UNITED MASTERS LODGE No.

167

LODGE OF MASONIC RESEARCH

Auckland, New Zealand

(copied with permission)

FREDERICK THE GREAT

By Bro. H. E. Kracke

King Frederick the Great of Prussia, also called Fredericus Rex, is often referred to as a symbol of
Prussian militarism and of enlightenment. He was a freemason of some importance in his day.
Information about him and that relevant period of European history was gathered in various German
archives until 1933. Some of it was not always accurate and remains controversial.

Following the German re-unification, Russia in 1991 returned most of the confiscated Prussian
state archives to the German authorities. Since that time a Masonic task force together with other
scientists have been working to gradually recover and restore the enormous wealth of information now
available. Histories of lodges, correspondence between them and Frederick the Great as well as other
official documents help to contribute to a clearer picture of those times.

The aim of this paper is to offer a brief introduction to Frederick the Great as a person, a King and
a freemason. Some historical background might help to create a better understanding of the general
picture. The somewhat complex theme of the history and development of some so called higher degrees
and orders at that time, involving Frederick the Great and/or circles near him, can only be touched on here
and will be covered in detail by a future paper.

Crown prince Frederick of Prussia was born on 24th January, 1712 as a son of King Frederick
Wilhelm I of Prussia, often referred to as the Soldier – King.

In 1730, both young men conspired to escape form their prison, with disastrous consequences.
They were caught almost immediately and the Crown Prince was forced to watch while his companion
and friend was put to the sword.
 The King, in a fit of rage, tried to have his son court marshaled and condemned to death. He
himself actually intended to execute the death penalty with his dagger. However, some last minute
compromise was reached, involving his generals and the whole royal family fighting for a solution. A
very depressed and subdued Crown Prince now bowed to the wishes of his father and worked actively in
matters of state administration. He carried out all tasks given to him with energy and competence, thus
finally gaining his father’s forgiveness and recognition. In 1733 the Crown Prince consented to marry the
unloved princess Elizabeth of Baunschweig-Bevern, a niece of the Emperor. This marriage, forced on him
by the King, remained an unhappy one. Both parties led their separate lives. Prince Frederick took
command of a regiment of cavalry and settled down at castle Rheinsberg, which was given to him by the
King. In the company fo his friends he now spent a number of happy years there.

At this point our story starts, i.e. the first contact of the prince with Freemasonry. Following an
article published by the Bulletin in Berlin in 1907, the Crown Prince accompanied his father to Holland on
a journey in 1738. One day, at the Chateau of Loo in Gelderland, the conversation at the royal table turned
on Freemasonry, on which occasion the King declared himself its adversary in the clearest terms. As a
matter of fact he would never tolerate secret societies at all. Count Albrecht von Schaumburg-Lippe, a
close friend of the Crown Prince, contradicted the monarch. He openly acknowledged his adherence to
the Craft, with great frankness and in most eloquent terms. This bold avowal on the part of his friend
made a deep impression on the Crown Prince. After dinner to took the count aside and, under seal of the
profoundest secrecy, he expressed his desire to be received into Freemasonry. Into a society, quoting the
Crown Prince, which has among its members persons who are so truth loving.

Count von Schomburg-Lippe took up the matter without delay and contacted lodge Absalom of
Hamburg, at that time the only lodge in Germany with a patent form the Grand Lodge of England. A
deputation of that lodge consisting of the Master and some of his officers travelled to Brunswick under the
veil of total secrecy to preside over the solemn reception of our illustrious candidate. The event took place
at night, unbeknown to the King, who together with the Crown prince had there taken a short stop-over
from his voyage.

A little anecdote according to the memoirs of a Bro. Von Bielefeld, who acted as the secretary on
this occasion, may be included here.

‘The only hindrance seemed to be the proximity of a certain Herr

von W., whose chamber was only separated by a thin wooden partition

from the room where the ceremony was to be performed. He would have

been able to hear and betray everything. This made us uneasy at first,

but some of our Bros. Knew his nature and his love of wines and spirits.
 So, after dinner, we all crowded into his room with glasses well filled

and put him into such a condition that he probably would have slept

next to a battery without waking.’

On 14th August, 1738 the ceremony took place as scheduled. The Crown Prince was initiated,
passed and raised on the same day, not unusual for high-tanking candidates in those days. It was a bold
act on behalf of Prince Frederick, following which he became fully committed to the principles of
Freemasonry for his whole future life.

