Frédéric Desmons

Frédéric Desmons ( born October 14, 1832 in Brignon ( Gard ); † January 4, 1910 in Paris) was Calvinist pastor, Deist, Freemason and supporter of the absolute freedom of conscience.

Life

Frédéric Desmons was born in 1832 in Brignon, a small municipality in the department of Gard. At first he studied in Nimes, then he continued his studies at the founded by John Calvin Theological University of Geneva continued. In 1856 he put his doctoral thesis at the Protestant Faculty in Strasbourg. His thesis was: " Essai historique et critique du Mormonisme. " Shortly after his return to France, he became a pastor in Nerdes (near his birthplace ), then in Saint- Geniès -de- Malgoirès. On January 16, 1860, he married in Brignon Juliette Bernis.

Freemasonry

In 1857, Firmin Fatalot in Nîmes, the Masonic Lodge L' Echo du Grand Orient under the obedience of the Grand Orient de France. On March 8, 1861 Desmons there was initiated as a Freemason in Training, promoted to journeyman later and finally elevated to the master. In 1867 he left his Mother Lodge to start in his place of residence Saint -Genies- de - Malgoirès with Masonic brothers the Lodge Le Progres.

From 1869 he called for regular admission of women to participate in the Masonic lodges. 1871 replaced the Grand Orient de France the title of Grand Master by the President of the United Council. Two years later, was Desmons Member of the Supreme Council. During this time he was open to the desire of some lodges to abolish the obligation to a belief in God and belief in the immortality of the soul. He opposed it on several occasions the conservative forces in the Grand Orient, who viewed him as a troublemaker. The Mason Combes suggested the separation of church and state and dignitaries demanded the neutrality of the Church at the political level. At the suggestion of the Lodge La Fraternité progressive of Villefranche -sur -Saône Desmons was appointed with the aim to act as rapporteur for the Convention in 1877 to review the Article 1 of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge. There, the Calvinist pastor stopped in front of the representatives of the lodges a speech in which he argued that Freemasonry is scientific and rational, therefore no need to religious references, and called on the basis of freedom of conscience, the abolition of the Almighty Architect of the Universe symbol. The delegates of the lodges agreed to over two-thirds of such change. From now on, the Grand Orient de France confirmed in its constitution: " Freemasonry has principles, the absolute freedom of conscience and human solidarity. It includes anyone for his faith from. " 1877 there was another meeting with the Grand Orient de Belgique, wholesale Orient of Italy, the Grand Lodge of Buenos Aires and the Grand Lodge of Hungary, who had taken this decision. With this reform came in 1877 to a termination of the contact part of the Anglo-Saxon Freemasonry.

President of the Grand Council

Frédéric Desmons was five times elected president of the Grand Council of the Grand Orient de France:

Policy

In addition to Freemasonry and his pastoral office Desmons began in 1877 a local political career, making him in 1881 that forced involuntarily withdraw from his pastoral office. From 1881 to 1894 he was a member of the department of Gard; from 1894 to 1909 Senator of the department. He was continuously re-elected until he eventually became Vice President of the Senate President. On October 28, 1886, he represented as Vice President of the Senate, France at the opening of the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Burial and commemoration

His life long campaigned for the separation of church and state. When he died on January 4, 1910 held a funeral ceremony chaired by the First Vice-President of the Religious Council Bouley at the Grand Orient de France shortly thereafter. On 7 and 9 January he was buried under civil participation of a large amount in Paris on (Gare de Lyon). On the door of his tomb is the symbol of Freemasonry, square and compasses, mounted. To his memory was erected at the entrance of Brignon a statue of bronze, which was founded in 1943 after the war from its base and replaced by a commemorative plate.