL, hence making LGL the sole sovereign Grand Lodge regularly formed within the jurisdiction of the Republic of Lebanon.
The LGL called an emergent meeting on May 27, 2023, accepted, and voted to adopt the formal amalgamation, transferal and resolved to be known formally as “The Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Lebanon”, followed by the election and installation of new officers in due form.
This action cements that all work in the Lodges under the sovereign independent Grand Lodge regularly formed in Lebanon can proceed in renewed health and vigor.
Relying upon God and the Holy Bible as our guide, keeping our focus on Freemasonry in our country, we will continue working hard on building bridges between Brothers, our Lodges, and their immediate surrounding communities.
As Lebanese Masons, this Grand Lodge will proudly illuminate and offer a beacon of hope, faith, charity, and love within Lebanon. We look at our history and take much pride in our rich heritage.
The strong foundation stones handed down from past generations of Masons are cherished gifts that this new Grand Lodge will use in building this new jurisdiction.