Truth and Friendship Lodge received its charter on 1 December 1955, by a special dispensation issued by the United Grand Lodges of Germany, to grant the three degrees of Freemasonry to American and English speaking men of the Nürnberg area. The birth of this Lodge was a joint effort by Brothers Kermit Purcell, Lyle E. Boyd and Brother Loren White. These three Brothers had formed a Square and Compass Club in the Nürnberg area. After consulting with the Master of the German Truth and Friendship Lodge (Zur Wahrheit und Freundschaft) an agreement was made to use the German Lodge Temple. On the evening of 16 December 1955, Truth and Friendship Lodge completed its first degree work. Brother Peter M. Rasmussen, who was at that time the Deputy District Grand Master, performed the ceremony. In attendance were Worshipful Brother Heinrich Meyer and Brother Hans Riesman, Master and Tyler of the German Truth and Friendship Lodge. On that same evening the newly elected Lodge Officers were duly installed:
February 1956: Lodge BIJOU, the same one as today, was designed and presented to the Brothers. May 1957; Brother Hans Riesman was appointed permanent Tyler of Truth and Friendship Lodge by WB Loren White and he served in that position until he was called to the Grand Lodge above in 1974.
Honorary Members of our Lodge among others are: MW Brother Jess Minton, MW Brother Hugo Thomas, MW Brother Arthur E. Powell, MW Brother Don Martin and VW Brother Joe Lambert. On 27 March 1967 the Lodge adopted the Forget-Me-Not pin to be presented to all first time visitors. Truth and Friendship celebrated its 25 year anniversary with a gala ball held at the Nürnberg Fussball Club with over 250 members and guests. Truth and Friendship celebrated its 50 year anniversary with a EA Degree work and held a Garden-Party with the German Lodge Zur Wahrheit und Freundschaft at the Lodge House in Fürth with many members and guests. This Lodge has had a Grand History. From 1994 to 2002 a small number of Brothers met each month to keep the Lodge active. Among those Brothers were: WMs Walter Rudy, Jerry Goetze, Jochen Kusserow, David Roberts, and Brother Wolfgang Meier to which all members of this Lodge owe a huge amount of gratitude. The Future
The first rule of any organization is to ensure its continuing existence. We all must work to attract men of character to join our fraternity. We do this by setting an example for other men to emulate. A study of the history of this Lodge is the same as for any organization it is a study of changes. An organization that does not change with the times dies in the process. And some men will never understand what caused their down fall. We must remember that change is the hardest for those caught by surprise; we must meet the high standards demanded by our young men and remember that change is not new and changes are important. The challenge is simple. We must produce a plan that is relevant and fits todays demographics.
If a person has initiative, improvises creative solutions to the changing environment, and has the courage of his convictions, he is a strong and effective human being and surely an asset to any organization, but you will not necessary be a leader. Great leaders rally people to a better future. That takes good men and makes them better. The key words here are a better future. Good leaders have a vision of where the organization is going and the method to achieve the visions objectives. And they know how to communicate these objectives. What defines a leader is his preoccupation with the future. In his head he carries a vivid image of what the future could and should be, and this image drives him on. Masonry is not an event it is a process, and in this process we must accept doubt. There will be times when it will seem to hard; no one running the Lodge except a few military closing shops, and the list goes on. Remember this lesson. History does not teach fatalism. There are times when the will of a handful of Free Masons breaks through with a vision and determination to see the thing through and open up new paths in our quest for the future.
Temperance /self control / moderation. If you cannot control yourself you cannot control other men Fortitude / strength / courage / honesty / staying power. The guts to see the thing to the end Prudence / discretion / maturity Justice / fairness / impartiality