The Lodge “Svetlost Balkana – Garibaldi”, which works under the protection of the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia, hosted the Lodge “Giuseppe Garibaldi” No. 1436 from the Orient of Follonica (Grand Orient of Italy – GOI) at a joint working in Belgrade on 25 April 2015. The respected Garibaldi Lodge from Follonica is the youngest Garibaldi Lodge in the world. The two fraternal Lodges arranged this meeting and joint working in order to continue the successful cooperation and the strengthening of the international chain of Garibaldi Lodges.
The Lodge “Svetlost Balkana – Garibaldi” continues the tradition of one of the oldest Lodges in Serbia, the Lodge “Svetlost Balkana”, founded in 1876 in Belgrade. This Lodge was founded by Garibaldi’s volunteers, who came to Serbia to help the struggle of the Serbian people during the Serbo-Turkish War. The Lodge worked under the protection of the Grand Orient of Italy and with the significant support and assistance of Giuseppe Garibaldi — revolutionary, great patriot and Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Italy.
Today, the Lodge “Svetlost Balkana – Garibaldi”, in addition to its active participation in the work of the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia, also has a significant international role in cooperation with the fraternal Garibaldi Lodges around the world, as well as with many other friendly Lodges. It should also be noted that the Lodge “Svetlost Balkana – Garibaldi” is one of the founders of the international chain of Garibaldi Lodges, as well as the organizer of the II World Congress of Garibaldi Lodges in Belgrade in 2011.
The visit of the youngest Lodge “Giuseppe Garibaldi” from Follonica showed once again that there are no borders between Brethren and friends. At the ceremonial working, greetings were conveyed from the Grand Master of the RGLS and the GOI, as well as from the Mayor of Follonica. It should be particularly emphasized that the Italian Brethren presented a significant donation to the Lodge, and that it will be directed to the humanitarian Fund “Svetlost Balkana”, as well as to the activities of the project “The Brave Little Jockey”.
The message from this meeting is to continue the further work and mutual cooperation of the Garibaldi Lodges around the world. The wish for further cooperation between our two Lodges was also emphasized — within the framework of the traditional fraternal and friendly cooperation and mutual understanding between the Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia and the Grand Orient of Italy.