We are introducing our new OVN podcast series 'Vrijmetselarij, geschiedenis en onderzoek' (Freemasonry, history and research). This first installment is in English. Listen to the lectures presented at the international conference about the Dutch Museum of Freemasonry in May 2023. If you could not be there in person, you can still enjoy the fascinating talks by international experts from various fields of study on the history and scope of this amazing collection. Listen to the podcast here or subscribe to it on Spotify or another podcast platform.

International OVN conference 2023

'A heritage collection, unparalleled elsewhere in the world': An introduction to the Museum of Freemasonry in The Hague

On May 25th 2023 academic experts from the USA, UK, Germany, Sweden, Belgium and The Netherlands will discuss the history and cultural importance of the 'Vrijmetselarij Museum', the Museum of Freemasonry in The Hague, The Netherlands. The collection reflects not only the development of freemasonry, its tolerant worldview and unique ritual tradition, but also 300 years of Dutch history, as well as the lives and works of 70.000 members. Pre-registration is already possible via info@stichtingovn.nl. 

The program with information on registration fees, location, etc. is available on this page. All presentations will be given in English.

Freemasonry at Tong Tong Fair 2016

Tong Tong Fair is a famous, annual Asian festival, which takes place in The Hague, The Netherlands, from 28th May until 5th June 2016 This year, freemasonry and its historical lodge buildings are amongst the themes explored in the festival's exhibition, lecture and actvitities program. For more information, follow this link: tongtongfair.nl/vrijmetselarij/.

Building of Lodge De Vriendschap, Surabaya, founded in 1808.
Photo: CMC Prince Frederik, The Hague.

The Patriot Mason

Washington in masonic
regalia, portrait presented
by Henry Wellcome.
Photo: www.freemasonry.
london.museum

On Independence Day, Monday 4th July, a new exhibition was opened in the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London: The Patriot Mason: Freemason-ry in American Society. It explores the role of freemasonry in America from the 18th century to the present day, drawing on rarely seen objects from the museum’s own collections. One of the world’s rarest Masonic books – published by Benjamin Franklin in 1734 – will be displayed alongside the elaborate regalia worn by American freemasons. The exhibition will be close un 22 December 2011.

Rose Croix Exhibition

The Belgian Museum of Freemasonry hosts an exhibition on masonic jewelry until 31 October 2011: From Utopia to Knowledge. On display are 134 jewels of the Rose Croix degree from the Guéguen collection. They are dated between ca. 1760 and 1890 and often executed in gold or silver and embellished with precious stones. This private collection was previously the subject of a publication: Robert Vanloo, Les Bijoux Rose+Croix, uitgeverij Dervy 2003.

Dispersed Nazi Records of Looted Art

The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany is supporting a series of projects aiming to make the Nazi records of cultural plunder during World War II publicly available. These projects have located and documented original files of the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR), the primary Nazi agency responsible for looting cultural valuables in Nazi-occupied countries. The ERR's records include not only art objects, but also items taken from libraries, archives, Masonic lodges, and religious buildings in the occupied countries of Western and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Reconstructing the Record of Nazi Cultural Plunder: A Survey of the Dispersed Archives of the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR) by by Patricia Kennedy Grimsted has been published online at www.iisg.nl/publications/errsurvey.  In addition to the publication of the survey, the Claims Conference is supporting two additional initiatives. One is the ongoing imaging of the ERR files located in Kiev, Moscow, Vilnius, Berlin, Koblenz, Amsterdam, Paris, New York, and Washington. The other is the joint initiative of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to create a Database of Art Objects at the Jeu de Paume in Paris that brings together all documentation in a searchable form. The website was launched in October 2010 and can be found at: www.errproject.org/jeudepaume.

Save the Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica !

The Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica in Amsterdam is one of the most renowned international study collections for scholars of western esotericism, including freemasonry. Unfortunately, the library is under threat of closure and sale by a bank. The OVN Foundation supports the petition to save the library, online at: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ritmanlibrary/. Click on the link for more information on the issue. The petition is an initiative of the Chair for the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents at the University of Amsterdam, whose students and scholars have been researching the collection of the BPH for more than 10 years. Thank you for your support!

Update on the Cultural Masonic Centre

The Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of the Netherlands has updated its plans for the Cultural Masonic Centre (CMC) in The Hague.
As discussed earlier on this blog, the Order originally intended to move the CMC's collection to a location elsewhere in the Netherlands, which sparked a controversy. The plan was opposed by many scholars and heritage professionals, including the OVN Foundation, which appealed to the lodges and the heritage sector to allow the CMC's collection to remain within its historical and academic context in The Hague.
The Order has now announced that it will be reconsidering two options:
- remaining in The Hague with both the administrative chair and the CMC, because the historical ties to the city are a strong argument,
- relocating to the lodge building in Amsterdam, because this is already being renovated in order to attract a third party as co-resident.
The OVN hopes that the loges will now make good use of the wide support and interest expressed by the local heritage sector in cooperating on a suitable proposal for the old, or a new location in The Hague. The final decision will be made by the Order in june 2012, but a progress report is expected for the yearly meeting of lodges in june 2011.

