Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico
The Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico (Gran Logia Soberana de Puerto Rico) is recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England. It was constituted as a sovereign grand lodge in 1885, having evolved from a Provincial Grand Lodge established by the Grand Lodge of Cuba in 1884. The first Grand Master was Santiago R. Palmer, and the grand lodge traces its lineage through the Cuban Masonic tradition, which itself was deeply influenced by the independence movements of the Spanish Antilles.
The grand lodge’s early history was interrupted by the political turbulence of the final years of Spanish colonial rule. Historical sources indicate that it encountered significant difficulties under Spanish political pressure in the 1890s; after the 1898 Spanish-American War ended Spanish sovereignty over Puerto Rico, the grand lodge reorganized and re-established active operations. The grand lodge is headquartered in San Juan and is recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England. It serves approximately 70 lodges, including one in the Virgin Islands, with more than 2,700 members.
Visiting Masons from UGLE-recognized jurisdictions are welcomed at lodges throughout the island. Lodges conduct their work in Spanish. Puerto Rico’s status as a US territory makes travel logistics straightforward for visiting Masons from North America.
Puerto Rico’s transition from Spanish to American sovereignty in 1898 brought significant changes to the island’s institutional landscape, including its Masonic community. American Masons arrived with the US military and administration, and lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New York and other US grand lodges established themselves alongside the existing Puerto Rican grand lodge. The Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico (the successor to the Spanish-era lodge tradition) navigated this dual Masonic presence and maintained its UGLE-recognized status through the twentieth century.
Puerto Rico’s unique political status as an unincorporated territory of the United States (its residents are US citizens but the island is not a state) creates an unusual Masonic context: a UGLE-recognized sovereign grand lodge operating in American territory. The Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico has maintained its sovereignty and UGLE recognition through all political discussions about Puerto Rico’s status.
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