Lawrence Dermott

over and the inmates forced to carry signs inscribed with the words, “Parasites of Jews and Freemasons”.

So severe was the persecution that several prominent Freemasons committed suicide. Others were arrested and have never been heard from since. Included among these, for a time was the Grand Master, General H. Van Torgeren, however word was received that he was in a concentration camp and his wife and son had escaped to England. Later, a direct communication from his son revealed that he had died in the camp, though no details were included.

The situation is tragic when one realizes what a splendid humanitarian task the Grand Lodge of the Netherlands was doing. This Grand Lodge has 150 Lodges scattered throughout Holland, South Africa and the Dutch colonies. They support a boys’ school at the Hague and a girls’ school at Arnhem, and a fund to support distressed Masons, their widows and orphans. Houses free of rent to the widows of Masons, meet expenses for the burial of Masons, care of Masons mentally afflicted, and in fact covered everything that would help a Mason and his dependents to get a little joy out of life in this vale to tears. Now all is gone, under a ruthless heel of the Nazis.

Bro. Alexander Craighead was introduced to Masonry in St. George Lodge No.190 in his native city of Aberdeen, Scotland and a charter member & PM of Thistle Lodge No.900, Yonkers, New York. Written before 1920.

War Certificates

The certificates below were given by Lodge Doric Kilwinning No.68 to brethren who served in the Great War. These certificates can been seen in the lodge in Port Glasgow; my thanks to Bro. Eddie Lapsley for allowing the use of the images.