Transcript Masons-Brazil - Hinsdale Masonic Lodge No. 934

Masonry
and the
Independence of Brazil
Erlo Roth, M.M.
Brazil - 1

With nearly 200 million people, Brazil is
the largest country in Latin America

It has about one half of the area and
population of South America.

It still has much poverty, bureaucracy,
corruption, high taxes and interest rates,
plus a high crime rate in its largest cities.

But it has huge opportunities: It is the 8th
largest economy, with a GDP of $1.5
trillion, growing at 6%/year in 2008 and is
expected to finish 2010 with a 7%
increase in its GDP.
Hinsdale
Brazil - History

In 1497 Vasco da Gama had already
reached Calcutta going around the
southern tip of Africa.

So on March 9, 1500 Portugal’s largest
flotilla ever, composed of 12 ships and
1,500 men, headed by Pedro Cabral,
left Lisbon seeking a shortcut to India,
which is why that region was called
“The Grand Orient”, a name later
adopted by the Grand Lodge.
The World in 1500
The South pole is on the top, and the land in the upper right corner was
believed to be the East coast of India.
Brazil - Discovery

On April 22, 1500, Cabral & Co. found land. Thinking they had
reached India, they called the natives “Indians”.
Brazil - Discovery

After exploring the land, and noticing that the natives
were naked, the Portuguese concluded that this was not
India but some large island, which they named Island of
Vera Cruz.
Brazil - Discovery

Not finding anything of great value, Cabral returned to
Portugal.

It was not until 1532 that a permanent settlement was
established, and lumber and other natural products
began to be exported to Portugal.

One tree, particularly valued, had wood as red as embers,
and was therefore called “Pau Brasil” = emberwood.
Later, the country was named after that tree.
Transfer of Court to Brazil

In 1808, when Napoleon threatened to
invade Portugal, Emperor Dom João
VI transferred the court to Brazil.

However, that was a very expensive
burden and resulted in higher taxes on
the Brazilian people.

That generated discontent and a
desire to break away from Portugal.
The Independence Movement

When Napoleon was defeated, the
emperor returned to Portugal, but
he left his son, prince Dom Pedro I,
in charge. Because he was under
18, he was named Regent of Brazil.

The prince was very sympathetic
to the desire of the people to
become independent from
Portugal.
The Role of Masonry

A number of Masons had already
come to Brazil and at this time
there were three lodges.

The Grand Master of one of the
lodges was José Bonifácio, who
had been Dom Pedro’s mentor
since he was a child, and now he
was a minister of the royal court.
The Role of Masonry

Many of the leaders of the
independence movement were
Masons, including Dom Pedro I.

On June 17, 1822, when tensions
between Brazil and Portugal had
become significant, the three lodges
merged into the Grand Orient Lodge
and promptly elected Dom Pedro I
as its Grand Master.
The Confrontation

Sensing trouble, Emperor Dom João VI
determined that his rebellious son should return
to Portugal, so he sent a squadron with 1,250
men to Rio de Janeiro to bring him back.

Dom Pedro I was in S. Paulo at that time, about
300 miles from Rio.
The Confrontation

When the ships
arrived in Rio, José
Bonifácio used his
troops and ships to
keep the Portuguese
away from the port
and then ordered
them back to
Portugal.
The Proclamation

One week later, on
September 7, 1822,
when men on horseback
brought Dom Pedro I the
report of what had
happened in Rio, he
raised his sword and
shouted:
“Independence or death!”
The Official Independence

A few weeks later, when Dom
Pedro I became of age, he was
promoted from Regent to
Emperor.

His first act as Emperor was to
officially declare Brazil an
independent country.

Later, he signed the abolition
of slavery, while in this chair in
the Grand Lodge because so
many Masons promoted
freedom.
Masonry in Brazil Today

There are about 150,000 Masons in Brazil,
compared with 1.2 million in the USA.

From the beginning, most lodges were chartered by
the Grand Lodge of France and most of the rest by
the Grand Lodge of England.

Most lodges follow the Scottish rites.

44 of the lodges of Rio de Janeiro meet in the
Grand Lodge, which has 14 meeting rooms.

In most lodges all Masons wear black robes.
The Grand Lodge of the Orient
The Board Room and
Grand Master’s Chair
The lodge has three floors and 14 meeting rooms.
On the left are offices for lodge secretaries
Candidates are examined in these dark
cells through the window at the top
Main Meeting Room
The East
Rio as Seen by Non-Masons
Rio as Seen by Masons