“The German-speaking Masonic Lodge was given its charter by the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. on 13 May 1872. Its purpose, then as now, is to bring together Master Masons interested in carrying on the work of the Lodge in the German language. The German ritual was approved by the Grand Master Thomas J. Shryock on 23 April 1894. Today it is the only German-speaking Lodge in the jurisdiction of Maryland.”