After Vandalenstreek, Freemasons Temple open to suppress rumors: « No, we do not slaughter any animals » (Bruges)
Ever since their foundation in 1881, La Flandre, the oldest Freemason Lodge in West Flanders, has been meeting in the city center of Bruges. And for more than a century she has been doing that in the Beenhouwersstraat. In their workshop, as the members call their meeting location. Behind the charming facade, among other things, a large meeting room, a bar, a dining room and a downright impressive temple are hidden.
The workshop of La Flandre. – © Simon Mouton
The members come together twice a month. Only the members, ninety in total, because for decades no outsider came to the floor. But an incident on January 4, La Flandria changed the gun of shoulder.
Cobblestone
« During a meeting we heard a loud bang. We first thought that a member had not put the front door in the lock and that it had been blown up by the wind, » says Philip S., the chairman of La Flandria, who would rather not see his full name in the newspaper. « But when someone went to look, there was glass and a large cobblestone on the floor. An unable to have thrown it through the window above the door. »
Philip S. gives a tour of the Loggegebouw. – © Simon Mouton
Was it an opponent of Freemasonry, a conspiracy thinker or a banal vandal region? « It is a mystery to us, » says S. « The fact is that our lodge is the victim of physical aggression for the first time since the Second World War. »
Sacrificial rituals
Another fact: that since time immemorial, many wild stories are circulating about what is happening behind the walls of the lodge. « Of course I know those stories. That candidates have to undergo painful physical tests to become a member. That we slaughter animals. And do sacrifices of sacrifices. But feel free to take a look in our temple. Does this look like a slaughterhouse? »
The temple where the Freemasons of La Flandre meet every two weeks. – © Simon Mouton
There is indeed no blood on the walls. Well: many Egyptian elements, the result of the Egyptomania that prevailed when the temple was raised around 1910. Furthermore: two rows of chairs on either side of the room and three tables at the front for the chairman, the secretary and the orator or the speaker who is a guest. « Because that is what we do: organize lectures, about socially relevant themes. Such as abortion and euthanasia, for example. And yes, there are also certain rituals and customs. »
Well -known people
What they are, that keeps the lodge secret. « That is the tradition of Freemasonry, just as we do not make the identity of our members known. And yes, there are also some well -known people. We choose to come together in the private together because we can then speak freely. And you should also not forget that freemasons were prosecuted in the past. »
But La Flandre wants to do the building more for interested parties. In response to the Vandalenstreek from three months ago. « We have taken the time to think carefully about this, and have decided that this is necessary. To put the many rumors that are circulating. Anyone who has questions can safely ask us. And during Open Monumentendag the building will be possible to visit a limited number of participants. »
On Wednesday, the lodge gave the Kassei symbolically back to the city. – © Simon Mouton
On Wednesday, Bruges Mayor Dirk De Fauw (CD&V) already visited. Philip S. handed him the cobblestone to return the « inland public domain » to the city. « We want to dramatize without dramatizing and inviting everyone to enter into connection and dialogue. Because unknown often remains unloved, » concludes S.
The dining room of La Flandre. – © Simon Mouton
The large meeting room. – © Simon Mouton
