REFORM LODGE

Founded in 1892, the history of the Reform Lodge also confirms that „as the state of human society was, so was Freemasonry, and vice versa.” (Lessing: Masonic Dialogues)
The Reform Lodge has been founded (and re-founded) three times, and along with Hungarian Freemasonry as a whole, it was banned twice by oppressive, freedom-hating totalitarian regimes.
Although during these bans, brothers met informally, and there were informal Masonic gatherings – both domestically and abroad – less than half of the more than 130 years since the first founding have allowed the lodge to function within regular frameworks.

 

Reform I.

The Golden Age (1892-1919)

The Reform Lodge was founded on April 24, 1892. (after receiving permission from the Grand Lodge) It held its first regular meeting a few weeks later and thereafter met weekly.
The fifteen founders separated from the Eötvös Lodge, and the first Grand Master was József Merényi. In his inaugural speech, he spoke about the age and the duties of Freemasons as follows:

„Today, everyone thinks, creates, and invents, from the simple craftsman to the great scientist; the merchant just as much as the scholar. (...) Birth, rank, and religious differences have taken on more obvious measures than ever before; the tyranny of prejudice has become entrenched, and the disease of social hierarchy thrives, as if we were not standing at the threshold of the 20th century, but stumbling through the darkest period of the Middle Ages.”

„There are no strong, influential brothers to change society, our field of activity is the moral world. We must establish the limit beyond which, in the fight for existence, we can advance to protect our own interests, without violating our brothers’ interests, and spread this principle in society.”

„We must choose the right tools and go in the right direction: we begin work on ourselves. We will leave the comfortable path of empty words behind; we do not wish to waste our energy on futile work but will strive to act in a way that leaves visible traces and allows us to enjoy the fruits of our labor.”

Regarding the name "Reform":
„It is not Freemasonry that needs reforming, but we must create close, sincere, and friendly bonds within ourselves.”

On the motto:
„Let the first word of our motto be: brotherhood! But to arouse a sense of brotherhood among us, first and foremost, it is necessary that we are sincere with each other in our interactions! Never let our words betray our feelings, nor our actions betray our words. Let us have the courage to tell each other the truth, even if gently – but let us also courageously and without despair accept the truth. Our 'yes' should be yes, and our 'no' should be no! Therefore, let the second word of our motto be: sincerity... However, we can only be sincere if we have the reassuring knowledge that the sincere word spoken in friendship will find a quiet place. Our third word should be silence!”

The number of members had already reached twenty-nine the following year. The Reform Lodge participated in the founding of a children's camp during the holiday season and various charitable fundraising events.
Over a decade later, in 1905, the lodge organized a two-day Masonic convention, addressing topics such as the social program, church affairs, protection of domestic industry, and education. These topics indicate that the Reform Lodge – like other lodges – worked on solving many important societal issues, demonstrating active social shaping intentions. This intention grew stronger over the next few years.

The Reform Lodge became one of the largest lodges in Hungarian Freemasonry. Its members founded the Madách (1902) and Petőfi lodges (1906).

 

Reform II.

The Oasis (1945-1950)

In the history of Hungarian Freemasonry, the periods of bans are often referred to as biblical desert wanderings in the memories of Freemasons. The period between 1945 and 1950 revitalized Freemasonry like an oasis after the Second World War, when Freemasonry was allowed to operate for a few years.

On December 8, 1945, the second Reform Lodge's temporary leadership was formed. Several new members joined alongside twenty-five old members who had been initiated during the previous era and five brothers initiated in Vienna during the ban. By the end of 1946, the Reform Lodge had 107 members, a number that grew to 131 over the next three years.

During these years, the Reform Lodge was one of the most active and largest Masonic lodges. Members continued the tradition of meeting weekly, with the lodge's intellectual and administrative life being organized and led by lodge committees.

In 1950, Freemasonry was banned again in Hungary, and the Reform Lodge ceased to exist once more.

 

Reform III.

In the Shadow of Freedom (1999-)

The revived (third) Reform Lodge was founded in 1999, following the initiative of seven founders who had separated from the Deák Ferencz, Testvériséghez Lodge, one of whom’s grandfather had been a member of the Reform Lodge before 1950.
Once again, the lodge requested permission from the Hungarian Symbolic Grand Lodge to begin its activities. Today, with about 400 members, the Reform Lodge remains a medium-sized but active lodge, meeting bi-weekly. Its operation and rules are based on the original goals and moral principles set forth at its founding.

Famous Figures from the History of the Reform Lodge
Several notable individuals from Hungarian society were part of the Reform Lodge, including:

• Clair Vilmos, fencer, author of a multiple edition dueling code
• Hajós Alfréd, Hungary’s first Olympic champion, architect
• Telcs Ede, sculptor
• Kernstock Károly, painter
• Kovách Aladár, first director of the ambulance service created by Freemasons
• Róth Miksa, glass artist, painter

And many others: doctors, artists, bankers, senior officials, entrepreneurs, teachers.

 

 

(Hajós Alfréd's victory medal from 1896 - Hungary's first Olympic gold medal)