Last year freemasons legally renewed work in Croatia, after half a century long prohibition of their
activity. They are registered at Croatian Ministry of Administration as a civil association under name of
Grand Lodge of Croatia and ahead with Mr. Branimir Horvat, typographer and art historian. Motive for this
interview with Mr. Branimir Horvat are recently frequent ideas of renewal of some kind of Yugoslavian
association, the more so the part of Croatian public considers freemasons helped creation of
Yugoslavian state in the past.
Mr. Horvat didn’t want his photo to be published with this interview claiming that freemasons consider
newspaper interviews should not be used for personal promotion.

If it is not a secret, how many freemasons are in Croatia?

Number of our members is constantly increasing, but not to fast, since it is not easy to become
freemason. It is not a mass organization. We take care and check whom we take among us. Our
members should respect principles and obligations of Freemasonry. Receipt procedure could last for
more than one year.
Before 1940 when authorities of Banovina Croatia prohibited work of freemasons, what was cession to
Axis Forces, there were five hundred of freemasons in Croatia. To reach this number again it will take few
decades of work.

Is Croatian organization of freemasons accepted as an equal footing member of international
organization?

Grand Lodge of Austria founded Lodge in Croatia. We are still under its protection, although we work
completely independently as Croatian Lodge. According to the rules, our country to get internationally
recognized masonic organization, has to have defined number of members and at least three lodges
which with help of one existing Grand Lodge, than can form own Grand Lodge. It is necessary to have
defined number of master masons for each Lodge so it can operate.
Masonic organization in Croatia is now just about getting international regularity. Austrian Grand Lodge
informed us that it would assist establishing of our three lodges this autumn (1995). But, between
establishing the Grand Lodge and getting its international regularity it can pass sometimes as much as
two years. It is complex and slow procedure, due to thorough check of new organization and its
members. For Croatian Lodge this procedure goes on successfully. I already said once that international
recognition for one Grand Lodge has the same importance as reception of one country to United Nations.

How actual political conditions influence international acceptance of Croatian Lodge?

Distrust towards Croatia, which exists in some circles, reflects on freemasons, too. Although
freemasons do not deal actively with politics we should bear in mind that complete today’s life is
penetrated with politics.

It is believed that freemasons took part in establishing first Yugoslavia. In your opinion, what
was their role?

Yugoslavian idea originates among Croats in the last century as a counter-balance to policy of Vienna
and Pest. It was believed that it would be easier to cut off Croats from Germanic and Hungarian influence
if they live in association with other South-Slavic nations. On the eve of falling to pieces of
Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Yugoslavian idea was getting more and more supporters internationally as
well as in Croatia. In few words, Yugoslavian Board was founded with few members freemasons. They
were not majority in this board, but their influence was dominant due to their relations with some English
politicians freemasons. Among Croats in this board was freemason Ivan Mestrovic, but at his old age he
sober up from Yugoslavian policy.
There is no saying that Yugoslavia was created by freemasons. It was made by political interests in the
Europe after World war I. From this point that period is still not researched adequately. It would be worth
analyzing if those people were satisfied with Yugoslavia later on. It should not be forgotten that in 1918
majority of the National Council was approving integration of Croatia into Yugoslavia. Mr. Stjepan Radic
was one of the rare politicians who were warning that Croats should not run recklessly to Belgrade like
geese in the mist. Well, are freemasons to be blamed for founding Yugoslavia and that it was as it was?
Founding multinational states, at any cost, on the area of Austro-Hungarian monarchy, was a mistake.
Not only Yugoslavia, but also Czech-Slovakia, which was at significantly higher civilization level and
where differences between Czech and Slovak people were much smaller than between two dominant
nations of ex-Yugoslavia.
At the end of World War I nobody thought that it is a political decree, which puts two dominant nations,
belonging to two different civilization backgrounds, in the same state. Frauds and lies started at the very
beginning. Croatian politicians thought they united to an equal footing association, and Serbian
politicians thought they liberated and won Croatian areas. It lasted so till 1990.

Were there different views on Yugoslavia among Croatian freemasons?

Yes. They appeared immediately after founding of Yugoslavia. Differences were of such size that part of
Croatian freemasons separated from official masonic organization in Yugoslavia and established own
lodges. Those lodges were not internationally recognized.

Why such differences arose?

