The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939 Page: 199
446 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Early Masonry in Mexico (1806-1828)
In 1806 Masonry was introduced into Mexico and the first lodge
was established by Enrique Mufit. Meetings were held in the
street of Las Ratas, at house number 4, where the councilman
Manuel Luyando lived. A number of influential people belonged
to the organization; among them were Hidalgo and Allende, and
it was thought that Viceroy Iturrigaray worked with the Masons.
There were Masons in the ayunlamienlo, or municipal council, of
Mexico City and, when it heard of' the abdication of the royal
family in Spain, it took such an active part in Mexican affairs
that the Europeans suspected it of promoting designs for inde-
pendence.
When Iturrigaray was imprisoned the Masonic lodge was de-
nounced by a certain Cabo Franco who lived in the same street
where it was located. It then met in different places but most
frequently at the country home of Sefior Luyando in the town of
San Jacinto. The Masons took part in iidalgo's revolution and
were not spoken of again until 1813,3 for they lived in isolated
places and concealed themselves on account of Lear of the Inquisi-
tion. The basic idea of the society-the brotherhood of man-
and the indifference of some of its members to theological beliefs
caused the church to oppose it.4
The publication of the Spanish Constitution of 1812 in Mexico
and the coming of the troops from Spain, in which some of the
officers were Masons, caused the organization of the Scottish Rite
Masons in 1813. Few were admitted except members of noble
Spanish families, fairly well-to-do people, or those of recognized
professional l or commercial standing, but the events of the French
war changed this. In order to make their work more effective
the Mexican Masons decided to adopt a political program, which
was contrary to their rules, prohibiting the promotion of religious
or political questions in their lodges. They advocated the repre-
sentative system of government and reform of the clergy, and it
was said that Viceroy Apodaca tolerated their activities because
he was a Mason.5
Meanwhile in Spain, after the downfall of Napoleon, Masonry
3Jos6 Maria Mateos, Historia de la masoneria en Mexico desde 1806
hasta 1881 (Mexico, 1884), 8-12.
4George Lockhart Rives, The United States and Mexico, 1821-1848 (New
York, 1913), I, 62.
sMateos, 12-13.199
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 42, July 1938 - April, 1939, periodical, 1939; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101107/m1/221/?rotate=90: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.