American and Canadian Military Masons founded Luftbrücke Lodge No. 838 in Wiesbaden Germany and Fre
drich Wilhelm von Steuben Lodge No. 837 in Bad Kreuznach Germany during the early 1950s. Wilhelm von Steuben was named after the famous German General who assisted the American colonies gain independence. Luftbrücke is named after the famous Berlin Air Lift. Many Luftbrücke founding members were a part of that operation. A large reduction of American and Canadian military, following the first Iraq conflict, forced several Lodges to consolidate. Luftbrücke and Wilhelm von Steuben united to become Luftbrücke von Steuben Lodge No. 838. Troop reduction continued and in May 2008 the members of Ashlar Lodge No. 894, in Offenbach Germany, voted to merge with Luftbrücke. At present we have over 45 members living in Germany and over 170 members scattered throughout the world.
The Lodge tyles at 19:30 (7:30 p.m.), on the first and third Wednesdays, except August. Collation follows all meetings. Visit the District V Calendar for dates of our Annual Communication, Installation and Elections. All AF & AM are invited to attend Lodge. Contact any Lodge Officer for assistance.
Our Address:
Luftbruecke Lodge No. 838
Friedrichstr 35
65185 Wiesbaden
Post war G
ermany was divided into three sections--the Allied part was controlled by the United States, Great Britain and France and other part by the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, although located in the eastern Soviet half, was also divided into four sectors --West Berlin occupied by Allied interests and East Berlin occupied by Soviets. In June 1948, the Soviet Union attempted to control all of Berlin by cutting surface traffic to and from the city of West Berlin. Starving out the population and cutting off their business was their method of gaining control. The Truman administration reacted with a continual daily airlift which brought much needed food and supplies into the city of West Berlin. This Airbridge to Berlin lasted until the end of September of 1949---although on May 12, 1949, the Soviet government yielded and lifted the blockade.
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin Steuben, Baron von Steuben was a German-Prussian General who served with George Washington in the American Revolutionary War and is credited with teaching the Continental Army the essentials of military drill and discipline. He reorganised the Continental Army and guided it to victory.
There is no other symbol that exemplifies the aesthetic principles of finding and creating beauty in all things than the Rough and Perfect Ashlars. They are a class of symbols surprisingly overlooked in some jurisdictions (though not in the ritual itself if certain portions of lecture are given or if the Candidate actually reads the monitors given him or seeks further information). It is a class of symbols whose equations and sum hold mention and importance in all degrees of the Craft Lodge, primarily in the Entered Apprentice, the Fellowcraft; but also within the degrees of Mark Master Mason and the Royal Arch - all of which falls under the moniker of the Ancient Craft Masonry or York Masonry. They are symbols of the aesthetic process of creating, with the balance of skill of his tools of every degree, something beautiful from its state of roughness or pure potential that is determined by the "intent and action" of its creator's intellect and creativity.
Lodge History
During December 1956, Most Worshipful Dr. Werner Mohr, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodges of Germany, authorized the consecration of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Lodge, under the jurisdiction of the American District, to be located in the Orient Bad Kreuznach. The Lodge was given the number 837 and consisted of seven Master Masons with Brother John E. Steck as Master.
During February 1957 Most Worshipful Steck authorized the consecration of Luftbrücke Lodge in the Orient Wiesbaden. The Lodge was given the number 838 and consisted of ten Master Masons with Brother Guy E Fuller as Worshipful Master. On 2 March 1957, Most Worshipful Mohr placed Luftbrücke Lodge under the jurisdiction of the American District. Both Lodges were authorized to conduct Masonic business, use American Rituals written in the English language, and to confer the Three Degrees of Masonry. During May 1957, the United Grand Lodges of Germany officially announced the approval of Charters for both Lodges.
Unfortunately, much Lodge history was lost during the years 2000 -2002, however interesting memories provided by founding members helped to bring some light on the past.
