10,000 French Masons Seek to Defect to Grand Lodge of Spain

Such is the headline from the online Spanish newspaper El Confidencial.

Freemasons in the Grand Lodge of France (GLNF) are livid with French Grand Master Francois Stifani for entering the political arena and are threatening to desert to the Grand Lodge of Spain (GLE).

GM Stifani wrote in a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy:

“I will help you everything you need in your projects, as Masons do my obedience to you. You are the first president with whom we fully agree. And you can count on our order to carry out its future reforms.”

In a rough translation from El Confidencial Sarkozy reportedly wrote back:

“I trust you certify and support given to me, comfort me in my determination to continue the reform movement initiated to bring our country to new emergencies and give it a place in the evolution of the world.”

The issue in the GLNF resulted in GM Sifani refusing to call Grand Lodge into Session to debate the issue, his resignation as President of GLNF while keeping his Presidency of the organization or foundation.

Now the French Masons are in court to bring the issue to a head (shades of Frank Haas).

Meanwhile some GLNF members have contacted the Spanish GLE as to the likelihood of joining the Spanish Grand Lodge.

Spain has recently emerged from its own Masonic problems with current Grand Master Oscar Alfonso cleaning up the mess left by the previous Grand Master Jose Carretero.

I wonder what this all has to say about the Right of Exclusive Territorial Jurisdiction that some American scholars have written originated in Europe?