United Grand Lodges of Germany
Encyclopedia
The United Grand Lodges of Germany or, in German, Vereinigte Großlogen von Deutschland (VGLvD) is an amalgamation of the five Grand Lodges of Freemasons in Germany, and is recognized as regular by the United Grand Lodge of England.
The Masons of the VGLvD are committed to dignity, freedom and self determination of people-centered traditions of their league. The organization claims to have approximately 470 lodges, all male , for a total of about 14,100 Masons (there is a separate Women's Grand Lodge of Germany and the two grand lodges recognize the existence of each other, though they have no official ties).
Additionally, the United Grand Lodges of Germany assumed the two St. John's lodges with special responsibilities for Jacob DeMolay of the Flaming Star (with three deputy lodges) and The White Lily and the Forschungsloge Quatuor Coronati .
) and the great Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany
(GLL FvD) (originally formed in 1770) joined together in the Vereinigten Großlogen von Deutschland, Bruderschaft der Freimaurer (United Grand Lodges of Germany, Brotherhood of Freemasons) with a Magna Carta of German Freemasons. In 1970, the Great National-Mother Lodge "Of the Three Globes" (GNML "3WK") and the Provincial Grand Lodges of the United Grand Lodge of Germany province of British Freemasons (PR BRF) and the American Canadian Provincial Grand Lodge (ACPGL AF & AM) also joined the United Grand Lodges of Germany under this Magna Carta.
The VGLvD represents German Freemasonry to foreign institutions (the other Grand Lodges) and the German public. The member Grand Lodges are autonomous in their internal affairs and in the manner of teaching.
Unlike other grand lodges of the Grand Master of VGLvD is only active representative. Decision-making body is the Senate which consists of five members of the GL AFuAMvD, three members of the GLLFvD and one member of the other three Grand Lodges.
The Masons of the VGLvD are committed to dignity, freedom and self determination of people-centered traditions of their league. The organization claims to have approximately 470 lodges, all male , for a total of about 14,100 Masons (there is a separate Women's Grand Lodge of Germany and the two grand lodges recognize the existence of each other, though they have no official ties).
Grand Lodges
The United Grand Lodges of Germany comprise five constituent lodges:- Großloge der Alten Freien und Angenommenen Maurer von Deutschland Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Germany (GL AFuAMvD)
- Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of GermanyGrand Landlodge of the Freemasons of GermanyThe Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany , also: Order of Freemasons is a Masonic Grand Lodge in Germany...
(Große Landesloge der Freimaurer von Deutschland, GLL FvD) - Große National-Mutterloge „Zu den drei Weltkugeln“ Grand National Mother Lodge, "The Three Globes" (GNML 3WK)
- The Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in GermanyGrand Lodge of British Freemasons in GermanyThe Grand Lodge of British Freemasons in Germany is a Masonic Grand Lodge in Germany working in the English language and following English masonic traditions. It was founded as a District Lodge in 1957 and was recognized as Grand Lodge in 1959. This Grand Lodge is one of the five United Grand...
(GL BFG) - American Canadian Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M (ACGL)
Additionally, the United Grand Lodges of Germany assumed the two St. John's lodges with special responsibilities for Jacob DeMolay of the Flaming Star (with three deputy lodges) and The White Lily and the Forschungsloge Quatuor Coronati .
Constitution
In 1958, the United Grand Lodge of Germany (now the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Germany (GL AFuAMvD)) (organized on 19 June 1949 in St. Paul's Church in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
) and the great Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany
Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany
The Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany , also: Order of Freemasons is a Masonic Grand Lodge in Germany...
(GLL FvD) (originally formed in 1770) joined together in the Vereinigten Großlogen von Deutschland, Bruderschaft der Freimaurer (United Grand Lodges of Germany, Brotherhood of Freemasons) with a Magna Carta of German Freemasons. In 1970, the Great National-Mother Lodge "Of the Three Globes" (GNML "3WK") and the Provincial Grand Lodges of the United Grand Lodge of Germany province of British Freemasons (PR BRF) and the American Canadian Provincial Grand Lodge (ACPGL AF & AM) also joined the United Grand Lodges of Germany under this Magna Carta.
The VGLvD represents German Freemasonry to foreign institutions (the other Grand Lodges) and the German public. The member Grand Lodges are autonomous in their internal affairs and in the manner of teaching.
Unlike other grand lodges of the Grand Master of VGLvD is only active representative. Decision-making body is the Senate which consists of five members of the GL AFuAMvD, three members of the GLLFvD and one member of the other three Grand Lodges.
Grandmasters
- Theodor Vogel (1958–1959),
- Friedrich A. Pinkerneil (1959–1960 und 1962–1963),
- Konrad Merkel (1960–1961),
- Richard Müller-Börner (1961–1962),
- Willi Schulz (1963–1965 und 1969–1970),
- Werner Römer, (1965–1966 und 1968–1969),
- Heinz Rüggeberg (1966–1968),
- Hans Gemünd (1970–1971),
- Hermann Kehlenbeck (1971–1972),
- Friedrich Heller (1972–1975),
- Walter Veit (1975–1976),
- Hans Werner Schneider (1976),
- Günther Gall (1976–1977),
- Bernhard Rohland (1977–1978),
- Jürgen Holtorf (1978–1985),
- Ernst Walter (1985–1991),
- J. Schicke (1991–1997),
- Alfred F. Koska (1997–2003),
- Klaus Horneffer (2003–2006),
- Klaus-M. Kott (2006–2009),'
- Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Templin (Present).