Norwood Cyril explains that if we trace Freemasonry in the aspect of myth and legend, its motifs are related to the Crusaders with the Rosicrucians, the Roman Empire, the Pharaohs (Pharaohs), the Temple of Solomon, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (Tower of Babel), and Noah's Ark (Cyril, 1934).
Freemasonry has a great legend about Hiram Abiff, which was later immortalized in the process of accepting Freemasonry. The myth holds that Hiram Abiff was murdered by three men, and this tragedy became the ceremonial core of Freemasonry's confession.
The hammer, square rule, and compass represent the murder of Hiram Abiff in a masonic ritual. The History Channel interviewed several researchers of Freemason and Freemasonry organizations and revealed that the three objects symbolize the three main enemies of Freemasonry, namely tyranny, ignorance and fanaticism.
One of the three main enemies is fanaticism. Although every Freemason is allowed to pray to God according to his religion, they cannot have fanaticism.
Freemasonry views fanaticism as an absolute truth that comes from religion and many other things. Robert Macoy quotes Johann Christian Gadicke in German's Freimaurer Lexicon (1818). Johann Christian Gadicke stated, “religious fanaticism can have no place in a Freemason lodge” ( Macoy, 1873 ).
This shows that the views and doctrines of Freemasonry do not allow too strong a belief in religion. This regulation is contrary to religious teachings which generally have a fanaticism, especially regarding basic matters.
Islam, for example, requires its adherents to believe wholeheartedly as stated in the creed that truth comes from Allah. Therefore, the consequence of being a Muslim is rejecting gods other than Allah, not recognizing or confirming the existence of other gods.
Freemasonry and the interests of the Dutch colonies
Dutch colonial practices in the archipelago were carried out through indirect rules; so as not to change the previous paternalistic bureaucratic and administrative system (Hasan, 2018).
In contrast, England implemented direct rule in colonization in Asia by placing and involving Europeans directly in its government structure.
The Dutch have always made the indigenous elite an important part in strengthening their colonialism. This policy was implemented, among other things, for reasons of the need for manpower given the vast territory of the Dutch East Indies colonies. This policy is also a strategic effort to be better known and accepted by the indigenous population.
The Dutch colonialists had full power at the government level, and they appointed native elites to occupy (the remaining power) positions of regent, Patih, Wedana, Assistant Wedana, or Demang in the villages.
However, the Dutch colonialists made efforts to strictly control the native elite. For example, the Dutch colonialists distinguished a bureaucratic system which meant that a regent and the structures below him no longer had absolute autonomy to govern the region; Hasan, 2018).
Apart from the native elite, the Dutch also took an approach through organizations or social associations that could benefit them. Freemasonry is one that fulfills Dutch expectations.
Freemasonry has the same mission, especially in spreading liberalism and secularization. Therefore, the Dutch colonists considered that Freemasonry could bridge the natives with Western secular thought and make the natives accept the Dutch as their "brother" civilization.
The establishment of several tribal organizations, such as Boedi Oetomo, Jong Celebes, Jong Java, and Jong Soematra made it easier for Dutch colonialists to communicate through Freemasonry. In other words, Freemasonry is considered successful in influencing the indigenous elite.
In fact, although some Freemasons were involved in the Dutch power structure, the Freemason organizations did not have a direct structural-bureaucratic relationship with the Colonial Government in the Dutch East Indies.
Freemasonry in the Dutch East Indies first appeared through the VOC Radermarch in 1767. In other words, Freemasonry first appeared in the Archipelago in 1767. This shows that they had a connection with the VOC power structure whose mission was trade.
Gedenkboek van de Vrijmetselarij in Nederlandsch Oost-Indië, 1767–1917 is a book published to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the founding of Freemasonry in the Dutch East Indies. The book contains documentation and history of Freemasonry (the book is still available in the collection of the National Library of Indonesia).
This book, published in 1917, was the result of collaboration between three large lodges in the Dutch East Indies: de Ster in het Oosten lodge in Batavia, Constante et Fidele lodge in Semarang, and de Vriendschap lodge in Surabaya. This book is one of the main documents of the Fremasonry organization because it is the most complete source for tracing the history of Freemasonry in the Dutch East Indies.
