To the Westphalian Lion
The Masonic Lodge Zum Westfälischen Löwen , based in Schwelm , was founded on April 25, 1792 under the constitution of the Grand State Lodge under the name "Zum Goldenen Löwen". If one disregards the fact that lodges were only entered in the register of associations in the 20th century and possibly subsequently, the Löwen is today, according to the foundation date, the oldest Schwelm association and one of the oldest lodges in Germany.
history
In 1795 the seat of the lodge was moved from Enneperstraße to Hagen. It stayed there during French rule and then until 1816 when it was moved to Schwelm.
The name was changed to "Zum Westfälischen Löwen" after the French occupation of Westphalia ended in March 1814. At the time of the resumption of Masonic activities, the lodge had 36 brothers .
In the following years the number of members grew. In 1829, 80 brothers were listed in the Löwen's register book , including important regional and historical figures such as the Hattingen mayor Friedrich Wilhelm Rautert or the Ennepetal steel manufacturer Ludwig Moritz Heilenbeck.
At the end of September 1892, a major fire in Schwelm destroyed 41 houses and the Catholic Church. The lodge brothers Johann Daniel Bever and Moritz Scherz played an important role in founding the charity and collecting money for the 102 homeless families. In addition to the Schwelmer Lodge, the lodges in Düsseldorf, Münster and Soest also provided support. The membership grew to 90 brothers in 1892 and reached its all-time high in 1914 with 126 brothers .
In 1927, the lodge acquired a plot of land on Schwelmer Bahnhofstrasse to build its own lodge house. But before the corresponding amount for the work was saved up, the Schwelmer Löwe had to disband on July 18, 1935 under pressure from the National Socialists. The lodge property was confiscated, the property sold and the lodge property liquidated.
After the collapse of the so-called Third Reich and the end of National Socialism, the lodge was revived by the physician Max Krug, but so far it cannot match the number of members it once had.
present
Public relations work has been intensified since the 2002 exhibition on Freemasonry and the history of the lodge in the City and Regional History Museum Haus Martfeld (Schwelm). For the 212th anniversary, the exhibition took place in a slightly modified version with accompanying lectures. In the summer of 2008, a series of events started in the Martfeld Chapel, which ties in with the days of salon culture with readings, musical performances and discussions.
Known members
- Bever, Johann Daniel (* 1790; † 1860), manufacturer, involved in the “pre-parliament” in 1848 to prepare for the elections to the first German National Assembly
- Böhmer, Emil (born April 5, 1884 - † February 27, 1966), local researcher, honorary citizen of Schwelm since April 15, 1954
- Erfurt, Johann Heinrich Gottfried (* March 23, 1802, † July 12, 1856), paper manufacturer ("Erfurt" is known today for its woodchip wallpaper), co-founder of the Schwelmer Sparkasse
- Haniel, Wilhelm Gerhard Heinrich (born November 28, 1774, † August 23, 1834), mining entrepreneur
- Today, Wilhelm (born May 5, 1883, † October 19, 1935), writer and local poet (pseudonym: Wilhelm van Dage)
- Rautert, Friedrich Wilhelm (1783–1858), lawyer and writer, mayor of Hattingen
- Rittershaus, Emil (born April 3, 1834 - March 8, 1897), steel wholesaler, including poet of the "Westfalenlied" and as president of the Association of German Freemasons against the fragmentation of Freemasonry, dedicated the so-called "Löwenlied" (see below) to the Schwelm Lodge )
- Tobien, Wilhelm (born January 6, 1837; † September 10, 1911), school director and local historian, honorary citizen of Schwelm since April 4, 1891, initiator of the Schwelm city library and the local history museum (now "City and Regional History Museum Haus Martfeld")
Daughter boxes
In the course of the history of the oldest Schwelm club, numerous daughter boxes emerged from the "Westphalian Lion", including:
- Johannisloge "Victoria zur Morgenröthe", constituted on September 14, 1857, founded in January 1858, among others with 28 brothers of the lodge "Zum Westfälischen Löwen" in Schwelm
- Johannisloge "Zum Märkischen Hammer" in Lüdenscheid, donated in 1888
- Johannisloge "To the brother chain in Wuppertal", donated in 1915
Lion song
by Emil Rittershaus
On the red earth borders, / Already close to the Rhine area, / Stands adorned with fragrant wreaths, / Youthful Latomia; / Let the flame of light shine / In the gloomy night of madness / And the "Lion of Westphalia" / He keeps watch firmly and calmly.
