MasonryMasonry and the and the

Independence of BrazilIndependence of Brazil

Erlo Roth, M.M.

Hinsdale

Brazil - 1Brazil - 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.

Brazil - HistoryBrazil - 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 1500The 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 - DiscoveryBrazil - Discovery On April 22, 1500, Cabral & Co. found land. Thinking they

had reached India, they called the natives “Indians”.

Brazil - DiscoveryBrazil - DiscoveryAfter 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 - DiscoveryBrazil - DiscoveryNot 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 BrazilTransfer 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 MovementThe 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 MasonryThe 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 MasonryThe 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 ConfrontationThe 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 ConfrontationThe 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 ProclamationThe 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 IndependenceThe 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 TodayMasonry 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 OrientThe Grand Lodge of the Orient

The Board Room andThe Board Room andGrand Master’s ChairGrand Master’s Chair

The lodge has three floors and 14 meeting rooms. The lodge has three floors and 14 meeting rooms. On the left are offices for lodge secretariesOn the left are offices for lodge secretaries

Candidates are examined in these dark Candidates are examined in these dark cells through the window at the topcells through the window at the top

Main Meeting RoomMain Meeting Room

The EastThe East

Rio as Seen by Non-MasonsRio as Seen by Non-Masons

Rio as Seen by MasonsRio as Seen by Masons