The German Freemason settlers and the development of Freemasonry in Banat in the 18th and 19th centuries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35824/sjrs.v8i2.27406Keywords:
Banat, Freemasonry , elites , colonists , lodges , modernisationAbstract
This study underlines the fact that Freemasonry, brought to Banat by the Austrian settlers, did not leave this area as an isolated provincialism. It was in direct contact with the Central European elite, exchanging ideas and experiences. At that time, Freemasonry facilitated the access of representatives of the small and middle bourgeoisie, merchants, entrepreneurs, military and civil servants, creating a real community outside the traditional structures. This was also the case in Banat in the 19th century. The Masonic lodges of this period continued the inherited Masonic tradition, carrying on the elitist spirit brought by the Austrian colonists in the previous period. In the 19th century, two lodges in the Mountains Banat, continued this Austrian Masonic tradition. These were the Lodge ‘Glück auf’ in Oraviţa and the Lodge ‘Licht und Wahrheit’ in Reşiţa. Both contributed significantly to the complex process of modernisation of Banat society, but also to the success of the Romanian national movement during the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
References
I. Editions of documents
Varga, A., & Cristian, R. (2011). Documenta Masonica Transylvanica et Banatica. Loja „Licht und Wahreit” din Reşiţa [Documenta Masonica Transylvanica et Banatica. Lodge ‘Licht und Wahreit’ in Reșița]. Cluj-Napoca: Argonaut.
Varga, A. (2013). Documenta Masonica Hungarica. Frontispieces and Stamps, I. Cluj-Napoca, Gatineau,: Argonaut / Symphologic Publishing.
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III. Studies
Abafi, L. (1884). Titkos társulatok Temesvárott a múlt században [Secret societies in Timisoara in the last century]. Történelmi Tár [Historical Repository], I(3).
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Zaberca, V. M., Leu, V., & Samoilă, M. (1999). Addenda la biografia academicianului Petru Broşteanu, originar din Banatul sârbesc [Addendum to the biography of academician Petru Broșteanu, a native of Serbian Banat]. Analele Universităţii Eftimie Murgu [Annals of the University "Eftimie Murgu"], I(6).
Kakucs, L. (2016). Contribuţii la istoria francmasoneriei din Banat [Contributions to the history of Freemasonry in Banat]. Analele Banatului. Arheologie-Istorie [Annals of Banat. Archaeology-History], XXIV.
IV. On-line sources
Bota, I. (2011, September). Oravița, a city of universal Freemasonry [Oravița, un oraș al masoneriei universale]. Retrieved from http://ionelbota.blogspot.com/2011/09/un-oras-al-masoneriei-universale.html
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