nz freemason magazine issue 1 march 2010
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Freemasons New Zealand www.freemasonsnz.orgTRANSCRIPT
www.freemasons.co.nz
FREEMASONNEW ZEALAND
Issue 1, 2010 (Vol 38)
DIABETES
Contents Editor
Greetings Brethren!
Welcome to a new year and decade of Freemasonry.
This is also a Grand Installation year! Make sure to read about the upcoming Auckland Grand Installation on page 16.
This issue we focus on Freemasons and charity and The Freemasons Charity. If you received this magazine via the post you will also find a copy of the new Freemasons Charity brochure enclosed in the package.
On creating the image for the front cover of the new brochure (which is also shown on the cover of this magazine) we asked a lot of people as to what one, single image best portrays the act of benevolance and charity. The concept that nearly everyone agreed to was: uplifting the spirits of someone who was down. Our special thanks to WBro Bernie Harris, photographer Mike Clare, and his mum, Judy.
The Royal Society has launched a new project that starts where "Big Science Adventures" left off. See page 6 for the new "Freemasons Reel Science Film Festival". Stay tuned for more details in which you and your Lodge can participate in this.
Be seeing you.
Michael Leon, MMEditor / Director of Communications and MarketingFreemasons NZ, Wellington
The New Zealand Freemason is the official journal of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand. Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed and the advertising content are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy of Grand Lodge.
Articles appearing in this journal may be reproduced without permission provided acknowledgement of the source is made and a copy of the publication is forwarded to the Grand Secretary.
Queries or comments regarding subscription or distribution should be addressed to the Grand Secretary. Queries and comments regarding content and advertising should be addressed to the Editor.
[email protected] / [email protected] Freemasons NZ, PO Box 6439, Marion Square, Wellington 6141, New Zealand
Phone 04 385 6622 / Fax 04 385 2420 / Intl +64-4-385-6622
Contributions to the magazine are greatly appreciated and should be of interest to a wide audience. Contributions, including letters to the Editor, may be edited. Photographs should be high quality, preferably in jpg or tiff format.
Contributions to the magazine can also be forwarded through these people:
Northern Division: Jack Leigh, [email protected] Division: Morris Robertson, [email protected] Division: n/aRoyal Arch: Gary Kerkin, Tel: 07 889 3607
Magazines are distributed in March, June, September and December. The deadlines for contributions are the first day of February, May, August and November.
copyright © 2010 Freemasons NZ
Grand Master's Address / Calendar ......................2
Grand Secretary .......................................................2
New Generation Awards Update ............................4
Freemasons Reel Science Film Festival ..................6
Freemasons NZ and Charity ..................................8
The Phoenix Lodge No. 43 ...................................12
Earth-Shaking Test for Masonic Music ...............13
Charles Heaphy, VC, 1820-1881 ..........................14
Communicating the Vision ..................................16
Looking After Our New Brethren ........................17
The Ladies Section ................................................18
Brief Background History on The Order of the Eastern Star ..............................20
Who’s Who At Camp Q ..........................................21
District Events ........................................................22
Creating a Lodge Website ....................................24
Diabetes Cook Books for Library ........................25
Book Review: Diabetes Cook Book ....................25
Invitation to Freemasons Queensland Grand Installation ..................................................25
A Helping Hand For the Scouts ...........................26
Are You Moving to the Tauranga Area? .............26
A Place for All Freemasons to Gather ................28
Service Awards .......................................................29
Arrow Kilwinning No. 86 Re-Consecration .......30
The Freemasons Charity .......................................32
Royal Arch ...............................................................34
Freemasons Deposit Scheme Application Form ... 37
COVER: "Uplifting The Sick". The Freemasons Charity. WBro Bernie Harris and Judy Clare. Photo by Mike Clare.
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Brethren -
The work done locally in Lodge Projects and District Projects gives us an exciting opportunity to gain local publicity of what we are doing in support of our local communities.
