THIS PAGE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION DUE TO THE RATHER VOLATILE SITUATION REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE LODGES OF THE GL OF BRITISH FREEMASONS IN GERMANY. NEW ABSALOM LODGE IS NO MORE HAVING BEEN CLOSED DOWN BY THE MEMBERSHIP IN MAY 2009
SAXONY LODGE No.842
The Saxony Lodge meets on the last Wednesday of each month (except Jan. Apr. Jul. Aug. and Dec) and on the last Saturday in November at 11.00 am. The Installation is held on the last Saturday in April.
Initially Saxony Lodge was a so-called „Depute Lodge“ of New Absalom Lodge, announced at New Absalom's consecration. This is a common practise in Germany whereby the Consecrating Officer can authorise and obligate Masters to form „Daughter“ Lodges in other locations. At the New Absalom consecration both the Masters-Elect of Britannia and Saxony Lodges were obligated. The first Master of Saxony Lodge was W Bro J.A.K.Bland who held office for a very short time only and was succeeded by W Bro L. L. A. Wheatley-Perry who of course eventually became the Provincial Grand Master.
The Saxony Lodge attracted Members from the Hohne, Fallingbostel and Celle areas of North West Germany where there were large numbers of British Forces stationed. Saxony Lodge No. 842 itself spawned two „Depute“ Lodges in the forms of The Anglo-Hanseatic Lodge No. 850 consecrated in Hamburg on the 18th of January 1958 and the Star of Saxony Lodge No. 853, which was in 1958 based in Jever in North Germany but is now of course in Moenchengladbach-Rheindahlen. The Lodge has had a very close relationship with Anglo-Hanseatic Lodge over the years, with Past Masters from each lodge traditionally occupying the Installing Boards at each others Installation Meeting.
Saxony Lodge boasts both the second and third Provincial Grand Masters as Members and Past Masters! Today the Lodge enjoys the luxury of still being located in an area where there are many Servicemen stationed. Although not in Celle there are British Military units in Hohne and Fallingbostel. The lodge realises that the dependance on military personel is a mistaken path to take and has organised various events in order to getr the lodge better known throughout the local area. The immediate future looks good, but there is no place for complacency.
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In 1997 the lodge was pleased to receive VWBro John Kellas who was the Grand Secretary at the time, representing the Grand Master at the Installation. This was the first time a Grand Secretary had carried out this important duty, obviously highlighting the feelings the GM had towards the capabilities of Bro John.
On our photograph page coming up in early 2009 you can see some old photos from the 1960's when the Provincial Grand Lodge held it's meeting in Celle.
BRITANNIA LODGE No.843
Britannia Lodge No.843 meets in Bielefeld in the German Lodge Building known as the Lessinghaus. It is a really fine building which has belonged to the Masons of Bielefeld for a considerable time and is well worth a visit just to see how magnificent it is. The lodge was also a "Depute Lodge" of New Absalom Lodge and consecrated in 1957.
Bielefeld itself is the largest city of the Ostwestfalen area, a university town of a third of a million inhabitants.. The British Forces have been stationed in Bielefeld since 1946 and are still there albeit having been somewhat depleted over the years.
Ther Lodge was actually consecrated on the 6th of June 1957 as the third odge in Germany for British Freemasons. These three lodges very quickly became the British Lodge District which was at that time under the jurisdiction of the United Grand Lodge AF & AM of Germany.
the members of the lodge will always extend a warm welcome to any Masons who may be either resident or visiting in Bielefeld. Likewise the lodge would be pleased to hear from gentlemen interested in our English speaking Freemasonry.
PHOENIX LODGE No.847
The Lodge is said to haven risen from amongst the ashes of Berlin. It was consecrated on the 9th November 1957. The founder members came from amongst British servicemen then on duty in the British Sector of the divided city of Berlin.
The first meeting place was the Logenhaus in the Emser Straße in the district of Wilmersdorf but soon moved out to RAF Station Gatow on the outskirts of the city, where it remained until the British Forces left Berlin in the early 1990's. Since then the Lodge has had its home at the Logenhaus of the Grand National Mother Lodge of “The Three World Globes”, the oldest of the 5 present day Grand Lodges within the United Grand Lodges of Germany, having been founded by King Frederick the Great.
Over recent years membership has dropped and it has been difficult times for English speaking Freemasonry in Berlin. Nowadays military members have been replaced by expatriates from a variety of nations and there is a sound basis for growth in place. Contact pjgw@glbfg.de if you require any further details or contact numbers.
Visitors from recognised Masonic Constitutions are cordially invited to attend meetings of the lodge and can be assured of a warm welcome.
