‘Ukraine grand master to be feted’

    

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Columbia Lodge 1190 will honor Steven Rubin, Ted Harrison, and the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ukraine at its fall festive board/brunch next month.

Our Deputy Grand Master needs no introduction. Ted, of course, is the ubiquitous presence in New York Freemasonry who, among many other things, quarterbacked Grand Lodge’s Fraternity on Campus Committee, thereby seeing Columbia 1190 set to labor. Anatoliy Dymchuk will visit via Zoom. And brunch? Well, that’s the most important meal between breakfast and lunch.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Tuxedo at…at noon?!” If you don’t have a morning suit, just do it.

     

‘Ukrainian and Russian Masonry on the Level’

    

Officers of both the Grand Lodge of Ukraine and the Grand Lodge of Russia attended the Annual Communication of the Grand Orient of Italy last month, according to an announcement from the GOI published last Wednesday. The statement did not claim specifically that the two parties met, but rather Masonry from the two warring nations was represented, among more than thirty other grand jurisdictions, at the event, held April 8 and 9 in Rimini.

The English language document translates some of Grand Master Stefano Bisi’s speech to the assembly, part of which addresses the war. Excerpted:

Stefano Bisi

It is a drama that touches our hearts, our bodies, and we hope that, in the end, reason will prevail and the guns will soon be silenced. Every man, every Freemason must bring a brick to build peace. And you who are here, dear Brethren—Fatih Sahin, Grand Secretary; and Maurizio Longo, Deputy Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Ukraine; and dear Brother Andrey Bogdanov, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Russia—do everything possible so that peace and harmony reign between your peoples. … Do everything possible and impossible so that the trenches are filled with flowers and trees, which will bear fruit that we will then share, sit at the same table, side by side.

The Grand Orient, founded in 1805, is the Masonic fraternity recognized by the grand lodges in the United States, but it does not have relations with the United Grand Lodge of England. The UGLE has recognized the Regular Grand Lodge of Italy since its launch in 1993.

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‘Relief for Ukraine’

    

Grand Lodge is ready now to accept funds to help, aid, and assist the people of Ukraine. The statement from Masonic Hall this afternoon calls on the brethren to mail donations, “both large and small,” to:

Masonic Brotherhood Fund

71 W. 23rd Street

New York, NY

10010-4149

Make note that your contribution is for the Grand Lodge Emergency Relief Fund.

UPDATE: Or visit here.

From today’s letter:

Your Grand Master, Most Worshipful Richard J. Kessler, and the Grand Lodge of New York, in a strong showing of solidarity with our fellow brethren of the Grand Lodge of Ukraine, look to the members of our noble Craft to demonstrate their heartfelt compassion and empathy for our fellow human beings during this, their hour of darkness. Together, we will emerge from this tragic and dispiriting experience united with a renewed zeal for bringing back peace, harmony, and brotherhood throughout the world. The essence of True Masonic Brotherhood will be a beacon of hope for all to see and emulate.

Lodges, districts, charity foundations, appendant bodies, and even your businesses may contribute toward this unified effort.

     

‘Ukraine’

    

The website of the Grand Lodge of Ukraine is down, as probably all civilian communications in the country are defeated by Russian cyber warfare now that the military invasion is underway.

Freemasonry in Ukraine is nearly as old as it is in the New World. The first lodge there was organized by Polish Masons in 1742, and more lodges were set to labor through the rest of the century. In the 1800s, the fraternity acted similarly as one might expect: espousing Enlightenment values with an eye toward reinventing the government to ensure what we call Civil Rights for the people. The Grand Lodge was formed in 1900 by five lodges, and its fortunes ebbed and flowed with the country’s. Naturally, when Ukraine was diminished (and starved) as a Soviet Socialist Republic, Freemasonry was outlawed, but it sprouted anew in the post-Soviet era, although there are periodic noises from politicians about banning the order again.

Grand Lodge of Ukraine photo

In 2005, the National Grand Lodge of France (that’s the French one we recognize) and the Grand Lodge of Austria consecrated the current Grand Lodge of Ukraine.

Past Grand Master Bill Sardone with Ukraine Grand Master Anatoly Dymchuk last November in Berlin during the International Conference of Regular Masonic Grand Lodges.

I hear there supposedly has been a Ukrainian Masonic Club in New York.

I’m sure a Masonic relief endeavor will be launched here to help, aid, and assist our brethren there. If so, I’ll publish the details when they are known.