ACTIVITIES OF THE LODGE “SEEKERS OF MANNA” IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE BAN OF FREEMASONRY IN RUSSIA

Annotation

Under the ban of Freemasonry in Russia (1822), the lodge of the “Elect of Manna” continued its work. There is no comprehensive study of the work of the lodge in 1822–1900. The article proposes an original methodology for conducting a study of the Masonic association. The lodge was founded in 1817, when there was a struggle within the Masonic movement. The Grand Provincial Lodge competed with the Grand Lodge “Astrea”, and the leaders of the Rosicrucians N. I. Novikov and I. A. Pozdeev fought for power. The lodge was opened by order of I. A. Pozdeev to separate his supporters from the followers of N. I. Novikov. After the death of both leaders, the lodge was forced to come under the control of the followers of N. I. Novikov. As a result, the lodge became the center of the Masonic movement of the “Rosicrucian” system. It was formed on the basis of family ties and managed to exist until the beginning of the 20th century. The “Brothers” of the “Chosen Manna” held meetings both in Masonic and in the highest Rosicrucian degrees. They were held in special secrecy. The most common type of Masonic meetings during the period of prohibition were “conversations”. At them, those gathered discussed moral and ethical issues, in the spirit of the Rosicrucian teaching, read Masonic acts. To initiate new members, a full-fledged lodge was assembled and a ritual was held. The meetings ceased after the death of the overwhelming majority of participants.

Keywords

freemasonry, prohibition of Masonic lodges, “Rosicrucian” system, “Swedish” system, lodge, circle, “brothers”, secret meetings

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The research was carried out at the expense of the grant of the Russian Science Foundation
No. 25–28–01029, https://rscf.ru/project/25–28–01029/; Тhe Russian Christian Academy for the
Humanities named after Fyodor Dostoevsky