Update on the Cultural Masonic Centre

In earlier messages on this blog, we have asked your attention for the controversial moving plans of the Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of the Netherlands, which involve the historical collections in the Cultural Masonic Centre in The Hague.
this plan met with much controversy amongst academia and heritage professionals. Several list members have actively supported the campaign by the OVN Foundation to respect the collection in its cultural, historical an academic infrastructure in The Hague.
Most recently received news is that the Grand Lodge intends to go ahead with its plans, but... decided to take the topic off the official agenda for the yearly meeting in June 2010. The reason given was that the Grand Lodge is considering a location offered in Utrecht, but that particular plan is in too premature a stage to discuss with the members or bring to a vote.
This means the decision on the Cultural Masonic Centre has been postponed until the yearly meeting of 2011 (or a special interim meeting on the subject, if called for).

The OVN Foundation made an appeal to the heritage sector and all lodges of the Grand East to respect the cultural, historical and academic ties of the collection to the city of The Hague, which go back nearly 300 years. Positive response came from several heritage organisations, which are willing to help the lodges in The Hague to come up with a more suitable plan. Many academics in the field of study wrote letters of support. And many Dutch lodges responded positively, complaining about the decision process used by of the Grand Lodge.

In June, a new Grand Master was installed, who may have a fresh view on the situation. The board members who initiated the plan for the move are no longer in office. Hopefully the new team of decision makers will see the importance of respecting the cultural and historical context of the collection, as well as it's academic infrastructure, and is willing to explore the options of realising its ambitions together with the heritage sector in The Hague.

Readers are invited to give their opinion on the situation via the survey above.

[Image: The Cultural Masonic Centre in The Hague, The Netherlands, www.vrijmetselarij.nl]

New publications

- L'architecture maçonnique du 18e siècle à nos jours, exhibition catalogue Musée de la Grande Loge de France, Paris 2010, 152 pp. Nearly 300 objects, drawings, prints and paintings have been borrowed from the Masonic Museums in Europe (The Hague, Bayreuth, Brussels, Vienna, etc.) as well as large private and public collections.

- Janet Burke/Margaret Jacob, 'Les premières francs-maçonnes au siécle des Lumiéres', Monde Maçonnique I, Presses Universitaires de Bordeaux 2010. First volume of a new series edited by Cécile Révauger, 190 pp, € 17,-.

- An older publication, but now available online: José Antonio Ferrer Benimeli (ed.), Masonería, política y sociedad, Centro de Estudios Históricos de la Masonería Española, 1989. Download articles via Dialnet.

Le Droit Humain's archive moves to The Hague Municipal Archive

The office of the Dutch Federation of the International Order of Mixed Freemasonry 'Le Droit Humain' has moved from The Hague to its new premises in Nieuwegein. Althought the historical library of ca. 5000 titels will also move, this is not the case for the historical archives of the Dutch Federation.

The archive of Le Droit Humain dating before 1980 has been stored at The Hague's Municipal Archive for a period of three years, where optimal climate conditions and security measures are provided. The Municipal Archive has kindly offered facilities to make an inventory of the collection.
The OVN Foundation was involved in the preparation of the archives for the move and will now offer a research grant to have an inventory made of the documents dating between 1904 and 1945. A call for candidates will be circulated in order to select a student or researcher, who will make a complete inventory in order to make this earliest part of the archive available for research as soon as possible.

Le Droit Humain has also decided to transfer several rituals and magazines dating before 1945 from its library to the archive, as these are to rare and vulnarable to continue to be included in the library's loan services. Several duplicates, including annual editions of the magazine Lux Orientis of the lodges in the Dutch East Indies and the Bulletin of the Dutch Federation, have been donated to the National Library of the Netherlands.

The progressive policy adapted by Le Droit Humain towards it's archives, as well as the kind cooperation of The Hague's Municipal Archive, will make important sources available. When this particular archive becomes accessible for research, it will no doubt lead to a complete review of the history of modern freemasonry in the Netherlands. So far, only the archives of masculine Orders were available. But the archives of mixed Orders of the beginning of the 20th century reveal the relationship between freemasonry and 'new' social and religious movements, including vegetarianism, cremation, emancipation, animal and child protection services, as well as theosophy and anthroposophy. Le Droit Humain especially attracted members of the intellectual avant-garde, including well-known artists and architects. All the more reasons to look forward to the inventory of the archive becoming available.