Many town newspapers are all too happy to publish a story on Freemason projects, but in most cases they also want the Lodges to write the story and furnish them with (good) photos. We also need articles for the national NZ Freemason magazine.
To assist in that facility, our Communications Committee is looking for Brethren who are highly skilled writers and are willing to help Lodges write articles. We are also looking for good photographers.
The Communications Committee also has set up Divisional people to act as liason points for articles and stories. Contact these people for assistance on writing an article and to submit an article for the NZ Freemason magazine:
Northern Division Jack Leigh, [email protected]
Central Division Morris Robertson, [email protected]
Southern Division <nobody yet -- could it be you?>
If your Lodge project was funded by The Freemasons Charity, please send all articles to Sheila Hicking at The Freemasons Charity at the Grand Lodge offices. Sheila also receives stories from Lodge Almoners.
Stan BarkerGrand Master
Grand Master’s Calendar Date Lodge Location District Event
MARCH 4 The Sir Walter Scott Lodge No. 15 Thames 10 Installation Meeting 6 The Robert Burns Lodge No. 50 Reefton 24 125 years of Freemasonry 18-22 United Grand Lodge of Victoria Melbourne Grand Installation
APRIL 17 The Marsden Lodge No. 169 Maungaturoto 1 Centennial Celebrations
MAY 8 Kapiti-Wellington District Wellington 19/21 Wellington Freemasons Charity Ball 15 The Marlborough Lodge of Unanimity No. 106 Blenheim 23 Musical Third Degree
JUNE 10 The Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge No. 47 Palmerston North 15 Presentation of 70-year Bar 26 The Acacia Lodge No. 472 Tokoroa 11 Consecration & Dedication of The Acacia Lodge No. 472
Grand Master Writers Needed
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Below are some photographs detailing the great improvement of the new Freemasons NZ Road Sign.If your city or town does not yet have a Freemasons NZ sign at the city entrances,
please contact your District Grand Master to obtain them.
Being visible in the community is an important stepin getting people to ask the right questions...
Old
New
Grand SecretaryFreemasons NZ Road Signs
The Arts Foundation New Generation Awards were established in 2006 in partnership with Freemasons New Zealand. The biennial Award will be presented again this year. The Awards celebrate five artists early on in their career. Each recipient receives $25,000 to contribute to their individual artistic identity and a Christine Cathie-designed glasswork.
Ten New Generation artists have been awarded so far; here are some of their achievements in the past few months:
MAdElEiNE PiErArd (Soprano) advised the Arts Foundation in late december 2009 that she had been awarded a much-coveted place as a Jette Parker Young Artist at The royal Opera, Covent Garden, from 1 September, 2010. This is what she had to say:
“i can't believe i'm actually going to be paid to sing there! it still hasn't quite sunken in! My audition was this morning at 9:40am for Antonio Pappano and a number of others and i have a chest full of mucus and a sore throat … like everyone else in london! it was a rather harrowing week of auditions: four rounds whittling 400 singers to 60, then 35, then 12, then five places on the programme across all voice types.”
Photo: robert Catto
Madeleine was amongst a record number of applicants from 52 countries
competing for this position. They are an international group of professionals at the start of their career who have undertaken formal training and have already worked with professional companies. Most of the Young Artists
work at the royal Opera House full-time over two years; receiving coaching in all opera disciplines and working on royal Opera productions – singing small roles, covering larger roles or joining the music or directing staff. They work with the Programme's Artistic director and royal Opera music staff, a wide range of freelance music and language coaches and visiting singers, directors and conductors. Every facility of the Company is made available to nurture their talents through total immersion in the life of the royal Opera House.
On 5 March Madeleine performs in a Concert of Contemporary Opera Scenes under Nick Cleobury and director Orpha Phelan. She takes the role of ines in ines de Castro by James Macmillan at the National Opera Studio, london and on 2 April Madeleine is Soprano in Mozart's requiem at St-Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, london; New london Soloists with the Barts Choir.
