SLOVAK FREEMASONS finally have a head office to call their own.
The newly founded Grand Lodge of Slovakia unites Slovak and foreign freemasons living in Slovakia. Until now, Slovak lodges had been under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic, the SITA newswire wrote on March 13.
The Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic, which was established in 1923, had been the only one in post-communist countries, and is recognised by Freemasonry's highest bodies.
Freemasonry is a fraternity that started in England in the 18th century. Its origin is a subject of debate, but it is thought to have been derived from the guilds of medieval temple builders, as architectural symbolism features prominently in its explanations of its members' beliefs.
Freemasons respect a set of common moral and ethical ideals and are heavily involved in philanthropy. It has more than three million active members worldwide.
