The KGB’s Masonic Files Returned to France
Matthew Scanlan Reports

A large cache of Masonic documents stolen by the Nazis in the summer of 1940, have recently been returned to France. Initially seized upon the fall of Paris, the archives were transported to Germany, only to be confiscated in turn by advancing Soviet forces in the spring of 1945. In December last year, a lorry driven all the way from Moscow, arrived in Paris laden with more than 750 boxes of these missing files. Their recovery has surprised historians who believed they had been destroyed.
    On 14 June 1940, the German army entered Paris and on the same day took control of the buildings of the Grand Orient de France, at Rue Cadet, situated in the centre of the city. German military intelligence officers also paid visits to the homes of leading Masons. On 1 July 1940, the German Foreign Minister, Alfred Rosenberg, informed Martin Borman that “great treasures” had been discovered in the occupied Masonic premises. Teams were established to seize documents relating to the workings of the Grand Orient, the largest organised body of French Freemasonry. They seized valuable historical documents, specifically targeting files covering the Grand Orient's external relations from the middle of the nineteenth century, and special attention was paid to the years immediately preceding the outbreak of the 1939 war. They also looted in the Provinces, ransacking Masonic Temples such as the one belonging to lodge “Themis” in Caen, who lost all their archives to Rosenberg's special services. Lodges in Lille, La Rochelle and Bordeaux all suffered a similar fate.
    On 1 May 1942, the Marshall of the German Reich, Hermann Goering, announced that, the struggle against the Jews, the Freemasons and other ideological forces opposing us is an urgent task for National Socialism. It is for this reason that I welcome the decision of Reichleiter Rosenberg to establish special task forces whose job it will be the safe keeping of all the documentary material and the cultural assets from the above mentioned sites.
    The repatriation of these archives is remarkable, not least, because it was originally believed the material had been lost in heavy allied bombing raids. However, the Nazis had stored much of it in disused salt mines and isolated castles, such as castle Wilkanow in Poland, thus ensuring its survival. After the collapse of the Third Reich, Stalin's victorious Red Army later transferred them to Moscow's "Special Central State Archives", where their very existence remained a State Secret. It was not until after the fall of the communist regime in 1990, that an American researcher, Kennedy Grimsted, revealed their existence.
    After prolonged negotiations, the archives were successfully returned to France. According to the Grand Orient's Librarian, Pierre Mollier, this was 'like Christmas many times over'. Researchers are still analysing the contents of the collection, but it is known to include papers touching upon subjects ranging from the first Empire under Napoleon to a Masonic speech delivered by the future French Prime Minister, Pierre Mendes France.
    The Grand Orient de France has not been recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England since 1876.

Recognition of Prince Hall Supreme Councils

On 18 April, Fred Kleinknecht 33º, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite, United States, Southern Jurisdiction, made a formal presentation of copies of the ritual to several Sovereign Grand Commanders of Prince Hall Supreme Councils. The event took place in the 'House of the Temple', the magnificent Scottish Rite headquarters in Washington, D.C., and a number of Scottish Rite dignitaries were present. The meeting was opened by the Grand Secretary of Virginia, David Kruger, 33º, who emphasised Freemasonry's universal nature and its fraternal ideals of tolerance and brotherly love. Sovereign Grand Commander Kleinknecht then welcomed all present and a frank exchange ensued.
    Prince Hall Freemasonry takes its name from a black American who was initiated into an Irish Regimental Lodge in Boston in 1775. He was subsequently issued a charter by the Grand Lodge of England, which in 1791, resulted in the formation of the first African-American Grand Lodge with Prince Hall as Grand Master. On 24 June 1808, it changed its name to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, since which time, Prince Hall Masonry has spread throughout much of the United States and can boast a series of illustrious members such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and the father of Martin Luther King.
    On 14 March 2001, the United Grand Lodge of England recognised the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, the eighteenth Prince Hall Grand Lodge to be recognised.

