The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

Chapter 2 – Historical Background 71
professed an anti-Jewish attitude. However, England and France, especially the
English deism and the French materialism, had a strong impact on the German
people, so that keywords like "tolerance" and "world citizen" could take root in
Germany, as well. The German philosopher Lessing even dedicated a book on
Masonic conversations between an initiate and a non-Mason, "Ernst und Falk,"
to this topic. Lodges that initiated only Jews were created in Berlin and
Hamburg, under the pseudonym of "tolerance lodges," i.e. "Melchisedek- oder
Toleranzlogen." 178
As to the ritualistic practices in German Masonry, a variety of rituals was
used. Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia lists several examples from the 20 th century
prior to the Nazi persecutions. Thus, five of the principal Grand Lodges confined
themselves to the three Craft Degrees. Three Grand Lodges in Berlin worked
systems of their own, varying from two or three high degrees up to seven or
eight. 179
a) The Grand Lodge of Hamburg, some lodges under the Grand Lodge
of Saxony at Dresden, some lodges under Grand Lodge Royal York
of Friendship, and most of the independent lodges used the old
English rituals as modified by Schroeder.
b) The Grand Lodge of the Three Globes at Berlin used the Feller
ritual as revised by Zollner for the Craft Degrees and the Rectified
Strict Observance for the rest.
c) The National Grand Lodge of All German Freemasons at Berlin
used the Swedish ritual with variations.
d) The Grand Lodge Royal York of Friendship used the Fessler ritual.
e) The Grand Lodge of the Sun at Bayreuth used the Fessler ritual
predominantly but not exclusively.
f) The Eclectic Union at Frankfort used the Modern English ritual.
g) The Grand Lodge Concord at Darmstadt used the Modern English
ritual with variations. 180
This ritualistic diversification shows that, with regard to Masonic
universality, there was not even ritualistic unity within a single country. The
outline and spirit of German Grand Lodges differed, as well. At the time of the
First World War, eight Grand Lodges existed in Germany. Three additional ones
were constituted in 1930. Here, a separation into two groups becomes evident:
some Grand Lodges, the so-called "Old Prussian Lodges," enjoyed the protection
of the Prussian Kings and admitted only men of Christian faith. To these belong
the Grand Mother Lodge of the Three Globes (founded 1740 in Berlin), the
Grand Lodge of Prussia (1760 in Berlin), and the National Grand Lodge of
German Freemasons (1770 in Berlin).
178 Cf. Six, p. 93/94.
179 Cf. CME, p. 287.
180 Ibid, p. 288.