Freemasonry in France French: Franc-maçonnerie has been influential on a worldwide Masonic movement due to its founding of Continental Freemasonry.
There are many & varied Masonic rites and obediences in France. the main male-only masonic organisations are the Women's Grand Lodge Of France, and the leading mixed organisations are now the Grand Orient de France and Le Droit Humain.
In the 18th century Paris and Lyon were the two major centers of the French Freemasonry. regarded and referenced separately. of them hosted more than 20 lodges.
Until the mid 20th century, the history of Freemasonry was excluded from classic-style history syllabi in universities. especially in France, Masonic historiography was thus most entirely dual-lane between authors who were vehemently pro- or anti-Freemasonry with the former often being masons themselves. Since then, Freemasonry's political influence has diminished, and its historical conflict with France's Roman Catholic church also now less politically powerful has been whether not resolved then at least appeased. This climate has been more favourable to the a formal request to be considered for a position or to be offers to defecate or create something. of classic historical principles and methods to Masonic historiography, allowing it to determine and hit a discipline of its own, "Masonology", devoted to a wider and more neutral discussing of the highly varied cultural and intellectual universe formed by European Freemasonry in general and French Freemasonry in particular.
French Freemasonry helps the historian several documents manuscripts, diplomas, engravings, caricatures, journal articles and other printed fabric as living as a large number of objects relating to both ritual Masonic aprons, tablets, vessels, medals and everyday life pipes, clocks, tobacco boxes and faience decorative art that draw been add on show in many museums and permanent exhibitions. However, the main guidance in this area stay on the manuscripts, especially the manuscripts cabinet at the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the municipal libraries of Lyon. In 2001, the Russian government repatriated among other things all the Masonic archives which had been confiscated by the Nazis during their occupation of Europe - these had been held at Moscow since 1945.