A few days after the death of his father, on 31st May, 1740, following his accession to the throne,
Frederick publicly announced that he was a Freemason and would support all the thoughts and noble aims
of Freemasonry. On 22nd June the King presided over a lodge meeting in the Charlottenburg palace. At
the same meeting his brother Augustus William and three other noblemen joined the lodge. Further
Masonic meetings followed in the various palaces of Charlottenburg, Berlin and Rheinsberg. Frederick
moved form Rheinsberg to his newly-built residence of Sans-Souci, there to spend a short period of his life
surrounded by a circle of his friends and high spirited souls. The French philosopher Voltaire, also a
freemason, was a particular close friend. Many discussions took place, mainly in French, about
philosophy, music, art and science. Truly highlights in his young life. Frederick was 28 years old at that
time and rather suddenly had to take over the duties of a monarch. Up till then he had only played the role
of an observer. However, with surprising energy and without delay he took on the heavy responsibilities
of King and first citizen of the country. As a first act, during an extended famine, he opened his father’s
well-filled granaries to feed his hungry subjects. He improved laws and jurisdiction and saw to it that
basic human rights were gradually improved for his citizens. Torture was disallowed and, contrary to the
customs of those days, even his army was treated justly and humanely.

Frederick had inherited form his father a well-organized state of an area of 120,000 sq. km with
2,240,000 inhabitants, a state treasure of nine million talers and a perfectly trained army of 83,000 men.

The wars with Austria which followed would ultimately substantially strengthen Prussia’s power
and prestige. A brief description of these events is given here.

At the end of the so-called Thirty Years War in 1648, Austria had refused to return large parts of
Silesia to its original owner, Prussia. This was contrary to the terms of the peace treaty of Westphalia
signed by all parties. Frederick now requested that these lands be returned which, after 90 years, of course
was refused by Austria. In December 1740 Frederick and his army moved into Silesia and within a month
conquered the whole province. He successfully fought various battles and with the peace treaty of Breslau
in 1742, Silesia was ceded to Prussia. Empress Maria Theresa of Austria now consolidated Austria’s
position in Europe over the next few years, causing Frederick to start the second Silesian war from 1744 to
`745. This war involved the Austrians, Saxons, Bavarians, French and Spanish as opponents. England
and Holland supported Austria by financial contributions. Finally, Prussia succeeded and Frederick, in the
peace treaty of Dresden, formally again received Silesia and Glatz. F further treaty in Aachen in 1748
resulted in some degree of stability throughout Europe.

Eleven years of peace and reconstruction helped to heal some of Prussia’s wounds.

In 1756 the third Silesian war followed, ending in 1763. German history books refer to it as the
Seven years War. Austria formed alliances with Saxony, Poland and Russia and accordingly negotiated
with France. Prussia won decisive battles at Lebositz and Pirma, against quadruple numbers of enemies.

Now the German Emperor declared a war of the German Nation against the Ruler of Brandenburg,
on 17th January, 1757. German armies, supported by Austrian, Russian, French and Swedish troops fought
against Prussia and its allies, England, Hessen-Kassel and Gotha.

As so many times before, the heart of Europe became again the scene of devastating warfare and
destruction. At every battle tens of thousands of young, enthusiastic soldiers on both sides lost their lives
or, even worse in those days, were seriously wounded. Frederick camped and fought together with his
soldiers, being hurt through gunfire on several occasions. As a strategic mastermind and the unsurpassed
military leader of his times, Frederick always managed to encourage and motivate his famous, well-
experienced generals and officers as well as his battle-hardened troops. In spite of extremely heavy losses
of life and the severest of conditions, finally the Prussians succeeded. In February 1763 Empress Maria
Theresa ultimately gave up Austria’s rights in Silesia. Gradually, and not without further disruptions,
peace returned to Prussia.

The importance of the Silesian wars in brief: The small Prussian State remained victorious
against most European super powers, due to the King being a true leader of his people and a natural genius
of strategy. Thus Frederick II earned the name Frederick the Great as he was henceforth called by his
European neighbours. The people of Prussia had shown an unprecedented readiness to make sacrifices.
Prussia’s total loss of men in sixteen battles was estimated at 180,000 men – the size of a whole army.
Cities were destroyed and the country ruined. However, motivated by patriotic feelings and pride in their
nation, the Prussians took up the enormous task of re-building their country, under the untiring leadership
of their King. The wars had also shown that the old German nation under Austria’s control was close to
being dissolved. Including the inheritance of the province of East Friesland, Prussia now had acquired a
further total of 77,000 sq. kms. and almost another three million inhabitants, on a permanent basis. Silesia
as a province was remarkably rich in resources, i.e. coal and ores, forests, farming and others, which might
explain some of the true motives behind the conflict.
 Frederick II as a King: Like his father, Frederick acted as an absolute autocrat and personally
supervised all matters of government administration. Already as Crown Prince he had written a refutation
entitled the Antimachieval of the doctrines of the Italian statesman Machiavelli. It was published
anonymously in Holland. The ruler, he said, is the first servant of the state. Frugality and strict
orderliness were most important to him. He personally visited all authorities throughout his country,
involving extensive travel even at an advanced age. The army was re-organized and built up to a level of
200,000 men. Old and invalid soldiers were taken care of. Generally the contact been the ‘Old Fred’ and
his soldiers remained a cordial one, as it was during wartime.

