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The authors of this study have researched an internal periodical of the German Free Masons Die Drei Ringe which was published from the year 1925 until 1938. Their interest focuses on the attitude of the German Free Masons towards the figure of T. G. Masaryk in the First Czechoslovak Republic. There are neither positive nor negative expressions of interest towards the first President until the year 1929. An increasing number of references and a growing intensity of expressed esteem are apparent as of 1930. German Free Masons in Bohemia and Moravia were especially attracted to Masaryk's concept of humanity, democracy and equality of nations. Much less focus is given to the religious dimension of Masaryk's thinking, probably only from the side of the German professor of philosophy Oscar Kraus who presents Masaryk's practical monotheist religiosity, naturally very understandable and attractive for the Free Masons. It is evident, however, that German Free Masons hold a strongly positive attitude towards Czechoslovakia, the country in which they lived, so they could be paradoxically referred to as true "Czechoslovakians". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volumes of the internal periodical of the Czech Free Masons 1933-1938 make many references to T. G. Masaryk who was becoming an increasingly symbolic figure, shielding democratic Czechoslovakia at the time of enforced totalitarianism in neighbouring countries, especially in Germany. Czech Free Masons took Masaryk's criticism about their organisation, expressed in his publication in 1905, extremely badly. It provoked heated discussions in their Lodges. It was especially Grand Master K. Weigner who often highlighted the religious dimension of Masaryk's legacy. In general, there was a visible bond between Free Masonry and democracy which naturally led to the veneration of the President Liberator. Czech Free Masons had similar hopes in E. Beneš which was also true about German and Hungarian Free Masons in Czechoslovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors focus on an internal periodical of the Czech Free Masons from 1925 till 1932, i.e. until the year of Hitler's taking over power in Germany. They find that the relationship of the Free Masons to T. G. Masaryk was gradually being intensified. While the periodical never mentioned him over the period 1925-1927, from the following year on, occurrences of his name and expressions of honour towards him increased in number and in intensity. From the year 1931 onwards, his title "Mason without Apron" became official. Czech Free Masons also accepted Masaryk's religious legacy which was contrary to what the majority in the society held. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]