The “ Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie ” ( French Museum of Freemasonry ) is a museum devoted to the history of Freemasonry located in the 9 th arrondissement at 16 , rue Cadet , Paris , France . The museum was established in 1889 by the Grand Orient de France in its headquarter of the Hotel Cadet . It was despoiled in the German occupation of France during World War II but reopened in 1973 . In 2000 many of its historical documents were returned from Moscow , where the KGB had held them half a century after Germany ’ s defeat in World War II . In 2003 it became an official museum of France (« Musée de France »). It receives about 20.000 visitors a year . It is open daily except Mondays , an admission fee is charged 7 €. Today , the museum presents the history of French Freemasonry through its symbols , grades , documents , objects ... and the contributions of the Lodges to French history . It contains approximately 7,000 items , 700 of them are displayed in permanent exhibit space ( 400 m ²) and a further 200 m ² dedicated to temporary exhibits . Among the historically important items in its collection are Voltaire ’ s masonic apron ( 1778 ), Lafayette ’ s masonic sword , a first edition of James Anderson ’ s Constitutions of the Free Masons ( 1723 ), satirical prints by William Hogarth ( 1697-1764 ), Meissen porcelain figurines ( 1740 ), the earliest documents about side degrees ( 1743 ) or on the beginning of the Scottish Rite ( 1767 ) etc .
The closest Metro station is “ Cadet .” 20 minutes from the National Library . Use “ Ligne 14 ” (“ Gare Saint-Lazare ” direction ), change at “ Pyramide ” then use “ Ligne 7 ” (“ La Courneuve ” direction ), stop at “ Cadet ,” the Museum is just on the other side of the street .
Created in 1838 , the Library of the Grand Orient of France retains a specialized print fund on the history of Freemasonry of nearly 35,000 volumes 1717 marks the date of birth of the modern speculative Freemasonry in London , from 1725 the first French lodges make their appearance . Since that time , Freemasonry has continued to occupy an important place in the philosophical , spiritual and political history of France . Thousands of books testify to these nearly three centuries of reflection and commitment of the French Freemasons .
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