New Dutch Chair in Freemasonry

A new Chair dedicated to the study of Freemasonry has recently been established at one of Europe's oldest Universities. It was launched in December 2000 at the faculty of Theology of the University of Leiden, Holland, and aims to study Freemasonry as a social, cultural and spiritual phenomenon. The newly appointed Professor is the fifty-nine year old historian, Dr. A.W.F.M. Van de Sande. It has been made possible by the help of Dutch Freemasons belonging to the Grand East of the Netherlands, Holland's Grand Lodge (recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England).
    The launch of this Chair follows the foundation in 1999, of another Dutch Chair dedicated to the History of Hermetic Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam, and highlights the growing interest among academics in the history and influence of the western esoteric tradition. It coincides with the launch in March, of the first English Chair in Freemasonry established at the University of Sheffield.
    Although not a Freemason, Professor Van de Sande first encountered Freemasonry in the 1970's, when researching the relationship between the Vatican and secret societies for his thesis; ‘Restoration Politics of the Roman Curia, 1814-1817’. His interest grew, and in 1995 he published a book on the history of the Order in the Low Countries. Since 1994, Professor Van de Sande has lectured on modern history at the Catholic University of Nijmegen. In March 2001 he began a series of lectures on the history of the Craft. He emphasised how Freemasonry's traditional emphasis on tolerance and liberty of conscience has profoundly influenced European culture. Such was the success of these lectures that he is planning to repeat the series as part of an extended programme.

Masonic Indian Team Gives 800th Performance

On 3 March 2001, the Oklahoma Masonic Indian degree team gave its 800th performance in the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple. This was the culmination of a 50-year tradition starting in 1950 when the group was formed by Native American Masons in the State of Oklahoma.
    The Grand Lodge of Oklahoma marked both their 800th performance and 50th Anniversary with a special commemorative coin, and in conjunction with the Masonic Service Association of North America, also published a booklet entitled A Shared Spirit: Freemasonry and the Native American Tradition. The vast atrium of the Guthrie Scottish Rite Temple held displays of Native American art and Sacred Indian music which helped evoke a unique ambience. For the anniversary, the Grand Master, Robert T. Shipe, 33º, issued a special dispensation allowing the raising of 129 Fellow Crafts at the celebration which was attended by almost 700 brethren.
    In the first section of the Master Mason Degree, the Oklahoma Masonic Indian team always performs in black trousers and colourful long-sleeved ribbon shirts, and in the second, each member wears the dance regalia or the full ceremonial costume of his tribe. Singing is considered a sacred art among the tribes, and ritual singers are held in high regard. The team contains two singers who lead the other members, and traditional Masonic music is replaced with Native American songs in the original language. Many Native Americans have embraced Freemasonry, recognising perhaps, its universal teaching and message of tolerance.

Masonic Museums Conference

From 13-15 July, the Grand Lodge of Scotland hosted, at Freemason’s Hall, Edinburgh, the 13th Annual Conference of the Association of Masonic Museums in Europe. The association was established in 1989 by the Masonic Museum of Beyreuth in Germany, in order to help curators and librarians working in this specialised area.
    The conference was attended by thirty-five delegates from eight countries, representing a total of seventeen different institutions. Topics ranged from conservation to the recovery of missing Masonic archives. Ms Fran Hegyi of the Scottish Museums Council opened the event with a talk entitled "Museums and Social Justice": she outlined a move by museums in general to try and appeal to a wider audience.
    Pierre Mollier, Librarian of the Grand Orient of France, delivered a special report on the recent return of 750 boxes of Masonic papers from Moscow (see page 12). This extensive collection of papers was seized by the Nazis in the summer of 1940 before being transported to Moscow by the victorious Soviet forces in 1945. Mr. Mollier emphasised the significance of their return; it is hoped they will provide historians and Masonic researchers with a more complete picture of French and European Masonic history.
    Other speakers included Professor Andrew Prescott, who gave an insight into the work of the new Centre for Masonic Studies based at the University of Sheffield. The Chairman of the Conference, Robert L. D. Cooper, Curator of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library said: "It was an interesting, indeed exciting, conference, not least, from my point of view, because it was revealed that among the material returned by Russia is a considerable amount of correspondence to and from the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The initiative at the University of Sheffield and the Exhibition at Tours are significant for Freemasonry not only here in the United Kingdom but also for the whole of Europe". The next conference will be held in the French city of Tours to coincide with a major International Masonic Exhibition from 15 June - 8 September, 2002. Details of the Edinburgh Conference can be found at: www.grandlodgescotland.com