Although it originated out of Russian members of the Grand Orient of France, by the time the GOоRP emerged in 1912 it had ripped ties to all foreign masonic organisations.

By the end of the 19th century, Russian political and intellectual emigres living in Paris had started to enter Masonic lodges working the Scottish Rite.

Following the 1905 Russian Revolution, the right to form unions and private meetings was established under Nicholas II of Russia and thus the limitations on Freemasonry were lifted.

Following the October Revolution and the ascent to power of Vladimir Lenin and the Bolsheviks Freemasonry was banned and freemasons fled abroad to Berlin and France, where they formed lodges in exile (some simply fell away from masonry altogether).

During the Russian Civil War, Masonry was perceived to be allied with the White movement and Kerensky as a figure, thus Bolshevism was hostile to it.