Akram R. Elias, 33°
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An article reprinted with permission from the California Freemason (Spring 2003) underlines the impressive growth of Freemasonry in Cuba.

During his visit to Cuba in March 2002, Ill. Akram R. Elias, 33°, visited with His Eminence Jose Siro Gonzales Bacallal, Catholic Bishop of Pinar de Rio in Cuba, and put a Masonic pin of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia on the Bishop's shirt.

In March 2002, the Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C., sent a group of representatives to Cuba to attend the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Cuba, where they met with Cuban Grand Master Jose Collera Vento and Sovereign Grand Commander Jesus L. Armada Pena, 33°.

Ill. Akram R. Elias, 33°, Valley of Washington, D.C., then Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Washington, D.C., served as one of the members of the delegation. Ill. Elias, who is on the Washington, D.C., Grand Lodge's International Committee, contends that Cuban Masons epitomize the fire that burns in the heart of every Mason, and that passion resides at the very core of the Fraternity and its history.

"The most moving thing I witnessed during the meeting in March 2002 was how very seriously they take their work. It was like a wake-up call. We take so much for granted in Lodges throughout the United States. But in Cuba, members are inspired by the idea that when they meet in a Lodge, they are granted the opportunity to govern themselves. In many countries, that has a profound impact."

The number of Cuban Masons has more than doubled since the 1980s, up to 29,000 members in more than 316 Lodges across the island. In the last two years, there has been a dramatic increase in members in Havana. Earlier this year, the Cuban government gave permission to establish two new Lodges, the first allowed since 1967.

Revolutionary Origins
"There's a very intimate connection between Masonry and the independence movement," according to Ill. Elias. "Many Cuban revolutionaries were Masons. This has influenced Cubans' image of the fraternal order. In many parks and town squares, you will find a Square and Compass, and many Lodges are prominent buildings in town."

French settlers who fled the slave revolt in Haiti founded the first Cuban Lodges. The Grand Lodge of Cuba and the Supreme Council, 33°, for the Republic of Cuba were created in 1859, and they attracted many men who would go on to fight Spanish colonial rule. Ill. Armada Pena notes, "The Free-mason is imbued with the ideals of the French Revolution, the American Revolution, and the philosophical currents of the time, like Rousseau."

In an interview with the New York Times, Ill. Armada Pena explains: "We have always existed in Cuba. But after the revolution, there was a decrease in membership. So many left the country, while others thought the Masons no longer had a reason for being because our principles and our foundation as an institution were overtaken by the political process. Now we have found an echo among the young. They are looking for answers to their worries, which the state could not give them." According to Ill. Elias, Masonry provides those answers by allowing individuals to express themselves in the "civil society microcosm of the Lodges."

Making Political Strides
The Cuban government has recently given more leeway, allowing some Masons to travel to conventions overseas, including ceremonies in Washington, D.C. "There's obviously an important symbolism in establishing a connection between Lodges in Wash-ington, D.C., and Cuba," says Elias. "Our priority is to strengthen those ties."

Cuban members are careful not to overstep their bounds, and they give the government reports on their meetings, both at home and abroad. Lately, they have been allowed to conduct wreath-laying ceremonies in public parks. But they cannot hold street processions with unfurled banners. "There was a great vacuum after the fall of the socialist bloc did away with any hope for people to develop themselves," says Cuban journalist Raul Rivero in a New York Times interview. "So people sought refuge in those groups looking for solidarity. For these fraternal groups, the loyalty is to the human being. For the government, solidarity is conditioned on political principle."

As in Lodges in the United States, Cuban Masons do not talk about local politics during weekly meetings. But they say their talks are free ranging, covering everything from democracy to the human genome project.

Looking Forward
Ill. Elias contends that the Masonic Lodges are instrumental to the future of Cuba: "Throughout history, the Lodges served as vehicles for social advancement. In the United States, Masonry spread like wildfire, where the Lodges served as places where ideas were incubated and nurtured. When I see Cuba, I see the same sort of thing."

Cuban Masons have challenges to overcome, such as achieving financial stability and defining the type of charity work to perform within the structure of the socio-political climate in Cuba. But communication with Lodges based in the United States and throughout the world will be the key to continued success for the Fraternity in Cuba and as a whole.

"By exposing more U.S. Masons to Cuban Masons, we can rekindle the fire within all of us that will allow us to move forward to the next societal transformation," says Ill. Elias. "This will ultimately allow us to reconnect Masons to the fundamental principle of strengthening society worldwide."

Akram R. Elias is Wise Master of the D.C. Evangelist Chapter of Knights Rose Croix and the Junior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. A recipient of the Valentine Reintzel Medal for outstanding service to Freemasonry, Ill. Elias is a member of the various York Bodies of Freemasonry, the Shrine, and the Royal Order of Scotland. Professionally, he is President and Founder of Capital Communications Group, Inc., an international consulting firm that works closely with the U.S. Department of State in the Public Diplomacy area. In recognition of his efforts, Ill. Elias has received numerous awards, including the prestigious National Award for Excellence given by the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV), sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. He currently serves on the national board of NCIV promoting citizen diplomacy across the country. A naturalized citizen of the United States of Lebanese origin, Ill. Elias won three Telly Awards in 2001 for writing and co-producing the documentary Mr. Dreyfuss Goes to Washington starring Richard Dreyfuss. E-mail: fmbuilder@msn.com