The France Interference in Iran
Irdc: Freemason activities in Iran began with Asgar Khan Afshar Aroomi in 1808, during Qajar era. Freemasonry was spread by Farrokh Khan Amin-o-doleh, Amir Nezam Garoosi and Yousef Khan Mostashar-o-doleh Tabrizi. The assembly of Mirza Malkom Khan, the Great Assembly of Adamiat (established by Abbas Gholi Khan Adamiat, the Loge of Mirza Mohsen Khan Moshir-o-doleh and the Private Society established by Mirza Ali Khan Zahir-o-doleh were the gatherings with no justification from a higher global freemasonry organization but their meetings, and their rites and rituals were so close to freemasonry loges.
France Freemasonry Organization established the "Iran's Awakening" Loge in Tehran. It had the real formation of an organization and followed the freemasonry regulations. It was the first official freemason assembly established in 1945. The founders were mostly popular powerful Iranians respected by the public. Intellectual, national, religious, scientific, cultural and revolutionary figures were among them, each joined the loge with a purpose. Some believed it was a place for illuminating people's thoughts, an intersection of modern ideas and the cause of Iranian Awakening. Some others, regarding the main feature of the French Freemasonry, fighting against the oppressing domination, joined the loge hoping to end the era of monarchs. The other group, fell for the brotherhood and the humanitarian slogans of the loge and worked with honesty among the freemasons. Morever, there were people who joined the loge only to be safe from the anger of Qajars and have their social and political support in especial occasions.
Speaking of freemasonry has often been along with the terms like "betrayal" or "serving the Imperialism". Some believe that freemasonry is an aid to the same aspirations of the imperialism, working for the same plans. But due to the characteristics and activities of most Iranian members of the Awakening Loge, it could be kind of exaggerating to say so.
With the beginning of World War (August 1914), including France, Awakening loge was shut down. After the war they had ups and downs and it was finally closed in 1933.
Since the Council was closed after the 1908 bombardment of Majlis (the Parliament), the activities of the Awakening loge were also interrupted. The government agents broke into the houses of some members of the parliament such as Mirza Ali Khan Zahir-o-doleh, the head of the Brotherhood Society, seeking for the documents of the loge. But by the infiltrator of France embassy in the crown, transported the documents to France ambassador's house in Tehran.
When the constitutionalists took over Tehran, they decided to reopen the National Consultative Assembly. The 2nd election was held and the members were chosen. This reopening gave hope to the French Freemasonry organization to activate the loge after a one-year gap. Esmaeil Raein has written that in a short while after the inaugural, the official ceremonies were held and the members of the loge gathered once again.