History of the National Grand Lodge of Colombia at Cartagena de Indias

Thursday, May 12, 2011

On April 9th, 1833, a group of distinguished gentlemen from the city of Cartagena de Indias, founded a Masonic Body within the landmarks of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, under the title of Grand Orient and Supreme Council Neo Granadino, which time worked under the name of Supreme Council of 33º Degree for Colombia. This Power proceeded to found Masonic Craft Lodges in Colombia and other Latin American countries. Subsequently, and under the fact that it was operation within the regularity of the Constitutions of 1786, the Grand Orient of France was offered the charter on June 18th, 1851. This was the only authority that ruled Masonry in Colombia until 1920.

On November 12th, 1911 with the occasion of celebrating the First Centennial of the State Independence of Cartagena de Indias from Spanish Nation, the Confederate Supreme Council of 33º Degree Neo Granadino, now Colombian, called for a Masonic National Congress to address issues related to the progress of the Order. From the deliberations of the Congress, appeared a project to establish Grand Lodges in the territory of the Republic of Colombia, and to the Supreme Council of 33º Degree, since its foundation assumed the supreme authority of the Symbolism, touched issuing the Legislative Act that was marked with number 3 but not taken effect.

On May 26th, 1918, was convened by the Supreme Council a Masonic Assembly of the Grand Orient, consisting of Lodges and Regular Chambers of the Obedience, and this Assembly submitted a draft amending the particular Constitution of the Grand Orient Neo Granadino now Colombian, which could form the basis for the installation of a Serene Grand Lodge, based in Cartagena de Indias, East Capital, which was the supreme authority of Symbolic Masonry in the entire nation.

Source: NGLC at Cartagena de Indias