The Grand Orient de France claims to receive an “exponential” number of requests, sent via a contact form, from candidates for Masonic initiation. Guillaume Trichard is himself the product of this opening of Freemasonry to curious young people.
The idea of becoming a Freemason in a few clicks is not self-evident, he says. However, before clicking, you must keep in mind that a brake is still delaying many applications: many boxes within the Grand Orient remain reserved for men. The subject continues to divide Freemasonry after virulent debates within it, the GODF finally opted for freedom, and each lodge can decide whether or not to admit women to initiation. It is also the symptom of an initiatory quest among many young people: “we are an initiateatory order which calls for deep reflection on oneself, this perhaps attracts people who want to find in a peaceful way,” Trichards says. The average age of GODF initiates is over sixty.