TAikA WAiTiTi (Film) who has had his latest feature film, BOY, selected in competition at the prestigious 60th Berlin international Film Festival. results were unknown at time of going to press. Boy had previously premiered to a sell out audience at the opening of the
Sundance Film Festival in Utah in January 2010. The film will be released in New Zealand through Transmission Films.
Photo: BOY (2010): rocky, (Te Aho Eketone Whitu), Boy (James rolleston), Alamain (Taika Waititi), image Courtesy of the New Zealand Film Commission
inspired by Waititi's Oscar nominated short Two Cars, One Night, BOY is a coming-of-age tale about heroes, magic and Michael Jackson. Written and directed by Taika, the film was shot in his childhood home town of Waihau Bay on the East Coast of New Zealand. BOY is the debut feature for James rolleston as 11 year old Boy and Te Aho Eketone-Whitu as his younger brother rocky. Taika plays their father Alamein.
Waititi's short films Two Cars, One Night and Tama Tu, and his debut feature Eagle vs Shark have all screened to acclaim at the Berlin Festival. Two Cars, One Night was awarded the Panorama Short Film Award in 2004 and Tama Tu received the Special Jury Prize in 2005.
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra became the orchestral force behind the powerful psychedelic blues-rock quartet little Bushman, headed by New Generation artist WArrEN MAxWEll, at a concert held in Wellington, in October. The orchestral score was arranged by Arts Foundation laureate John Psathas
Update
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New GeNeratioN awardsArts Foundation of New Zealand
Presented by Freemasons New Zealand
and was an original collaboration with the Auckland Philharmonia. Warren and the band have begun the year with a number of concerts around the country.
JOE SHEEHAN (Stone Artist and Jeweller) exhibited Slideshow, his new body of work, at Tim Melville Gallery, Auckland, in december 2009.Slideshow is a suite of three slide carousels and projectors. Each slide is created from a thin slice of pounamu or jade, with 80 slides making up each carousel. The stone slices, each laser-etched with one of a series of ‘marks’ or ‘images’, are then projected against darkened gallery walls. The three Slideshows each have a distinctive look and feel. The slides in Slideshow 1 are engraved with a map motif, giving the work a feeling of coastline and sense of 'location'. inSlideshow 2 the pounamu slides are masked so only thin slivers of the glowing green stone are revealed. And Slideshow 3 is engraved with a floating sphere motif.
The exhibition was highly successful, with two of the three artworks finding buyers before the show opened – one buyer being the prestigious Chartwell Collection.
Joe says, “i want to take what the viewer thinks about 'stone' and turn it on its head … i want them to forget that it's stone at all – or at least to flip from the reality of their manufacture (“these are stones?”) to the lightness of the projection on the wall. Slideshow is more about perception and existence than land or identity. i'm looking for contrast between lightness and great weight,
between openness and constriction, and at the epic scale-shifts between the molecular and stellar. i worked marks and images onto the back of the slides, so they would be shadow-like, and so the viewer's eye would shift between the natural inclusions and my own markings.
i want the viewer to wonder whether these things are really part of the stone … and for the pointers to slip between the natural beauty and the subconscious projecting that occurs when you look at them.”
