How Czechoslovakian Freemasonry 
Survived Two World Wars

Jiri (George) Syllaba, 33
Sovereign Grand Commander 
Supreme Council of Czechoslovakia
Barrandovska 14, 150 00
Prague 5, Czechoslovakia

Freemasonry was established in Bohemia in the 17th century, and Count Antonius Sporck probably constituted the first Czechoslovakian Lodge in 1726. This is not, however, reliably documented. In contrast, it is certain that John Amos Komensky (Comenius), the famous Protestant priest, was involved in the early history of Freemasonry. He emigrated to England during the 30-Year War, and his views on peace and universal wisdom inspired the Rev. James Anderson and Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers to create the Constitutions of Freemasonry in 1721. Then in 1740, some French officers who were Freemasons founded a Masonic Lodge in Prague.
	Empress Maria Theresa, 1717-80, queen of Bohemia and "king" of Hungary from 1740 to 1780, tolerated Freemasonry at first, but later prohibited it. Her son and successor, Emperor Joseph II, 1765-90, was an enlightened supporter of Freemasonry. However, he placed a limit on the number of Lodges in Vienna and Prague. After Joseph II's death, Austria's monarchs advocated absolutistic policies and did not patronize Freemasonry.     r
	Modern Freemasonry actually started in Czechoslovakia soon after World War I when two Lodges-John A. Comenius and the Nation-were constituted in Prague in 1918 and 1919. The National Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia was founded in 1923 due to the efforts of Yugoslavia's Grand Lodge. Italian Freemasons had intended to assist with the formation of Czechoslovakia's Grand Lodge, but Mussolini had abolished Italy's Grand Lodge. The Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was also constituted in Czechoslovakia in 1923. Dr. Ladislav Syllaba, my father, was the first Sovereign Grand Commander. He was followed by the famous painter Alfons Mucha and then by Dr. Francis Kaderavek.
	During the time between the two World Wars, about 20 regular Lodges were established. Together, they had about 1,500 members. Along with the National Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia, a German-speaking Grand Lodge, "Lessing of the Three Rings," was reestablished in Prague. Both of these Lodges held very good relations.
	Freemasons were persecuted by Hitler's Nazis during World War II. (See p. 43.) Some Masons were executed or died in concentration camps. Other Czechoslovakian Freemasons emigrated to England, the United States, and Canada. In each country they received extraordinary support. The Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia was reconstituted in 1947. With the Communist takeover in 1948, the Grand Council in 1951 decided temporarily to suspend Masonic activities because of fear of a forced cooperation. During the 40 years of Soviet oppression, 28 surviving Brethren gathered in their homes, held meetings, and thus maintained Masonic continuity. It was during these trying times that Bro\ Joseph Charvat, initiated in 1938 and died in 1984, and I, initiated in 1926, were elevated to the 33.
	After the "Velvet Revolution" in 1989, the 28 Brethren who survived the totalitarian regime prepared a solemn international reconstitution of the Grand Lodge in Prague on November 17, 1990. Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33, performed fraternally the elevation from the Fourth to the Fourteenth Scottish Rite Degrees of those Czech Brethren who had been initiated into Symbolic Lodge Freemasonry 40 or more years ago. The Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia received recognition from the United Grand Lodge of England at the end of 1990, and then successively from 52 foreign Grand Lodges, 29 from the United States, 18 from Europe, and 5 from other countries. Elevation to the 33 of Czech and Yugoslavian Brethren took place in Prague, and thus reconstitution of the Czechoslovakian Supreme Council, 33, of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was realized on November 23, 1991, under the guidance and fraternal aid of Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht and other Sovereign Grand Commanders from Finland and Italy.
	Czech Freemasons have reopened Masonic activity with a great deal of work and are already initiating new members. Presently, the Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia is composed of three Lodges, "The Nation," (Narod) "The Work" (Dilo) and "The Bridge" (Most), and embraces 68 Brethren. During the Communist regime, two Czech-speaking Lodges in exile were founded in Western Germany-the Lodge "T. G. Masaryk" and the Lodge "At Three Stars." Several Brothers who emigrated now work in these Lodges, mainly Bro\ Tassievicz, Cermak, Brousek, Kristofori, Gregr, and others.
	We are currently engaged mostly in charitable endeavors as we attempt to ease suffering from the long-lasting darkness and oppression affecting mostly young people who were born under Communism and denied any knowledge of Freemasonry. Yet our greatest obstacle is our poor economic situation. We have no temple because the Communist regime took control of it as well as all our Masonic paraphernalia. Nevertheless, we firmly hope that we shall soon be able to return our Masonic activities to the high standard they were before World War II. As a Middle European- not East European!-country, we can function as a fraternal bridge between East and West.
	All this can only be realized with the kind and promised fraternal help of other Grand Lodges and other Supreme Councils!     s

Rabbi Harold S. Kushner
	Rabbi Harold S. Kushner is a distinguished writer with a worldwide reputation as the author of When Bad Things Happen To Good People and When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough. He was quoted extensively in the article "Love Made Visible" by Dr. Norman R. Dasinger, 32, in the December 1992 issue of The Scottish Rite Journal. Unfortunately, Rabbi Kushner's title as a clergyman was not noted specifically in this article nor that he has served two congregations in an outstanding manner, one in Great Neck, New York, and the other in Natick, Massachusetts, where he is presently Emeritus Rabbi.

Correction: The Masonic Marches Sousa Really Did Write
	In the January issue of The Scottish Rite Journal, a quiz on Masonic composers and their music was in error in stating that the "March King" Bro\ John Philip Sousa wrote "Under the Double Eagle" to honor Freemasonry. In fact, this composition is by the Austrian composer Joseph Franz Wagner (1856-1908) and was probably written to honor the Austro-Hungarian Empire under the Hapsburg monarch Emperor Franz Joseph (1848-1916).
	Sousa was, however, a Mason and held membership in Hiram Lodge No. 10, now Hiram-Takoma No. 10; Eureka Chapter No. 4, Royal Arch Masons, now William R. Singleton No. 4; Columbia Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar; and Almas Shrine Temple, Washington, DC.
	Sousa's Masonic marches are "The Crusader" (1888) and "The Thunderer" (1889) dedicated to Columbia Commandery No. 2, K\T\, and "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" (1923) dedicated to Almas Temple and the Imperial Council of the A\A\O\N\M\S\, and, possibly, "The Gladiator" (1886), but the latter has not been substantiated.
	The Scottish Rite Journal thanks the following Brethren for correcting this information: Bro\ Hugh Y. Bernard, 32, K\C\C\H\, Washington, DC; Bro\ Robert H. Bray, 32, Columbia MO, Governor of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, the national fraternity for men in music; Bro\ Harold Dawson, 32; and Bro\ Richard E. Doll, 32.

