Masonry and the Independence of Brazil Erlo Roth, M.M.

Hinsdale 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 8 th 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.

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