Mad hatter from Leeuwarden

Famous Dutch opera singer Ernst Daniel Smid hosts “Wondrous Ways”, a television show on the serendipity of personal history. On April 21st, brothers of my former lodge were featured as extras in an episode on Adam Zelle.

Adam made his fortune as a hatter and stock broker in Leeuwarden. Nevertheless, he was denied membership of the prestigious Freemason’s lodge De Friesche Trouw (Frisian Faith), one of the first lodges founded in The Netherlands (it was the 20th in the year 1782, originally a soldier’s lodge associated with Prince Frederic). The ballot (ostracism) though, was against him, on account of his lack of intellectuality. He was tolerated only, as a visitor from a Rotterdam lodge. Unfortunately, he would never gain the prestige and acknowledgement he was looking for. His daughter Margaretha, however, did. She gained international fame as Mata Hari!

The television show doesn’t really explain the reason why Adam Zelle was denied membership. The records are confidential, but generally a candidate must be a free man of good reputation. Free meaning here: coming of free will, believing in a supreme being and being aware of one’s own limitations in knowing truth and not being drive by dogmas. Good reputation meaning here: being of good character and not obviously wanting to join the fraternity for reasons of prestige. After all, the lodge is a place where members compare insights, experiences and beliefs to help themselves find a way to become better husbands, fathers and members of society.

As the lodge in Leeuwarden is practically too remote for a weekly visit on the Friday evening, I have decided to join the ranks in one of Holland’s youngest lodges Herrezen Land (Land Reclaimed) where I’ve recently entered the columns as a master freemason. The lodge in Almere is young and has a rich and varied membership, with brothers from Greece, Egypt, Iran and Iraq.The tv show is online on: http://player.omroep.nl/?aflid=4442305. More information on freemasonry can be found on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemasonry.