Mechanics

 

Besides the various masonic orders, there is another group active that is closely related to freemasonry: the Mechanics.

Mechanism started in 1757 as a schism of a couple masonic lodges in England. In that year the Independent United Order of Mechanics was founded in the county Lancaster. From there it spread to the United States, Central-America and the Caribbean. Especially in those regions the order is still active today. Mechanism has in those areas a bigger attractive power to the local communities than the anglo-saxon Freemasonry. Mechanics-lodges in England and the Netherlands consist almost entirely of people from that region.

Nowadays there are, as result of various schisms, several orders. Four of these orders appear to be active in the Netherlands: 

Mechanism has a lot of similarities with freemasonry. The first six degrees are almost identical to the masonic blue degrees. After these six degrees, there are some more, almost identical to the York rite of freemasonry (Mark degrees, Royal Arch and Knight Templars.

Pink Degree

Scarlet Degree

Green Degree

Blue Degree

Red Knight Degree

White Degree

 

The Mechanics are  for both males and females open. They have, however, separate meetings, men in lodges, women in chapters. Prospective members have to produce a medical statement that they are of sound mental and physical health.

 

In the Netherlands there are the following lodges/chapters:

Independent United Order of Mechanics: Holland District Grand Lodge

            Loge Elisa 6 (Amsterdam)

            Loge Jozua 8 (Den Haag)

            Loge Daniel 10 (Den Haag)

            Loge Elia 11 (Amsterdam)

            Loge Concordia 11 (Utrecht)

             Chapter Mirjam 2 (Zaandam)

            Chapter Sara 4 (Rotterdam)

            Chapter Ruth 6 (Amsterdam)

            Chapter Queen Elisabeth 7 (Den Haag)

            St. Mattheus nr. 4 Grand Christian Encampment

            St. Luke nr. 2 Grand Christian Encampment

            St. Anna Grand Christian Encampment

            Jonathan Conclave Past Illustrative Grands

            Elizabeth Conclave Past Illustrative Matron

           

Independent United Order of Scottish Mechanics:

            Loge Samuel Tempel 10 (Den Haag)

            Loge Harmony 135 (Rotterdam)

            Chapter Naomi 25 (Rotterdam)

 

Independent Order of Mechanics – Preston Unity Inc. (U.S.): District Grand Lodge Holland

            Loge King David 11 (Rotterdam)

            Loge Moraal 21 (Den Haag)

            Loge Prudencia 27 (Den Haag)

            Loge Tempel of Faith 30 (Amsterdam)

            Loge Zarall en Jael 39 (Amsterdam)

            Loge Eastern Light 42 (Rotterdam)

            Loge Morning Star 48 (Rotterdam)

 

Independent Order of Mechanics – Preston Unity (Trinidad)

            Loge Pride of Solomon’s Temple 7 (Amsterdam)

            Loge Solomon’s Temple 10 (Amsterdam)

            Loge Esther 16 (Amsterdam)

 

The largest order of Mechanics (Independent United Order of Mechanics) consist of nine districts:

1. United States

2. Trinidad & Tobago

3. British Guyana

4. Barbados

5. United Kingdom

6. Surinam

7. St. Lucia

8. Netherlands

9. St. Vincent

10. Grenada

The numbers of membership of the various orders across the world and in the Netherlands are not known. In the Netherlands it will probably be a couple of hundreds. The I.U.O.M. has about 400 members in the Netherlands.


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