Editing Freemasonry (section)

==== Evolution of styles ====
This philosophical development led to a diversification within French Freemasonry. In 1894, some lodges formed the [[Grande Loge de France]], maintaining reference to the Great Architect of the Universe while preserving many French Masonic traditions, representing a middle path between Liberal and Anglo approaches.<ref>[http://www.gldf.org/gldf-obedience-maconnique/gldf-qui-sommes-nous/historique-de-la-gldf.html ''Historique de la GLDF''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222222346/http://www.gldf.org/gldf-obedience-maconnique/gldf-qui-sommes-nous/historique-de-la-gldf.html |date=22 December 2015 }}, Grande Loge de France, retrieved 14 November 2013</ref> By 1913, the United Grand Lodge of England established relations with the newly formed "[[Grande Loge Nationale Française|Grande Loge Nationale Indépendante et Régulière pour la France et les Colonies Françaises]]," which aligned more closely with Conservative Masonic practices.<ref>[http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/bernheim27.html Alain Bernheim, "My approach to Masonic History"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709203449/http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/bernheim27.html |date=9 July 2023 }}, Manchester 2011, ''Pietre-Stones'', retrieved 14 November 2013</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Jacob |first=Margaret C. |title=The Origins of Freemasonry: Facts and Fictions |year=2007 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0812219883}}</ref>

This diversification allowed French Freemasonry to develop along multiple legitimate paths. The Grand Orient de France continued as a significant intellectual and progressive force in French society. Its Liberal emphasis on freedom of conscience and social progress has been particularly influential in the development of secular democratic values throughout Europe and beyond, while Conservative bodies maintained their own distinct approach to Masonic principles.

Modern Freemasonry encompasses three main approaches, which influence practice throughout Continental Europe:<ref>{{cite journal |last=Nord |first=Philip |title=Freemasonry, Civil Society, and Democracy− in Nineteenth-Century France |journal=Tocqueville Review |volume=37 |issue=2 |year=2016|doi=10.3138/ttr.37.2.161|doi-broken-date=6 March 2025 }}</ref>

*Liberal<ref>{{cite web |title=Liberals |url=https://freemasonry.network/liberals/ |website=FREEMASONRY.network |access-date=16 January 2025 |archive-date=2 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250202121616/https://freemasonry.network/liberals/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (or adogmatic/progressive) – Emphasising liberty of conscience and [[laïcité]], particularly regarding separation of Church and State.<ref>[http://www.frenchfreemasonry.org/grand-lodges/liberal-freemasonry "Liberal Grand Lodges"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120051953/http://www.frenchfreemasonry.org/grand-lodges/liberal-freemasonry |date=20 January 2015 }}, ''French Freemasonry'', retrieved 14 November 2013</ref>
*Traditional – Following established French practices while maintaining requirement for belief in a supreme being.<ref>[http://www.frenchfreemasonry.org/grand-lodges/traditional-grand-lodges "Traditional Grand Lodges"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714115355/http://www.frenchfreemasonry.org/grand-lodges/traditional-grand-lodges |date=14 July 2014 }}, ''French Freemasonry'', retrieved 14 November 2013</ref> The [[Grande Loge de France]] exemplifies this approach.
*Conservative<ref>{{cite web |last1=de Biasi |first1=Jean-Louis |author1-link=Jean-Louis de Biasi |title=Esoteric Freemasonry |url=https://issuu.com/llewellyn/docs/9780738748481 |website=[[Issuu]] |date=8 February 2018 |access-date=16 January 2025 |page=25 |archive-date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119211042/https://issuu.com/llewellyn/docs/9780738748481 |url-status=live }}</ref> – Following Anglo-American practices with mandatory belief in supreme being.<ref>[http://www.frenchfreemasonry.org/grand-lodges/regular-grand-lodges "Regular Grand Lodges"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120052209/http://www.frenchfreemasonry.org/grand-lodges/regular-grand-lodges |date=20 January 2015 }}, ''French Freemasonry'', retrieved 14 November 2013</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite book |last=Önnerfors |first=Andreas |title=Freemasonry: A Very Short Introduction |year=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0198796275}}</ref>

The term [[Continental Freemasonry]] historically described the diverse Masonic traditions that developed in Europe. While Albert Mackey's 1873 ''Encyclopedia of Freemasonry'' defined it from a Conservative perspective as lodges that "retain many usages which have either been abandoned by, or never were observed in, the Lodges of England, Ireland, and Scotland,"<ref>[http://encyclopediaoffreemasonry.com/c/continental-lodges/ "Continental Lodges"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010710/http://encyclopediaoffreemasonry.com/c/continental-lodges/ |date=3 December 2013 }},''Mackey's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry'', retrieved 30 November 2013</ref> a more balanced view recognizes that these represent distinct philosophical approaches to Masonic principles.

