The Universal League of Freemasons ( ULF )
before the brothers know each other better . [ ... ] You prefer the recruitment of lodges . Here is why it is almost impossible for the moment : The Grand Lodges and the governments do not want it ; they say that it is an intrusion into the domain of the Grand Lodges . The lodges as such also do not like being members . After a long experience , we have arrived at this type of action and it works very well . The League works , which is proven by the fact that for the first time , Anglo-Saxon masonry will take part . [ ... ] The Dutch have declared in large numbers , only the Belgian brothers have shown themselves to be rather against it because they are very attached to the AMI , if I am not mistaken ?
The two men agree on the essentials , even though Uhlmann supported the idea of direct recruitment of brothers without going through the lodges . As for the AMI , it is clear that it did not disappear ...
La Fontaine was not able to participate in the congress of 1928 as he was caught up in meetings in Berlin . He read the minutes a few weeks later in the Swiss masonic review L ’ Alpina and wrote to Uhlmann on November 3 :
I must admit that the minutes of the meeting in Vienna that were published in L ’ Alpina did not tell me much about the decisions made . They talk about the receptions and the welcome given to foreign brothers , but these
51 aspects are only external . I am very curious to learn what policy the League will have . If it is content with providing talented orators the occasion to give fine speeches without consequence , I will tell you frankly that my enthusiasm for it would wane . At the age I have reached and under the circumstances in which we all live , words only have very limited value . I expect my brothers to take measured action in as near a future as possible and it is essential that resolutions be made quickly on the nature of this action . Is this conviction shared by you and the brothers who are responsible , along with you , for the success of our common efforts ?
The mason La Fontaine was always frank in his speech ; he always wanted to move forward ! It is true that when reading the agendas of the ULF congresses , much time was dedicated to receptions , meetings ( tenues ) with local lodges , and excursions ... However , the goal of the ULF was also to allow its members to become better acquainted . A letter from the Belgian mason deserved an answer , and Brother Uhlmann took up his pen on November 7 :
[ ... ] You are mistaken in thinking that our congress in Vienna was only a speech contest . It is true that one of the aims of events of this type is to bring brothers together and to put them in personal contact with each other . We must get to know and understand each other but that is not