Encyclopedia Masonica

A republic of South America. There is an old belief that the French brought Freemasonry into Peru in 1807 and that the work of the various Lodges then formed was ended in 181?; by the Church. This however, is little more than a tradition. The Republic was declared independent in 1820. In 1825 a visit was paid by General Valero representing the Grand Orient of Colombia at Santa Fe de Bogota to legalize the Lodges and Chapters already working there, the first of which, at Lima, had begun work in 1821.

In 1830 a Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was established at Lima by Jose Maria Monson, a Roman Catholic Chaplain.

A Grand Lodge with Thomas Ripley Eldridge as Grand Master was soon opened. A Constitution was adopted on August 11, 1831, and the name changed to Grand Orient of Peru. Work was interrupted by political troubles but on November 1, 1848, the Craft had 80 increased in strength that the Grand Orient was re-established.

A Grand National Orient of Peru was organized on July 13, 1852. In 1857 three Lodges, Concordia Universel, Estrella Polar and Virtudy United, withdrew and with others formed a Grand Lodge at Lima on November 20, 1859. Again in 1860 there was trouble with the Supreme Council and several more seceded, joined the Grand Lodge and formed a Grand Orient and a Supreme Council by authority of the Grand Orient of Colombia. In 1863, however, this Grand Body disappeared.

The Supreme Council then revived the Grand Orient in 1875 and again in 1881. At that time five Lodges withdrew from the Supreme Council and finally established at Lima the Grand Lodge of Peru in March, 1882.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland has two Lodges at Callao, two at Lima, and one at Cerro de Pasco. The Grand Orient of Italy is also represented at Lima by the Stella d'Italia Lodge, Italian Star.

The Encyclopedia Masonica exists to preserve the wealth of information that has been generated over the centuries by numerous Masonic authors. As Freemasonry is now Speculative and not Operative, the work of a Mason is now conducted in the quarries of symbolism, literature, history and scholasticism. Freemasonry encourages intellectual exploration and academic achievement in its members and many Masons over the years have taken up this calling. The result has been that an incredible amount of philosophy, symbolic speculation and academic insights have been created. However, as Freemasonry teaches, human knowledge is frail and fragile. It is easily lost in the turnings of the ages and unforeseen catastrophes can result in great setbacks to human knowledge.

For too long these great works have sat on forgotten shelves, gathering dust and concealing the light that could be shed on the darkness of our ignorance. The Encyclopedia Masonica has been created to act as an ark, sailing through time, to ensure that future generations of Freemasons have access to the same knowledge that inspired the Brethren that came before them. It will contain the works of such Masonic Luminaries as Albert G. Mackey, Manly Palmer Hall, G.S.M. Ward, Albert Pike and many others. The Encyclopedia Masonica is a living work and the volunteers of Universal Co-Masonry will continue to labor until the most comprehensive Masonic reference work the world has ever seen has been created. The Encyclopedia Masonica is open to any who wish to use it and will remain open so that the treasures contained within may increase the wealth of all those who seek its wisdom.