Historians and literary critics have repeatedly raised the question of how reliable the image of Freemasonry in Tolstoy and the prototypes of the image of Bezukhov. To the second question, Tolstoy himself answered more than once that, with the exception of two characters (Denisov and Akhrosimova), all the other heroes of the novel are fictitious, or rather, collected by the smallest lines from very many specific people. Even such historical figures how Bonaparte and Alexander are described by Tolstoy in a rather peculiar way. As for the first question, there is undoubtedly more reliable and accurate. Tolstoy used sources with extraordinary reliability, and he had many of them, and they were all excellent. In closed-end funds Russian Library and today such inexhaustible riches are hidden, which no other can boast book collection peace. Special repositories for Masonic publications and manuscripts alone occupy many floors of a huge building and this is known to all. Not everyone, however, manages to look at them. In Tolstoy's time, all this was, of course, available. Therefore, speeches and individual words - always taken in quotation marks - as well as Pierre's diary, were copied verbatim in the library, where a collection of rituals with Tolstoy's autographs is still kept. However, some inaccuracies are also striking. Firstly, it is said that Pierre's heart "did not lie to the mystical side of Freemasonry", and Tolstoy also repeats this twice. But in this case, Pierre could not have been a student and admirer of Bazdeev (Pozdneev), who was one of the most profound mystics who did not recognize Freemasonry outside of Orthodox Christian mysticism ...
The improbability of a trip “for the purpose of Masonic secrets abroad in early XIX V. Such a trip could only take place during Catherine's time. It was inspired, obviously, by the trip of Schwartz or the journey of V.I. Zinoviev, but, of course, in the 19th century there was no need to go ...
However, all these inaccuracies are insignificant compared to how accurate and penetrating great writer handed over main point and the meaning of belonging to the brotherhood of freemasons. And this despite the fact that Tolstoy himself was rather wary of Freemasonry, because at the time when he lived and worked, Russian Freemasonry began to degenerate, acquiring more and more features of the political organizations of future extremists - the Bolsheviks and the Socialist-Revolutionaries. Tolstoy opposed the philosophical arguments of Platon Karataev to Masonic teachings. This opposition of "Karataev's truth to the Masonic labyrinth of lies, which Pierre, who was disillusioned with Freemasonry, felt," sounds like a condemnation of Freemasonry, which Tolstoy wanted to express, projecting, apparently, voluntarily or involuntarily, contemporary Russian Freemasonry to the entire history of the world order.
And yet, in the sense of popularizing the brotherhood of freemasons, Tolstoy's epic probably did no less than all historical literature, and made it so that in the circles of the intelligentsia they loved and appreciated the old Russian Freemasonry. A deep reader could always understand that Pierre's throwing and disappointments are connected with his personal drama, that he himself is partly to blame for the failures and blows of fate experienced. And more than once, as the author testifies, Freemasonry was for his hero not only a source of consolation, but also made it possible to rise to a great spiritual height. And these pages are written by Tolstoy with such brightness and persuasiveness that the impression from them does not fade despite subsequent hesitations and doubts. And even seventy With extra years Soviet history, when official propaganda declared Freemasonry almost the main source of world evil, people continued to read "War and Peace" and many began to believe, like Pierre, after a conversation with Bazdeev "in the possibility of a brotherhood of people united with the goal of supporting each other on the path of virtue" .
Penetration into psychology actor artwork is internal monologue-thinking, inner (“to oneself”) speech, reasoning of the character. One thought causes another; each, in turn, gives rise to a chain reaction of considerations, conclusions, new questions. The “discoveries” that the heroes make are steps in the process of their spiritual development.
Upon admission to Freemasonry, guarantees are required from the new entrant. Anyone wishing to become a Freemason must obtain the recommendation of one of the members of the lodge into which he wishes to be admitted. Then, on the appointed day and hour, the guarantor, blindfolding the profane, introduces him to the lodge for the rite of initiation into the first Masonic step of the student.
“A week later, Pierre, having said goodbye to his new Masonic friends and left them large sums on alms, went to his estate. His new friends gave him letters to Kyiv and Odessa, to the Freemasons there, and promised to write to him and guide him in his new activity” (Ch. 5).
