Carlos Esplá : anticlericalismo y masonería en un republicano español del siglo XX

Abstract

A través de este artículo se ha intentado dar una explicación —dentro del contexto español— al tradicional vínculo entre republicanismo, anticlericalismo y masonería. Para ello hemos recurrido a analizar la trayectoria de un hombre público, Carlos Esplá, que responde plenamente al perfil esencial del republicano del primer tercio del siglo XX. Se ha querido, otra cosa es que se haya conseguido, demostrar como en muchos casos tal vinculación no respondía tanto a cuestiones dogmáticas, como a motivaciones racionalistas o coyunturales. Es decir, buena parte de los republicanos eran anticlericales y masones, lo que no quería decir que fuesen antirreligiosos, ni tampoco que cumpliesen con los ritos y las consignas del Grande Oriente. Ambas militancias estaban estrechamente ligadas a una coyuntura histórica específica.

Through this article we have tried to explain —within the spanish context— the traditional link between republicanism, anticlericalism and masonry. For that reason we have resorted to analise he career of a republic man, Carlos Esplá, who perfectly answers to the profile of the republican of the first third of the xx Century. We have, we don't know if we have succeeded, to show how in lots of cases such a connection doesn't have to do with dogmatic questions as much as rationalistic or current motives. A great idea of republicans were anticlerical and masons, which didn't mean they were anti-religious, ñor that they followed the rites and instructions of the Great East. Both affiliations/tendencies were closely linked to a specific historical situation.