They are considered mysterious: the Freemasons. Their lodges exist in many cities, often viewed with suspicion. In Pirmasens, the Freemasons are now giving us insights.
The building of the Masonic Lodge “To Faithfulness at Mount Horeb” is inconspicuously located on Beckenhofer Strasse in Pirmasens. Next to the door, a small sign with a compass and square, the logo of the Freemasons, indicates that the white, two-story building houses the rooms and temple of the Pirmasens lodge. Uwe Scheid is already waiting in front of the house. The 62-year-old is master of ceremonies and deputy master of the chair – the latter is comparable to the second chairman of an association.
Uwe Scheid is master of ceremonies and deputy master of the chair of the lodge “Zur Treue am Berge Horeb” in Pirmasens. SWR
Masonic lodges seem mysterious to many people
The Masonic lodge in Pirmasens currently has 22 practicing brothers, explains Uwe Scheid. “They are between the early 50s and mid-70s.” The children are out of the house, says Scheid, and people have more time again. In midlife, many people ask themselves: what’s next? Then they come to the lodge. However, lodges seem mysterious to many people – they often only know stories from films or books, such as “Illuminati” by Dan Brown. Prejudices from ancient times and modern fairy tales from books and films have led many people to distrust Freemasons.
We do not eat virgins
“We are not a secret society,” says Uwe Scheid. “We do not eat virgins, we do not drink blood from skulls.” That is why it is important to Scheid to make the Freemasons better known in Pirmasens – among other things to break down prejudices. The Freemasons are concerned with humanity, brotherhood, tolerance and charity. The brothers work on this alone and together in the temple. That is the name of the room in which the rituals take place and which only the brothers are allowed to enter.
View into the temple of the Pirmasens Masonic Lodge. However, everything is already prepared for the public guest evening on August 29th. Otherwise, no outsiders are allowed into the temple. SWR
“The lodge is a space where like-minded people meet, can exchange ideas and support each other,” explains Scheid. In modern parlance, you could say that the lodge brothers work on their self-optimization there, on the way to becoming a better “self”. The focus here is on recognizing oneself and working on mistakes and weaknesses.
Lodge brothers in Pirmasens support each other
“It is a very arduous path,” said Uwe Scheid. “It is very, very difficult and always involves setbacks.” But, explains Scheid, the nice thing is that you don’t have to be ashamed if you do something wrong, if something doesn’t work out. The brothers will build you up again spiritually. There are no class differences among them – it doesn’t matter whether you are an entrepreneur or a garbage collector – in the lodge everyone has the same status. “I have already gone home and said: Man, he was right, I’ve never seen it like that before. I went home with a different opinion than I had before – that’s the nice thing about it.”
Ceremonies and rituals of the Freemasons
In order to be accepted into the lodge, the “seeker” must complete various preparatory steps. This is what the candidates who wish to become members of the lodge are called. Uwe Scheid does not want to give any details about this, because the principle of secrecy still applies to the Freemasons today. This means that rituals are only made available to a circle of initiates. The Freemasons are committed to keeping these secrets. “Music and light play a major role in the rituals,” explains Uwe Scheid. If a newcomer is accepted into the lodge, the associated ritual lasts several hours.
The origins of the lodges
Pirmasens has one of the oldest Masonic traditions in Germany. In 1778, the lodge “Zurbrennenden Granate” was founded by Landgrave Ludwig IX. Lodges have existed in the city ever since. The first lodge in Germany, however, was founded in Hamburg in 1737.
Worldwide Men’s Association
The Masonic lodges date back to the Middle Ages. The stonemasons of that time who built cathedrals and minsters had joined together to form stonemason brotherhoods. These stonemasons were free craftsmen who travelled all over Europe. Knowledge of statics and architecture was only passed on orally and kept secret. In the so-called cathedral building lodges, the lodges, free speech was cultivated. Due to the obligation to keep things secret, revolutionary ideas were discussed that were not allowed to leak out. In the 17th century, non-stonemasons were also admitted to the lodges for the first time. This marked the beginning of modern Freemasonry.
Women’s lodges are regular but not recognized
Masonic lodges have always been men’s associations. There are now also women’s lodges that are committed to the same values as the men’s lodges. They are also considered regular because they practice Freemasonry correctly. However, the women’s lodges are not recognized by the “United Grand Lodge of England”. This means that members of the women’s and men’s lodges do not visit each other.
We are people who just want to show through our own changes that there are other ways in the world.
You can’t describe what happens to you during a ritual, says the master of ceremonies. You can give details, but it’s hard for outsiders to understand because you can’t convey the feelings during the ritual.
Uwe Scheid has been a Freemason for almost ten years. “Freemasonry has brought me balance and more satisfaction in life,” he explains. He is in better mental health than before. And he is less quick-tempered and takes things more calmly. “The family has noticed that too. You are somehow different, but beautifully different” – that’s what his wife said, laughs Uwe Scheid. The Freemasons want to try to make their environment better by changing themselves, says Scheid. “I don’t think we’ll succeed. But we won’t give up.”
The Freemasons’ Lodge in Pirmasens is holding an open evening for guests on August 29th at 7 p.m. Anyone interested can stop by and get a first insight into Freemasonry.