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Photos: JOE SHEEHANSlideshow2009Pounamu, various jades, Slide CarouselPhotographer: Joe Sheehan
JOE SHEEHANSlideshow iii2009installation Tim Melville Gallery, december 2009Photographer: kallan Macleod
JOE SHEEHANSlideshow i - Slide 64/802009installation Tim Melville Gallery, december 2009Photographer: Tim Melville
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February 2010
ANNOUNCEMENT OF INAUGURAL SCIENCE FILM COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS The Freemasons Reel Science Film Festival is a new competition that is aimed at getting your Yr11 – Yr13 students involved and excited about science! This competition encourages students to make a 2 minute film, on any aspect of science that interests them, hence the theme ‘Are you SciCurious?’ We want to make participation in this competition as easy as possible for you and your students so that they really enjoy the experience of making the short film. To this end, Masters students from the University of Otago’s Centre for Science Communication will be holding a series of workshops around New Zealand during March. The 1 hour workshop will provide students with lots of useful information on how to make a great short film using very basic equipment such as their cell phone. Students will be given useful tips on editing, lighting and sound techniques, which they can use when making the film. This will be a great learning opportunity for students, teachers are most welcome to attend also. Fifteen of the winning students will then be invited to spend five days in Dunedin working in small teams with film makers and scientists to make a professional film on a given science topic. The best film will win the Freemasons Reel Science Film Festival. We have enclosed A3 posters, A4 posters and postcards for distribution to interested students. We would really appreciate it if the A3 posters could be distributed around the school and on student notice boards.
Information about this competition can be found at www.reelsciencefilm.org.nz Please do not hesitate to contact Debbie Woodhall on (04) 470 5762 if you would like to discuss the above. Yours sincerely
Dr Di McCarthy ONZM Stanley Barker Chief Executive Grand Master Royal Society of New Zealand Freemasons New Zealand
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CharityA Look at Freemasons New Zealand and
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The activities of The Freemasons Charity seen in full review are pretty impressive. So are the processes that make it all happen. For it takes skill and care to give money away.
There are criteria and guidelines and umpteen rules. Factors must be weighed, opinions given and judgments made. And when the buck stops, the bucks flow – on a scale of many thousands of dollars, and millions overall.
What looks complex is actually driven by what is natural and simple, born of human kindness. Compassion is the pulse. The Freemasons Charity has a beating heart.
Lest anyone mistake the point, it is spelt out in the 2009 official manual: "The Fund will support projects that have compassion and emotion. Projects that make the heart swell and the mind melt will receive strong support." And conversely, there is a reluctance to back "sterile" projects that lack the heart-swell factor.
Financial management is naturally prudent, and all well-run charities would surely agree with the leading New Zealand economist who says a charitable donation is just another way of spending money, and needs the same care as with any purchase or investment. The desired results of that outlay for The Freemasons Charity are seen in a wide variety of achievements ranging from help to hospices, medical research and higher education to an outboard for a surf club, lights and music for a police-run disco,a mobility scooter for a lodge widow and equipment for volunteer firemen.
The ‘caring tradition’ has been with us for more than a century, and it is all right to beat the drum about it to show we are in step with the community. But some lodges get confused about how to reap the benefit of available resources. They baulk at the form-filling needed for a project to get a subsidy from The Freemasons Charity. Altruism tangles with technicality. Soft hearts meet cold print. But the approval process is truly benign, and given the chance will surely yield its rewards.
Here is a current overview of Freemasons Charity operations …
Historical Reflections
It appears a “Fund of Benevolence” has existed in one form or another since
the formation of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. The first report of the Board of Benevolence was presented to the Communication held at Invercargill
on 10 April 1891, which disclosed a credit balance of £231.
The Widows and Orphans Benevolent Fund was established in 1892, with contributions held as capital, and only the income available for distribution.
1897 saw the creation of the Aged and Indigent Masons Fund, which had an obvious objective. By 31 March 1903 the respective balances in these three funds were:
Benevolence £5,829 Widows & Orphans £2,042 Aged Masons £2,487
At the 1903 Communication, Grand Lodge resolved to amalgamate the Widows and Aged Masons Funds to form the “Aged Masons’ and Widows’ and Orphans’ Fund.”
From almost the outset, the Fund was known as the Widows, Orphans and Aged Masons Fund, and voluntary contributions were sought principally at Installations.
In 1914, in the course of discussing a constitutional amendment at Communication, comment was made that, should each brother contribute one penny per day for one year, a Lodge of 100 members could easily raise £200 per annum for benevolence! Over the years the figure that was sought became £1 per annum per member by the early 1960’s, $4 by the time RWBro E F Winch, PPresBdBen, was addressing United Masters Research Lodge in 1984, and by the turn of the last century the figure being mentioned was $20.