Number of Freemasonry Memberships in the Dutch East Indies
The following is a histogram referring to K. Hylkema's research on lodge membership in the Dutch East Indies. This histogram provides a comprehensive picture of the whereabouts of lodge members, especially considering the reality of lodge growth. Hylkema obtained some data on Freemasonry members from the 1800s to the 1940s.
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| Histogram of lodge membership in the Dutch East Indies. |
Freemasonry lodges in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia)
The following are 32 lodges that were formed in the Dutch East Indies until the founding of Indonesia:
| Formation | No. | Name | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1762 | La Choisie | Batavia, Java | It ceased to exist in 1767 | |
| 1767 | La Fidèle Sincérité | Batavia, Java | Merged with the Stars in the East in 1837 | |
| 1770 | La Vertuuse | Batavia, Java | Merged with the Stars in the East in 1837 | |
| 1801 | 31 | La Constante et Fidele | Semarang, Java | Affiliated with the Grand Lodge of Indonesia on 11-31-1960, disbanded in 1962. Building demolished in 1976 |
| 1809 | 35 | Friendship (De Vriendschap) | Surabaya, Java | Move to The Hague |
| 1811 | Virtutis et Artis Amici | Pondok Gedeh, Java | Work stopped in 1815 | |
| 1837 | 14 | Star in the East (De Ster in Het Oosten) | Batavia, Java | Merger of "La Fidele Sincérité" and "la Vertueuse", ceased operations in Jakarta on June 23, 1960 and moved to Bilthoven |
| 1858 | 46 | Sun | Padang, Sumatra | Work stopped due to the Japanese occupation |
| 1870 | 53 | Mataram | Yogyakarta, Java | Work stopped due to the Japanese occupation |
| 1871 | Prince Frederik of the Netherlands (Princes Frederik der Nederlanden) | Rembang, Java | Work was stopped shortly thereafter | |
| 1872 | 55 | L'Union Frederic Royal | Surakarta, Java | Work stopped due to the Japanese occupation |
| 1880 | 61 | Prince Frederick (Prins Frederik) | City of Kings, Aceh, Sumatra | Work stopped due to the Japanese occupation |
| 1888 | 70 | Deli | Medan, Sumatra | Closed in 1960 when the Indonesian government banned Freemasonry |
| 1891 | 73 | Superior (Excelsior) | Buitenzorg, Java | |
| 1892 | 64 | Verity | Probolinggo, Java | Work stopped due to the Japanese occupation |
| 1891 | 82 | Sleep | Magelang, Java | Closed in 1960 when the Indonesian government banned Freemasonry |
| 1892 | 65 | Labor Aristocrat (Arbeid Adelt) | Makassar, Sulawesi | |
| 1896 | 84 | St. Jan | Bandung, Java | Closed in 1960 when the Indonesian government banned Freemasonry, it was re-founded in The Hague |
| 1896 | fraternity (Fraternity) | Salatiga, Java | ||
| 1898 | 87 | humanity (Humanity) | Tegal, Java | Closed in 1960 when the Indonesian government banned Freemasonry |
| 1901 | 89 | Poor | Malang, Java | Closed in 1960 when the Indonesian government banned Freemasonry |
| 1906 | 92 | Blitar | Blitar, Java | Closed in 1960 when the Indonesian government banned Freemasonry |
| 1918 | 109 | Dawn (De Dageraad) | Kediri, Java | |
| 1918 | 110 | Southern Cross (Het Zuiderkruis) | Batavia, Java | Move to The Hague |
| 1919 | 111 | Chain of Brothers (De Broederketen) | Batavia, Java | Retired in 1955 |
| 1926 | 129 | Triangle (De Driehoek) | Djembe, Java | Work stopped during the Japanese occupation |
