The Rebirth 
Of Freemasonry 
In Romania

Elvio Sciubba, 33, G\C\
Past Sovereign Grand Commander in Italy
Via XX Settembre 44, 00187 Rome, Italy

Soon after World War I, several Masonic leaders had occasion to contact Romanian Masons and to aid them in constituting a Grand Lodge of Romania and a Romanian Scottish Rite Supreme Council according to the forms of the Grand Constitutions of the Grand Orient of Italy.
	A few years later, a delegation from the Grand Lodge of New York went to Romania and instituted three more Symbolic Lodges working under the authority of that Grand Lodge. By the year 1925 there were eleven Lodges composing the Grand Lodge of Romania which was actively working to be recognized by the other Grand Lodges of the world.
	Similarly, the Supreme Council of Romania sought recognition of regularity and received it at the International Conference of Supreme Councils meeting in Brussels, Belgium, in 1935. Observing the Landmarks of Freemasonry, such as avowing belief in the Supreme Being and always displaying the Bible on Masonry's altar, was a strict characteristic of the Romanian Supreme Council. Both the Grand Lodge of Romania and the Scottish Rite of Romania, were, however, compelled to suspend their Masonic work during the periods of, first, German and, then, Soviet suppression that existed during and after World War II.     r
	During these periods, Romanian Brethren went into exile in France, Italy, Israel, and the United States, as well as other countries, to escape the persecution by the Nazis and, later, the Red Army. Many who stayed were arrested and tortured solely on the suspicion that they might be Freemasons, that is, for possibly belonging to the greatest universal community ever set up for the improvement of humankind!
	Naturally, Romanian Lodges had to discontinue their work and bear unbelievable sacrifices. Now, after more than 50 years of persecution and exile, Romanian Masons in exile have an opportunity to return to their homeland. Communist oppression has disappeared because of the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the forces of freedom are gathering strength to build a free society in Romania.
	Thus Brethren returning from exile and those Brethren who remained in Romania and survived, at last have the opportunity to restore our gentle Craft to their native land.
	But how to expedite this wonderful and historic work?
	The Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, provided guidance. Sov\ Gr\ Cmdr\ C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33, wrote to Romanian Masons saying: "Be assured that your commitment and devoted efforts have my full support on behalf of your activities to reestablish Freemasonry in Romania." Similarly, Ill\ H. Douglas Lemons, 33, P\G\M\ of Masons of California and S\G\ I\G\ in California, took a major role in bringing Masonic Light back to Romania. As early as the November 1990 issue of The Scottish Rite Reporter of Long Beach, California, for instance, he wrote: "Working together with Ill\ Elvio Sciubba, 33, and the Italian Grand Lodge, and supported by the Grand Lodge of California and its Grand Master, Ronald A. Sherod, 32, we have made great progress toward the goal of establishing a new Grand Lodge in Romania."
	Meanwhile, the outstanding work of Bro\ Arnold Hermann, 32, K\C\C\H\, a native Romanian living in both Switzerland and America, began to bear fruit. He contacted a significant number of Romanian Masons in exile and in Romania. To a man, they enthusiastically greeted the idea of restoring Freemasonry to their homeland. Seizing the opportunity, the Grand Orient of Italy, between February 1991 and June 1992, founded in  Bucharest, three new Romanian Lodges: Harmony, Delta of the Danube, and N. Balcescu. Thus it became possible to restore a Grand Lodge to Romania.
	Recently, the Romanian Brethren sent a message of gratitude to M\W\ Giuliano Di Bernardo, Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Italy, thanking him for his support and asking him if he could expedite the ceremony for the rebirth of the National Grand Lodge of Romania. A date was set and invitations sent forth.
	Then, on January 24, 1993, Masonic Light burst forth in Romania as Grand Master Di Bernardo conducted an historic reunion ceremony. With about 200 Romanian Brethren and guests present, he gave the gavel of Masonic authority to Niculae (Nik) Filip as the first elected Grand Master of Romania in over half a century. M\W\ Di Bernardo, after the opening ritual, made the following declaration: 
	My beloved Brothers, thank you for having accepted our invitation to come to Bucharest to participate in this historic event of the National Grand Lodge of Romania. The significance of this solemn reunion overshadows all other things. Rarely has there been an occasion to prove so clearly the fraternal ties of our universal chain of fraternal union.
	Then  M\W\ Brother Di Bernardo invited Brother Niculae Filip to come before the Altar and take the obligation on the Bible saying: "Now I give to you the three Lodges which have, up to now, worked under the authority and protection of the Grand Orient of Italy." Then he asked the Worshipful Masters of Harmony, Delta of the Danube, and N. Balcescu Lodges to come before the Altar and take the oath of fidelity. He concluded saying, "Now, as is your wish, I release you from the Orient of Italy and put you under the protection of the National Grand Lodge of Romania."
	Thus begins a new chapter in worldwide Freemasonry. In the reestablishment of the Grand Lodge of Romania, we see an example of the inevitable victory of the minds and hearts of free men over all forms of tyranny and oppression. Welcome, Romanian Brethren, to the Temple of Freemasonry, a home which, in your hearts, you never left!     s

 