After the First Great War, a Special (War) Benevolent Fund was created, (which continued until 1957 when it was subsumed into the Fund of Benevolence).
These Funds had separate Boards, which met monthly – the WO & AM and the War Fund Boards meeting commencing usually at 8pm, followed by the Board of Benevolence meeting, usually starting around 10 or 10.15pm.
Contributions for the Funds came from special appeals by the Grand Masters, together with half-yearly levies and collections taken at Installation meetings and other special occasions. For example, an appeal following the earthquake of 3 February 1931 resulted in £10,640 being received and applied to benefit the brethren
and their dependents in Hawkes Bay.
A snapshot of the state of the Funds as at 30 November 1932 shows:
General Account £ 8,054.15. 9 WO&AM Fund £112,029. 9. 8 Fund of Benevolence £ 6,607. 7. 7 Circular Appeals £ 974.14. 8 Special (War) Fund £ 8,655.19. 0West Coast Earthquake Relief Fund £ 332. 4. 9Hawkes Bay Earthquake Relief Fund £ 914. 7. 1
The financial setback of the early 1930’s had an effect not only causing a decline in membership but also a reduction in contributions to benevolence. Applications for assistance continued to be received, and the gap between income and expenditure narrowed.
The visiting of sick brethren became formalised in 1945 when the Board first made a grant to the three “Hospital Visiting Committees” – and from this developed the various District Almoners Associations.
The Board made provision for assisting students from 1944, and by 1956 ‘scholarships’ were identified as rewarding scholastic ability whereas ‘bursaries’ were for persons in need of financial assistance.
1956 also saw the scope of Masonic charity being further extended when the Board was empowered to make payments to “any public charity … or to any organisation dispensing charity or relieving sickness or distress …”
By 1961, the several Funds were seen as cumbersome and confusing. In the early days, each fund had been administered by separate Boards and there were frequent transfers of monies from one fund to another. The main concern was to help those in need, regardless of any technical considerations. Grand Lodge therefore decided in 1961 to merge the Fund of Benevolence, the Widows Orphans & Aged Masons Fund, and the Masonic Bursary Fund together under the title “The Fund of Benevolence”.
In the early 1980’s, Grand Lodge established a Deposit Scheme with the National Bank of New Zealand in Wellington. Through amalgamating many small individual deposits, a large fund was established,
The Freemasons Charity
Photo: Mike Clare
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which attracted interest above market rates, and out of which a small percentage was paid to Grand Lodge as commission. Out of this income, Grand Lodge was able to extend many of its benevolent activities.
Later in the 1990’s, the Fund of Benevolence contributed substantial sums over several years to enable genetic research into the causes and treatment of Huntingtons Disease.
The name “The Fund of Benevolence” served the Craft well for over 40 years until the Board of Benevolence in 2006 announced a “back-to-basics” theme, with new processes and procedures, a decentralised approach to decision-making, and importantly a re-branding of the fund as “The Freemasons Charity”.
In the four years since the launching of The Freemasons Charity the assistance to those in need has more than doubled. Also lodge projects have increased in number and nature in that time covering such things as:
• Hospital equipment• Chromosome 18 registry and research• Outboard motor for a surf life saving
club• Paediatric oxygen saturation monitor• Furniture, projector for schools• Support of Volunteer Fire Brigades• Scout Group equipment • Support of local hospices• Sound equipment for a Blue Light
disco
In the financial year July 1st 2009 to June 30th 2010 The Freemasons Charity has budgeted $420,000 for support of individuals and lodge projects. At the half way point of the year the Charity was on target to meet that budget.
Freemasons Scholarships In 1978 the Auckland District members of the Board of Benevolence were of the view that the Craft would derive some benefit from assisting young persons who had no Masonic connections and who were experiencing financial difficulties during their period of university studies.