What specific steps did he take to confirm the moral appeals of the Masons with practical deeds? In the future, Pierre saw that under the fine guise of a holy man lies not at all what the brothers in cameo work were trying to demonstrate. Tolstoy writes: “From under the Masonic aprons and signs, he saw on them uniforms and crosses, which they had achieved in life.” Pierre saw that many representatives high society, who possessed no less wealth than he, and who took the Masonic oath to give all their property for their neighbor, shied away from making even a penny alms, and doubts began to creep into his soul.
Today in Europe, America, Asia there are a large number of Masonic lodges. A significant part of them are united in an international organization. But there is no unity in the ranks of the Freemasons. Masons themselves are less and less denying their connection with politics, but, as before, they consider humanistic ideals and ensuring human rights to be the main thing. Several Masonic lodges operate legally in Russia. One of them - "The Grand Lodge of Russia" - has its own official website on the Internet. Great master, a certain Gregory D., in his address to the readers of the site, reports that his lodge avoids engaging in politics. When asked if there are famous people from the world of business and politics among modern Freemasons, he answers: “I believe that they can be.”
What will Freemasonry look like in the future? Will it be an influential force or will it attract people with its involvement in ancient secrets and mysterious rituals? The future will provide answers to these questions.
Interview with Evgeny Shchukin, Freemasonry historian and current member of the Imhotep Lodge
A lot has already been written about the brotherhood of freemasons, its history and teachings, symbols and rituals, and almost everything is known, despite the secret nature of the Masonic society. Get information about modern freemasonry as an organization, including in Russia, it is also not difficult - the websites of all Russian Masonic lodges are presented on the Internet. Of much greater interest are the Freemasons themselves - living people who, for some reason, decide to become part of one of the most mysterious and scandalous communities in world history. Who are they - Russian Freemasons? Why do they become members of this society? What are they waiting for and what are they looking for in Freemasonry? It is difficult to talk about all modern Russian Freemasons, so we decided to talk with one of the most active and creative Russian "brothers" Evgeny Shchukin, a translator, historian, who occupies an important place in Russian Freemasonry.
Eugene, which Masonic organization do you represent in this moment?
I am a member of the Imhotep lodge, which works in the system of Egyptian Freemasonry according to the Memphis-Mizraim charter. Prior to that, he was a member of the Grand Lodge of Russia (VLR) and worked according to the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (DPSHU), held quite high positions in the VLR and DPSHU, in particular, the position of Deputy Secretary. In general, I have been in Freemasonry for 17 years, since 1993. Among my degrees of initiation are: the 32nd degree of the Scottish Rite, the degree of the Royal Code of the English model, the 33rd degree of the Memphis-Misraim Rite, the degree of S.I. Ancient Martinist Order.
How did you first meet Masonic ideas?
Like many Russian brothers, I first became acquainted with Masonic teachings through Tolstoy's "War and Peace", then came the Soviet agitprop - "Behind the Facade of the Masonic Temple" by Zamoysky, and then an independent search for a more objective and complete information, and then I immediately stumbled upon Albert Pike. And I immediately drowned in it, because it was a brilliant human being, there is practically not a single spiritually significant topic for me that he would not reveal. In particular, it was through him that I decided on my religious position which can be called universalism. He would not call it that, but in fact it was the universalist position that he formulated with his precise phrases, which determined a lot for me.
When a person enters Freemasonry, he is generally immediately warned that this is not a social insurance fund, that he will not receive any material assistance, but will only pay, pay and pay - contributions, contributions and once again contributions.
What attracted you to freemasonry so much? Why did you choose Freemasonry among the many esoteric teachings and organizations?
There were some external circumstances, for example, dissidence. I was and remain an ardent anti-Soviet, and since Freemasonry in the USSR was persecuted and ideologically stigmatized, I was doubly interested in it. I perceive the ROC exclusively as a Soviet bureaucratic product and for me it was never an option spiritual search. Besides, it's exotic. In fact, nothing was known about Freemasonry in Russia, we did not have freemasons alive, all this was surrounded by an atmosphere of mystery, scandal, exoticism. I remember my surprise when I arrived in the States, where I was initiated, for an internship at small town for 30 thousand people on the border with Canada, and there the largest building was a Masonic temple with 8 floors. This is what struck me then: what was a secret in the USSR was completely open and obvious there - the most large building in a small provincial town. Exotic, in a word.
