M.W. John H. Grainger, 33° and Bro. Ben M. Angel, 32°
PO Box 5326, Ketchikan, Alaska, 99901–0326

The raising of Russian candidates is a major milestone in spreading the light of Freemasonry to the Russian Far East.

The raising of a Vladivostok importer-exporter to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on Saturday, September 11, 1999, marked the opening of a new chapter in Russian Masonic history. Pacific Rim Lodge, UD, of Vladivostok, Russia, authorized by the Grand Lodge of Russia, met for the very first time in Palmer, Alaska, for the purpose of initiating Nikolai Luzganov on Friday, September 10, 1999. It again met the following day for the purpose of passing and raising the new Russian Mason. Masons from several Alaskan Lodges performed the courtesy degree work for Bro. Luzganov. The ceremonies were attended by 35 Master Masons, including M.W. Bro. Raymond L. Beaver, 32°, Grand Master of Alaska, and four Alaskan Past Grand Masters.

On October 15th eight Master Masons from Alaska followed up on this historic event by flying to Vladivostok and conferring all three Blue Lodge Degrees on eight other candidates from the Russian Far East. Lodge was opened by M.W. John H. Grainger, 33°, R.W. Charles E. Corbin, 32°, Senior Grand Warden of the Alaskan Grand Lodge, and soon to be Worshipful Bro. Luzganov. Alaska Degree Team members included W.M. James R. Griffith, 32°; Senior Warden Donald A. Witsoe, 32°; W.M. William J. Goodwin, 32°; W.M. Terrence "Terry" B. Quarton, 32°; V.W. Robert L. Fulton, 33°; and Bro. Larry Wright.

Officers of the new Lodge were installed October 18, 1999, in an open ceremony. All eight Alaskan sojourners petitioned the new Lodge for membership as Charter Members. Seven additional petitions from Alaska for Charter Membership are pending. The history of these events began in 1993, when M.W. Grainger, then Grand Master of the Alaska Grand Lodge, formed the Grand Lodge's Russian Relation's Committee. The raising of Russian candidates is a major milestone in spreading the light of Freemasonry to the Russian Far East.

Russian Masonry underwent its most recent period of dormancy following the Russian Revolution. Masonry was prohibited during the Fourth Congress of the Communist International in November 1922. This dormancy came to an end on January 14, 1992, when the Grand Lodge Nationale Française (GLNF) chartered Harmonic Lodge No. 698 in Neuilly, near Paris. Less than a year later, on September 8, 1999, the installation of officers in Moscow under Worshipful Master George B. Dergachev, 33°, marked the physical return of Masonry in Russia.

On the first anniversary of this event, three additional Lodges were constituted by the GLNF: Lotus in Moscow; Novaya Astrea in St. Petersburg; and Gamaioun in the southern city of Voronezh. These four Lodges formed the modern Grand Lodge of Russia, under the auspices of the GLNF, and the direction of M.W. Dergachev as Grand Master, on June 24, 1995.

During the next four years, seven new Lodges were consecrated: Polar Star in Archangel; Alexander Pushkin in Moscow; Jupiter in Zvenigorod; Aurora (English-speaking Lodge) in Moscow; The Northern Lights (an Armenian Sojournal Lodge in Moscow); and Fraternal Love in Moscow (a Traveling Lodge in which Brothers from Russia, Turkey, France, and Lebanon work together holding their meetings in different countries). The Russian Grand Lodge today has 12 Lodges in Russia including Pacific Rim Lodge, UD, in Vladivostok. The Grand Lodge of Russia is planning to consecrate the first Lodge in the Republic of Armenia by the end of this year. Two additional Lodges are scheduled to be consecrated by the Russian Grand Lodge next year. M.W. Dergachev has chosen to proceed slowly with creating new Lodges "so that we may be certain those we do accept as candidates are worthy, and not those desiring to use the Craft for their own purposes."

Pacific Rim Lodge, UD, of Vladivostok, Russia, authorized by the Grand Lodge of Russia, met for the very first time in Palmer, Alaska, for the purpose of initiating Nikolai Luzganov on Friday, September 10, 1999. Pictured at the ceremony (l. to r.) are: M.W. Stanley Foulke, 33°; M.W. Howard Hobbs, 33°; candidate Nikolai Luzganow; M.W. Raymond L. Beaver, 32°, Grand Master of Alaska; M.W. John H. Grainger, 33°; and M.W. Gene Freeman, 33°.

Regarding the emergence of Masonry in the Russian Far East, in June of 1994, M.W. Grainger, accompanied by V.W. Mitchell R. Miller, 33°, now S.G.I.G. in Alaska, V.W. Richard L. Owen, 32°, and W.M. Roger A. Barnstead, 32°, visited the port of Magadan, located on the northern part of the coastline of the Russian Far East. This exploratory trip determined the feasibility of spreading Masonic Light in this region.

V.W. Owen observed: "The Russian people were gracious hosts, and we were treated to the best they could provide. The Russian people have strong family values. They have many problems, with high inflation, high taxes, high prices, and low wages. Thus, they are unable to afford many of the things we take for granted. Russians face many problems as they change from a socialist to a capitalist economy. They look to the United States as a model and are eager to learn English and develop American friendships. There should be many opportunities for Masonry and enterprise if both they and we can develop a mutual trust between our people."

The group of returning Brothers concluded that Russians were interested in but not familiar with the Fraternity. They determined that a comprehensive educational program, together with much personal contact and support, is needed to establish a viable Masonic presence in the area.

In 1998, Ill. Grainger, accompanied by Bro. John Richardson, 32°, Valley of Bremerton, Washington, visited the Fourth Session of the Russian Grand Lodge in Moscow. While there, full cooperation was agreed upon in establishing Russian Lodges in the Far East, by the Alaska Grand Lodge, as a courtesy for the new jurisdiction.

In August 1999, M.W. Grainger and R.W. Corbin, Co-chairs of the Alaska Russian Relation's Committee, visited the Far Eastern cities of Vladivostok, Khabarovsk, Blagoveschensk, and the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. The two discussed Masonry with men of high character, ages generally 35 and 45, who were perceived to make good candidates. Petitions for initiation were received from Vladivostok and one from Blagoveschensk. Prospects today look bright for additional Lodges east of the Ural Mountains in the new millennium.

Freemasonry is an international brotherhood united in building a better world. The Russian Far East offers a unique opportunity to establish the Fraternity in an area where its precepts and tenants are unknown. Only by enlightening the public about its true purposes and principles and dispelling their misconceptions will Freemasonry be able to grow. With its traditions of Brotherhood and caring, Masonry can be a vital force for good in Eastern Russia.

For further information, the Russian Relation's Committee of the Grand Lodge of Alaska may be contacted at PO Box 5326, Ketchikan, AK 99901, or by fax at 907–225–5554.

John H. Grainger (pictured left) was raised a Mason in Taos, New Mexico, in 1954. He is a Past Grand Master of Alaska, an Affiliated Grand Master of Washington State, and the Personal Representative in Ketchikan, Alaska, for Ill. Mitchell R. Miller, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Alaska. He is a member of the Royal Order of Scotland and National Sojourners, Inc. Ben M. Angel speaks Russian and is a student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks majoring in Civil Engineering. His personal project is researching Russian Masonry. He is a member of Masonic Lodges in Massachusetts, Seattle, and Alaska.