History

There is, sadly, very little documentation available at present on the earliest days of the North Sea Armed Forces Lodge. In all probability it began in the early 1950s as a Square and Compass Club; a group of Masons meeting together for research and friendship, but without the necessary authority to Initiate, Pass or Raise Masons. Following the end of the Second World War many such Clubs sprang up in Germany, often moving from France into the military areas occupied and, later, overseen by the four main military powers. Bremerhaven, although officially in the British area, was used by the American forces as their main seaport, and was of vital importance, alongside the various airfields, for the movement of troops and supplies and so it was clearly an excellent area for a Square and Compasses Club.

Recorded, however, is that a Traveling Charter was issued to the North Sea Armed Forces Lodge with the number 829 in 1954, under the newly formed United Grand Lodges of Germany. This allowed the Lodge to perform Rituals and Workings, to Initiate, Pass and Raise Masons without a set Lodge house. In 1955 a Petition for a permanent Charter was approved and in December of that year the North Sea Armed Forces Lodge #829 was officially Consecrated in Bremerhaven, and assigned to the jurisdiction of what would become the American Canadian Grand Lodge.

With time many of the original and later members of the Lodge, according to their duties, returned to the United States of America or Canada, to their families and homes. The Lodge fell dark for a short period until a small group of German Masons, interested in keeping the English language Ritual, Workings and Traditions alive, applied to bring the Light back into the Lodge. This was accepted by both the American Canadian Grand Lodge and the United Grand Lodges of Germany, and the North Sea Armed Forces Lodge #829 resumed working in Bremerhaven in 2011. The Lodge moved to its present home in Bremen in 2014.

Masters of the Lodge

2022: WBo. Michael Römer
2021: WBro. Urs Beckmann
2020: Bro. Christoph Seidl
2018: VWBro. Jonny Henke
2017: Bro. Urs Beckmann
2016: WBro. Michael Römer
2015: Bro. Ralph Quander snr
2014: WBro. Björn-Alexander Kahlert
2011: RWBro. Ruland Schmitz
2002: WBro. James A. Morton
1997: WBro. Jürgen H. Habighorst
1995: WBro. Donald L. Maddox
1994: Bro. Jürgen H. Habighorst
1993: WBro. Carlos Dicho
1991: WBro. James A. Morton
1989: WBro. Donald L. Maddox
1988: Bro. Michael B. Johnson
1987: Bro. Carlos Dicho
1986: WBro. Charles L. Hall
1985: Bro. Donald L. Maddox
1984: Bro. Lewis Patterson
1983: Bro. James A. Baker
1982: WBro. James A. Morton
1981: Bro. Carl L. Vick
1980. Bro. Charles L. Hall
1979: Bro. Creighton L. Stone
1977: Bro. James A. Morton
1976: Bro. Harry M. Barrow
1975: Bro. Francisco G. Cordero
1973: Bro. William K. Carroll
1972: Bro. Arthur J. Campbell
1971: Bro. Kenneth R. McColly
1970: Bro. Dale T. Carr
1969: Bro. Joel H. Martin
1969: Bro. Henry Brau
1968: Bro. Firrel D. Carr
1968: Bro. Harold L. Moore
1967: Bro. Phillip H. Conway
1966: Bro. Ned R. Quinn
1965: Bro. Andrew N. Scott
1964: Bro. Kenneth D. Fousel
1963: Bro. Earl J.R. Peterson
1962: Bro. Philip E. Babel
1961: Bro. Lawrence Pease
1960: Bro. James W. Gibb
1959: Bro. Donald M. Wright
1958: Bro. James A. Wuthrich
1957: Bro. William V. Mason
1957: Bro. Stanley N. Searles
1957: Bro. John G. Beasley
1956: Bro. James D. Manning
1955: Bro. Norman E. Anderson.

Our Brother Donald L Maddox (WM 1985, 1989, 1999) was also Grand Master of the American Canadian Grand Lodge, 1999 – 2000.