Considerable part of Croatian freemasons didn’t accept relations inside Yugoslavia. Strongest masonic
center was in Zagreb, Croatia. But, by establishing Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and due to
masonic rules, Croats in Zagreb had to adjourn their Grand Lodge which was in Zagreb during
Austro-Hungarian monarchy since 1918, because Croatia was autonomous province. Namely, Kingdom
of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes was one political unit, so it could exist only one Grand Lodge, which
could be recognized by Grand Lodge of England.
When masonic headquarters moved to Belgrade, opposition in Zagreb was so strong that many people
come out of lodges. They established Grand Lodge of Croatia, which was not internationally recognized.
This part of Croatian masonic history is still not researched adequately and it won’t be easily since in the
eve and at the beginning of the World War II all documentation about this period was destroyed.

Continuation of which prewar masonic fraction are today’s Croatian freemasons?

Of none. Croatian Freemasonry today is completely new. There is no connection with Freemasonry in
Yugoslavia before World War II, since we don’t even physically continue it. Freemasonry was prohibited
for half a century and when we started to establish new Croatian Freemasonry no living members of
prewar lodges were known. That is why prewar freemasons with their attitudes or choices could not
influence selection of today’s members.
Croatian freemasons are from the very beginning citizens of free and independent Croatian state and they
are selected as Croatian citizens. Austrian Grand Lodge established its Deputy Lodge in Zagreb with
aim to restitute Freemasonry in Croatia at the moment when Croatia was already internationally
recognized state.
One of the basic masonic commitments is abiding of laws of his country and protection of its internal
piece. For freemasons, we were looking among loyal Croatian citizens. I will not propose somebody if I
am not sure his attitude about Croatia is like mine. People are always choosing people alike and taking
care whom they will let into their company. But we should be aware that mistakes are always possible
and that is why our internal sanctions exist.

Today, again are raising ideas about renewal of some kind of Yugoslavian association. Croats
abandon this idea but its center moved to Belgrade. Those ideas have support of some
international circles, but foreign politicians are not bringing it out openly but indirectly, from
behind. What are your experiences in that sense?

In my personal contacts I have not met supporters of those ideas, particularly talking about Austrians
who are close to us. My opinion is that those ideas about renewal of some kind of Yugoslavian
association are probably actualized to prevent strengthening of association of Middle European
countries.

Is it possible that masonic organization, internationally or locally, makes decision about work
on renewal of Yugoslavian association?

Such decision can’t be made in any regular organization that is recognized by Grand Lodge of England.
Purpose of Freemasonry is not dealing with politics, but with oneself, spiritual values, humanistic and
ethical-philosophical aims. We are interested in stimulating tolerance and democracy, promotion of
humanity and charity. Your question shows that many people don’t understand essence of
Freemasonry. If Freemasonry dealt with politics it would be ruined long time ago. Certain policy is for
certain period of time and has limited duration, but Freemasonry exists since year 1717.

But, why is there a restraint towards freemasons in the part of Croatian public? What is your
opinion about existing doubt that Croatian freemasons could take a part in imposing of some
kind of Yugoslavian association to Croatia?

I am quite sure that Croatian freemasons will never take part in that. I speak for myself, but I know all
Croatian freemasons. None of them has such initiatives.
War in the balkans is heavy burden for the world. Majority of the people abroad does not care how it will
finish. Thay just want piece. I am just writing short review of Croatian history at request of Grand Lodge
of France to inform their members. Namely, newspapres will never bring data that Croatia as a state
existed even in the 7th century, that in 9th century we got famous pope’s letter and that in 11th century
Croatia was eminent factor to be considered when military alliances were made. We allways were and
remained Croatia – although in the frame of other ststes. We had continuity of sovereign rights which we
finally used in the year 1991.
Why those doubts about freemasons? They come from ignorance, lack of information, certain interests
or old prejudices. It will take long time before attitude towards freemasons will change in Croatia.

These doubts about freemasons and Yugoslavia will last till Croatian state does not fully
stabilize?

Yes. By the way, Croatian state does not have any prejudices towards freemasons. That is very
important to us. Many skeptics will change their attitude when they realize such approach of Croatian
state towards freemasons.

Do you have contacts with freemasons in Belgrade, who established their Lodge in 1990?

We can’t have any relations with freemasons in Belgrade, till there is no relation between our countries.
We, Croats, won’t ask for establishing relations, because we were those who were humiliated, especially
with this last aggression on Croatia. Although freemasons do not deal with politics, I have to say that our
condition for contacts with freemasons in Serbia is preliminary solution of basic issues between two
countries and than between freemasons on both sides. These basic issues include attitude towards
aggression, humiliation, ethnic cleansing, disapproval of Croatian right to its territory and similar.
Austrian Grand Lodge knows for this our condition because we told them openly and clearly.