The International Masonic Union CATENA is an international association of Grand Lodges and independent Lodges, with all true Masonic traditions being respected without any one member lodge claiming a dominant position.
About CATENA
The aim of CATENA is to connect the obediences for men and women friendly to allow mutual contacts and to develop joint activities.
The base is the care of the Masonic work, according to the old traditions, landmarks, constitutions, laws and rules, as they were handed down to us in the course of history.
The only deviation to the above, is the inclusion of women as Freemasons, without any restriction.
CATENA respects the individual decision of every Freemason to join those Masonic obedience, which he considers suitable for his personal development as for the best.
CATENA was founded as an organization for the symbolic, or “blue”, Freemasonry, to contribute to their research and development.
The History
CATENA was founded in July 1961 by three Grand Lodges from Germany, the Netherlands and Austria which adhere to the basic principles of the equal standing of men and women in Freemasonry.
These Grand Lodges were:
• HUMANITAS Freimaurergrossloge für Frauen und Männer in Deutschland
• Nederlandse Grootloge der Gemengde Vrijmetselarij NGGV
• Österreichischer Universaler Freimaurerorden “HUMANITAS
The Constitution
CATENA has laid down in its Constitution the following Basic Principles which must be approved in writing by all Masonic groups (Grand Lodges, Obediences, independent Lodges) which apply for membership in CATENA:
• The foundation of Universal Freemasonry is the acknowledgement of a Supreme Reality in which we live and move and which is the reason our being.
• The First Grand Principle derived from this primal truth is the fundamental unity and equality of all human beings, expressed in Freemasonry as Brotherly Love, which springs from recognition of our spiritual kinship.
• The Second Grand Principle, derived from the first, is Relief of Suffering; firstly as far as possible to harm no living being, and secondly to give aid to those who are in distress.
• The Third Grand Principle is Truth, which is to have a free mind and to see things as they truly are without bias. This Principle especially relates to self-knowledge as unveiled to a Mason.
*All text is sourced from the CATENA website https://www.catena.org/
For more information visit the website, or email info@catena.org
Member Grand Lodges:
Austria: Großloge Humanitas Austria
Czech Republic: Velkolóže Humanitas Bohemia
France: Groupement Maconnique de Loges Mixtes et Independantes
Germany: Humanitas – Freimaurergroßloge für Frauen und Männer in Deutschland
Great Britain: The Order of Ancient Free Masonry for Men and Women
Great Britain: Grand Lodge Of Modern Mixed Masons
Greece: Grand Lodge of Freemasonry for Men and Women Greece
Italy: Ordine Massonico Tradizionale Italiano
Romania: Romanian Masonic Mixed Order
Spain: Maçons Lliures Mare Nostrum
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