| Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic | |
| Established: | 25 February 1923 |
| Jurisdiction: | Czech Republic |
| Grandmaster: | Petr Komárek |
| Location: | Prague, Czech Republic |
The Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic (Czech: Veliká Lóže České republiky, VLČR) is a Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the Czech Republic. It is the largest, oldest and the only one which is recognized as regular by the United Grand Lodge of England and most of the other regular lodges at an international level.[1]
Czech Freemasonry have roots up to the 18th century. From 1795 official masonic organizations were banned in the Austrian Empire. After establishment of Austria-Hungary masonry remained banned in Cisleithanian part of the monarchy up until 1918, while in Hungarian Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen it remained legal. After establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918 freemasonry was legalized and first lodges became to emerge. One of the bases of members of the lodges was Czech organization Maffia, active in resistance during the World War I. First lodge established in 1919 was Scottish Rite Lodge Jan Amos Komenský in Prague, which got recognition by the Grand Orient de France. While subsequently other Lodge Národ was founded and recognized by the Gran Loggia d'Italia, at that time in cooperation with the United Grand Lodge of England.[2]
On 25 February 1923 in Prague lodges in Czechoslovakia merged and established National Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia (NVLČs), whose main patronage was held by the Grand Lodge of Yugoslavia. During following years the National Grand Lodge consolidated its position as primarily established on Regular Freemasonry. During the First Czechoslovak Republic, freemasonry became fashonable subject among influential high society and were popular also in the government circles as well as in business.[3] [4]
After German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1938, exiled organization of Czechoslovak Freemasons operated in London, closely associated with many members of the Czechoslovak government-in-exile. After 1945 lodges were resurrected again and operation of the National Grand Lodge was officially restored in 1947 under factical leadership of Jaroslav Kvapil. After 1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état when Communists took power, masonic organization survived up to 1951, when it was officially banned especially by the pressure from Moscow.[5]
After Velvet Revolution in 1989 organizational structure of the Grand Lodge was restored on 17 November 1990 in Prague. After dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992 Grand Lodge was renamed to the current name Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic. On 8 March 2008 short-lived continental masonic Czech Grand Orient merged into the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic which strengthened regular masonic organization in the country.[6] Grand Lodge operated also in Slovakia until 21 March 2009, when Slovak lodges founded first Grand Lodge in the history of Slovakia – Grand Lodge of Slovakia.[7]
Three former lodges of the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic founded Grand Lodge of Slovakia in 2009.
After independence of Czechoslovakia in 1918 freemasonry was legalized. From 1919 to 1923 Josef Svatopluk Machar became Grand Master of precessor grand lodge, which was succeeded by the establishmend of National Grand Lodge in 1923.
During the German occupation of Czechoslovakia exile lodge operated in London.
From 1951 to 1990 freemasonry in Czechoslovakia was put dormant due to de facto ban by the communist regime. Grand Lodge was restored after Velvet Revolution in 1989.