This “Short History of Hungarian Freemasonry” was written in the year 1988 when Hungary was stil ruled by a communist regime. I have been able to prepare this article on basis of documents in custody of Br. Geoge Shiller from the GALILEO Lodge who transmitted them to me in spite of the danger he could incur. This article has been published in MIMAR SINAN, the official publication of the Turkish Grand Lodge as a tribute to our Brethern of the Galileo Lodge still alive.

When we consider Hungary we have to remember that it is an error to consider its actual boundaries. In the 14th century Hungary was in addition of its actual territory in possession of Transylvania, part of Tchechoslovakia and the northern part of Yugoslavia. People living in those areas are still speaking Hungarian as most of them consider themselves Hungarian. The country has been occupied by the Ottomans and then integrated to the Austro-Hungarian Empire before the First World War. In 1918 separated from Austria, Hungary is ruled by a republic for a shot time followed by the leftist rule of Bela Khun which also has not lasted. In 1920 with the Trianon agreement a monarchy is installed and the country has been ruled by the vice king, Amiral Horthy. After the Second World war some of its territory is distributed to his neighbours and a Socialist People Republic under the Russian tutelage stared to rule the country.

It is known that at the 15th century operative mason loges existed in Hungary on basis of inscriptions and symbols on tombs at the Mihaly and Elisabeth churches in Kahsa (Kosovo). Same symbols are also found on tombstones at Brashov, which suppose some relations between the two Lodges.

The first Loges for speculative Freemasonry are founded by Brethern from Germany and Poland. The first Lodge is faunded in Bratislava in 1740 by an Austrian Mother Loge in Vienna. The Freemasonry starts to expand from there and Hungarian aristocrats begun to enter Lodges.

On 1749 the Brashov Senator Seuler establishes a Lodge in Barshov with the name “Zu den drei Seulen” (The three columns”. On .1767 foundation of the Lodge “Sankt Andreas zu der drei Seeblattern” (St Andrea in the three water lily petals) and on April 24th, 1784 a District Grand Lodge under the auspices of the Austrian Grand Lodge is implemented by Kont Gyorgy Banffy. The Grand Master elected is Kont Farkas Kemeny. At the year 1785 the number of Brethern on its matricule is 125.

Lodges continue to proliferate during the reign of Joseph II who tolerate freemasonry. However after his death during the reign of Leopold II (1790-17912) the District Grand Lodge and Lodges in Transylvania are forced to cease operation.

During the year 1760 A number of Croatian officers who fell prisoner to the Prussian Army at Brazovican (actual Tchechoslovakia) establish a Lodge named “Hadibaratmag” (Friends of war) . Three Lodges which have been established on the same time a Grand Lodge is established on October 22d, 1775. The elected Grand Master is Janos Draskovitch. On 1769 Lodges are formed in the Northern part of the Country under the jurisdiction of the Wrshov Grand Lodge.

The first Lodge in Pest and Buda is probably a military Lodge with the name “Nagyszivusag” (Charity). As the Grand Master is living in Pest a second Lodge is established in Buda and existing Lodges merged. Pavlov the First, son of the Russian Tchar is a member of that Lodge.

On 1781 , Grand Master Draskovitch decides to merge the Austrian and Hungarian Lodges under the juridiction of a single Grand Lodge. But until 1786 only 6 Lodges are established. During this period Brethern of Hungarian origin start to use more and more the Hungarian language and a national freemasonry and culture start spreading.

The first magazines in Hungarian language and the translation into Hungarian of theater and scientific works and also the establishment of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences are all the work of Hungarian freemasonry.

As some criticism is uttered at the emperor Franz II in some Lodges, the meeting of Lodges are ordered to be less frequent and on 1795 Lodges are obliged to stop operating. Some Brethern who are involved in the uprising against Austria are executed and freemasonry entirely forbidden. This period last half a century. In the meantime a Hungarian Lodge named “Zur Wahrheit und Freundshaft” (Veracity and Brotherhood) is established in Germany. The Metternich era pass without any change in the situation.