Today, Liberal Freemasonry encompasses traditions like the [[Grand Orient de France]], which emphasizes freedom of conscience and social progress, as well as bodies like the Grande Loge de France that maintain some traditional elements while embracing certain Liberal principles. These organizations have played significant roles in the development of democratic ideals, human rights, and social reform throughout Europe and Latin America, representing a dynamic interpretation of Masonic principles focused on human advancement and the betterment of society.<ref>For instance [http://cornwineoil.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/women-in-freemasonry-and-oriental.html "Women in Freemasonry, and Continental Freemasonry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203022322/http://cornwineoil.blogspot.co.uk/2009/06/women-in-freemasonry-and-oriental.html |date=3 December 2013 }}, ''Corn Wine and Oil'', June 2009, retrieved 30 November 2013</ref>

Different approaches to recognition and interaction between Masonic bodies emerged in the 20th century. In 1961, several Grand Lodges and Grand Orients established the [[Centre de Liaison et d'Information des Puissances maçonniques Signataires de l'Appel de Strasbourg]] (CLIPSAS), creating an international forum for Masonic cooperation. CLIPSAS membership includes over 100 Masonic organisations worldwide, encompassing traditional, liberal, and mixed-gender organisations.<ref>{{cite book |last=Snoek |first=Jan A.M. |author2=Henrik Bogdan |title=Handbook of Freemasonry |year=2014 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-9004273122}}</ref>

This development reflected different philosophical approaches to Masonic recognition. The [[United Grand Lodge of England]] maintains a policy of exclusive recognition based on specific criteria, including belief in a supreme being and male-only membership. In contrast, CLIPSAS member organisations generally practise open recognition, allowing interaction between diverse Masonic traditions.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Révauger |first=Cécile |title=Unity and Diversity in European Freemasonry |journal=Journal for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism |volume=5 |issue=1 |year=2014}}</ref>

These differing approaches to recognition have led to distinct networks of Masonic interaction, often characterised as Conservative or Anglo-American and Liberal or Continental traditions, though this simplification does not fully capture the complexity of modern Masonic relationships.<ref name="auto"/>

However, recent developments indicate shifting perspectives within Conservative Freemasonry regarding women's organisations. In 1999, the [[United Grand Lodge of England]] officially acknowledged both The [[Order of Women Freemasons]] and the Honourable Fraternity of Ancient Freemasons (Freemasonry for Women) as legitimate Masonic bodies. While not extending formal recognition, UGLE maintains "''excellent working relationships''" with both Grand Lodges and collaborates with them on various initiatives, including joint participation in Open House London events at Freemasons' Hall and university recruitment fairs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ugle.org.uk/discover-freemasonry/women-freemasons |title=Women Freemasons |publisher=United Grand Lodge of England |access-date=2024-01-16}}</ref> This represents a significant evolution from earlier stricter positions and demonstrates increasing liberalisation and acceptance of diverse Masonic traditions.<ref>{{cite book |last=Prescott |first=Andrew |title=The Study of Freemasonry as a New Academic Discipline |year=2018 |publisher=Sheffield Lectures on the History of Freemasonry |isbn=9780956209603}}</ref>

Additionally, in 2018, UGLE released guidance explicitly welcoming transgender members and affirming that "A Freemason who after initiation ceases to be a man does not cease to be a Freemason."<ref>{{cite news |last=Gayle |first=Damien |title=Freemasons to admit women – but only if they first joined as men |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/01/freemasons-to-admit-women-but-only-if-they-first-joined-as-men |work=The Guardian |date=2018-08-01 |access-date=2024-01-16}}</ref>