          This file is copyright (c) 1995 The Philalethes Society and all
          rights including any redistribution rights are reserved by the
          copyright holder. Permission to quote from, redistribute or to
          otherwise use these materials must be obtained from the
          copyright holder directly by contacting The Philalethes,
          Nelson King, FPS, Editor, 2 Knockbolt Crescent, Agincourt
          Ontario Canada, M1S 2P6. Tel: 416-293-8071 Fax:
          416-293-8634 or CIS: 71202,22
          
          WHY THE SECRECY?
          by
          Richard W.  Lodge, MPS
          
               American and Canadian Masons, many of whom
          proudly wear the square and compasses on their lapel pins
          and display Masonic emblems on their cars, are sometimes
          puzzled by the secrecy which appears to surround the Craft
          in Europe. They are told that European Masons do not wear
          Masonic pins or rings outside the lodge, that Masonic
          temples are often not recognizable as such, and that
          Masons usually don't tell their friends or associates of their
          membership. 
          The following is a translation of an article which appeared in
          the May 1994 issue of the  AMT [Algemeen Maconniek
          Tijdschrift], the official publication of the Grootoosten der
          Nederlanden, the Dutch Grand Lodge and is translated and
          printed with their permission. It describes the instructions
          given to the liquidators of Masonic Lodges by the German
          occupying forces in The Netherlands in November 1940. It is
          hard to imagine what it would have been like to experience
          this kind of treatment of Freemasonry if it had occurred in
          our non-European jurisdictions just 54 years ago. In light of
          it, though, the more secretive practices of our European
          Brethren become much easier to understand.
          
          9 NOVEMBER 1940
          DE GROTE VERBIJSTERING [THE GUIDELINES OF THE
          GREAT DISMAY]
          
          
          GUIDELINES FOR THE PROVINCIAL LIQUIDATORS*
          Guidelines for the confiscation and destruction of
          Freemasons' libraries, the correspondence, the objects
          necessary for the ritual and the international Symbolism,
          which is separate from the property to be liquidated
          
          1. In all the lodges released for cleansing, everything which
          consists of books or correspondence must be gathered in
          one place in the building to be turned over to a junk dealer.
          As much as at all possible, books and magazines must be
          rendered in a condition such that use of these materials for
          any purpose other than sending to a paper mill is impossible
          [torn up, cut up).
          2. The junkman appointed to collect these quantities of
          paper must swear an oath that the written documents and
          books placed at his disposal may only be sent to the paper
          mill and in no case may be transferred or given to third
          parties.
          3. All leather aprons, packed in bundles, must be delivered
          to the collection locations in the province specified by the
          S.D. [the German Sicherheidsdienst].
          4. All the draperies of the lodges [black, blue or red) must be
          packed together in bales and also delivered to the collection
          locations specified by the S.D.
          All cloths used in masonic labor must be included [chair and
          table cloths, aprons, paintings, flags, coulisses, cushions
          with masonic symbols).
          5. All objects for the ritual of freemasonry and all consumer
          goods which bear masonic insignias of metal must be
          defaced as much as possible and packed together to be
          junked. Included are: badges, jewels, swords, circles,
          plumbs, trowels, candelabra and cups with masonic sayings,
          all 7-armed candelabra, coins, door knockers, etc.
          6. All masonic symbols made of wood or similar material
          must be smashed and burned. These include the columns in
          a temple with J. and B., cube, pyramids, sprig of acacia,
          triangular tables, coffin, skeleton, skull, gavel, altar, minerals,
          sextant, 5, 6, or 9 stars, warden's rod, rose croix, picture
          frames and cabinets with masonic symbols.
          Also, the symbols made of stone and the glass and porcelain
          consumer goods [Sphinx) must likewise be destroyed.
          7. The consumer goods bearing lodge symbols [seats,
          chairs, tables, cabinets, lamps, picture frames] must be
          expertly cleansed of these insignias by a workman and be
          brought to a condition such that public sale by the Liquidator
          can take place. The expenses of the workman will be borne
          by the authorized liquidator.
          8. The portraits, busts, wall maxims, and paintings are also
          to be destroyed, taking into account the fact that glass and
          neutral paintings can also be sold by the liquidator.
          General:
          For special information, let it be pointed out that the following
          qualify as masonic symbolism: all hand tools related to
          construction, as well as 5-6 and 9 stars. For the Odd Fellows
          three rings. For the Rotarians the gearwheel. For the
          Rosicrucians a cross with a rose growing around it.
          References abbreviated with letters must also be considered
          as symbolism.
          Afterword:
          Freemasons' medals, jewels, buttons from the warden's
          stick, and the like, which are made of precious metal, or
          appear to be, must be sent to the office of the Commissioner
          General, attention Z. H. Schwier, Fluwelen Burgwal 22, The
          Hague.
          
          
          In the  AMT article, Editor E. P Kwaadgras, adds the
          following comments:
          I had to conquer the inclination to leave this document
          without commentary. During a meeting in the Grand Lodge
          building on 9 November 1940, Werner Schwier, the German
          responsible for the liquidation of Freemasonry and related
          organizations in The Netherlands, handed out these
          instructions to a dozen "Provincial Liquidators" appointed as
          such, each of whom had to manage the task in his own
          territory. His Dutch figurehead, the Hague attorney Jan
          Muller, named by the occupying forces as "General
          Liquidator," was also present at the meeting.
          A dramatic moment was the arrest, during the meeting, of F.
          W. Adriaanse, attorney and prosecutor in Middelburg. He
          had received the province of Zeeland from Muller as his
          territory. He had been approached about it by telephone in
          August 1940. He had asked for time to think it over, and
          consulted several friends with whom he was on the board of
          the Netherlands Union [a Dutch political group which wished
          to recognize the changed circumstances and work with the
          Dutch and occupation authorities]. He also sought contact
          with "the leader of the Lodge of Freemasons in Middleburg,
          named Dekker." He then decided to accept the appointment
          "to save what could be saved." During the meeting in The
          Hague, Schwier explained that a "traitor had sneaked in,"
          since Adriaanse was a member of the Union and not a
          National Socialist. Two Germans in uniform came in and
          arrested him, after which he was taken to the prison at
          Scheveningen. Neither Muller nor any of the others present
          objected to this procedure. After ten days, Adriaanse was
          freed. In the meantime, he was replaced by a more
          trustworthy subject. That such things should happen in our
          Grand Lodge building!
          But the document speaks for itself. Among other things, it
          answers the question why so many lodge archives and
          libraries were lost, in contrast to the Grand Lodge archives
          and library. The latter went to Germany as research material
          and was largely recovered after the war. But the
          possessions of the individual lodges in The Netherlands
          were mostly destroyed or sold.
                                             
          * Source: dossier no. 4500, concerning Werner Schwier,
          from the Subcommission on Investigation of War Crimes, in
          the Central Archives of Special Proceedings of the Ministry
          of Justice, primarily attachment 12.
          
          