But there are more important things, internal, let's say. Freemasonry appeals to me in two of its aspects - vertical and horizontal. Vertically, it offers an organic synthesis of all esoteric traditions. different eras And different cultures, accumulates knowledge about them, allows them to be studied and creates the right atmosphere to study them. And in the horizontal plane - I spoke about this on the radio "Echo of Moscow" - this, among other things, is a way of reviving and uniting the Russian intelligentsia, i.e. intellectuals who, in addition to intellectual work, are also engaged in spiritual work. At the moment, Freemasonry seems to me the only organization capable of uniting the intelligentsia, and this is a very significant moment for me. That is, it is an association on the basis of both intellectual and spiritual. In particular, I adhere to the position that only religious people should be accepted into Freemasonry, although there are also disagreements on this issue in the Masonic environment. The fact that traditions in Freemasonry are associated with very beautiful rituals also adds to the attractiveness of Freemasonry.
North Quabbin Lodge Officers (Massachusetts, USA, 2010. Photo: flickr.com/photos/usonian/)
It is widely believed that membership in the Masonic lodge provides some special career opportunities, privileges, income. Can you, knowing the situation from the inside, confirm or deny this?
This opinion is absolutely not true. Freemasonry generally allows only functionaries of an exclusively bureaucratic type to earn on themselves. That is, there is only one paid position in the lodges - the Secretary, who for all these torments with paperwork receives some very low wages. And no one else makes money on this, except for some corruption schemes that were in the Grand Lodge of Russia in the 90s, and now hardly anyone can get anything there either. It’s just that when the VLR was just beginning to take shape, there were material receipts from fraternal organizations abroad, and some amazing things happened to them, in Russian traditions. When a person enters Freemasonry, he is generally immediately warned that this is not a social insurance fund, that he will not receive any material assistance, but will only pay, pay and pay - contributions, contributions and once again contributions.
And how does your profane life compare with membership in a Masonic lodge? Does one interfere with the other?
Sometimes there are difficulties. For example, I gave an interview on the Ekho Moskvy radio, I could not give my real name, and I am also trying to delimit Freemasonry from work in a narrow sense.
Why are you currently working precisely according to the Memphis-Misraim charter, one of the most occult and esoteric? How do you personally feel about the occult practices?
I do not approve of them, I do not appreciate them, I do not believe in the possibility of manipulating the divine will, and I perceive magical rituals only as such - as attempts to manipulate the divine will. Mentally, I can turn to God, but without specific formulations, rituals, and so on.
However, despite this, Egyptian Freemasonry interests me for several reasons. Firstly, no one in the lodge forces anyone to do anything; there are no generally accepted occult practices. This is just one of the areas of Freemasonry, which, yes, traditionally unites people who are deeply interested in some esoteric topics. And the history of esotericism, the history of the occult has always attracted and interested me very much, I am generally a historian in my essence, although by education and occupation I am a linguist and translator. In addition to the fact that Freemasonry gives me the opportunity to deeply study the history of esoteric different centuries and countries, it also makes it possible to communicate with those people who are intellectually close to me.
Ceremony of entry into the Grand Lodge of France late XVIII century. Illustration from "Historia General de la Masoneria" (G. Danton, Spain, 1882)
How do you understand Masonic initiation? What is Initiation in Freemasonry?
In Freemasonry, it's pretty much just giving out a piece of paper. But this must be supplemented by personal conditions, and this already depends on the person. For many people, it is important to simply occupy different positions, influence, manage, but they have no desire for spiritual enlightenment. I actually consider initiation as structural points of the vector of spiritual development, as a way to improve oneself.
Can Masonic teaching be called religious, and Freemasonry itself a religion?
Masonic teaching can be called religious exactly to the extent that the philosophy of a religious person can be called religious philosophy. Freemasonry itself is only a tool for the practical realization of a person’s inner spiritual potential, religious, moral, and even physical, if a person from all Freemasonry suddenly chooses the idea of construction and starts building buildings on fresh air, Why not? After all, no one can forbid him to do this if he "sees it that way."
What is your attitude as a freemason to traditional confessions?
I don't like Christianity the most. This is my subjective point of view, although based on the literature I have read. I am very strongly against the institution of the priesthood, i.e. mediation between man and God. I am convinced that if God needs it, he can communicate with a person directly, and an intermediary is not needed, therefore I deny the sacraments, priests, etc. I do not see these minuses in Judaism, Islam, but there are many other things there - excessive formalization, restrictions invented by people that have nothing to do with God. And I don’t perceive non-monotheistic religions at all. Because I believe in a single creator, and I believe that everything else human delusions. Moreover, I am a supporter of the theory that monotheism is the original religion of mankind and only half-educated, uneducated, stupid people can various symbols transform a single deity into different gods.
