On Saturday, May 20, 6023. G.·.I.·.S.·. on the Orient of Belgrade, the Grand Master of the Grand National Lodge of Serbia, Brother Bratislav Uraković, introduced the Light into the regularly installed French-speaking lodge “Samuel Kernbeiser,” which is composed of Brothers from Serbia, Montenegro, France, and Austria. The Worshipful Master of this lodge is Brother Petar Pavasović. This is the first French-speaking lodge outside of France and the only one in Europe. The ceremony was attended by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of France, Brother Thierry Zaveroni (www.gldf.org), with a delegation, as well as Brothers from the Balkan Obediences that are members of the ICUGL. During his visit to Belgrade, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of France, together with the Grand Master of the Grand National Lodge of Serbia, laid a wreath at the monument of gratitude to France on the Kalemegdan and visited the Gallery of the Museum of Natural Science. The building housing the Gallery is one of the oldest in the Belgrade Fortress complex, built in the late 18th century, and it was where the first Masonic lodge established in Belgrade, in 5796, held its meetings. G.·.I.·.S.·.
This important international event will be remembered as a strengthening of the Fraternal Chain of Freemasons of Southeast Europe, with the goal of further improving mutual relations, always working for the benefit of their communities.
Word of the Grand Master of the Grande Loge de France, Bro. Thierry Zaveroni
The lighting of the fires of the 1st French-speaking lodge in the Balkan region is also a strong signal. It illustrates both your love for the language of Molière, your attachment to the GLDF, and a beautiful promise for the future given the number of people who speak French in the region. Furthermore, the choice of the distinctive title for this Lodge is also no coincidence. Indeed, the Very Respectable Brother Samuel Kernbeiser had an exceptionally active life before becoming the Federal Advisor of the GLDF.
Several episodes in his life contributed to making our V.R.B. Sam KERNBEISER a “Mensch,” as they say in some circles. Of course, I will not recount his entire life. Nevertheless, I would like to mention a few salient points for those who did not know him:
• The notion of universality: Born in Warsaw in 1921, his wanderings took him to the USA, Cuba, Paris, Spain, and back to Paris. This refers to universality both geographically and in terms of values. Could we expect anything less from someone who advocates an open spirituality? • The notion of exemplary character: He served the Order out of idealism, seeking no personal benefit. Only his authenticity, humility, and selflessness motivated his desire to pass on his knowledge.
• The notion of commitment: Given his Jewish origins, the horrors of war, which would later mark him in the flesh, led him to flee Nazism and to enlist in the Free France in 1942. During the Tunisian campaign, his corps commander was none other than a certain Hubert GERMAIN, who later became a Companion of the Liberation and a Freemason of the GLDF, to whom France paid a moving tribute after his passing to the Eternal Orient on October 12, 2021. Sam also participated in the Italian campaign, notably at Monte Cassino…
• “To reason with the heart in order to love with reason” was, in fact, one of his favorite phrases.
• More personally, he was the Masonic godfather of the TPSGC of Serbia, TIF Dragan Djuric, as well as the uncle of the TPSGC of the SCDF, TIF Jacques ROZEN.
On behalf of the GLDF, allow me to express the great joy I feel to be here today and to wish you all, both individually and as a Lodge, every success.
