History of the Logde "Harmony"
     
     

 
 
 


Foundation

French Revolution brought unrest and desorientation to Saxony, too. At the same time industrialisation began in Chemnitz and his neighbourhood: between 1798 and 1804 two or the earliest factories (cotton mills) of Germany were founded here.

In this period of unrest and break-up several merchants from Chemnitz and Hohenstein who in England or in Dresden had come into contact with masonic ideals, decided to found a lodge. In 1799 they got permission of the Grand Lodge of "Royale York". See of this new lodge "Zur Harmonie" was the little town Hohenstein, situated 15 km east of Chemnitz in the small territory of the Prince of Schönburg. 

In 1823 the lodge was transferred to Chemnitz.
 


Members

The founding members:

    • Johann Gottlieb Esche, merchant, Chemnitz
    • Friedrich Esche, merchant, Chemnitz
    • Großer, merchant, Hohenstein
    • Landgraf sen., merchant, Hohenstein
    • Landgraf jun., merschant, Hohenstein
    • Chr. Gottlieb Roch, rector,
    • Zill, merchant, Hohenstein
At its 100th anniversary the lodge counted 315 brothers. The peak was reched in the 1920ies: 450 members. At that time it was the second biggest lodge (after Hamburg) in Germany.

From 1799 until 1933 more than 1800 masons belonged to the "Harmony". In our exhibition in Chemnitz we show the complete list of members; in the Internet we present a selection.and a list of Chairmen.

  Meister vom Stuhle

The list of members seems like a "Who is Who" of the upper class. Most of the important factory owners (e.g. Clauss, Hartmann, Zimmermann, Reinecker) have been members of this lodge as well as many state and town officials, teachers and musicians.
 


Social Activities

From the very beginnings the lodge helped without much publicity victims of accidents, widows and orphans. Step by step permanent foundations were established (see complete list of the 14 foundations of the"Harmony"). 

The most impressing public effort was taken in Wold War I, when the lodge opened her new building to victims. A renowned eye-doctor was member of the loge, so they decided to open an ophthalmic hospital, where people with severe eye injuries were treated free of charge by the doctor and by nurses, i.e. by masons' wifes and daughters specially trained for this new service. 

  hospital



Politics

Masons are part of society. It is no wonder, that the members of the "Harmony" in 19th century shared stongly conservative, german-national and monachist convictions. But nevertheless basic masonic ideas of humanity and tolerance proved to be effective, too. 

The "Harmony" voted for opening of German lodges to "Israelites" and they accepted as early as 1877 a jewish member - only ten years after the first jewish people were allowed to settle again in Chemnitz. 

After the victory over the French army 1870/71 the "Harmony" - quite contrary to prevailing public opinion - urged : " ... not to withdraw love from the defeated enemy" and "to make permanent peace". 

In 1918/19 the "Harmony" despite their former convictions declared that they wold be loyal to the new republic and to democracy. 
 


Third Reich

After 15 years of increasing anti-mason propaganda (especially by general Ludendorff and his wife) the National Socialists closed all lodges in 1933. Some masons tried to cooperate with the new "National Movement", but in 1935 the follow-up masonic organisations were dissolved and all masonic activities forbidden and suppressed. 

The beautiful temple of the "Harmony" had a dreadful fate: First it served as a Nazi-museum of anti-masonic propaganda, then it was destroyed by bombs. 
 


German Democratic Republic

No lodges were readmitted in the GDR, but nevertheless the position toward masons was quite differenciated. 

In contrast to most Eastern European states the GDR has never forbidden masonry. The scholars of history, philosphy and literature had a positive view of the historic role of masonry. But this esteem did not influence the position towards actual masonry. According to socialist doctrine there was no longer need of masons as progressive elements of bourgeoasy, because the revolutonary role now was the historical duty of labour class. Masons of present times seemed a mere revival of out-of-date rituals. 
 
 


Federal Republic of Germany

After Union of both Germanys several masons, born in Chemnitz but now living in West-Germany decided to revitalize the lodge "Zur Harmonie" in - as they call it - " the orient Chemnitz". As new lodges have to be founded from existing and approved ones, the initiative had to come from west. But many founding members - including the Chaimen had always lived in Karl-Karx-Stadt / Chemnitz. 

Today the new lodge "Harmony" has nearly 50 members. In January 1999 they were able to open a small new temple. 

 

 
 
         
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