Frederick created an independent Prussia judiciary and introduced advanced, more humane laws
for all citizens. Agriculture, industries and commerce gradually im0roved and established the basis of a
strong and stable economy. As one of the most important rulers of his time, Frederick was not only a great
statesman and military strategist, but also a poet and writer, a philosopher and historian, in brief of a rich
mind.

Tragically, he rather early lost his dearest relatives and most of his friends. With his wife he only
communicated by letter.

So Frederick II appeared as a very lonesome figure, concentrating his whole later life on working
for the welfare of the state and the well-being of its citizens.

Being severely affected by arthritis and back pains, the King became rather harsh and unfriendly in
his late years. However, he kept on working ceaselessly until his death on 17 th August, 1786.

Pictures of that period show ‘Old Fred’ as an old man with a bent back, on a walking stick, wearing
his usual two-pointed hat and rather shabby clothing, accompanied by one of his beloved greyhounds – a
living legend.

Frederick II as a Freemason: Frederick had joined Freemasonry as a young man, full of

enthusiasm. The circle of Masonic friends around him, included Voltaire, discussed and promoted
philosophies for the advancement of enlightenment – much to his inclination. One must remember that
some of the brightest spirits of those years were philosophers, scientists, artists, musicians and
intellectuals in general, belonging to famous Masonic lodges like Les Neuf Sœurs in Paris or True
Harmony in Vienna. These inspirations and strong feelings about the true Masonic values never left the
King. He remained a freemason at heart all his life, although in later years he ceased to play an active
role.
 Some statements made by Frederick II on various occasions support this opinion. His favourite
motto ‘In my state everyone ahs the right to be saved in is own way’ is engraved in history.

Frederick loved the truth about everything: ‘A man who seeks after and loves the truth must be
highly valued in all societies.’

In a letter to the Marchioness of Chatelet he wrote: ‘The greatest pleasure a thinking being can
enjoy consists, in my opinion, in doing good. Humanity is an inexhaustible subject. I believe that
compassion and the desire to comfort the needy are innate virtues with most men. Uprightness and
gratitude are indispensable qualities, without them men would be worse than wild animals.’

A letter to his friend Duhan states:

‘Of men of merit the first are undoubtedly those who do good from the love of what is good,
practise virtue and justice form inclination and remain equable in all their actions.’

These and man other quotations is a vast amount of correspondence recovered showed the
philosopher of Sans-Souci as a true freemason. In peace time and during the usually idle winters of
warfare, Frederick still actively participated in Freemasonry.

However, over the years, ongoing fights and quarrels between various Grand Lodge and lodges
over matters of control made him bitter and withdrawn and he steadfastly refused to act further as a
mediator. Sometimes lodges actually tried to manipulate the King into this role , causing a rather hostile
reaction from him.

Correspondence requesting the King’s comments of support gained his key criticism and isolated
him further from participation.

However, his advice and respective decisions were always forthcoming, based on his masonic way
of thinking. He encouraged the brethren to take a good look at themselves and then find their own
solutions, in keeping with true masonic traditions. Frederick II produced the Grand Constitutions in 1762
and in 1768 for the purpose of founding a Masonic ‘higher degree or order’ can up to now not be
confirmed as authentic. Actually, some records show this event took place in 1802, after the death of
Frederick II. On 4th December, 1802 in Charleston (South Carolina) a new masonic body, the Supreme
Council of the 33rd Degree for the United States of America, released a circular letter declaring its
beginning on 31st May 1801, in accordance with the till then unknown Grand Constitutions of the 33 rd
degree as ratified by Frederick II on 1st May, 1786 in Berlin. Hopefully, with the release of further
documents, this matter can eventually be clarified.

References:

Freemasonry in Prussia, between government regulations

and reform by Karlheiz Gerlach

Sources of Masonic activity of Frederick the Great –

By Thomas Richert

Freemasonry and history, Frederick the Great and the

Constitutions of 1762 – by Alain Bernheim

The unknown Prussia – By Dr. Fiedler

Basic history – by I., C. Andrae.

By: Bro. H. E. Kracke; Published in Vol. 34, No. 2, May, 2002,

UNITED MASTERS LODGE No.167, Auckland, New Zealand.

Submitted by Bro. D. Roy Murray

King Solomon Lodge, No. 58, GRS

MBBFMN #483
.

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