THE BUILDER APRIL 1926

Fascism and Freemasonry

BY BRO. LEOPOLD WOLFGANG
Translated for The Builder by BRO. J. RUEHL, Illinois

THIS article is taken from "Die Bauhutte" one of the oldest and
best known Masonic periodicals of Germany. The author is well known
and highly respected in the German Craft. He has the great
misfortune to be blind, but this does not prevent his activity in
Masonic work. We reproduce his article because the subject is
naturally one of interest to all Masons; and it also helps us to
see how the latest revival of anti-Masonry strikes observers nearer
to the scene of conflict. In several points Bro. Wolfgang is either
misinformed or misconceives Anglo-Saxon Masonry, but it is apparent
that our brethren in Germany are far better informed on matters
relating to the Craft in other countries than are the majority of
American Masons.

OPPONENTS to Freemasonry have been of the same type at all times:
Orthodoxy, Clericalism and Nationalism, with renegades from the
Order. A new and irreconcilable enemy of Freemasonry is Fascism.
There are people who see in this the embodiment of national
thinking and ideals. But Fascism is more than this; it represents
the tendency, if conditions allow, to put brutal force in the place
of law and order It is evident that Freemasonry, even if it has
gone with Fascism in some countries to attain certain points, is
bound to be in opposition to Fascism. This leads to inexorable
enmity, and Fascism discovers that Freemasonry is an opponent. A
Fascist chief has said: "In German and Anglo-Saxon countries
Freemasonry is a benevolent organization; in Latin countries it is
a state within the state." Let us examine this sentence and we may
come to altogether different results. In Great Britain as well as
in America and Germany Freemasonry has a hard fight with Fascism,
and the same accusations are made against Freemasonry as in Latin
countries. In England not long ago the word was given a great
number of lodges that they should support the Labor Party at that
time in power. The newly-formed organization of Fascisti which had
only 170,000 members grew very rapidly and threw all its influence
into the political scale for the dissolution of Parliament and by
so doing helped the Conservative Party to its victory. Of course
there were many Fascists among the lodges for they feared the
spread of Bolshevism if the Labor Party maintained its power. The
English Fascists, one must admit, have always been in favor of Law
and Order. They always made use of the right of suffrage in order
to further their political opinions. That was their right and
therefore they could be Fascists without being in opposition to
Freemasonry.

The American Fascists, the Ku Klux Klan, are Terrorists of the
worst kind. They do not fear to go to the length of bloody fights
in the streets in order to gain their points. They are conspicuous
because of their fantastic garments and their military
organization. Besides they are directed by shrewd business people
who know how to ensure their success. The Past Grand Master of New
York expressed the hope that no Mason would ever belong to such a
society (meaning the K. K. K.) and cautioned Freemasons in general
against these peculiar saints, who so wonderfully understand how to
fish in troubled waters and to impose upon the credulity and
confidence of their fellow men. Naturally there is a great
difference between these two elements [Masons and the K. K. K.].

The former want equal rights for all citizens of the state, the
latter opposes Catholics, Jews and negroes, and boasts of full
blooded Americanism.

In Germany the fight rag between Fascism, or the German People's
Party, as it is general called, and Freemasons, on the platform and
in the press. This fight is equally against the Old Prussian Lodges
as well as against the Humanity Masonic Lodges. Not long ago the
Grand Lodges of the Old Prussian Lodges took steps against these
Fascist opponents. In a circular against the German People's Party
to their sister lodges they stated that members of the latter,
especially officers of the German army (meaning officers under
William II), could either belong to the German People's Party or to
the Craft, in case they were put to such an alternative. The Anglo
Saxon Masons as well as the Germanic Masons have done all in their
power to keep politics from entering the portals of their lodges.
In spite of this they have had trouble with Fascists. But a more
vehement fight still is being carried on in Latin countries.

The members of lodges there belong mostly to the Party of the Left
and are fighting the program of the Fascists outside of the lodge.
These last are at present victorious; this cannot be denied. A
sudden change has taken place in Egypt and France. There Fascists
and Masons are at work to obtain the independence of their
respective countries, in order to make their fallen opponent,
Germany, harmless for all time to come. But when the Fascists on
the Nile adopted a policy of violence by killing the English
Commander-in-Chief their activity was checked by the measures taken
by the government, and there may be no peace for a long time to
come between the Fascists and their opponents. Members of lodges
have later been sentenced.

In France, after the election of 1919 in which the Fascists were
victorious, the Masons took up the fight against Fascism. Many
years before the election of 1924 the latter had made their
preparations and through the favorable outcome of that election
overturned Poincare's ministry, though the beaten opponent is still
very strong, and the French Masons, who desire friendship with
Germany must be on guard not to lose the fruits of their victory in
1924. The real home of Fascism is Italy. The readers of the
"Bauhutte" know from both the profane and Masonic press how
conditions are there. In the beginning there was friendship between
Fascists and Masons, later came estrangement and finally mortal
enmity. The Italian Masonic brotherhood cannot continue to exist if
it be forced to publish its roster as the new law demands a similar
case was urged by the Grand Orient (of Italy) twenty-five years
ago. The writer of these lines was present at one of these meetings
and remembers well the indignation with which the resolution was
rejected by the brethren. Physicians, lawyers, merchants of all
calibers, officers of the government and army were united in the
rejection of the publication of the roster. There is no doubt,
however, that the King will sign the present bill after the House
and Senate have accepted it.

For the time being the Grand Orient has given independent power to
the Grand Master Bro. Domitio Torrigiani to do to the best of his
ability what seems best for the Order in conformity with his own
judgment. Therefore, there is no need of an election or vote to
doors of lodges.

The German "High School Journal" of Jan. 25, 1925, claims
Mussolini's fight against Freemasonry is a fight against the Jews,
but it is in error. Many of the 35,000 Jews belong to the Fascist
party. At the time the General Council issued an interdict some
brethren were with the Fascist party and some were for the lodge.
It was the general opinion that the "Duce" would be in favor of
antisemitic activity.

In reply to an interrogation of the chief Rabbi of Rome, Mussolini
replied that he did not think Italian citizens would persecute them
[the Jews] on account of their belief. This answer could not be a
surprise for there are co-workers of the Jewish race in the
ministry of the Italian Government. Fascism of course can point to
many benefits it has bestowed on Italy. It boasts of having saved
the state from Bolshevism, and travelers who come from Italy say
that safety of communication, the service on railroads and in the
post and telegraph departments have never, functioned so well as
now. Also that the great plague of the country, the multitude of
beggars, is practically abolished in all Italian cities. But these
are benefits of a very recent date. Freemasonry, however, can show
such services since its existence. The Italian fatherland has to
thank Masons for its unity as well as for its progress in culture.

This all goes to be forgotten as ancient history because Fascism
with its armed force of 350,000 black shirts has the country in its
power. Dark days are to be expected for our Italian brethren. They
have to meet a fight forced upon them. The Masonic life will become
dormant as long as Mussolini governs in Italy. Mussolini is the
despotic ruler of Italy; he is more powerful than the King for he
is Minister of the exterior affairs -- of war, of the marine, of
the air fleet, of finance, and also Commander-in-Chief of the
aforesaid 350,000 national militia. Whether he will be able to
resist the united opposition forever remains an open question.
Conservatives, Liberals, Democrats, Clericals, Socialists and
Communists have formed a union for a united opposition against
Fascism, and the Masons, whether they will or not, must join it.
This fight will not take place only on the further side of the
Gothard Pass--other countries will be the scene of a hard fight
against Fascism, and Masons, too, will be forced to fight against
Fascism if they would not be crushed by their reckless enemies.

