Freemasonry ‘shows itself’ at Casa do Alentejo

The Masonic Book Salon is back for a 2nd edition, on the 16th and 17th of March, at the Salão Nobre da Casa do Alentejo, located at Rua de Santo Antão, nº 89, in Lisbon. The Masonic Book Salon, which took place for the first time in Portugal in May 2017, “has been practiced for decades in other countries, such as France”, providing, in addition to books related to history, rites and thought of Freemasonry.

Seven years later, the first edition of the Masonic Book Fair in Portugal, which took place at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on Rua das Portas de Santo Antão, in Lisbon, where a replica of a Masonic temple was installed, according to the ancient Scottish rite. , which is the most followed worldwide, the Masonic Institute of Portugal announced the holding of the II Masonic Book Salon. The event linked to Freemasonry will take place on the 16th and 17th of March 2024, in the Salão Nobre of Casa do Alentejo, on Rua de Santo Antão nº 58 in Lisbon.

This is a public Masonic event. There will be eight conferences, which will be attended by José Milhazes, Vasco Lourenço, Adelino Maltez, José Manuel Anes, Roger Dachez, Carlos Otero, Jean Iozia Marietti and Brenno Ambrosini. At the meeting, a workshop will be held on “Journalism and Freemasonry. The program also includes the dissemination of Masonic literature through specialized publishers and the launch of books (“A Maçonaria Simbólica Portuguesa” and “ABC da Maçonaria”).

Likewise, there will also be a painting exhibition; stone sculptures; presence of social solidarity organizations supported by Portuguese Masonic Obediences; and presentation of a Masonic Temple built for the Masonic Book Hall.

1st edition was seven years ago

Representations of Portuguese and foreign Masonic Obediences will be present, with emphasis on the Grand Orient of France (the largest Liberal Masonic Obedience in the world). Seven years after the 1st edition of the Masonic Book Salon in Portugal, which was a huge success, the objective remains in this 2nd edition, which is to open the doors of Freemasonry to Society.

Thus, the aim is to deconstruct the idea of ​​it being a secret organization with dark purposes, diluting this image. The idea is to show that Freemasonry is an Initiatory Organization, of intellectual/spiritual evolution from an adogmatic perspective and with philanthropic purposes, defending Principles and Values ​​of Human Dignity and Absolute Freedom of Conscience”, highlights the organization.

Seven thousand Freemasons in Portugal

According to those responsible for the Masonic Institute: “this is a positive cultural event of Freemasonry, which is an initiatory order of men and women with ethical and human principles, which we defend, and which has nothing to do with exchanging favors or pressure”.

In Portugal, according to the person responsible, there are “around 7,000 Freemasons”. These are aggregated in other obediences. Some are the Grand Symbolic Lodge of Lusitânia, the Grand Legal Lodge of Portugal, or the Grande Oriente Lusitano (GOL), which are part of the organization of the hall. GOL participates in the fair through the Masonic Museum.