28th June - 10th September, 2018
Masons in Koszalin and Pomerania Region in 1777-1933
We invite you to the first exhibition in Poland devoted to Koszalin and Pomeranian Freemasonry.
In 1777, a group of Prussian army officers under the command of Prince Colonel Fryderyk Wilhelm Karol von Württemberg-Stuttgart created a masonic lodge under the name Maria zum goldenen Schwert (Maria under the golden sword) in Koszalin. During the period of its greatest glory, over 160 brothers belonged to the lodge. Among them were mayors, government officials, lawyers, merchants and soldiers. It existed, like all other Pomeranian lodges, until fascists came to power in Germany. Freemasons realized the ideals of philosophy based on progress, social development and religious tolerance. Due to the confidential nature of Freemasonry, much of its history has raised many legends, stereotypes or simple slanders. Former inhabitants of Pomerania were telling that the freemasons had collusion with the devil, they had the ability to be in two places at the same time, they could have predicted the date of their death. The drama of World War II meant that for long decades forgotten about old lodges. Currently, opinions about them are often negative, with even the role of world rulers assigned to them.
Thanks to the efforts of one of Koszalin's collectors and history buffs, Mr. Zbigniew Wojtkiewicz, memorabilia from this lodge appearing at antiquarian auctions return to Koszalin. Thanks to his kindness, the objects were shown for the first time in public. In addition to them, we present dozens of unique masonics that are also used in other Pomeranian lodges from the 18th century until the Third Reich. Each of these items is unique and hides unusual Masonic secrets. On the exhibition, you can see, among others ritual sword, glass tableware, manuscript documents.
The exhibition on the former Freemasonry is the first exhibition of this type in north-western Poland. Most of the objects we have the opportunity to see are presented for the first time in public. The exhibition is complemented by original, contemporary masonica borrowed from the Lodge of the Sea of Gdańsk.
Curator: Andrzej Kuczkowski
Screenplay: Andrzej Kuczkowski, Bogna Buziałkowska
Promotion: Bogna Buziałkowska
Substantive development: Andrzej Kuczkowski (Museum in Koszalin), Wojciech
Mościbrodzki (lodge Star of the Sea in the East of Gdańsk), Wojciech Łysiak (Uniwersytet
Rzeszowski), Artur Wabik (independent pop culture researcher).
Graphic design: Bogna Buziałkowska, Marta Dzięgielewska, Wojciech Mościbrodzki
Collections: Zbigniew Wojtkiewicz (Koszalin), Wojciech Jarząb (Gryfice), Eilo Hildebrand (Aachen),
Museum in Koszalin, Regional Museum in Szczecinek, Museum of the History of the Earth of Kamień in
Kamień Pomorski, Museum of Archeology and History in Stargard, Patria Museum
Colbergensis in Kołobrzeg, Westpomeranian Library in Szczecin, Silesian Library in
Katowice, Pommersches Landesmuseum (Greifswald), Stralsund Museum (Stralsund), Eilo
Hildebrandt (Aachen) and private collections.
Patrons of: President Koszalin Piotr Jedliński and Consul General of the Federal Republic
Germany in Gdansk Cornelia Pieper.
Worth seeing