For many, many years flew / over his forehead. / The bow of the temple is sure, / The strength is strong and the mind is young. / Empty pomp, vain bragging / Does not puff itself here colorful and frizzy; / In the “Lion of Westphalia” / Markanerart is at home!
Ew'ger great world master, / drive away all discord, / leave all good spirits / rule here in this place! / At the foaming cups / Today we swear again '/ Loyalty to the "Lion of Westphalia" / And eternal loyalty to the Bund!'
Schwelmer statute
The so-called "Schwelm Statute" was - in addition to similar vows when joining the Freemasonry - an additional voluntary commitment that every newly accepted brother of the Schwelm Lodge had to sign from March 26, 1818. The text warned the brothers to respect each other's moral principles and reminded them that Freemasonry is not an end in itself, but should serve the common good. Particularly noteworthy at this point is the reference to charitable commitment: So wherever a good cause of any kind is to be achieved, the bricklayer modestly pushes his way. Take over where (...) institutions be taken to feed the poor, where collections are to be made for the good of individual Unfortunately, even where there is trouble, who do not like each accepts as this preferably the mason ... . Although the ideals have not changed, the “Schwelmer Statute” is no longer signed when recording. When this practice ended cannot be said.
Lodge master
- 1792–1797: Gottfried von Hausen, Country Director, Enneper Str.
- 1797–1806: Friedrich Adolf Groote, Justice Commissioner, Unna
- 1806–1813: the lodge rested
- 1814–1816: Friedrich Wilhelm Rautert, state and city judge, Hattingen
- 1816–1818: Johann Chr. Brenscheidt, court secretary, Hagen
- 1818–1822: Friedrich Wilhelm Rautert, state and city judge, Hattingen
- 1822–1836: Moritz Heilenbeck, businessman, Heilenbecke near Milspe
- 1836–1860: Johann Daniel Bever, businessman, Schwelm
- 1860–1863: Heinrich Wilhelm Potthoff, doctor, Schwelm
- 1863–1864: Caspar Heinrich Schübbe, merchant, join Milspe
- 1864–1870: Wilhelm Köster, Counselor, Schwelm
- 1870–1874: Wilhelm Cobet, pharmacist, Schwelm
- 1874–1881: August Jäger, pensioner, Elberfeld
- 1881–1886: Friedrich Wilhelm Lohmann, businessman, Altenvoerde
- 1886–1909: Bernhard Braselmann, banker, Schwelm
- 1909–1915: Ernst Saatweber, businessman, Wichlinghausen
- 1915–1927: Paul Scherz, printer owner / publisher, Schwelm
- 1927–1935: Martin Diester, pharmacist, Wuppertal-Langerfeld
- 1935–1947: the lodge was closed
- 1947–1950: Paul Krug, doctor, Schwelm
- 1950–1953: Emil Böhmer, teacher, Schwelm
- 1953–1956: Paul Müller, businessman, Schwelm
- 1956–1966: Eduard Püttmann, businessman, Hagen
- 1966–1969: Wiars-Heeren Wiards, engineer, Hagen
- 1969–1971: Emil Pouplier, businessman, Ennepetal-Burg
- 1971–1974: Helmut Pläcking, manufacturer, Wuppertal-Langerfeld
- 1981–1993: Kurt Erdlenbruch, engineer, Wuppertal
- 1993–1999: Rolf Vogelsang, sales representative, Remscheid
- 1999–2008: Jörg Kartenberg, lawyer, Schwelm
- 2008–2014: Helmut K. Drescher, advertising salesman, Schwelm
- since 2014: Dr. Trajan Gamber, doctor, Wuppertal-Langerfeld
Web links
swell
- Lodge “Zum Westfälischen Löwen” in Schwelm, commemorative publication for the 160th anniversary on May 17, 1952 by Emil Böhmer
- Freemasonry, a “conspiracy for the good”, commemorative publication for the 200th anniversary of Hermann Hirschberg
- Schwelm - History of a City and its Surroundings, Volume I, Gerd Helbeck, Verein für Heimatkunde Schwelm e. V. (ed.)