The Grande Loge Nationale Française (GLNF) is a French Masonic Grand Lodge. It was founded in 1913, by two lodges, "Le Centre des Amis" Lodge splitting from the larger and older Grand Orient de France

Grand Orient de France

The Grand Orient de France is the largest of several Masonic organizations in France and the oldest in Continental Europe, founded in 1733.-Foundation:...

 and "L'Anglaise" lodge, an independent lodge based in Bordeaux. GLNF is based on monotheism and the 1929 precepts of regularity issued by the United Grand Lodge of England.

The all-male Grande Loge traditionnelle et symbolique Opéra split from the GLNF in 1958, as did the National French Lodge in 1968, and more recently the Grand Prieuré des Gaulles.

Rites

The GLNF was originally founded to allow the practise of the Rectified Scottish Rite

Rectified Scottish Rite

The Rectified Scottish Rite is a Christian Masonic rite founded in Lyon in 1778.- Origins of this Rite :The Rite was mainly elaborated by Jean-Baptiste Willermoz. This famous Mason reformed the French branch of the Templar Strict Observance at the Congress of Gauls in 1778, including some items...

, whose Christian and theist characteristics were unacceptable to the Continental obediences. Following the influx of a large number of English and American expatriates during the world wars, the Emulation Rite and York Rite

York Rite

The York Rite or American Rite is one of several Rites of the worldwide fraternity known as Freemasonry. A Rite is a series of progressive degrees that are conferred by various Masonic organizations or bodies, each of which operates under the control of its own central authority...

 (a term which, in the French context, refers to the blue lodge degrees as worked in America) were added to the lodge, primarily the former.

Following an influx of a large number of brethren from the Grande Loge de France

Grande Loge de France

The Grande Loge de France is the third largest Masonic obedience in France. It positions itself as occupying a unique position in the landscape of French Freemasonry, recognising and having relations with the obediences of Continental Freemasonry while still considering itself to be separate from...

 breaking away in protest of that obedience's treaty with the GOdF

Grand Orient de France

The Grand Orient de France is the largest of several Masonic organizations in France and the oldest in Continental Europe, founded in 1733.-Foundation:...

, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite became the most prevalent rite, even in the blue lodge degrees.

Following the research of a number of the brethren into the history of the Rectified Scottish Rite, interest grew in restoring the French Rite

French Rite

The French Rite of Freemasonry is a Rite of Freemasonry. It was founded in France in 1786.-History:The French Rite is intimately linked to the birth of Freemasonry in France and was founded in France in 1786. British exiles brought the "Modern" rite to France and this was little by little passed...

to regular freemasonry in France. This led ultimately to a patent being obtained in 1989 from the Supreme Council of the Modern Rite for Brazil, which traced its ancestry back to France from before the Great Schism of 1877, and which had always remained regular. The French Rite has grown considerably in the GLNF in the last 20 years and is now practised by about 15% of its lodges.

Recently, lodges have been added that work the Standard Scottish Rite, bringing to six the total number of rites worked in the jurisdiction.

Current situation

Since 2009, GLNF is facing serious troubles (financial issues leading to bankruptcy, governance conflicts).

In January 2011 Miss Monique LEGRAND has been designated by French legal authorities to manage the situation leading to a major internal crisis.

Following the publication of the suspension of the Recognition by most of the "Regular" European Grand Lodges the UGLE decided on 2011-07-19 to suspend relations with the GLNF.