They want to support Kitzingen and ensure that donations are used in a targeted and local manner. Members of the Kitzingen Masonic Lodge ‘Thekla – a beacon in Franconia’ have recently planted a lime tree on the grounds of the garden show. Further donations are to follow.
Heinz Menninga is the head of the association, which has existed in Kitzingen for exactly 100 years. In 1933, the lodge disbanded of its own accord due to political developments; in 1946, it resumed its work with the approval of the American armed forces. This included, for example, actively supporting the ‘Lebenshilfe’ charity when it was founded in 1965. Heinz Menninga describes the aim of the lodge’s current 20 members as follows: “We work on ourselves and want to become better people.” To this end, the members – who address one another as ‘brothers’ – meet regularly at their clubhouse on Mainstockheimer Straße. Anyone interested is warmly invited to the monthly guest evenings. (More information at www.freimaurer-kitzingen.de) Through talks, wine tastings and other events, the Kitzing Freemasons aim to raise their public profile and dispel prejudices. “There are simply too many false claims circulating about us,” laments Heinz Menninga. During the tree-planting ceremony, Lord Mayor Dr Enis Tiz emphasised that any democratic and liberal-minded organisation can and should, of course, be part of the local community and its development. He was delighted with the tree and the ‘Brothers’ announcement that they would be making a donation next year to equip Kitzingen’s classrooms with air-conditioning units.