Political freemasonry in the socialpolitical life of Russia and Belarus in 1905–1917

  • Dmitry S. Lavrinovich Mogilev State A. Kuleshov University, 1 Kasmanaŭtaŭ Street, Mahilioŭ 212022, Belarus

Abstract

The article reveals the main stages of the activities of Russian political freemasonry in the early XX century. The author shows the process of establishing Masonic organizations, analyzes their party, social and national composition, the principles of interaction, examines the methods of their influence on the state and society. The largest Masonic organization was the «The Great East of the Peoples of Russia». Its center was made up of representatives of the constitutional-democratic Party, which facilitated the involvement of freemasons in the political life of the Russian Empire. Freemasons were involved in many affairs of the Progressive Bloc in 1915–1917, including the organization of a propaganda campaign against the tsarist government. On the territory of Belarus, Freemasons adhered to the regional ideology, with the support of local constitutional democrats; a group of Belarusian public figures connected with the editorial office of the newspaper «Nasha Niva» joined freemasonry.

Author Biography

Dmitry S. Lavrinovich, Mogilev State A. Kuleshov University, 1 Kasmanaŭtaŭ Street, Mahilioŭ 212022, Belarus

doctor of science (history), full professor; pro-vice chancellor, professor at the department of history of Belarus and the Eastern Slavs, faculty of history and philology

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Published
2017-09-29
Keywords: freemasonry, liberalism, political parties, Belarusian national movement, World War I, revolution
How to Cite
Lavrinovich D. S. Political freemasonry in the socialpolitical life of Russia and Belarus in 1905–1917 // Journal of the Belarusian State University. History. 2017. 3. PP. 10-19.
Section
1917 in the Belarusian History