Across the street from the Wiesbaden Main Train Station is a complex with the name “Opal Hause”. In the late nineteen fifties, this complex held the U.S. Air Force shopping and commissary facilities, and a Hotel. During the summer of 1955, a meeting of five Master Masons serving the American forces took place on the third floor of this Hotel, in a room overlooking the Train Station. This meeting resulted in the founding of a Masonic Square and Compass club and led to the consecration of Luftbrücke Lodge 838. During this time period, the American Air Force decided to build the first American-type shopping complex and Commissary outside the USA, on the most expensive piece of land in Wiesbaden. When the facilities were completed the commissary moved to the new building and Luftbrücke took over the old commissary building. In the mid sixties, the Lodge moved to an old furniture store in the middle of Wiesbaden and later on to it’s present location at 35 Friedrich Strasse. The name “Luftbrücke” was offered by Brother Courtney Smith, who served in the Berlin Airlift. Brother Smith’s own words were; “Seldom has any act consummated by man so followed Masonic tradition of Faith in freedom, hope of peace and charity towards fellow men in distress”.
On 10 December 1957, the Worshipful Brother Hartwig, Worshipful Master of Plato Lodge No.125, in Orient Wiesbaden, presented the Master of Luftbrücke Lodge No. 838 the Plato Lodge Bijou and declared all Luftbrücke members as honorary members. This tradition was passed to each succeeding Master of Luftbrücke until the year 2002, when the Bijou became lost. On 17 September 2006, the Worshipful Master of Plato Lodge, Worshipful Brother Lutz Hausberg, presented a replacement Bijou and asked the Luftbrücke members to continue this tradition. The Iraq conflict in the year 2000 resulted in a large reduction of American, English and Canadian military in Germany, forcing several Masonic Lodges to consolidate. An edict issued by Right Worshipful Don Saint, American Canadian Grand Lodge Grand Master, in November 2000, directed Luftbrücke and Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben to consolidate and all Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben membership, properties and monies transferred to Luftbrücke in Wiesbaden. On 6 December 2000 members of Luftbrücke voted to amend the Lodge By-laws, changing the Lodge name to Luftbrücke and von Steuben.
During mid 2002, Right Worshipful John P. Buchanan, ACGL Grand Master, became concerned about the ability of members to open in “Due Form” or to run a “well governed Lodge”. On 16 October 2002, RW Buchanan placed the Lodge into Custodianship and ordered it to remain in that state until the membership base reached a point where all elected offices and the Senior and Junior Deacon positions could be filled by capable and willing Master Masons. Brother Harold Adams was appointed Lodge Custodian and maintained that position until September 2003 when custodianship was transferred to Very Worshipful Carl Mueller, ACGL Deputy Grand Master. During April 2004, custodianship was returned to Brother Adams. In May 2004, at the request of eight Master Masons, the Right Worshipful Don Martin, ACGL Grand Master, ordered Lodge elections for June 2004. The election resulted in filling all elected and 4 appointed 
positions, satisfying requirements set by Right Worshipful John P Buchanan. Right Worshipful Martin authorized the newly elected Master to confer the Three Degrees of Masonry and conduct Lodge business. On 1 July 2004 the Lodge Charter was returned to Wiesbaden and on 5 September 2004, Right Worshipful Jess Minton, ACGL Grand Secretary, installed Brother Savino Batanov as Master, along with 9 brothers to elected and appointed positions.
Luftbrücke continued to grow, averaging 24 degree conferrals per year, and soon became one of the strongest Lodges within the American Canadian Grand Lodge. However, continued pressure on the US Military to conduct war in three different parts the world and maintain a presence in most of the newly freed east European countries and many of the middle-east countries, resulted in resident membership decay within several ACGL Lodges.
Twenty Master Masons chartered Ashlar Lodge on 21 November 1964, in Hanau Germany. At first the Lodge was located in Grossauheim Caserne, but later moved to the center portion of the romantic and dominating Castle of Hanau, (Ronneburg). During this time period Ashlar and Spessart Lodge No. 875 in Aschaffenberg, became Sister Lodges. In 1991 the castle underwent massive reconstruction, forcing the Lodge to relocate to the Rheinharts Kirch, an Evangelical Church near the Castle, and a few months later to Auto Hohmann in Hanau. In early 1992, Ashlar members accepted an offer by their German Sister Lodge, Carl und Charlottee Zur Treue No. 250, and moved to Offenbach Germany where they remained until the merger with Luftbrücke Lodge in June 2008.