Judaism, Freemasonry and Nasser Al-Din Shah

Freemasonry's history can be examined from different directions. The current discussion is simply abbreviated to emphasize the fact that Freemasonry current process was in a way so that an individual like Nasser Al-Din Shah cannot be too optimistic toward it. by such an atmosphere, the prohibition of Masonic activities of people like Malcolm Khan pretending in believing in Islam, will have a clearer analysis; an issue that was able to insure its effectiveness, central independence and sovereignty of the government of Iran for a while and it save it from new trap.
A. Development era of Freemasonry in the East and West
As we said, capitalism colonialism has raised powerful and non-governmental centers because of the nature of the capitalist system. Masonic centers can also be analyzed from this angle, and they can be observed independently and simultaneously, with extensive and complex interaction with colonial states. When we examine the influence of centers of Masons in countries such as Iran, one of the grounds for the growth and development of these centers and getting native of such colonial institutions is programming for the benefit of minorities, especially the Jews who had a considerable influence in society. Many of them were newly Islamic so that factor facilitated their membership in these associations and supported will of power of the minorities. Masonic plan for the Jewish minority in Islamic Iran provide backgrounds of arrival of many Jewish men at Masonic level as well as political power levels.
By a review on development of Masonic endeavors in the half of the eighteenth century, and refers to the date of formation of Freemasonry lodges in different countries, we can guess that coherent struggle that was formed after founding Grand Lodge of London in 1717 AD, your circle at the same time or at least two or three decades later, and influenced Iran as well and naturally Iran's rulers and kings became vaguely familiar with some aspects of them from the same period:
India: the first Freemasonry lodges were established between 1728 to 1730 in Calcutta and Bombay and Bengal and then they expanded to other major cities of India.
Turkey: the first Masonic lodges began in 1736.
Russia: first Freemasonry lodges were established in Russia in 1749.
US: first Freemasonry lodges were formed in 1730 in Boston and Philadelphia and spread in all America East States in 1750.
Canada: first Freemasonry lodges were established in 1721.
Ireland and Belgium: the first Freemasonry lodges were founded in 1721 in these countries.
Spain and Portugal: the first Lodges were formed between 1728 and 1732.
Netherlands: The first Freemasonry lodges were established in 1734.
Italy, Switzerland, and Sweden: the first Freemasonry lodges were established in the three countries in 1735.
Poland: first Freemasonry lodges were formed in 1739.
Austria, Hungary, Norway and Denmark: Freemasonry lodges in these countries have been established since 1742 to 1747.
Most of Freemasonry lodges were dependent on or subordinated to lodges in London by the end of the eighteenth century. Freemasonry lodges in Africa first appeared in Egypt in the late eighteenth century. The Lodges at the beginning were following French lodges, but they were dependent on English lodges in the nineteenth century.
B. Freemasonry and influence of Armenian and Jewish labeled in Iranian governmental structure
Although Askar Khan Arumi Afshar, Mirza Abulhasan Shirazi, Mirza Mohammad Saleh Shirazi and Mirza Ja'far Khan Farahani (future Moshir-ol Doleh) are the first well-known Freemasons of Iran, but familiarity with the freemasonry in Iran goes back to date before it. Tohfeh Alam, Safarnameh of Abdul Latif Shoushtari is the most famous written work in this regard that has reported membership of some Iranian traders in Calcutta in Freemason or Frymysn in 1789: "Indians and Persian-speaking Indians call the community forgotten house that is not inappropriate, as they will answer that: "it is not remembered"; many Muslims in Kolkata, including some of the city's Iranian businessmen are in this forum.”
Mirza Abu Talib, who was settled in England from 1879 to 1802 and Dennis Wright, former ambassador of Britain in Iran in "The Iranians" mentions him among the British in detail. By title of " Freemason House and the situation of the nation" he has presented a report of Freemasonry and as Abdul Latif Shushtari he has benefited the concept of "forgetting" to introduce it, and with an emphasis on the aspect of secrecy of the organization, he noted that foreign peoples call it "Faramoshan» which indicates "forgotten" word, and it was not initiative pf Mirza Malkum Khan and it has a long history.
In the history of Freemasonry in Turkey, he also referred participation of Iranians in Istanbul in the organizations of Freemasonry in the second half of the eighteenth century.
However, the figures that their Masonic history is available have joined them since the early nineteenth century. Askarkhan Afshar Aromi entered the lodge of "philosophical Lodge or Philosophic" of France in 1807 or 1808. The important point in this regard is that Renewdo St. Jean Danzhly, one of Napoleon's ministers, delivered a detailed speech on the occasion of the adoption of Askarkhan that apart from the importance of Askarkhan, it demonstrated the independence of the French lodges from England and Scotland. Napoleon praised Askarkhan in his letter to Fath Ali Shah. After returning to Iran, he was appointed as regent to rule in his home, Uremia by Abbas Mirza which was less important than his previous jobs.
