
                 CZECHOSLOVAKIAN FREEMASONRY 

    Professor Jiri (George) Syllaba, M.D., Doctor of Sciences, 33
         Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia
       Praha 5, 152 00-Barrandovska 14, Czechoslovakia

   At Three Stars, the first Masonic Lodge in Bohemia, was 
probably founded in 1726 by Count Francis Spork. A few years 
later, in 1741, a Masonic Lodge was founded in Prague by some 
French officers. Also, in the 18th century, other Masonic 
Lodges were constituted in Prague and in some Moravian towns. 

   These Lodges worked with beneficial and enlightened 
tendencies. For instance, an orphanage and an institute for 
deaf and dumb persons were established in 1773 by Freemasons 
in Prague. Members of the aristocracy and a group of educated 
scientists - Ignatius of Born, Dobner, Voigt, Cornova and 
others, most of them Freemasons - founded in Prague The Royal 
Czech Society of Sciences. In addition, the famous 
physiologist, John E. Purkyne became a Freemason during his 
stay in Vratislava. 

   In the 20th century, Masonic Lodges were constituted 
mostly under German or Hungarian obedience. At the end of 
World War I, some Brethren of these Lodges established a 
Czech Lodge called "John Amos Komensky" (Comenius), and soon 
afterwards other Czechoslovak Lodges were founded in Bohemia, 
Moravia and Slovakia, such as Narod (The Nation), Pravada 
vitezi (The Truth Conquers), Dilo (The Work), Most (The 
Bridge), The 28th October, Dobrovsky, P. J. Safarik, and 
others. 

   The regular national Czechoslovak Grand Lodge was 
definitely constituted in 1923. The disestablishment of 
cooperation with the Italian Grand Lodge after Mussolini's 
overthrow compelled a group of Czechoslovak Freemasons to 
visit Switzerland and ask the Grand Lodge Alpina for advice. 
This group was represented first by my father, professor 
Ladislav Syllaba, personal physician and friend of our first 
President, Thomas Garrigue Masaryk, and then by the well-
known painter Alfons Mucha and professor Dvorsky. Masonic 
Light was introduced in our Grand Lodge by the Yugoslavian 
Grand Lodge. 

   In 1920 a German Grand Lodge Lessing zu den drei Ringen 
(Lessing to the Three Rings) was also constituted in Prague. 
The mutual cooperation between these two Grand Lodges has 
been good, especially after a concordant contract in 1934. 
Before World War II each of these two Grand Lodges comprised 
about 15 to 20 regular Lodges and about 3,000 Freemasons. The 
Czechoslovak Grand Lodge was working in the Scottish Rite, 
the German Grand Lodge in Janus Rite. Both were regular. 

   The Nazi government during the occupation of 
Czechoslovakia strictly prohibited Masonic activity. During 
World War II about 135 Freemasons were executed or tortured 
to death, at least 130 were imprisoned, 64 persecuted, and 
more than 100 died as a result, later in life, of 
imprisonment. 

   About 200 Czechoslovak Freemasons emigrated to England and 
found there excellent understanding and help. The Grand Lodge 
of England as early as 1940 recognized the Czechoslovak Grand 
Lodge in exile and the Lodge John A. Comenius in exile, and 
the Grand Lodge lent them use of a Temple. Also the American 
Grand Lodge in New York recognized our Freemasons and offered 
them help and financial support. Our second President Edward 
Benes and the son of our first President T. G. Masaryk,  John  
Masaryk, were Freemasons. 

   After World War II, the Czechoslovak Grand Lodge was 
reconstituted in Prague in 1947. The total number of 
Czechoslovak Freemasons was only 652, but the Communist 
overthrow of the government in 1948 caused a diminishment of 
Masonic activity since the Brethren had to be very 
circumspect. There was a justified apprehension of a possible 
forced cooperation with the totalitarian regime. 
Consequently, our Grand Board decided to lull our Masonic 
Craft to temporary sleep in 1951. 

   In fact, the Nazi Gestapo, a secret state police, intended 
a total liquidation of Czech and Moravian Freemasons. Many of 
them were arrested. For example, I and other Brothers were 
forced to stay in a concentration camp till the end of the 
war. Infected by an epidemic fever, many died in my arms. 

   During the Communist oppression lasting 41 years, 1948-
1989, only 28 Czech and Moravian Freemasons survived. They 
conserved our Masonic continuity by secret meetings in 
private homes where Masonic discussions were held. Craft 
Ritual was impossible since all our requisites (Rituals and 
paraphernalia) were taken away. 

   In April 1990 several Freemasons from Switzerland visited 
us and worked with us in Prague as did my old friend Jorma 
Komonen from Finland, some Italian Freemasons, and Brothers 
from Austria, especially Dr. Dieter Scheits. These were 
joined by Brethren from Germany as well as by Czechoslovak 
Brothers who had emigrated to Germany and founded two Czech- 
speaking Lodges in exile. 

   In July 1990 the Czechoslovak Grand Lodge could be 
revived. It comprises three Lodges: Narod (The Nation), Dilo 
(The Work) and Most (The Bridge). I, Jiri (George) Syllaba, a 
Freemason since 1926 in the regular Lodge Narod, and a 
Thirty-third Degree Scottish Rite Mason, was elected as Grand 
Master. 

   The 17th of November, the anniversary of our revolution, 
was a significant date since on that day a solemn Masonic 
conference and Craft meeting were arranged in a hall of the 
beautiful old Hradcany Castle in Prague. About 86 Freemasons 
were present, 13 Grand Masters from various European 
countries, and 3 visitors from America, among them Sovereign 
Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33. 

   Then, after Fraternal welcoming, I as Grand Master and 
probably the oldest Brother in this international assembly, 
presented a brief Masonic address about the life of John Amos 
Comenius, a predecessor of European Freemasonry, at the 
occasion of the 320th anniversary of his death. Later a Czech 
banquet was served in a nearby renowned restaurant "Vikarka" 
close to St. Vitus Cathedral. 

   In December 1990 our Grand Lodge received official 
recognition from the United Grand Lodge of England and also 
from other European and United States Grand Lodges. Now it 
will be registered in the international list of regular Grand 
Lodges. 

   Although we open our Masonic activity with enthusiasm, 
gratitude, and consciousness of great responsibility, we are 
facing many problems. We lost all our prewar fortune, our 
Temple, and all our Masonic possessions. However, with the 
great help offered to us from Grand Lodges in Europe - 
especially from Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, and 
Italy - and in the United States, we shall start our great 
Craft anew. We intend to continue in our prewar regular 
Masonic tradition with the main goal of helping to rebuild 
our national moral character which was corrupted in the 
course of 50 years of Communist oppression. 

   This is, unfortunately, not unusual since morality has 
been disturbed in many countries. Therefore we all, dear 
Brethren, have to keep in mind the words of John Comenius, 
the great Czech churchman and educator, who said, "Labyrinth 
of the world and paradise of the heart"! 

   The labyrinth of the world unfortunately still persists; 
however, the paradise of the heart must remain as our goal. 
Do not allow this ideal of Freemasonry to be extinguished!  

   I and other Brothers were forced to stay in a 
concentration camp till the end of the war. Infected by an 
epidemic fever, many died in my arms. 

   During the Communist oppression lasting 41 years, 1948-
1989, only 28 Czech and Moravian Freemasons survived.  

   The Nazi government during the occupation of 
Czechoslovakia strictly prohibited Masonic activity. During 
World War II about 135 Freemasons were executed or tormented 
to death, at least 130 were imprisoned, 64 persecuted, and 
more than 100 died as a result, later in life, of 
imprisonment. 


