The Symbolic Grand Lodge of Spain
History
The Symbolic Grand Lodge of Spain (Gran Logia Simbólica Española as per Spanish) is one of the main grand obediences (federations of several masonic lodges) in Spain. It is one of group of obediences included in CLIPSAS, and can be defined as a mixed or egalitarian, liberal and non-dogmatic Grand Lodge.
After Francoist Dictatorship, Freemasonry was legal again in Spain by a National High Court's judgement of 19 May 1979. This judgement set aside a decision of the Ministry of Interior (ruled by Rodolfo Martín Villa) pretending to keep Freemasonry underground. The Symbolic Grand Lodge of Spain was established the next year, on 15 May 1980. Its headquarters was built in Barcelona, at Avinyó Street. Its name comes from another Obedience established in Catalonia in 1920. The GLSE was created as a federation of lodges for men, as custodian and as representative of the identity signs and archetypes from Spanish historical freemasonry, since the GLSE embrace Spanish Grand Orient principles (a federation virtually extinguished after its persecution during Francoist Dictatorship). Just as it had happened in London 263 years before, the GLSE included lodges which started out in secrecy even before Franco’s death. A number of GLSE’s sponsors became from European and American exile. Some of the first lodges were Minerva i Lleialtat, in Barcelona, Spain, founded in February 1977; Justicia, also in Barcelona, and shortly afterwards Hermes-Tolerancia, in Madrid. The first GLSE’s Grand Master (1980-1987) was Rafael Vilaplana Fuentes. From its beginnings, GLSE’s official masonic rite was the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, although some years later French Rite was embraced too. In August of 2018 two more rites were incorporated: the Ancient and Primitive of Memphis-Mizraïm and the Emulation rite, of English origin. Shortly afterwards, in 1983, GLSE was welcomed in the Centre of Liaison and Information of Masonic Powers Signatories of Strasbourg Appeal of 22 January 1961, or CLIPSAS. CLIPSAS is the world great liberal Freemasonry organisation. The closest international relationships were held, from the beginning, with the Grand Orient of France, the Belgic Droit Human Federation, the Grand Orient of Belgium and the Grand Lodge of Italy. Close relationships were also held with the Lusitanian Grand Orient (LGO), in Portugal, from 1986 to today. In 1990 the Symbolic Grand Lodge of Spain agreed to declare secularism as one of the key values.
After Francoist Dictatorship, Freemasonry was legal again in Spain by a National High Court's judgement of 19 May 1979. This judgement set aside a decision of the Ministry of Interior (ruled by Rodolfo Martín Villa) pretending to keep Freemasonry underground. The Symbolic Grand Lodge of Spain was established the next year, on 15 May 1980. Its headquarters was built in Barcelona, at Avinyó Street. Its name comes from another Obedience established in Catalonia in 1920. The GLSE was created as a federation of lodges for men, as custodian and as representative of the identity signs and archetypes from Spanish historical freemasonry, since the GLSE embrace Spanish Grand Orient principles (a federation virtually extinguished after its persecution during Francoist Dictatorship). Just as it had happened in London 263 years before, the GLSE included lodges which started out in secrecy even before Franco’s death. A number of GLSE’s sponsors became from European and American exile. Some of the first lodges were Minerva i Lleialtat, in Barcelona, Spain, founded in February 1977; Justicia, also in Barcelona, and shortly afterwards Hermes-Tolerancia, in Madrid. The first GLSE’s Grand Master (1980-1987) was Rafael Vilaplana Fuentes. From its beginnings, GLSE’s official masonic rite was the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, although some years later French Rite was embraced too. In August of 2018 two more rites were incorporated: the Ancient and Primitive of Memphis-Mizraïm and the Emulation rite, of English origin. Shortly afterwards, in 1983, GLSE was welcomed in the Centre of Liaison and Information of Masonic Powers Signatories of Strasbourg Appeal of 22 January 1961, or CLIPSAS. CLIPSAS is the world great liberal Freemasonry organisation. The closest international relationships were held, from the beginning, with the Grand Orient of France, the Belgic Droit Human Federation, the Grand Orient of Belgium and the Grand Lodge of Italy. Close relationships were also held with the Lusitanian Grand Orient (LGO), in Portugal, from 1986 to today. In 1990 the Symbolic Grand Lodge of Spain agreed to declare secularism as one of the key values.