In addition to our ignorance of his documented relationship with the organization of Freemasonry after this period that has led Freemasonry researchers to declare unawareness about his next Masonic activities. According to some indications, we can guess something important. For conclusion of this conjecture in our minds, thinking about the point is important that he in this period, in terms of place was near and in more interaction with the Ottomans, and perhaps his establishment in Urmia is by ancient transplantation with Freemason organizations, because we know that in 1818, the philosophical creed of Freemasonry in Iran has been established by Grandavryan in Erzurum but its Iranian originality was doubted by Elgar.
Another issue that can be taken into account from the angle of benefit of religious minorities and strengthening their position is entrance of nephew of Mirza Ebrahim Khan Kalantar to Freemasonry groups.
Two years after the entry of Askarkhan to the Masonic organization in France, Mirza Abulhasan Khan Ilchi (niece and husband of sister of Mirza Ebrahim Khan Kalantar called Etemad Al-Dulleh who was Jewish and newly converted to Islam), joined Freemasonry seven months after arriving in England on 14th or 15th June 1810, with magnificent formalities, and they granted him a prominent place as the former Grand Master of Grand Lodge of England and Iran's regional Grand Master.
On that occasion, Sir Gor Ozeli, his hostesses and next minister of the British in Iran and the person who provided the context of his membership in Freemasonry, participated and in addition to the presence of 35 members of the main lodge, Duke F Sussex, brother of George III, King of England and a number of British prominent Freemasonry officials attended as well. After that King's brother arranged a banquet in honor of Ilchi, and delivered a speech in praise of him. It is worth noting Sir Gor Ozeli, who along with the Ilchi as the next Plenipotentiary Minister of the British in Iran and a person whose membership context in Freemasonry was provided, participated and more than 35 members of the main lodge, Duke F Sussex, brother of George III, King of England, and a number of prominent British Freemasonry officials also attended. Afterwards King's brother managed a banquet in honor of Ilchi and he delivered a speech in praise of him. It is worth noting Sir Gor Ozeli, who came to Iran along with Ilchi as England plenipotentiary minister, had received command of Supreme Master of regional Freemasonry, so that he used to provide monthly salary around one thousand pounds sterling for Mirza from the East India Company, that he took it till the end of his life and for 35 years. Not to mention that a man like Mojtaba Minavi believes that "he received money from British government for a few years and apparently he did not betray his country!!"
Interestingly, he spent his efforts in Golestan and Turkamanchay contracts to securing the UK's interests. As in the years 1234- 1235 AH / 1819- 1820 AD, the Iranian ambassador was in Britain for the second time and he was present in Freemasonry communities and then he returned to Iran in 1239 AH / 1823 AD, and he became the second Foreign Minister of Iran by Fath Ali Shah for ten years till death of Nasser Al-Din Shah , until the death of Fath Ali Nasser Al-Din (1250 AH / 1834 AD)(and by report or analysis of Abbas Eqbal Ashtiani: he was the first one). In the wake of the death of the king and conspirators against the deputy and support for Ali Shah Zill al-Sultan, the eldest son of Fath Ali Shah who claimed the throne and was in power in Tehran, was looking for support from foreign governments and after the ascension of Muhammad Shah, by fear of Mirza Abulghasem Ghaem Magham, Prime Minister of Mohammad Shah, he sat in Abdul Azim for session, but after the dismissal and murder of the Ghaem Magham (30 Safar 1251 AH / 26 June 1835 AD), with the support of the British he returned to the politics and in 1254 AH / 1838 AD, he reached State Department again and he was appointed there until death (1262 AH / 1845 AD), and he played an important role in repairing the relationship between Iran and Britain, after failed attempt of Mohammad Shah to conquer Herat and worsening relations between the two.
It is interesting that Banim Mirza Abul Hasan Khan Ilchi, after deposing his father-in-law and uncle Mirza Ebrahim Khan Kalantar (Etemado Dolleh) by Fath Ali Shah, and extermination of the house, including blinding and cutting tongue of Etemad Dolleh, exile to Qazvin and Taleghan and finally murdering him in Taloqan (1215 AH / 1801 AD), he lost the government of Shoushtar and lived in India in exile for some time. This period coincided with the four-year rule of Richard Wellesley in India. Abul-Hasan Shirazi's contents of the travel book also indicated his close relationship with the house of Wellesley during his embassy era in London (1809- 1810 AD). Richard Wellesley was the British Foreign Secretary during this embassy, and he had a great support for him and in completing his mission he also wrote good things about him to Mirza Shafi Mazandarani, Iran's prime minister.
The decline of the Kalantar family (Ghavam Shirazi) was temporary. With the improvement of the relationship between Iran and Britain, the family returned to power again. Mirza Ali Akbar Khan, fourth son of Kalantar (next Ghavamolmolk) became governor of Fars. Ilchi in nine years after the ouster of his uncle and father-in-law from Chancellery and after signing preliminary contact of "friendship and alliance", known as " ambiguous Convention " and with the mediation of relatives of Fath Ali Shah was summoned to Tehran, and due to being familiar with English language and by report of Dennis Wright, on the recommendation of Sir Harford Jones, he was sent to London and he resided in the home of Sir John Malcolm by hospitality of Sir Gor Ozli and companionship of James Morieh for six months.