On may 26th, 1848 during the uprising against the Empire a Lodge named “Kossuth Lajos a Dicso Feny Hynalhoz” (Kossuth Lajos when the Saint Light is rising) is established. Thus the insurrection kahraman name has been given to a Lodge.The Lodge Worshipful master is held for a short time by Kossuth Lajos without being a freemason and the name of Kossuth Lajos is eliminated from the Lodge name. Russian intervention paut an end to the uprising and the establishment of a Grand Lodge cannot be realized.

When on 1861 a partial autonomy and the establishment of a parliament is granted to Hungary 12 Brethern meet and establish a Lodge called “Szant Isvan” and to obtain some help for the Lodge Br. Lewis Lajos is sent to Hamburg. The Germans then put their conditions for regularity as a priority.
- Permit of the government to establish Lodges,
- To avoid discussions on religion and politics,
- The german language in the Lodge.
As the Lodge insist for the Hungarian language the negotiations fell. As those negotiations continue the Emperor dissolve the Parliament and freemasonry is again forbidden.

On 1867 the political situation improve and Hungary became a kingdom with self rule on only the internal matters. Hungary has a proper parliament and government besides the Central one.The prime minister is Br. Gyula Andrassy who is a freemason. Thus freemasonry start once more to organized freely. In order to explain what is freemasonry the Br. Gyula Lewis gives 12 conferences and on October 1869 the freemasons regulations are accepted by the government. The Lodge “Einigheit in Vaterland” ( in the Motherland) is established and become recognized as regular by the British Grand Lodge. Lodges in Sopron, Temesvar, Bratislava, Buda and Pest follows.

On 1780 seven Lodges getting a Patent from the Grand Lodge of Bavaria install a Grand Lodge. Immediately the Frankfurt Grand Lodge and other Grand Lodges recognize that one. With the proliferation of Lodges the Rite become a matter of controversy between Lodges. .Some Brethern who have been living abroad were willing to use the Rite to which they were used. The used Rite is the rite “Saint Jean”. However the Lodge “Matyas Corvin” who was established under the obedience of the Grand Orient de France started to use the Scottish Rite and it is the first Lodge to do so.

The religion and some governmental restrictions resulted in a loss of interest for the Freemasonry, except for the Brethern of the old generation. The increase of membership became more and more difficult. Some Lodges cease to operate for lack of Brethern and more Brethern without any qualification are initiated. The existence of two Rites result is a matter of harsh discussions between Lodges. Then on 1871 agreement has been reached that the two Rites can be used in Lodges belonging to the same Grand Loge. However the implementation of the decision concerning the Rite necessitated fifteen years. It was on 1886 that the government agreed to the implementation of a Grand Lodge of Hungary which Grand Master became Franz Pulsky. 1831 Brethern are members of Lodges which are part of this Grand Lodge with 26 Loges operating on the “Saint Jean” Rite and 26 Lodges on the Scottish Rite. Since the year1871 67 Lodges are established but only 39 Lodges have been able to continue their existence. One of the most famous, the “Galileo” Lodge established in the year 1871 has continued its existence till freemasonry was forbidden by governmental decision on 1945.

With the establishment of an Hungarian Grand Lodge, freemasonry starts to evolve. A Temple is built and on 1896 it is consecrated with an important ceremony in which the Grand Loges of Portugal, Egypt, Java, New York, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Belgium attended.

In order to be involved in chaeity some of the Loges establish adequate Societies. Among them the Mathyas Corvin Lodge establches a Society called “Society for the United Education of the People”, the Humbolt Lodge a society called “Society for the Brothrhood of Youth”, the Regi Hivec Lodge a Society called “Helping the Poor and one Meal per Day”, the Haladas Lodge a Society called “Holiday for the Children” etc….Some of those Societies are still active.

