After centuries of slavery, the Serbian people has begun to rebuild its Being in the 19th and 20th centuries, firmly resolved to survive despite the attempt to be exterminated or displaced from its centuries-old hearths. Serbian Freemasons have sincerely and wholeheartedly contributed that this reconstruction would be fundamental and fruitful.
During the same period, the people of Serbia was drawn into two world wars and several civil wars, in which the people of Serbia was exposed to merciless pogrom. The same fate was shared by the Freemasonic Order.
From the One Being of our nation, at least three nations were born, as well as three languages and four internationally recognized countries. The Freemasonic Order was hibernated, and after it was re-awoken, it was split into several Obediences.
The people itself was driven into the darkness of physical, spiritual and cultural destruction, which continued to exist.
Led by the fundamental goal of the Freemasonry, which is the fight against any form of ignorance, and unconditionally accepting the motto of the Freemasonic Rite “Liberty – Equality – Fraternity”, the Supreme Council of Serbia of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and the Grand Lodge of Serbia announce
DECLARATION OF THE FREEMASONIC FREEDOM
by which we, the Free People of Good Reputation, advocate for comprehensive use of the fundamental principles of the Freemasonic Rite, establishment of complete Freedom in the Fraternal Chain expansion through the exchange of the Freemasonic opinions and actions, undisturbed guestings of Brothers at Ritual Works of the Regular Freemasonic Lodges of the various Obediences, as well as by encouraging mutual communication between the Brothers, who are mutually recognized as Freemasons.
By this Declaration, we announce that in the terms “recognition” and “non-recognition”, “regularity” and “irregularity”, we see exclusive politicalism, which is not appropriate to the Freemasonry and which is not beneficial to the Freemasonry in general, nor in our Fatherland of Serbia. We consider the debates on these issues to be unprogressive, that they drive towards further divisions, weakening and collapse of the Freemasonic principles and the reputation of the Freemasonry in our country and in the world.
By this Declaration, we announce the principles which we consider as sufficient for mutual recognition of Brothers Freemasons:
1. Progressive Work to the Glory of the Universal Creation Principle, which we name the Supreme Creator of All Worlds.
2. Usage of the Three Great Lights in Ritual Work in the Open Lodge: the Cornerstone, the Sixth and the Book of the Holy Law.
3. Exchange of the Word together with the Fraternal Handshake during the mutual introduction and Freemasonic recognition.
By this Declaration we, the members of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Order, announce that all the Brothers Freemasons are dear to us, but that the most important to us are the Brothers from the Fatherland. We are firmly determined that the Brothers which we recognize as Freemasons on the basis of the above mentioned principles, whatever Obedience they belong to, we will never renounce under any condition, for any material or other privilege or benefit.
By this Declaration, we announce that, after we mutually recognize each other as the Freemasons, we do not accept any restriction in the exchange of the Freemasonic opinion and action, nor in guestings of the Brothers in the Ritual Works of the Regular Freemasonic Lodges of the various Obediences, nor in encouraging all kinds of mutual communication between the Brothers which is in the interest of the Freemasonry in general or particularly for the benefit of each Lodge which are mutually recognized as Fraternal, worldwide as well as in our Fatherland of Serbia.
By this Declaration, we invite all the Brothers to join our initiative to consolidate Freemasonic Fraternal Chain and that we all together step towards the Light, which will finally enlighten Serbian people and all citizens of Serbia.
LIBERTY – EQUALITY – FRATERNITY
In Belgrade, June 23rd, 2018