The majority of lodges in the Grande Oriente Lusitano (GOL) have approved the entry of women and it is now up to the Masonic Parliament (Grand Diet) to decide how this process will take place, the organization’s Grand Master announced on Monday.
In an interview with the Lusa agency, Fernando Cabecinha explained that the 103 lodges that make up the oldest Masonic obedience in Portugal have been heard in recent months about the initiation of women and that the majority have approved their entry.
“I can say that at the moment there is a majority desire among the Masonic people that the GOL should be an obedience organization” where “male, female or mixed lodges operate,” stated Fernando Cabecinha, who recognized that “the question of the initiation of women into the Grand Orient Lusitano is a very delicate process, as it requires several procedures and may require changes to the Masonic Constitution.
The topic was raised by the Grand Master, who took office two years ago, in response to an internal discussion, in which several elements required the modernization of the organization.
This is “a decision that is up to the Freemason people: they were heard within the lodges and will now be heard in the Great Diet, a kind of parliament that we have here”, with an average of two representatives per lodge. .
Now, said Fernando Cabecinha, “it is up to this body (…) to determine the path, when, how and under what conditions this process should develop”.
The Grand Master would be happy if the process were completed before the end of his term: “I would like to, but it is out of my control.”
“The only thing I have said to the Masonic people is that whatever decision the Grand Diet makes, I will ratify it, as long as it is unequivocal,” he added.
One of the Grand Master’s points of honor is not to clash with Portuguese female Freemasonry, when the GOL begins to include women in its ranks. ‘We have a treaty [de amizade] which we will fully comply with,” but “there is no competitiveness and there is no competition among Masonic obediences.
regrets the lack of commitment from politicians to solve problems
The Grand Master of the Grande Oriente Lusitano (GOL) expressed concern about the erosion of the right to housing or health care and criticized the lack of commitment of elected officials to solve these problems.
“We are experiencing an international crisis, but also a national one. Today, the right to housing must be improved,” such as “the right to quality education, the right to health, which is fundamental for everyone” or the “right to fair justice,” said Fernando Cabecinha in an interview with Lusa.
“The pillars of democracy are all in crisis, largely due to the actions of social actors,” because “it seems like the idea of public service has been lost,” he said.
“Elected officials are chosen to promote the well-being of citizens and I think this is far from reality today,” he lamented.
This concern for public affairs is a priority for the organization and its members, regardless of the position or functions they hold.
“It is clearly part of the practice required of every Freemason who, when holding public office, has the idea of public service” and of “being at the service of the citizens,” said Fernando Cabecinha, who rejected that the organization focuses on any type of political or social leadership.
“We try to be a moral elite and not a social elite” and its members have “professions that have more or less influence on society,” he explained.
However, the goal is to help workers “develop themselves to be more useful to society,” in an inorganic logic, which follows the humanistic principles that led to the founding of Freemasonry.
“Freemasonry is made by Freemasons and is inorganic in its operation,” said Fernando Cabecinha, giving the example of October 5, 1910, when “there were Freemasons on the republican side and on the monarchist side.”
“Those who work in society are the Freemasons, they have their responsibilities and come here to gather the teachings and knowledge to act better in society, whether it is social, philanthropy, culture or education,” he explained.
Fernando Cabecinha, who was elected two years ago, is now entering his final year as president without clarifying whether he will run again. “It’s still early,” he laughs.
Despite this, he gives a “positive review” of the work, in an effort to restore the organization after the pandemic.
With 103 stores spread across the country and 2,500 members (a hundred more than at the beginning of the mandate), Fernando Cabecinha says that GOL maintains the ability to attract new members, even at a time when prestige is associated with public visibility.
“The disillusionment people feel towards other organizations is what makes Freemasonry interesting,” he said.
Source: DN
