King Leopold I Lodge No. 3

The origins

Our Lodge began its existence in the hearts and minds of several men. Our Lodge today consists of men from several nations and so did the founders of our organization. The charter members came from Belgium and The United States of America.

The earliest records of King Leopold 1st Lodge No. 3 are the minutes from a meeting held at The Main Gate Café, Casteau, Belgium on 30 July 1968. A number of important aspects were discussed with a member of the Grand Lodge of Belgium, which were to affect the Lodge in the long term. These included the location for meetings, the proposed name for the lodge, color's for the lodge, and membership.

Most of the early business of the Lodge centered on the tasks of obtaining a charter from the Grand Lodge of Belgium and the other tasks associated with starting any organization: times and locations for meetings, dues, by laws, and obtaining appropriate supplies necessary for running a lodge.

October 1968 was a momentous month for the Lodge. In October 1968 many of the brothers were affiliated with the Grand Lodge in a meeting held at Ghent. On 6 October, the Grand Lodge held a meeting in Brussels during which the petition for charter from King Leopold 1st Lodge 24 was balloted upon and passed. This led to a special dispensation to the effect that King Leopold 1st Lodge 24 could work as a regular lodge until its charter could be physically presented and the lodge consecrated. Most Worshipful Brother Wagemens presented Brother Stein with the Three Great Lights of Masonry and granted this special oral dispensation in open Lodge.

The early years

On 8 October 1968, the first meeting of King Leopold 1st Lodge 24 was held in the SHAPE Chapel. As a result of the oral dispensation from that Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Worshipful Master made it known that a meeting would be held each Tuesday until further notice at SHAPE under Lodge Colors of Green and Gold.

The Lodge members included café owners, soldiers, sailors, and engineers, men from diverse backgrounds but with a common goal and common ideals, those of friendship, morality, and brotherly love. Likewise many people and organizations made contributions to the Lodge including The Grand Lodge of New York, Lodges in Germany, Erasmus Lodge of Brussels, and the Most Worshipful Grand Master presented to the Lodge a Tyler's sword.

In the early days of the Lodge, meetings were held on a weekly basis. This was due mainly for the need of time for instruction of Lodge officers in their duties and to prepare for the upcoming degree work to be completed by the Lodge. There was a considerable amount of interest in the Lodge and Masonry during this period of time at SHAPE and the Lodge had many petitions for admittance. The first-degree work was held on 10 December 1968 at Chievres. Due to the many applicants, degree work was an integral part of the weekly meetings in the early months with many initiations.

The Lodge continued in the late 1960s and early 1970s and went from strength to strength and as today, the Lodge participated in the important events of other lodges on a regular basis. Additionally visitors from the Grand Lodge of Belgium were in attendance regularly at communications at King Leopold 1st Lodge 24.

The Lodge was able to assist brethren in Turkey during the spring of 1970. The needs of the people in Turkey was made known to the Lodge and the Lodge responded in a resounding manner with a contribution of almost 10,000 BF to be given in to the Grand Lodge of Turkey. This was a clear demonstration of the charitable nature of our fraternity.

An event of great significance occurred in the Summer of 1970 when the Grand Lodge of Luxembourg celebrated its 200th anniversary.

Then as today, King Leopold 1st was closely affiliated with Chevalier Ramsay Lodge with the latter being located in Maubeuge, France. At that time King Leopold 1st had many members from Chevalier Ramsay Lodge applying for affiliation with King Leopold 1st and they greeted with open arms. Later, a new a new lodge was formed under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Belgium which was sponsored by King Leopold 1st.

During the year of 1970-1971, King Leopold 1st was fortunate to have several guest lecturers. Of particular note was Worshipful Brother Manasseh, London Grand Rank, who presented a lecture entitled: ‘The Mysticism of Royal Arch’.

By this time, the Lodge had grown considerably and began to take on a truly international flavor with members from Belgium, Canada, Norway, The United Kingdom, and The United States.

The middle years

The early 1970s was a time of trouble for King Leopold 1st and in 1975 the lodge building was condemned and a new lodge building would have to be found expeditiously. In February the Lodge opened in its new location at Chievres. In 1975 attendance and membership remained a problem. However, the Lodge continued its charitable work and the Lodge sponsor a group of children from a local orphanage.

In May 1975 twenty three Brothers were present at the Lodge Elections and the Installation duly took place on 27 May in Chievres. In late 1975 Lodge work continued a pace and the Lodge thrived. In 1975, during a visit by representatives of the Grand lodge of American Canadian Lodges the Lodge was presented with a representation of the American Declaration of Independence.

In the autumn of 1976, the Grand Lodge of Belgium was considering a mandatory one year period between degrees for members of King Leopold 1st. This would enable military personnel to progress quickly. A suitable meeting place continued to be a topic for discussion and the Worshipful Master stressed the need for premises that would guarantee stability. In 1977 occupied temporary accommodation in Mons until a new temple could be constructed. A search for a suitable Lodge Jewel was ongoing through this period. During this period and due to what was in retrospect a misunderstanding between The Grand Lodge of Belgium and the Grand Lodge there was discussion as to the validity of the Grand Lodge of Belgium.

