| Type | Specialized press Freemasonry |
|---|---|
| Owner | Grand Orient de France |
| Publisher | Conform édition (delegate) |
| Editor-in-chief | Pierre Mollier |
| Editor | Jean Michel Garat |
| Managing editor, design | Claude Sérignac |
| Founded | 1864 (1864) |
| Language | French |
| City | Paris |
| Country | France |
| ISSN | 0292-8000 |
La Chaîne d'Union is the quarterly journal ofmasonic, philosophical, and symbolic studies of theGrand Orient de France. Founded inLondon in 1864 by exiledFrench Freemasons fleeing the authoritarian regime ofNapoleon III, it celebrates its 150th year of existence in 2015. While remaining close to the liberal and adogmatic conception of Freemasonry, its editorial line has evolved over the years. Its name refers to the symbolicChain of Union formed by Freemasons at the end of their Masonic garb. Despite several interruptions in its distribution, it remains the oldest Masonic magazine still in publication in 2015. Its editorial board is made up of brothers and sisters from various French obediences.
The Masonic magazineLa Chaîne d'Union was born of a project conceived by brothers Prosper Simard and François Tafety,Freemasons living in exile inLondon and opposed toNapoleon III during the regime's “authoritarian” period.[1] The choice of title, which is not attributed, refers to the symbolicchain of union formed by Freemasons at the end of their outfits, representing the union of past, present, and future Masons. The magazine's founders relied on a structure outside theMasonic lodge to implement what was initially a liaison bulletin for exiles in London, particularly entrepreneurs, with the ambition of publishing two issues a month. Called the “Bureau de Renseignements,” this structure also acted as an administrative support office.[2]
The first issue appeared on September 15, 1864, in a four-pagetabloid format. It bears the titleLa Chaîne d'Union and the subtitleJournal de la maçonnerie universelle. It was published without illustrations and featured the ternary motto “Science, Work, Solidarity” at the top of the page.[2] One page is devoted to advertising, while a fifth, interspersed page is entitled “Supplément de La Chaîne d'Union” and tells the story of a particular lodge. The first editorial is by Brother François Tafety, entitled “Notre programme lyrique” (“Our lyrical program”).[2]
As early as the second issue, an unsigned article entitled “The Bible and Masonry” reports on a dispute between a lodge of the Supreme Council of France and theUnited Grand Lodge of England, which is accused of being a “branch of the Church.” Open to all rites as an organ of “universal masonry,” the magazine nevertheless displays a certainanti-clericalism. Its editors established relations and maintained correspondence with several famous personalities, includingVictor Hugo andGiuseppe Garibaldi, Grand Master of theGrand Orient of Italy, who openly supported the publication.[2]
From 1864 to 1868, the magazine was published regularly, with numerous articles devoted to French and foreign Freemasonry, as well as critical reviews of competing Masonic publications, such as the English magazineThe Fremason's Magazine, funeral tributes, including that ofPierre-Joseph Proudhon, and articles on the history of lodges, such as theGrand Loge des Philadelphes, to which the journal's editors belong.[2] Issue 46 of 1866 marked the end of the link between the “Bureau des renseignements” and the magazine. The magazine's offices moved twice, in line with changes in ownership, to settle inCamden in April 1868.[2]
Issue no. 85, dated May 1, 1868, announced the death of François Taféty, the magazine's first editorialist and now its sole owner. Publishing was briefly taken over by two other founders, merchants by trade, the Clève brothers, and Nancy. After their death, however, the magazine's dynamism faded, and the last London edition appeared on May 15, 1869, under number 108.[2]
Its correspondent inFrance, Esprit-Eugène Hubert, took overLa Chaîne d'Union as director and editor-in-chief. After five years inLondon, the magazine was republished inParis on June 1, 1869,in octavo format, under the titleLa Chaîne d'Union de Paris. Unlike the London edition, it faced stiff competition, encouraged by theliberalism ofNapoleon III's regime at a time whenFreemasonry in general was often public.[3] The publication became fortnightly. Under Hubert's direction, it remained independent of the obediences, and displayed its republican sympathies, but opposed the reform of rituals and the abandonment of the obligation to believe in God in 1878 and 1879.[4]
TheCommune and the siege of Paris interrupted broadcasting on September 15, 1870. It resumed after the Versaillais victory. Intended to be “humanitarian and patriotic”, the magazine remained as consensual as possible, to open up to a maximum number of readers of all denominations and from all countries. It also reports, faithfully and in detail, on the main events in French Masonic life, information on the development of para-Masonic solidarity associations, obituaries of key figures in Freemasonry, and book reviews. There is also a section onanti-Masonicism, with information on writings that regularly attack it, such as those byÉdouard Drumont, who accuses it of being an agent of theZionists in his bookLa France juive.[3]
After twenty years of publishing, during which he maintained the magazine as the Journal of Universal Masonry), and after having enjoyed a worldwide subscriber base and recognized international prestige,[note 1][3] and having remained independent and assertive in his convictions, Esprit-Eugene Hubert, at the age of eighty, put an end to its publication in 1889.[1]
Virgile Athanase Gloton, a Freemason who opened a bookshop and masonic decorating business opposite theHôtel du Grand Orient de France in 1910, was behind the revival of the magazine, which had disappeared in 1889, and bought back the title. In this family business, his son Edmond Gloton was the driving force behind the republication in a difficult economic and political context, where the fallout from theGreat Depression of 1929 and the activities offar-right leagues made the venture more complex.[1] Despite this, the publication was revived under the subtitleRevue mensuelle de documentation et d'informations maçonniques (Monthly magazine of Masonic documentation and information). It became a monthly magazine, with ten issues per year and a white cover. Lettering and illustrations, partly by Henry Tattegrain, were added to the editions. Distribution was restricted to Freemasons, who could only purchase the magazine if they could prove their membership. The magazine also served as an advertising medium for the family business.[1]
