The French saga of the Grand Loge Nationale Française (GLNF) and its beleaguered Grand Master François Stifani has taken a sudden new twist. Stifani resigned last Friday as President (essentially Chairman) of the Board that runs the business side of the grand lodge, but did not resign as Grand Master. The rest of the Board resigned, as well. Observers believed this was an attempt to stall for further time in reaction to a court ruling by Paris' Grand Tribunal (TGI) that ordered an immediate convening of a general assembly of the GLNF's members to remove Stifani as President of the Board, select new leadership, pass a budget, and authorize an accounting of previous years, while carefully monitoring the vote to assure no funny business. Stifani's resignation as President implied that he felt that he could stay as Grand Master, and a dissolved Board of Directors meant no real action could be taken immediately to force the assembly to convene.
Au contrere, said the court. The Paris Tribunal announced yesterday that it has appointed a female attorney, Monique Legrand, to a six month post as the ad hoc administrator of the all-male GLNF's business.
The language and cultural details can be confusing—articles refer to the administrator as "Master Monique Legrand," which gets WAY too bewildering when Masonic terms sound the same, but the term "Master" in her case seems to be the US equivalent of "Esq." for an attorney.
The most important line in this whole story appears at the bottom of the page; "The Justice of the Republic does not distinguish the functions of Grand Master and President." It seems that Stifani is out as GM, whether he agrees with the Court's opinion or not.
Between Google, me, and Brothers Clarence Anderson and Brian Fegely, here is the clearest translation I can manage from the French article by Francis Koch at L'Express magazine, who has been reporting all of this:
Justice of the Republic shall take the direction of the GLNF
January 25, 2011 7:33 p.m. | by Francis Koch
In an order issued this morning, the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris has appointed attorney Monique Legrand, court administrator, as administrator ad hoc of the French National Grand Lodge (GLNF) second largest allegiance in France with 43,000 brothers. The mission of the administrator is expected to last six months and will cease as soon as the bodies of the GLNF decide.
This order was obtained today by lawyers for Freemasonry Regular (FMR), an association of brothers in conflict with the GLNF [and its Grand Master] Francois Stifani since December 2009.
Under this order, authorized by a vice-president of TGI, the administrator ad hoc has 5 missions:
1. Administer GLNF with the assistance of employees and take all measures made necessary by the situation;
2. Represent GLNF in all judicial proceedings;
3. Take all measures to enable the GLNF to have a President, a Board and an Office;
4. Convene a general assembly with the agenda being the approval of the 2008-2009, 2010-2011 Budget and the ratification of the appointment of President [and Grand Master] by the Supreme Grand Committee;
5. Access any relevant documentation, including membership and financial records.
Monique Legrand has now authority to administer the GLNF. It seems that the order deprives Francois Stifani of any power regarding the current management of the obedience, as he signed again yesterday a letter as Grand Master of the Supreme Grand Committee.
This information is all the more surprising since Francois Stifani has operated with apparent "split personality" in the matter.
On 21 January 2011, he has indeed resigned from his position as Chairman of the GLNF ... while claiming to remain Grand Master. He actually wanted to remain leading the obedience as Grand Master, while allowing an attorney to perform the chores [as required by a] December 7, 2010 decision of the TGI of Paris (the convening of a [General Assembly] for the purpose of removing the President).
Francois Stifani claimed the obedience could be run by two [separate positions]: a Grand Master and a Chief Manager (which the statutes of the GLNF do not really provide for). His resignation [has] therefore turned against him.
The Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance has indeed accepted the resignation of Francois Stifani declaring he is no longer needed for the purpose of the next General Assembly, the dismissal of the Chairman, and some members of the Board administration, but the Assembly must make "the ratification of the appointment of the Chairman pursuant to Article 2.3 of the Rules of Procedure". But this clause 2.3 is for the nomination of a "candidate for Grand Master" and "ratification of the Association at the General Assembly".
The Justice of the Republic does not distinguish [between] the functions of Grand Master and President."
January 25, 2011 7:33 p.m. | by Francis Koch
In an order issued this morning, the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Paris has appointed attorney Monique Legrand, court administrator, as administrator ad hoc of the French National Grand Lodge (GLNF) second largest allegiance in France with 43,000 brothers. The mission of the administrator is expected to last six months and will cease as soon as the bodies of the GLNF decide.
This order was obtained today by lawyers for Freemasonry Regular (FMR), an association of brothers in conflict with the GLNF [and its Grand Master] Francois Stifani since December 2009.
Under this order, authorized by a vice-president of TGI, the administrator ad hoc has 5 missions:
1. Administer GLNF with the assistance of employees and take all measures made necessary by the situation;
2. Represent GLNF in all judicial proceedings;
3. Take all measures to enable the GLNF to have a President, a Board and an Office;
4. Convene a general assembly with the agenda being the approval of the 2008-2009, 2010-2011 Budget and the ratification of the appointment of President [and Grand Master] by the Supreme Grand Committee;
5. Access any relevant documentation, including membership and financial records.
Monique Legrand has now authority to administer the GLNF. It seems that the order deprives Francois Stifani of any power regarding the current management of the obedience, as he signed again yesterday a letter as Grand Master of the Supreme Grand Committee.
This information is all the more surprising since Francois Stifani has operated with apparent "split personality" in the matter.
On 21 January 2011, he has indeed resigned from his position as Chairman of the GLNF ... while claiming to remain Grand Master. He actually wanted to remain leading the obedience as Grand Master, while allowing an attorney to perform the chores [as required by a] December 7, 2010 decision of the TGI of Paris (the convening of a [General Assembly] for the purpose of removing the President).
Francois Stifani claimed the obedience could be run by two [separate positions]: a Grand Master and a Chief Manager (which the statutes of the GLNF do not really provide for). His resignation [has] therefore turned against him.
The Paris Tribunal de Grande Instance has indeed accepted the resignation of Francois Stifani declaring he is no longer needed for the purpose of the next General Assembly, the dismissal of the Chairman, and some members of the Board administration, but the Assembly must make "the ratification of the appointment of the Chairman pursuant to Article 2.3 of the Rules of Procedure". But this clause 2.3 is for the nomination of a "candidate for Grand Master" and "ratification of the Association at the General Assembly".
The Justice of the Republic does not distinguish [between] the functions of Grand Master and President."
More...