st. john's lodge no 2 - The Trestleboard

The general pacifistic paralysis of the national instinct of self preservation begun by Freemasonry is then transmitted to the masses of society by the Jewish Press

There is no need to highlight the tragedy and horror that occurred in the concentration camps. It has been estimated that anywhere between eighty thousand and two hundred thousand Freemasons were murdered under Nazi rule. The fortitude that some of our Brethren had, and how they continued to carry on the Light of Freemasonry in the concentration camps, is awe inspiring.

The people in the concentration camps wore a mark to show the guards of the camps what kind of prisoner each individual was. The

Freemasons were considered political prisoners and had to wear inverted red triangles on their shirts and pants to identify them as such. it is rumored that Freemasons identified each other by these red triangles on their clothing, and there is also the speculation that Freemasons wore the edelweiss or blue forget me not on their lapel to identify each other; however, there is no hard evidence of either of these being true other than word to mouth passed down through the generations.

There is however undisputed proof of Masonic Lodges operating within concentrations camps. Yes, even in the face of mechanized murder and genocide, Freemasonry was still able to carry on because of the strong will and desire of its Members to maintain the Order, and its cherished principles. The first known Lodge to exist within the walls of a concentrations camp was the Lodge Liberté Chérie or Beloved Liberty Lodge. This Lodge was started by seven Belgian Freemasons on November 15, 1943 inside Hut 6 of Esterwegen Concentration Camp. The original seven Freemasons that were members of this Lodge were Paul Hanson, Luc Somerhausen, Jean De Schrijver, Jean Sugg, Henri Story, Amedee Miclotte, Franz Rochat and Guy Hannecart. These men also initiated, passed and raised Brother Fernand Erauw whom was also