Whan the inventory is finished and the initial term of the loan to the Municipal Archive is passed, the Dutch Federation will take a more permanent decision about the future of it's archive. A long term loan of minimum 20 yers to the Municipal Archive is one of the options. The OVN Foundation hopes that the example of Le Droit Humain will be followed by other masonic and esoteric organizations, and can offer advice and practical assitance to organizations considering the future of their collections.

[Images: Archive before conservation and registration (top) and the storage facilities of The Hague's Municipal Archive (bottom)]

Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie

The Museum of the Grand Orient de France in Paris will formally change it's name to Museum of Freemasonry: Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie, in February 2010. The museum, which will then reopen after extensive renovations, will become part of the Museums of France recognized by the Ministery of Culture. More information can be found on the new website: www.museedelafrancmaconnerie.org.
This marks a new step towards the general cultural and heritage sector, an example set by the Library and Museum of Freemasonry in London some years ago. (Hopefully, this will inspire the Dutch Grand Lodge, which is currently reviewing the plans for the future of it's collection.)

Copy Francken MS discovered

The editor of the masonic site Pietre-Stones has announced the (re)discovery of a copy of the famous Francken Manuscript with the rituals of the Rite of Perfection from 1783 in Lahore, Pakistan. Information is available on the Pietre Stones website.
Over the years, several modern transcripts of the Francken MS have been brought into circulation, one of which can be viewed on Google Books.

Decision on Dutch masonic heritage postponed

The planned move of the Cultural Masonic Centre from The Hague has (fortunately) been postponed!
As mentioned earlier on this blog, the Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of the Netherlands is planning to move its offices and historical collections to a lodge building elsewhere in the Netherlands. This plan has caused concerns in both masonic and academic circles. Not only because this would sever the nearly 300-year old cultural and historical ties between the collections and The Hague, but would also mean a physical separation from related museum and archive collections, as well as nearby University Chairs for the field of study. The fact that the criteria for proposals to be submitted for the new housing did not include clear guidelines to ensure professional, museum standard facilities for this internationally renowned collection, was especially worrysome.
At the yearly meeting of lodges in 2008 members voted on proposals for the new housing as submitted by delegates of various provinces. The plans from the lodges in Bilthoven and Arnhem were selected to be explored further. Since then, the Grand Lodge has studied these concepts and decided that new facts and changed circumstances were a reason to advice its members to vote against these plans in the yearly meeting of 2009. In June the plans were indeed rejected. Instead, it was decided to form a committee which will take a fresh look at the criteria for the new housing. More importantly, the committee will consider if it is really necessary to house the collection at the same location at the Order's offices, as both have very different needs.
Since the plan was first introduced, the OVN Foundation has made a plea for the cultural and historical importance of the collection, as well as the unbreakable ties with The Hague and the physical needs of this unique Dutch heritage to be the foundation of the decisions process. The OVN is therefore delighted at the news, although the postponement does not take away any of the concerns for the future of the collection. Hopefully the committee will not be limited to include the usual knowleadgable members of the Order, but will also invite independent specialists from the (profane) museum and heritage sector to provide expert advice. Perhaps then the scenario of a looming cultural disaster can still be avoided.

Le Droit Humain's historical archive

The Dutch Federation of the International Order of Mixed Freemasonry 'Le Droit Humain' is preparing the move of its historical library and archives, dating back to the foundation of it's first lodge in 1904. The planned move provided a good opportunity to make a start with the necessary conservation and registration of the collection. The whole archive is transferred to acid-free boxes, and all files are noted in a basic registration, which can be used to make a more detailed inventory at a later date. The OVN Foundation has an advisory rol in this process, and is also assisting the daily work.
At the upcoming national meeting of Le Droit Humain it will be decided where this historical collection will be housed. Options are: realising new housing using the Order's own means or finding room within an existing heritage organisation, where conditions for storage are already available at an optimal level. The possibilities to make the archive between 1904-1945 accessible for research will also be considered.

[Photo 1: The uninventoried archive in it's old depot. Photo 2: All files are wrapped in acid-free archive folders and then transferred to acid-free cardbord boxes, in order to prevent decay.]

