Danish Order of Freemasons

Coat of arms of the Danish Order of Freemasons. The crown in the top of the coat of arms is used with permission by HM King Frederick VII of Denmark, who was a member of the Danish Order of Freemasons.

Main entrance of the head office of the Danish Order of Freemasons, Copenhagen

The Danish Order of Freemasons (Danish: Den Danske Frimurerorden) (abbr.: DDFO), also known as the Grand Lodge of Denmark, is the main governing body of regular freemasonry in Denmark. The Danish Order of Freemasons can trace its history back to 1743 making it the oldest masonic organisation of Denmark.^[1]

The Danish Order of Freemasons is the only masonic organisation in Denmark, which is recognised by the world's oldest grand lodge, the United Grand Lodge of England founded 1717 in London.^[2] It works in accordance to the Swedish Rite.^[1]

The Danish Order of Freemasons has today around 10,000 members.^[3] Of deceased members include royalties such as King Frederick V, prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel, King Frederick VI, prince and duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, King Christian VIII, King Frederick VII, King Frederick VIII, King Christian X and the princes Carl (later Haakon VII of Norway), Harald, Gorm and Oluf (later count of Rosenborg). Furthermore, architect Philip de Lange, count Christian Conrad Danneskiold-Laurvig, supreme court justice J.O. Schack-Rathlou, count Marcus Gerhard Rosencrone, count Ernst Heinrich von Schimmelmann, Lord Chamberlain and patron Johan von Bülow, Prime Minister Frederik Moltke, architect and full professor Christian Frederik Hansen, count Frederik Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, literary historian Knud Lyne Rahbek, sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, physicist Hans Christian Ørsted (Oersted), minister and governor of the Central Bank of Denmark L.N. Hvidt, artist Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg, governor-general of the Danish West Indies Peter von Scholten, composer Friedrich Kuhlau, landgrave William of Hesse-Kassel, full professor and medical doctor Peter Ludvig Panum, baron Carl Frederik von Blixen-Finecke, Lord Chamberlain Carl Ludvig von Løvenskiold, baron Johan J.S.E. Bertouch-Lehn, count Christian Conrad Sophus Danneskiold-Samsøe, founder of the Ritzau news agency Erik Nicolai Ritzau, historian Troels Frederik Lund, count Carl F. Rantzau, count Ludvig E.A. Reventlow, count Christian E.J. Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Lehn and actor Poul Bundgaard were all members of the masonic order.^[4]

The Danish Order of Freemasons is an independent masonic order, which encompasses around 100 lodges spread throughout Denmark.^[5]

The Danish Order of Freemasons has regularized and recognised the masonic organisations the Danish Guild of Freemasons (Danish: Det Danske Frimurerlaug) and the Union of Johannes Lodges (Danish: Johanneslogeforbundet). Therefore, the grand master of the Danish Order of Freemasons is also the grand master of the Danish Guild of Freemasons and the Union of Johannes Lodges. The two masonic organisations are under the Danish Order of Freemasons and its management.

See also

• Freemasons' Hall, Copenhagen

References and external links

1. ^ ^{a b} Official website of the Danish Order of Freemasons – History (Danish)
2. ^ Official website of the United Grand Lodge of England – Recognised Grand Lodges in Europe
3. ^ Official website of DR (the Danish Broadcasting Corporation) – About freemasonry (Danish)
4. ^ Official website of DR (the Danish Broadcasting Corporation) – Well-known freemasons (Danish)
5. ^ Official website of the Danish Order of Freemasons – Lodge directory (Danish)

• Official website of the Danish Order of Freemasons (Danish)