The eventful History of Freemasons in Austria
| 1717 | 24 June: Foundation of the world´s first Grand Lodge in London (UGLE) |
| 1738 | Papal Bull of Pope Clement XII dealing with the condemnation of Freemasonry “In Eminenti“ |
| 1742 | Foundation of the first Viennese Lodge „Aux Trois Canons” (Three Rules) |
| 1751 | Bull ”Providas” of Pope Benedict XIV against Freemasons |
| 1770 | Foundation of the Lodge ”Zur Hoffnung” (Hope), later “Zur Gekrönten Hoffnung” (Crowned Hope) in Vienna |
| 1776 | Abolition of torture in Austria at the request of the freemason Joseph von Sonnenfels |
| 1780 | Death of Maria Theresa, her son Joseph II will succeed |
| 1781 | Joseph II issues the Tolerance Patent: free exercise of religion and equal political rights for all Protestant confessions and the Greek Orthodox Church |
| 1781 | Lodge “Zur Wahren Eintracht” (True Harmony) in Vienna |
| 1784 |
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| 1785 | ”Masonic patent”: Freemasonry is on the one hand recognized by the state, on the other hand supervised and the number of lodges is limited. |
| 1790 | Emperor Joseph II dies |
| as of 1793/95 | Ban and systematic persecution of Freemasonry until the era of Emperor Franz Joseph |
| 1867 | The Austro-Hungarian Compromise leads to the creation of the dual monarchy, Emperor Franz Joseph confirms the "Basic Law on the general rights of citizens" - as a result, Freemasonry is now allowed in Hungary - in Austria, it remains prohibited |
| 1869 | Austrian Freemasons visit the Lodge "Zur Verbrüderung" (Fraternization) in Ödenburg (Sopron) - decisive impetus for the foundation of "Grenzlogen" |
| 1871 | Viennese Freemasons found the first Lodge called "Humanitas" on Hungarian soil in Neudörfl. As a result, Austrian Freemasons establish 16 Lodges on Hungarian territory |
| 1908 | Ferdinand Hanusch is accepted by the Lodge "Lessing", Alfred H. Fried from the Lodge "Socrates" - followed in 1909 by Richard Schlesinger, who was elected the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Vienna in 1919 |
| 1918 | 12. November: Proclamation of the “Republic of German-Austria” 8. December: Foundation of the “Grand Lodge of Vienna“ by the previous “Grenzlogen” (Lodges across the border) “Humanitas“, “Sokrates“, “Eintracht“, “Treue“, “Lessing Zu den 3 Ringen“, “Kosmos“, “Gleichheit“, “Zukunft“, “Schiller“, “Freundschaft“, “Goethe“, “Pionier“, “Zur Wahrheit“ und “Fortschritt“. Lodges meet in the Inner City of Vienna, at Dorotheergasse 12. |
| 1920 | Admittance of Julius Tandler to the Lodge “Lessing zu den drei Ringen”. As Vienna City Councilor for Welfare, he creates an internationally renowned welfare system. |
| 1921 | Alfred Hermann Fried passes away. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1911 for his concept of pacifism. He was significantly affecting the thinking of the Grand Lodge. |
| 1922 | Admittance of Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi to the Lodge “Humanitas”. His Pan-European ideas are considered the origin of the idea of a European Union and are supported by the Grand Lodge. |
| 1926 | Foundation of the "Austrian League for Human Rights" with the participation of numerous freemasons. |
| 1933 | Elimination of parliament by Federal Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss and establishment of the authoritarian corporate state (“Ständestaat”). Dollfuss is murdered in the course of a National Socialist coup attempt in July 1934. |
| 1934 | Civil War in February 1934; Elimination of Social Democratic Party; Freemasonry is in ward. Civil servants have to choose between their job and membership. Police officers can join the masonic meetings and works. Lodge work become near to impossible. As a result, the number of brethren in the following years is halved. |
| 1938 | 12. March. Invasion of German troops in Austria. The Lodge building in the Inner City is already stormed and looted on 13 March by the Nazis. In the following days, imprisonment of many freemasons, including Grand Master Dr. Richard Schlesinger by the Gestapo. He dies as a result of denied medical care in prison on 5 June 1938. |
| 1945 | Shortly after the liberation of Vienna in August 1945, 48 surviving Masons decide on the new start or the re-founding of the Austrian Grand Lodge. The first Grand Master elected is Dr. Karl Doppler, a physician. After his death two years later, Bernhard Scheichelbauer becomes his successor |
| 1955 | Following the State Treaty the “Grand Lodge of Vienna for Austria” turns into the until today existing “Grand Lodge of Austria”. |
| 2020 | The "Grand Lodge of Austria" consists of 77 lodges with around 4,000 members |