Edmond Gloton's intense Masonic activity[note 2] contributed to the magazine's wide circulation. On the death of his father, he took over the management of the company, but with the outbreak of theSecond World War in 1939, the store and publishing facilities were closed. On April 1, 1945, the magazine reappeared for a new series.[1] This 50-page series enjoyed a flourishing period, offering readers Masonic biographies, articles on history, symbolism, morality or philosophy, on Masonic rites,obediences, orwomen's Freemasonry. It also regularly features columns on “societal” subjects.[5] Ancillary sections, including obituaries, informative notes, and reports on obedient convents, sometimes in a playful vein, complete the publication.[5] During this period, the magazine remained “generalist” and inter-obedient, adapting to the different Masonic sensibilities of the time. Its readership was mainly in France[note 3] and its colonies, but also inBelgium andSwitzerland.[5]
Edmond Gloton died in February 1962. His daughter Denise continued publishing the magazine, bringing out another thirteen issues before giving it up for economic and family reasons. Publication ofLa Chaîne d'Union was interrupted again in June 1963.[5]
After its publication ceased in 1963, the magazine reappeared in 1981, when Denise Gloton launched a new edition. Under her direction, an editorial team designed a new layout, which was then published by a new publisher. The content remained very similar to that of Edmond Gloton's editions, while winning back the old readership through innovations aimed at new readers, such as the addition of two supplements whose subjects were more specifically aimed at Compagnons and Maitres Franc-Maitçons, and were only issued with proof of membership.[6] The magazine continues to be independent of allobediences, but unlike previous editions, it becomes quarterly, while continuing to show diversity in the subjects covered. The publication lasted only two years and was discontinued again in 1982 after eight issues. Following difficulties with the publisher, Denise Gloton ceased her collaboration with the magazine and put an end to its distribution.[6]
In 1984, Paul-Henri Gourdot, Grand Master of theGrand Orient de France, asked Denise Gloton to integrate and republishLa Chaîne d'Union throughÉditions maçonniques de France (EDIMAF),[note 4] joining the other publications already distributed by the GODF: the Humanisme magazine, dealing mainly with social issues, andChroniques d'histoire maçonnique. The aim was to complete the range of publications with a magazine focusing on symbolism and philosophy, in collaboration with the Institut d'études et de recherches maçonniques (IDERM). The magazine was integrated and becameLa Revue d'études maçonniques, philosophiques et symboliques du Grand Orient de France. Its publication remains quarterly, and its format is unchanged. With a new editorial team headed by Denise Gloton, the focus was on symbolism and masonic research. Regularly published until 1996, the magazine expanded, with several successive editors,[note 5] and several editors-in-chief who continued to lead an editorial and reading committee on its main subjects.[6]
1997 marked a new stage in the life of the magazine.Pierre Mollier took over as managing editor and set about revitalizing the magazine's content, enriching it with specific themes that deepenedsymbolic andphilosophical research. Various points of view were adopted. The cover was given a new color and the layout was redesigned to suit a more contemporary style of communication. IDERM is no longer involved, and the numbering of this new edition starts from number one. The editorial board remains virtually unchanged, but a professional journalist, René Le Moal, has joined the team. In its new form, the magazine was a resounding success, joining the select group of reference magazines dealing withMasonic symbolism. In 2000, René Le Moal succeededPierre Mollier as editor-in-chief. In the years that followed, he continued to develop the magazine's readership and the diversity of Masonic subjects covered.[6]
La Chaîne d'Union became the philosophical and symbolic magazine of theGrand Orient de France, under the editorial direction of René Le Moal. It became part of a panel of publications specific to the obedience, complementing the magazineHumanisme, devoted to societal reflection, which, according to the obedience's statutes, invites its member Freemasons to become involved citizens with the aim of “materially and morally improving a lot of mankind,”[note 6] and the historical research journalChronique Histoire maçonnique, which mainly disseminates the work of theInstitut d'études et de recherches maçonniques (IDERM). This distribution, within what constitutes a small press group, enables the magazine to devote itself to the symbolic and personal research of Freemasons. The magazine retains an open editorial approach, publishing articles by brothers and sisters from other male, female, or mixed obediences. It regularly opens its columns to contemporary thinkers who are not necessarily Freemasons.[7]
The magazine continues to appear quarterly, with an editorial line covering all subjects relating to the philosophical andinitiatory understanding ofFreemasonry. Following the closure ofÉditions maçonniques de France due to financial difficulties, the Grand Orient choseConform édition to take over all publishing and distribution of the magazine.[8]
In 2015, the magazine celebrated its 150th anniversary and published an issue retracing its history. Tributes from other Masonic bodies, such asQuatuor Coronati-Bayreuth from the United Grand Lodge of Germany, the magazineAlpina from theGrand Lodge Alpina of Switzerland,Les Cahiers Villard de Honnecourt from theFrench National Grand Lodge, and the magazinePoints de vue initiatiques from theGrande Loge de France, open this special edition.[8] In 2022, the magazine published a special issue for its 100th publication, featuring a primer of authors who wrote articles from 1981 to 2022. The theme of the issue is “Freemasonry, the traditional way and modernity.”[9]
