Anglo-Foreign Lodges Association

The Anglo-Foreign Lodges Association (AFLA) is a Masonic organization under the constitution of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE). It serves as an umbrella body for lodges in England that conduct their ceremonies in a language other than English, possess a specific foreign origin, or maintain historical connections with Masonic jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom.

History

The organization originated as the International Masonic Club, established in 1904 to unite foreign-speaking Masonic bodies in London. Its formation was driven by the need to coordinate lodges that, while regular under the UGLE, adhered to distinct cultural and ritualistic traditions.

In 1910, the club was formally reconstituted as the Anglo-Foreign Lodges Association. Its purpose is to facilitate cooperation between the Grand Lodge and these specific units.

Structure and membership

The association is comprised primarily of three types of lodges:

  • Foreign Language Lodges: Units authorized to work in languages including French, German, Italian, Greek, and Portuguese.
  • Expatriate Lodges: Lodges founded by foreign nationals resident in the UK, serving specific communities (e.g., American, Swiss, or Canadian).
  • Diplomatic Lodges: Lodges with a specific remit to foster bilateral relations, such as the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale lodge.

Founding lodges (1904)

The association was initially formed by four London-based lodges:

  • Pilgrim Lodge No. 238 (German-speaking, working the Schröder ritual).
  • La France Lodge No. 2060 (French-speaking, founded 1884).
  • L’Entente Cordiale Lodge No. 2796 (Anglo-French).
  • Loggia Italia No. 2687 (Italian-speaking).

Other notable members

  • United Arts Rifles Lodge No. 3817: Known as the "Brazilian Lodge," it maintains ties with the Grand Orient of Brazil and performed the first UGLE ceremony in Portuguese in 2025.
  • Helvetica Lodge No. 4894: Serving the Swiss community.
  • America Lodge No. 3368: Founded in 1909 for US citizens in London.

Activities

The association organizes a Biennial Reunion at Freemasons' Hall, London, which typically features a demonstration of a foreign ritual to illustrate the diversity of the Craft within the English Constitution.