History of Freemasonry in Indonesia (Part 3)

The Shadow of Freemasonry in the 'Boedi Oetomo' Organization

Freemasonry associations or during the colonial period to post-independence were generally called " Free Masonic Congregations ", actively spread throughout the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) from 1762 to 1962. During the 2 centuries of Freemasonry in Indonesia, these associations basically played a big role and had had a deep impact on the history of the Dutch East Indies region until it became the country of Indonesia.

At first this movement only consisted of Europeans, especially the Dutch, then over time, Indonesians began to join. Most of the nobility. Towards the end of its history, this congregation became the Indonesian congregation.

This movement was later disbanded by Sukarno and then never appeared again in Indonesia.

According to Drs. J. Diederik van Rossum, Grand Master of the Free Masons under the Dutch Great East, the Free Masons Movement has been active for more than two centuries in various parts of the world. Every Free Mason has a duty, wherever he is and works, to promote all that unites and removes divisions between people. Free Masonic institutes draw members into a symbolic way of working and stimulate them to give meaning to the notion of brotherhood.

Because this tarekat does not adhere to any dogma or teachings regarding differences in social, cultural or religious backgrounds, a spirit of tolerance and cooperation arises. The ultimate goal of this movement is to achieve a world where everyone has a proper place. This approach also stimulates diversity rather than human and cultural uniformity.

Drs. J. Diederik van Rossum also stated that during Freemasonry's existence in Indonesia, there were many community institutions, schools, and business entities that were founded by this association. Through a lot of community service work especially through the high quality schools founded by Freemasonry, many young natives would later become part of the modern Indonesian elite.

Several authors regarding this study indicate the influence of Freemasonry on the founding of the famous Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (Battavia Arts and Sciences Association). There are also writers who underline the contribution of Freemasonry in the fields of arts and education, as well as their influence in the Indonesian national movement, that, the Free Masons had at an early stage established relations with one of the first Indonesian political organizations, called "Boedi Oetomo".

Two Chairmen of the Boedi Oetomo Organization Are Members of Freemasonry from Loji Mataram (Yogyakarta)

What nowadays we remember every May 20 as National Awakening Day, originates from the founding date of the Budi Utomo organization. namely on May 20, 1908.

On 3-5 October 1908, the Boedi Oetomo Organization held its first congress in Yogyakarta. In this congress Raden Adipati Tirto Koesoemo, Regent of Karanganyar, was appointed as general chairman.

Raden Adipati Tirto Koesoemo has been a member of the Mataram Loji since 1895. The Mataram Loji is a Freemasonry Lodge founded in Yogyakarta.

The DIY Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) building, located on Jalan Malioboro, was built in 1878 by a Dutch association (Vrijmetselarij) in Yogyakarta. This building is used for meetings of Freemasonry.

This building is known as Loji Mataram or Masonic Lodge. Meanwhile, the people of Yogyakarta at that time called it the "Devil's Building" because the ceremony for accepting new masonic members was always covered in secrecy and certain ceremonies. In Dutch it is called Huis Van Overdenking while in Javanese it is called Omah Pewangsitan.

Since the late 19th century, the Freemasonry movement began to attract the attention of the native aristocrats within the Paku Alam family. Starting with Paku Alam V who became a mason member, followed by Paku Alam VI and Paku Alam VII.

At the second Boedi Oetomo congress, which was held at Loji Mataram, Raden Adipati Tirto Koesoemo proposed using Malay. This proposal preceded the proposal in the 'Youth Pledge' by about twenty years, which created Malay (Indonesian) as a unifying language.

In 1911, Prince Ario Noto Dirodjo (1858-1917) replaced Tirto Koesoemo as chairman of Boedi Oetomo, serving between 1911-1914.

Prince Ario Noto Dirodjo joined the Mataram lodge in 1887 and held various management positions.

Prince Ario Noto Dirodjo is known as a mason member who is skilled at expressing his opinion in Dutch. He expressed his opinion on improving teaching and education for native people at a masonic congress in December 1911 in Jakarta.

In 1913 Prince Ario Noto Dirodjo founded the Yogya Branch of the Sarekat Islam, which included many members of the Javanese elite. Noto Dirodjo was a man who was respected and considered a champion of the Javanese people's movement.

Apart from Raden Adipati Tirto Koesoemo and Prince Ario Noto Dirodjo, there are also several important figures from the Boedi Oetomo organization who are also members of the Freemasonry association, such as Dr. Kanjeng Raden Tumenggung (KRT) Radjiman Wedyodipoera or Wedyodiningrat (1879-1952).

Dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat is a doctor who is also one of the founding figures of the Republic of Indonesia. He was a member of the Budi Utomo organization, in 1945 he was elected to lead the Investigative Body for Preparatory Work for Indonesian Independence (BPUPKI). On August 9, 1945, the day after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Radjiman together with nationalist figures Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta were flown to Saigon to meet with Field Marshal Hisaichi Terauchi, the Japanese commander of the Expeditionary Army Group South.

Raden Said Soekanto Tjokrodiatmodjo (the first Indonesian Chief of Police to be appointed by Soekarno) is a native who occupies the highest position in the Freemasonry organization, namely as Grand Master of the Great East of Indonesia or the Masonic National Federation.

The Masonic magazine circulating among members of the congregation (Indisch Maconnek Tijdschrift) noted that Soekanto officially registered himself as a prospective member of the Purwa-Daksina Lodge in September 1953. Soekanto was finally awarded the status of Grand Master of the Indonesian Masonic Order, inaugurated as a member of the Purwa-Daksina Lodge in January 8, 1954.

Soekarno never dismissed the Loji Agung Indonesia after inflaming his political manifestations because of his reluctance towards Soekanto. When Soekanto went on his pilgrimage, Soekarno issued the Supreme War Rule Number 7 of 1961 which prohibited the activities of the Indonesian Grand Lodge.

Also read:

History of Freemasonry in Indonesia (Part 1)

History of Freemasonry in Indonesia (Part 2)

Nazi, Tibetan, and Rosicrucian Occult Connections

Sanat Kumara's Popularity among Theosophical Mystics