Dark times

Lodge business proceeded normally through the winter until January, when Worshipful Master Sellar reported on a meeting of the Grand Lodge of Belgium. The election of Grand Lodge officers was pending, and with two different lists of candidates having differing views on regularity, there could be potential problems with recognition by other Grand Lodges.

During 1978 there was considerable discussion as to the regularity of The Grand lodge of Belgium. Although the election for Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of Belgium would cause no problem, the election of the Grand Secretary and Grand Orator had gone in favour of the anti-pluralist side. He assured the Brethren that no immediate action would be taken by the Grand Lodge of New York or the United Grand Lodge of England concerning recognition of the Grand Lodge of Belgium.

On 10 April 1978 it was reported that the Grand Lodge of New York had withdrawn recognition of the Grand Lodge of Belgium and that five other North American Grand Lodges were considering the same action. Additionally, if the United Grand Lodge of England were to take the same action, the Grand Lodge of France would follow suit. It was reported that the annual communication of the American Canadian Provincial Grand Lodge would be held from 26-28 April and the Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Belgium would be attending on the 27th. If regularity became an issue, it was considered that the peace and harmony of the craft would be advanced if King Leopold 1st was to come under the obedience of the American Canadian Provincial Grand Lodge.

In 1979 it was announced that the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Belgium had resigned, and the Lodge decided to seek to enter under the obedience of the American Canadian Provincial Grand Lodge.

The Worshipful Master reported that a new regular grand lodge was forming in Belgium and that it was imperative that King Leopold 1st should decide its own fate because the United Grand Lodge of England would shortly withdraw recognition of the Grand Lodge of Belgium. The options available were to enter under the American Canadian Provincial Grand Lodge or to become a charter member of the newly forming Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium. Ultimately the Lodge decided to become a charter member of the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium and to notify the United Grand Lodge of England, the Grand Lodge of France (G.L.N.F.) and New York.

On 25 September 1979, King Leopold 1st opened in due and ancient form as King Leopold 1st Lodge 3, of the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium. It was reported that the United Grand Lodge of England and the Grand Lodge of France (G.L.N.F.) had withdrawn recognition of the Grand Lodge of Belgium during the summer. He reported that the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania had recognized the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium, and that the Grand Lodge of France (G.L.N.F.) was expected to do so on 28 September. Through the Autumn and Winter, recognition statements of the Regular Grand Lodge continued to be reported. By the new year, it was reported that the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium had been recognized by the Grand Lodge of India and the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Maturity

Under guidance of the Worshipful Master, the Lodge began to form a system of instruction for degree work and to formalise the dress code for meetings. Additionally, efforts were to be made to advise Brethren in the area of the Lodge's existence.

A significant Masonic discussion took place in February 1983. It was based on a then recent Masonic College of Instruction meeting, stating that other holy books which formed the basis of worship of a Brother had equal right to be placed on the altar with the Christian Bible, thereby affirming the Fraternity's belief in Deity without regard to different religious rites of worship.

Although several years had passed since the formation of the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium, it was reported in the Lodge that five Grand Lodges in the U.S. (Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, and Washington State) had still not yet recognised the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium.

Belgian regional pride became an issue at the Regular Grand Lodge and there were proposals for regional grand Lodges to exist, one for French, and one for Flemish regions. The Worshipful Master stated the Lodge 's position was not to engage in such matters as the constitution forbade being involved in political matters. King Leopold 1st made a formal statement to the Regular Grand Lodge stating non-involvement by the Lodge in the regional language issue. The proposal for regional grand Lodges was not realized. However, it was reported that 96 of 106 Grand Lodges in North, Central and South America recognised the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium.

In the autumn of 1985 there was some concern at the Regular Grand Lodge of Belgium about the small local membership of King Leopold 1st and the Worshipful Master convened a committee of Past Masters who would work with the Regular Grand Lodge representative on the issue. The close ties with Chevaliers Ramsay continued with members of King Leopold 1st attending their installation of officers.

At the installation in 1986 a Worshipful Brother presented to the Lodge a Tyler's sword, which was a replica of the Sword of Charlemagne. The sword was to replace the sword presented to the Lodge in its earlier days.

Maintaining the precepts faithfully

In 2008 the Lodge maintains and often returns to its basic values. King Leopold 1st Lodge No. 3 is a friendly lodge, professional in its workings whilst maintaining a sense of humour.

King Leopold 1st has faithfully maintained the precepts of Free Masonry for over two decades and by keeping the tenets of friendship, morality, and brotherly love in their hearts and minds the success of the next years would be even greater than the successes of the past.

The catchment area for King Leopold 1st Lodge No. 3 remains SHAPE. This has been both a weakness and a strength. Whilst the ‘turnover’ can be rapid, this also ensures that many long lasting friends pass through the doors that stand open to welcome like minded individuals with similar hearts.