ANGLO HANSEATIC LODGE No.850
STAR OF SAXONY LODGE No.853
KEYS OF MÜNSTER LODGE No.881
THIS IS MY MOTHER LODGE OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER FOR NEARLY 25 YEARS. I WAS WORSHIPFUL MASTER IN 1989 AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE. I HOLD MY MEMBERSHIP OF THIS LODGE VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART AND THAT IS WHY THERE ARE EXTRA ILLUSTRATIONS AND A LARGER ARTICLE ABOUT IT.
VWBro John T. Kellas PJGW
BEAVER LODGE No.885
DORIC LODGE No.886
The Lodge was Consecrated by MW Bro R. Müller Börner the Grand Master of the VGLvD on the 9th February 1963 assisted by W Bro J.P. Railton the then Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
The ceremony took place at the Lortzinghaus, An der Katharinen Kirche in Osnabrück which was also the meeting place of Loge zum Goldenen Rade and in fact several of its members became Founder Members. The Lodge building is very impressive inside and the actual Temple is very large, probably coming second only to Anglo-Hanseatic Lodge for size.
Many German nationals were interested and either joined or weere initiated into Doric Lodge. One of these, namely W Bro K. Langenberger PGStwd(GLL), became the first German National become Worshipful Master, in 1980.
The lodge celebrated it's Silver Jubilee on the 20th of February 1988 on the occasion of the Installation of W Bro I. Cobban as its Worshipful Master. In 1994 VWBro John T. Kellas PJGW became Worshipful Master.
Like most other Lodges which rely heavily on military support the Lodge has experienced its ups and downs over the years but has nevertheless been fortunate in having a number of permanent members whose efforts have ensured that the Lodge preserve its integrity and quality throughout its existence. In 2009 however all the British Military left Osnabrück for good and in spite of having a small solid base of resident members, the future of Doric Lodge is uncertain to say the least.
Contact pjgw@glbfg.de by email for any further information.
BOND OF FRIENDSHIP LODGE No. 890een Ver Sacrum Lodge in Cologne and the British Lodges in the Rhine area, in particular Star of Saxony Lodge, led to the logical conclusion: "Why not form a German-British Lodge?" The location of Bonn was considered ideal as this was the capital city of West Germany and many English-Speaking brethren and gentlemen were in the are from a variety of countries. This led almost automatically to the name "Bond of Friendship", expressive of the chain or tie of friendship between Masons, irrespective of their nationality. It is that name which the Lodge still carries with pride.
A petition, signed by 30 Brethren, was subsequently presented to the United Grand Lodges of Germany. The Provincial Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany gave its support to this petition in an application to the United Grand Lodges, dated 8th July 1964. In addition, the Lodges Ver Sacrum and Star of Saxony sent written declarations of their support of the new Lodge.
On 15th July 1964 the United Grand Lodges of Germany authorised the new Lodge. The consecration took place on 24th October 1964 in Cologne.
The Lodge originally met at the Haus der Kölner Freimaurer in Hardefuststraße, Cologne. The origins of the Bond of Friendship as a Cologne Lodge are alluded to by the three crowns depicted in the Lodge seal. The three crowns are derived from the Cologne city coat of arms and refer to the shrine of the three kings at Cologne Cathedral. In 1969 the Lodge changed its meeting place to the Logenhaus at Dyroffstraße 2 in Bonn, where it continues to meet to this day.
Today, the lodge is in it's 44th year, the Lodge and although membership has dropped greatly, the spirit is still burning well and we continue the work of the Lodge with dedication and enthusiasm.
In earlier years, the British members of the Lodge were drawn from the Rhine Army, the British Diplomatic Service and from British companies in the Bonn-Cologne area. With the reduction of the British military presence in Germany and the transfer of the Federal Capital to Berlin, the first two groups are no longer represented among our resident Brethren. However, the proportion of British civilian members permanently based in the region has remained stable.The majority of our local Brethren today are either Germans - often with personal connections to the UK - or citizens of other countries, not only English-speaking ones. The Lodge may have started off as a German/British concept, but its membership today comes from many lands. Members of six different nationalities have served as Master of the Lodge, and our current members are from at least nine different countries. This truly shows the universality of Freemasonry - and of the Bond of Friendship Lodge.
LODGE NIEDERRHEIN No. 892
ROSE OF MINDEN LODGE No. 918
LODGE BRIDGE OF FELLOWSHIP No.929
LODGE NEUHAUS No.946
SOUTHERN STAR LODGE No. 1025
THISTLE & SALTAIRE LODGE No. 1040