Same time the Lodges publish a daily newspaper called “Vilag” (The World) and some periodicals.

On the year 1900 The Grand Lodge establish a social working program to be executed by all the Lodges. The main subjects are:
- How the national laws are effectively applied,
- What are the principles of Socialism,
- The law regulating the workforce,
- How to combat the duels and ways of forbidding them,
- A reform for religious operatives,
- Ways of appliying a secrtet and free vote system,
- Free education for all people without religious discrimination,
- Women rights,
- Agricultural reforms.
At the begining the Lodges “Laszlo Kirayly”, “Mathyas Corvin”, “Galileo” and “Eotvos” meet and start working together to establish the guide lines. Follow other Lodges who join them. In the mean time the freemasonry spreads and new Lodges are established in other cities than Budapest.

At the end of the First World War 50 Lodges operate in Pest, 2 in Buda and 51 in other cities with a total Brotherhood of 6000. Three newspaper “Kelet” (Est), “Deli” (South) and “Vilag” (World) are edited by the Lodges and at the end of the war the influence of freemasonry is such that the Government ask the Lodges to became partner of the negotiation in order to obtain better terms for Hungary.

On March 21, 1919 a counter revolution and subsequent Romanian occupation modify completely the political balance and the freemasonry is forbidden. Loges cease their activity and on May 14th 1920 the army ransacked the Grand Lodge building. Archives are destroyed. Some documents and books whish have been saved are deposited to the National Museum. However a majority of those documents have been restituted to the Grand Lodge during the years 1945-46. During the year 1920 and the following year a vast anti masonry campaign is held with a strict interdiction of freemasonry. Protests from several foreign Grand Lodges and also of the New York Grand Lodge are not effective at all. In the meantime freemasonry continues to operate in clandestinely. The Grand Master and some Brethern visit Grand Lodges in foreign countries explaining the deplorable situation of freemasonry in Hungary. An organized visit abroad of about hundred Brethern and their family result in new anti masonry measures.

During those years of 1920 to 1938 when freemasonry is dormant in Hungary several Hungarian Loges have been established in Tchekoslovakia and in Vienna in which Hungarian Brethern were active.

The period of sleep last to the end of the Second World War in 1945. Brother Rezso Mazei require the restitution of the Grand Lodge building and on February 23, 1945 his demand is accepted. Hungary is then governed by the Workers Party which declares to have good relations with freemasonry.

The Grand Lodge start operating and its building is restituted on December 15,1045. Repair work goes on till 1947. In the mean time new elections for the Grand Lodge are held as the previous grand officers were dead in the meantime. The Br. Geza Supka is elected Grand Master. The New York Grand Lodge run for help and 16 Loges are consecrated. However the Loges start to enlist among other leftist militants and communists who are active. Loges start to become political forums for the left and politics enter freemasonry. Ancient Brethern could not accept such an issue and declare that communism and far left ideas are not compatible with freemasonry and the necessity to eradicate them from the Craft. At last the leftist government intervenes and declares that Hungarian freemasonry cannot operate along rules in conformity to the ones in use in western countries. And on June 12th, 1950 freemasonry is once more forbidden. The last Grand Master was Marcel Benedek.

Since then freemasonry has ceased to operate in Hungary and is forbidden to held meetings.

The official opinion of the communist government ruling the country is that the socialist revolution having achieved the goals of freemasonry there is no need for such an organization to exist any more. The government believe that young people are enough educated to believe in Beauty, Equality and Brotherhood and thus no need to teach once more such ideals.

Actually the building belonging previously to the Grand Lodge has been confiscated by the Ministry of the Interior as offices for foreigners living in Hungary. The only traces of freemasonry in Hungary are one or two sets of regalia and aprons in a display window at the Workers Museum, which belonged to some freedom fighters. As more that 35 years have elapsed since freemasonry was obliterated, youngsters visiting the Museum and strolling in front of the display windows just look at them without having any idea for what they represent.