| 1931 | 142 | Brotherhood (De Broedertrouw) | Bandung, Java | Work stopped due to the Japanese occupation |
| 1932 | 149 | Palembang | Palembang, Sumatra | Discontinued around 1958 |
| 1933 | 151 | Serajoedal | Powokerto, Java | Work stopped during the Japanese occupation |
| 1933 | 153 | Cornerstone (De Hoeksteen) | Soekaboemi, Java | Work stopped during the Japanese occupation |
| 1948 | 165 | White Rose (De Witte Roos) | Jakarta, Java | The last Dutch lodge to be founded, closed on January 14 1958 |
| 1960 | 225 | Star in the East (De Ster in het Oosten) | Hollandia, New Guinea | Disbanded in 1963 |
Overview of Deputy Grand Masters of the Dutch East Indies and Indonesia
| Period | Name | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| 1798 – 1823 | N. Engelhard | Directeur-general van de VOC en de gouverneur en directeur van de noordoostelijke kust van Java |
| 1823 – 1831 | H. Merkus de Kock | Luitenant gouverneur-generaal en commandant van het Nederlands-Indisch Leger |
| 1831 – 1839 | JJ van Sevenhoven | Resident in Palembang, deputy resident in Djokjakarta, lid van de Raad van Indie |
| 1839 – 1846 | CJ Scholten van Oud-Haarlem | President van de beide Hooggerechtshoven van Nederlands-Indië |
| 1846 | JM van Beusechem | President van de Raad van Justitie te Batavia |
| 1846 – 1862 | C. Hultman | President van het Hooggerechtshof van Nederlands-Indië |
| 1862 – 1867 | LAWJ baron Sloet van de Beele | Gouverneur-generaal van Nederlands-Indië |
| 1867 – 1887 | TH der Kinderen | Lid van de Raad van Indie |
| 1887 – 1890 | T. Henny | Landsadvocaat te Batavia |
| 1890 – 1894 | M. Willemenstijn | Colonel hoofd-intendant Nederlands-Indisch Leger |
| 1894 – 1896 | T. Henny | (Tweede termijn) |
| 1896 – 1898 | HJ Meertens | Notary Public |
| 1898 – 1899 | GA Scherer | Lid van de Raad van Indie |
| 1899 – 1900 | HJ van Lawick van Pabst | Luitenant-colonel of the Nederlands-Indisch Leger |
| 1900 – 1905 | AS Carpentier Alting | Predicate |
| 1905 – 1910 | Th. GG Valette | Leraar Gymnasium Willem III (Batavia) |
| 1910–1911 | HC Kronouer | Colonel Nederlands-Indisch Leger |
| 1911 – 1913 | JG Pott | Lid van de Raad van Indie |
| 1913 – 1915 | August Frederik Leopold Faubel | Colonel-intendant Nederlands-Indisch leger |
| 1915 – 1917 | G. André de la Porte | Lid van de Raad van Indie |
| 1917 – 1919 | W. Sonneveld | lid van de Raad van Indië |
| 1919 – 1921 | JH Carpentier Alting | lid van de Raad van Indië |
| 1921 – 1925 | JH Delgorge | Directeur van de Opiumregie |
| 1925 – 1931 | W. Cool | Voorzitter raad van bestuur Nederlands-Indische Spoorwegmaatschappij, vicepresident van het Kon. Institute van Ingenieurs |
| 1931 – 1937 | AH van Ophuijsen | Notary Public |
| 1937 – 1940 | JJ Pesman | Colonel Netherlands-Indisch leger |
| 1940 – 1945 | JE Jasper | Gouverneur van Djokjakarta |
| 1945 – 1946 | Jb. Zeylemaker | Hoogleraar aan de Rechtenfaculteit van Batavia |
| 1945 – 1946 | CB Sibenius Trip | procuratiehouder bij de firma. John Peet & Co |
| 1946 – 1954 | ZH Carpentier Alting | Advocaat |
| 1954 – 1957 | A. Holle | Hoofdambtenaar op het Ministerie van Justitie |
| 1958 | W.Th.E. Thon | Directeur-generaal General Electric Co Inc. of Java |
| 1959 – 1960 | K. Lewin | Administrateur van de Carpentier Alting Stichting |
Also read:
History of Freemasonry in Indonesia (Part 1)
Nazi, Tibetan, and Rosicrucian Occult Connections
Popularity of Sanat Kumara Among Theosophical Mystics