May, 2008                                                                                       

Page 6

FROM  THE  SECRETARY¡¯S  DESK

      An article in the April issue of The Global Fraternal Network regarding the ¡°Unification of Czech Freemasonry,¡± was of interest to me since my heritage is both Czech and Slovak. The article is another example of how Freemasonry has come back after the Nazi era.   

     ¡°During an impressive festive Grand Lodge meeting which took place on March 8, 2008 at the historical site of the Strahov monastery, attended by the Grand Masters of Germany, Austria,  Poland, and eleven official delegations from foreign Grand Lodges, the Brethren and Lodges previously under the Czech Grand Orient (Velikỳ Orient Éeskỳ) were formally integrated into the Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic.  Lodge Humanizmus, in Bratislava until now directly under the Grand Orient of France, was also included. A District Grand Lodge of Slovakia was constituted during the same meeting, being the final step before the constitution of the Grand Lodge of Slovakia.

Freemasonry in the Czech and Slovak Republics counts now about 450 members spread over twenty Lodges.

      The Masonic Order was first introduced in Bohemia during the mid 18th Century, but remained prohibited during the entire 19th Century under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.  After World War I and the creation of the Czechoslovak state, Freemasonry developed rapidly during the First Republic period counting prominent members such as the painter A. Mucha, President Edward Benes,  and Minister Jan Masaryk.

      Freemasonry was again banned and its members persecuted under the Nazi and Communist regimes.

      The 1989 Velvet Revolution was the beginning of a new era of freedom and development. This date coincides with the rebirth of Freemasonry in Czechoslovakia. The Grand Lodge of the Czech Republic is in amity with 155 Masonic Grand Lodges worldwide.¡±

 

A  RECORD!

    Billy Dean, Secretary of Elysian Lodge No. 214 in Los Angeles has been the Lodge secretary for thirty years. During that period of time he has signed 98 Master Mason lambskin aprons.  Thirty years as secretary is quite a feat in and of itself, but to have signed 98 aprons is a very remarkable feat 

(p.s. I know I won¡¯t ever meet or beat that record)