Lodge collection management

Although the central collections of masonic orders are usually cared for by the national Grand Lodge, many individual lodges also house historical collections. These private collections are vulnerable and require professional care, which can pose both a practical and financial problem to their owners. Lodges of other fraternal and esoteric organizations experience the same problems, and have the same wish to preserve their heritage and make it accessible to members and students. But within their own organizations, the necessary practical know-how and financial means are often lacking.
This is why the OVN organized a practical course on preventive conservation, collection management and heritage subsidies for lodges on 12 December 2008. It was attended by 21 participants from both masculine and mixed masonic Orders in the Netherlands, and the Dutch association of Spiritualists, Harmonia. Having established that there is a need for this kind of information, the OVN intends to publish a brochure with practical information for lodges on how to care for their archives, libraries and object collections, including do's and dont's, addresses of suppliers of conservation materials, and information on relevant subsidies. In 2009, a practical course will be organized on the theme of heritage subsidies, offering practical assitance with the application process in order for individual lodges to secure funding for the conservation of their collections.

Future of the CMC

Earlier this year, the Order of Freemasons under the Grand East of the Netherlands announced plans to move its administrative headquarters and historical collections (library, archive and museum) to a ‘central location in the Netherlands’ by 2011. It invited the representative bodies of lodges in each province to submit a proposal for a ‘National Masonic Center’: a combined Freemason’s Hall, national headquarters and collection facility. The plan will have a significant impact on the future of the historical collections, currently housed in the Cultural Masonic Centre ‘Prins Frederik’ in The Hague (C.M.C.).

The Regio-Convent Den Haag (the body representing all lodges in and around The Hague) requested a formal advice on the future of the collections of the OVN foundation. The OVN provided a report, which underlined the great importance of these collections as cultural heritage on a national level, as well as a significant study collection on an international level.
The report was in places critical of the policies of the Order regarding the conservation, heritage management and public function of its collections, housed in the C.M.C. It further pointed out, that the collection had historically grown in The Hague since 1734, as the Order was founded here and remained closely tied to the Dutch Royal family and government, as well as numerous prominent historical figures and organizations based in this city. The collection is historically, physically and logically inextricably bound to The Hague. It forms a 'fitting puzzle piece' to the collections of the nearby National Library, National Archives, the Royal Family Archive and Museum Meermanno in The Hague, which all keep archives of historical figures and organizations which were involved in the Order. To move the C.M.C. to another location in another part of the country would 'rip' the collection from its historical and geographical context and sever ties with related collections and heritage organizations, but also move it further away from the Leiden University chair for the study of freemasonry.
The report proposed the development of a stable, long-term vision for professional heritage management, such as: cooperation with academic and professional heritage organizations; applying for heritage and cultural subsidies; realizing a more professional level of conservation and exploitation, as well as extending the public and academic function of the collections in the intended National Masonic Centre. In order to do so, the collections could be housed separately from the Order's headquarters and lodge rooms and form an independent organizational unit. A strong plea was made to re-examine the relocation plans, as the available options in The Hague (such as remaining in the current location, acquiring other accommodation in The Hague, or even sharing accommodation with nearby heritage institutions and university collections) have not been considered.

The Regio-Convent Den Haag carefully considered the report. However, it decided not to present a relocation plan, but instead made a strong plea for postponement of the plan. Unfortunately, this plea was rejected at the yearly meeting of the Grand Lodge and its lodges in June 2008. Of the proposals of other provinces, the plans for relocation to Bilthoven or Arnhem will now be discussed in more detail at next year's meeting, implying the loss of the collections for The Hague.
Scholars in the field of study are alarmed and concerned about these events. Most of the voting lodge members are unfamiliar with the history and contents of the collection, as well as the complex factors involved in heritage conservation and collection management. Although the decision process is democratic and the decision about a private collection obviously lies with its owners, the future of unique and important national heritage is at stake here. One would expect heritage organizations or deparments to have been involved as external advisors at an early stage of any relocation plans of a collection of this size and international importance.
Hopefully, other options will be considered before a final decision is made in June 2009. As several other Dutch masonic Orders have indicated that they are considering new plans for their historical collections, the OVN foundation is calling for a joint effort to form a professional heritage centre in The Hague.

A rediscovered masonic object

The website of the Musée de la Grande Loge de France lists several recent aquisitions. One of those caught the attention of Dutch researchers: a large cup, dating from 1872. It was a gift of lodge Het Vrij Geweeten in Breda, the Netherlands, to its Worshipful Master P.J. Six, celebrating his rule of 20 years as Master of the Lodge. It is described in lodge archives as a 'milieu de table', made of silver and crystal, decorated with heraldic and masonic emblems and an inscription.
This appears to have been one of the many possessions of Dutch lodges, which were looted by occupying forces during World War II. Many objects of masonic silver were melted at the time, but this must have travelled through Europe instead, passing from owner to owner. Luckily, the object ended up in a masonic museum, where it can now be viewed and studied. But to the Dutch lodge, it remains a 'missing' part of its heritage.