Countless myths and legends have grown up around Freemasonry.
A Pöckinger would like to clear up the prejudices and is looking for interested parties for a long-term project.
Weilheim
- "There is the wildest speculation about us," says Peter Büstorff.
The 77-year-old has been a member of the Freemasons for many years.
The association is commonly regarded as a secret society.
“You can actually research just about anything about us on the internet,” he says.
So not a secret society after all?
"No, that sounds like a conspiracy theory again."
Büstorff deliberately addresses the public because he wants to break down prejudices about Freemasonry.
“Why shouldn't we open up and open up for discussion in society?” He asks.
His goal is to found a lodge in Weilheim.
The Upper Bavarian city is an ideal location for this due to its central location and easy accessibility.
This is how Peter Büstorff came to the Freemasons
Born in Berlin, he has lived in the Pöcking community on Lake Starnberg for almost 20 years.
He is a trained chemist, then studied and worked for many years in the management of a well-known German department store.
Today he works as a coach in personal development.
He joined the Freemasons in 1977. At that time he was accepted into a Berlin lodge and three years later he was finally promoted to Master, the highest degree of Freemasons.
“Back then I was looking for a lively, intellectual debate on equal terms and I found it in Freemasonry,” he says.
"That still applies today."
The Freemasons
Freemasonry goes back to the
medieval stonemasonry brotherhoods and their workmen's huts
and originated
in England
.
Today there are several million Freemasons around the world who are organized in various lodges and umbrella organizations.
In addition to the majority of all-male boxes, there are also mixed boxes or all-women boxes.
Freemasons see themselves as an
ethical covenant.
They stand for humanity, tolerance, brotherhood, social justice and love of peace and are firmly convinced that
constant work on oneself leads to self-knowledge and a person-loving behavior
.
Many Freemasons still do not make their membership public.
Well-known male Freemasons included Goethe, Mozart, Schiller, George Washington, Gustav Stresemann and Karl-Heinz Böhm.
Büstorff tells of the meetings of the brotherhood: People meet for so-called temple work.
The lodge becomes a meeting place and place for the spiritual exchange between the brothers.
The aim is to find a common consensus, also or precisely because people have different opinions.
"Where am I, where are you and where do we have a mental connection?", Buestorff names the key questions.
“Being a Freemason always means working on yourself for a lifetime,” he continues, underscoring his goal in life.
The rough stone, which is also used as a real symbol in many lodges, symbolizes the work on oneself.
It can be interpreted as a sign of the character of a person who has to be hewn and worked on.
Masonic lodges as orientation aids
According to Büstorff, lodges want to provide guidance in their own life through information and joint reflection.
All topics can be discussed, but the topics of religion and politics are expressly excluded.
“To let out the tension,” explains Büstorff.
Which religion or party one belongs to does not matter with the Freemasons.
"We are all the same and do not judge people based on their affiliations," he says.
Temple work is closed to the public.
“It was deliberately chosen that way,” he says.
"Because everyone can express himself freely and does not have to fear that his words will be carried outwards." Bürstorff perceives the meetings of the brotherhood as "liberating and invigorating".
He says: "You are in the moment, there is something very contemplative about it."
Masonic lodge is to be founded in Weilheim: Zoom meeting as a prelude
In preparation for the foundation of the lodge, Büstorff brought the "Weilheimer Kreis" into being.
In this way he wants to arouse people's curiosity and get into conversation with them.
Several virtual meetings are scheduled; anyone who wants to can take part for the time being.
The kick-off will take place on
Wednesday
,
April 14th at 8 pm
under the title
“The lifestyle in the changing world.
Are we still living in keeping with the
times
? ”
Instead.
Interested parties can
contact
the e-mail address
weilheimerKreis@t-online.de
and will then receive an invitation to the Zoom meeting.
This will be followed by four more meetings on a weekly basis, which will be announced here in the newspaper beforehand.
Büstorff is already looking forward to exchanging ideas with like-minded people.
He cordially invites brothers who are already active in Masonic lodges to the virtual meetings.
BY JENNIFER BATTAGLIA
Also read:
Freemasons in Munich: Member reveals secrets of the lodge
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