Lodges around the world see themselves as part of a fraternal ‘Chain of the World’ that spans the globe: that is what Freemasons call it in their ritualised language.

This commitment is not merely empty rhetoric that sounds good in Sunday sermons; it also has real significance. On the one hand, it has an emotional dimension: the commitment to the Chain of the World gives every individual Freemason a sense of connection that transcends all boundaries. This sense of closeness can also be felt during personal encounters with brothers whom one has never met before.

And secondly, it has a very practical implication: every brother has access not only to the ritual meetings of the lodges within his own Grand Lodge, but also to those of affiliated Grand Lodges throughout the world. Grand Lodges are considered friends if they have exchanged so-called letters of recognition. The ‘Grand Lodge of Austria’ has exchanged such letters with 160 foreign Grand Lodges. Of these, 41 are in Europe and 119 on other continents. In making its selection, it follows the example of the oldest and most exemplary Grand Lodge in the world:

United Grand Lodge of England

United Grand Lodge of England

List of foreign Grand Lodges recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England

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Grand Lodges in the neighbourhood:

Of course, friendly relations with the European Grand Lodges are of particular importance to the ‘Grand Lodge of Austria’. And, in turn, with those in its geographical and historical neighbourhood.

	Swiss Grand Lodge Alpina Grand Lodge Suisse Alpina		United Grand Lodges of Germany United Grand Lodges of Germany
	Grand Orient of Italy Grande Oriente d’Italia		Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic Veliká Lóže České Republiky
	Grand Lodge of Slovenia Velika Loža Slovenija		Grand Lodge of Slovakia Vel’ká Lóža Slovenska
	Grand Lodge of Croatia Velika Loža Hrvatske		Symbolic Grand Lodge of Hungary Magyarországi Szymbolikus Nagypáholy
	The Regular Grand Lodge of Serbia Rgularna Velika Loža Srbije		Grand Lodge of Romania Marea Loja Nationala din Romania
	Grand Lodge of Bosnia and Herzegovina Velika Loža Bosne i Hercegovine		Grand Lodge of Montenegro Velika Loža Crne Gore
	Großloge von Mazedonien Golema Loža na Makedonija

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A selection of other major European lodges:

	Grand Lodge of France Grande Loge Nationale Française		The major islands of the Netherlands Grootoosten der Nederlanden
	Grand Lodge of Belgium Grande Loge Régulière de Belgique		Grand Lodge of Luxembourg Grande Loge de Luxembourg
	Grand Lodge of Poland Wielka Loża Narodowa Polski		Grand Lodge of Finland Tervetuloa Suomen suurloosin kotisivuille
	Grand Lodge of Spain Gran Logia de España		Grand Lodge of Portugal Grande Loja Legal de Portugal
	Grand Lodge of Greece Μεγάλης Στοάς της Ελλάδος		Swedish Masonic Order Svenska Frimurare Orden
	Danish Masonic Order Den Danske Frimurerorden		Norwegian Masonic Order Den Norske Frimurerorden
	Grand Lodge of Scotland Grand Lodge of Scotland		Grand Lodge of Ireland Grand Lodge of Ireland

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Some Grand Lodges outside Europe:

	Grand Lodge of Turkey Hür ve Kabul Edilmiş Masonlar Türkiye Büyük Locasi Türkiye		Grand Lodge of the State of Israel Grand Lodge of the State of Israel
	Grand Lodge of the State of New York Grand Lodge of the State of New York		Grand Lodge of South Africa Grand Lodge of South Afrika