American Freemasons See Nazis’ Effort to Create State Church

A further effort to make religion a part of the Nazi State was cited by Masonic officials here as the probable reason for the order just issued in Berlin abolishing the Masonic lodges in Prussia.

A statement issued at the office of the Grand Secretary of the Masonic Temple here said that American Masons were but little concerned over the order because the German lodges have not been recognized by the Masons of the remainder of the world since the War.

“This undoubtedly was done,” the local statement said, “as a further effort toward setting up a Nazi government church. The plan seems to be to make the church one with the State and to a bid nothing that does not take orders from that source. Since the war, the German lodges have never been recognized outside of their own little empire.”

The order, issued by Hermann Wilhelm Goering, the Prussian Premier, who lately has been adopting extreme methods to return to the favor of Chancellor Hitler. summarily abolished the Grand National Mother Lodge of Three Terrestrial Globes, the Grand Lodge of German Freemasons of the German Christian Order and the Grand Lodge of Prussia. with all their affiliates.