Masonry in Dortmund

 As the Lodge has only been in existence for six years it cannot as yet boast a lengthy history, or indeed make claim to any significant masonic achievements. It can nevertheless be said that by the international use of the English language, it has clearly written a new chapter in the annals of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons within Germany (GL AF&AMvD), and brought a new masonic perspective to the City of Dortmund.

On the 2nd November 2008, having already been given provisional agreement to the idea from the Grand Lodge, a small group of Masons assembled together at Paderborn-Sennelager to consider the possibility of founding an English-speaking Lodge. However, as they were living across the length and breadth of North Rheine Westfalia one of the most important decisions to take was where the Lodge best be located and could suitable premises be found. Following some considerable thought the location was eventually agreed to be the central Ruhrgebiet, where most of the cities and larger towns have good road, rail and air access. Further discussions were to result in an offer from Loge Zur alten Linde Nr. 361 to use their splendid premises located in Landgrafenstrasse, which was eagerly accepted. The Lodge was to be named „Loge Forget Me Not“ in token of the flower and its original significance to interred Masons in Germany throughout the war years, being later formally adopted as a masonic emblem that has become known to Masons throughout the world.

The next significant development came on the 31st January 2009 at a meeting in Dortmund with the decision to formally apply to become a Registered Association, known in Germany as an Eingetragener Verein (e.V) and a prerequisite of final acceptance by GL AF&AMvD. Registration was eventually approved by the Dortmund Courts and the way was clear for the Lodge to proceed.

Following much preparatory work the Lodge was formally opened by the Deputy Grand Master (GL AF&AMvD) Brother Axel Pohlmann on the 13th June 2009 in the presence of some 90 visitors, most of whom stayed for the following festivities. Brother David Gale, a Past Grand Master (1997-2000) of the Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany and holder of its Award to Masonry, and the Award of Honour from the United Grand Lodges of Germany, being elected the first Worshipful Master.

Dortmund has enjoyed a long association with Masonry dating back to 1855. However, even well before this date many Masons lived and worked in and around the city and it is due to their vision and dedication that realised Loge Zur alten Linde Nr. 368 as the first Lodge in the city. They first met in a rented rundown barn at the rear of the building shown in the picture on the Reinoldustrasse, and it was not until 1866 that the Lodge acquired its own purpose built premises in Viktoriastrasse, which due to a rapidly increasing membership had to be extended in both 1873 and 1879. There were nevertheless many other Lodges and quasi masonic organisations working within the city and its surrounding area before the Second World War (1939-1945). However, with the onset of National Socialism in 1933, and its subsequent infamous reign of terror, the end of Masonry in Germany came in July 1935 with the confiscation of masonic effects and the forced closing of all the Lodges.

Following its post war resurrection in 1947 Loge Zur alten Linde met at the Michaelshaus (Gemeindehaus) in Aplerbeck, moving in 1952 to Haus des Arbeitgeberverbandes, Prinz-Friedrich-Karl Strasse and yet again in 1979 to the former Jewish Kultusgemeinde in the same street. In 1996 a momentous decision was taken to convert the well known wartime bunker in Landgrafenstrasse, and on the 10th November 2001, some 146 years after its humble beginnings in a barn, the Lodge was formerly opened in its present premises, a truly magnificent tribute to commitment and dedication over many years.