Our History
From the Grande Loge Nationale Française to the Grootoosten der Nederlanden
General John J. Pershing Lodge #62 was consecrated in October 1959 at the NATO headquarters in Fontainebleau, France. The initial membership came from American, Canadian, English, Welsh and German military personnel and worked under the register of the Grande Loge Nationale Française (GLNF).
As NATO moved its headquarters out of Fontainebleau in 1967, most of our lodge members were transferred to The Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum, the Netherlands. On 30 September 1967 the new (second), General John J. Pershing Lodge #166 was consecrated, still on the register of the GLNF.
The Grand East of the Netherlands
In 2012, the Lodge transferred from the Grande Loge Nationale Française to the Grand East of Netherlands, in whose jurisdiction the Lodge had been meeting ever since.
The Lodge now has the #307 and convenes in Maastricht. We maintain our unique multinational membership, military traditions, rich history and heritage.
Who is John J. Pershing?
John J. Pershing, in full John Joseph Pershing, byname Black Jack, was born 13 September 1860 in Laclede, Missouri, U.S. and died 15 July 1948, Washington, D.C. U.S. Pershing was an army general who commanded the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in Europe during World War I.