At the moment, a completely totalitarian sectarian structure is the Bogdanov Grand Lodge of Russia.
But after all, Freemasonry also has rituals, landmarks, i.e. a kind of limitation, what do you think is the difference?
The difference is that in Freemasonry there is no formalization and restrictions on the vertical, but only on the horizontal - a ritual is what connects people, a ritual is very useful to create a structure, but it is not needed to communicate with God.
What, in your opinion, is the role of Freemasonry in society, in particular, in modern Russia?
Initially, in social terms, Freemasonry was planned as a narrow spiritual center that would affect the society around it. But Freemasonry has not fulfilled its task and is unlikely to ever fulfill it, because it is just a section of society. At some point, it began to work in reverse side, like a vacuum cleaner, began to absorb the tendencies of society into itself, and due to this, there are also financial crimes, and totalitarianism, and whatever. As far as I understand, at the moment a completely totalitarian sectarian structure is the Bogdanov Grand Lodge of Russia. But in this they are not far behind. South America, for example, where Freemasonry is also very totalitarian, where they have such centuries-old traditions - a military dictatorship. And in Italian Freemasonry, for example, absolute anarchy and chaos reign
What is Freemasonry in Russia in general? What is the approximate number of members of all Masonic lodges?
Freemasonry in Russia is represented by several groups of people who, in a competitive struggle among themselves, first of all, try to understand what Freemasonry is. And since at the same time they form Freemasonry in this country, here it turns out to be such an eternally unfinished, crumbling on the go and constantly changing appearance- just like a sand castle. No role in the life of the surrounding Russian society it does not play and is completely closed on itself and foreign Masonic jurisdictions.
In general, there are a little more than 600 Freemasons in Russia, about 250 in the VLR, about 350 in the OVLR, and about 50-60 more in other groups.
If a person applied and passed one interview, and found out that he does not want to become the governor of Kamchatka through Freemasonry, then that is enough, because it means that he is also bruised in the head.
What do you think, what are the general reasons why people join Masonic lodges in Russia?
Back in the mid-90s, one of our brothers, the most a strange man in our Freemasonry, a former policeman and in general a very simple and direct person, formulated this in his own manner, saying that we will all be here always and, despite all our disagreements, we will not go anywhere from here, because we are all bruised in the head. I would describe it this way, because in the 17 years that I have been in Freemasonry, I have seen people of absolutely all types, and this is what unites them all. We have, for example, semi-blissful people who have turned to esotericism, there are priests, representatives of official denominations, church-going people who are nonetheless interested in this. There are pragmatists, historians, for example, who study the material, plunging into it from the inside. There are cynics who are looking for some material, social benefits for themselves, some think to find bloody orgies or the secret of the philosopher's stone in our country, then, of course, they are massively disappointed and leave. It is difficult to identify any common causes. But we are all hurt. And I always put forward this argument in the lodge, when there is a vote on a new candidate, I always say the same phrase: a person applied in the 21st century to join the Masonic lodge. What else do you need? Why torture him? Let's take it! I personally believe that if a person applied and passed one interview, and found out that he does not want to become the governor of Kamchatka through Freemasonry, then this is enough, because it means that he is also bruised in the head. And there is no need for three interviews, as we do it, no discussions, debates, votes, re-votes, you must immediately accept
What are the prospects for Freemasonry in Russia?
Well, we have a very stormy one right now, active life, we are developing our new obedience, in one year we have come very far. We started with a lodge of 7 people, and in a year we have grown to 18, we have close contacts with the French center of our obedience, we gather 2 times a month in in full force work in the box, and this shows that our group is precisely cohesive, and this is what we were striving for. Freemasonry denies individual initiation, a person cannot be a Freemason outside the lodge, he must participate in its work constantly, and not for patents, but for an idea. This year has shown that we have great prospects, next year we will open another lodge, so everything is very rosy.
If you want to join the Masonic lodge, I would advise you to think a hundred times. I always say: you need to be prepared for the fact that this will not change anything in life. The initiation takes place inside, and if it does not happen, then it is not fate, then. It’s like in Foucault’s Pendulum in the chapter about umbanda - the main character’s girlfriend is “covered”, although she didn’t want it, and the Swede, dancing for 3 hours in the center of the hall, struggling to find unity with the spirits and writhing, does not receive anything and only tired.
Among the "blank spots" of our history, mysteries covered with legends, Freemasonry occupies a special place. For a long time this topic was closed for study: there was no literature. Now more and more new publications about Freemasonry are appearing, books are being published that were published in Russia even before the revolution. Today in the lesson we will turn to a topic that is closely related to the formation of the worldview of people of past eras and the present. But there are many myths, delusions and speculations around Freemasonry both today and in the past. The theme of Freemasonry is reflected in fiction, therefore, the task is to get acquainted with the basics of the teachings of the Masons, to find out who they are.
What is the role of Masons in the fate of the heroes of the novel "War and Peace". Real story Freemasonry begins with the construction of St. Paul's Cathedral in London under the direction of the architect Sir Christopher Wren.
The cathedral was built for a long time, from 1675 to 1710. It was then that a wonderful idea was born: in order to attract public attention to this long-term construction and to raise additional funds, to establish "artels" of masons who will "build" the cathedral without lifting a single brick, but only thinking about it. This is how "speculative" Freemasonry was born in England. The word "mason" in translation from English and French means "mason", and with the definition "franc" - a free mason.
The symbols of Freemasonry were the tools of the mason's labor: a trowel, a plumb line, a compass, a square. The cathedral was finally built, but Masonic artels - lodges - did not disappear, there were more of them. At the head of each lodge was a Master, Venerable.
The manager of a whole union of lodges was called a grandmaster or a grand master. The first theorists of Freemasonry also appeared: Andersen and Daugulier, who laid a philosophical foundation for Freemasonry, began to create its theory and structure. On June 24, 1717, representatives of the first Masonic lodges gathered in a pub and established the "Grand Lodge of England" - an association of all existing lodges. This is the first and only reliable date for the birth of Freemasonry as an organized movement. Soon Freemasonry spread to France and flourished, traditions, new symbols appeared, Masons came up with a solid story for themselves, dating back to the construction of Solomon's temple. The chief builder of this temple was appointed Adoniram, who was killed for not revealing the magic word spoken to him by King Solomon.
That name of God is "Jehovah". This legend of Adoniram underlies the initiation into a master's degree in Masonic lodges. In Russia, the first lodges appeared in the 30s of the 18th century. Peter I was a "freemason", Paul I was brought up by Freemasons and surrounded himself with them, Alexander I was a Freemason at the beginning of his reign, and in 1822 he banned Freemasonry, as a result, this ban contributed to the development secret societies Decembrists, among whom there were also many Freemasons (Ants-Apostol, Pestel, Ryleev, Bestuzhev).
There were many Masons famous people Russia. At the beginning of the 20th century, interest in Masons increased. By 1910, there were more than 100 people in Russian political Freemasonry. In terms of composition, they were mostly Cadets, Mensheviks, Socialist-Revolutionaries, and Trudoviks (Kerensky, Chkheidze, Konovalov, Nekrasov, Tereshchenko). Even before the revolution of 1917, a campaign against Freemasons began. Two arguments were used: 1) Masons have Jews in their ranks, therefore they are enemies of Orthodoxy and autocracy; 2) Masons have socialists in their ranks, which means they are connected with the "International".
Modern followers of this campaign continue to develop the myth of the Jewish-Masonic conspiracy. The main ideas of the Masons. Freemasons are hostile to the monarchy state structure. All members of society are brothers. And neither language, nor rank, nor fortune, nor wealth makes any difference between them. The ideal of Freemasons is a democratic republic.
The famous formula: "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity"; "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" is a work of Masonic origin. The ideas of democracy and the theory of separation of powers were discussed in Masonic lodges. The goal of Freemasonry is the destruction of Christian culture and its replacement by the Masonic world. Humanity is above the fatherland. Freemasonry must cross out the past of nations. It must create an international movement, the result of which will be the ideals of freedom, equality and brotherhood among peoples. Ideas of national revolutions that will destroy the historically established states and lead to the creation of a Masonic superstate.
There were some moments in the activities of the Masons of the Alexander era that impressed Tolstoy, and the writer speaks of them very warmly and sympathetically. These are primarily questions of moral self-improvement. The bearer of these ideas is Osip Alexandrovich Bazdeev, who made a strong impression on Pierre with his passionate preaching.
The image of the "benefactor" Pierre, who convinced him to take the path of orthodox Freemasonry, is written with real person- Joseph Alekseevich Pozdeev, who was popular with Moscow Masons.