A pilot scheme was established for a trial period of one year at University of Auckland.
In 1978 $1,000 was expended, which rose to $3,045 in 1979 and $3,010 over just four months in 1980.
The scheme was terminated in 1980 as it was evident it should be extended to the other six universities.
In its stead in 1981 a substitute scheme designated for students awarding bursaries of $500.00 each.
18 per year were awarded and divided between the seven universities, proportional to their student population.
In 1992 the bursaries were discontinued but replaced with applications for “Tertiary Assistance” a supplementary form completed in conjunction with “Application for Assistance.”
Freemasons Scholarships were awarded for the first time in 1992 for academic excellence.
To date Freemasons in New Zealand have contributed approaching $4 million to the further education of outstanding young Kiwis, not only A and A+ students but also those showing clear commitment to their communities scattered throughout New Zealand.
Currently our Masonic Selection Committees are interviewing this year’s candidates who have, once again, come from a widely differing range of backgrounds.
There have been many success stories over the years, recently to name just a few:
• Dominic Searles (Undergraduate Scholar Auckland 2007) currently completing a PhD in mathematics at the University of Illinois as a Fulbright Scholar returning to New Zealand on completion of his degree.
• Gemma New (Undergraduate Scholar Canterbury 2009) , scooped one of just four places in the Masters of Orchestral Conducting course at the Peabody Conservatorium of Music (part of John Hopkins University)
in Baltimore. Her goal being to become an orchestral conductor of international standing to return to New Zealand with fresh experience and honed skills to lead New Zealand orchestras.
• Kirsty Hammond (Postgraduate Massey 2008) currently conducting world leading research in what factors effect methane gas production.
• About one third of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions come from methane gas emissions.
• Scott Sisam (Undergraduate Otago 2009). After two degrees, a Bachelor of Science at Waikato and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery at Otago and a stint doing voluntary work overseas, Scott has returned to his hometown as the assistant dentist at the Landing Road Dental Centre.
In 2008 we were honoured by the Governor-General of New Zealand Hon Sir Anand Satyanand hosting the Freemasons Scholarships Presentation at Government House.
In 2009 our own Prime Minister Hon John Key generously accepted our invitation to attend the presentation ceremony at the Grand Hall of Parliament.
And now.....
BREAKING NEWSWe are honoured to be able to announce that HRH the Duke of Gloucester K.G. G.C.V.O. has accepted our invitation to attend our Freemasons Scholarships in 2010. The presentation will take place at the Wellington Town Hall on May 21st.More details will be forthcoming. (HRH the Duke of Gloucester is a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, 19th in line to the throne. He is conducting a private visit to New Zealand in May and has kindly consented to be present at our presentation ceremony.)
The Freemasons Chair of Gerontology
To commemorate the Centenary of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, an appeal was held in the early 1980s to constitute the Masonic Chair of Geriatric Medicine at the University of Auckland.
The target was a fund of $1 million, which by 1984 was amassed and invested, and which today continues to support research into gerontology at the university, in conjunction with the Waitemata Health Board. In 2007, the Masonic Professor of Gerontology Martin Connelly (who was appointed from the United Kingdom) undertook visits to a number of Masonic Retirement Villages throughout the North Island, meeting staff and residents, and passing on the wealth of knowledge and experience he has amassed during his career.
Freemasons Paediatric Fellowships
In 1990 a further appeal was held in order to establish a Paediatric Fellowship at the University of Otago, to enable focussed medical research into issues affecting babies in their first two years of life. Over the past two decades, several illustrious Fellows have been funded through this scheme and we are hopeful to soon publicise some of their details to demonstrate the impact our funding has had in this important area of research.
Past and Current Projects
The Freemasons Hospital pack has been widely accepted and much appreciated by hospitals throughout the country; over 6000 units have been distributed in the North Island alone.
Brethren have freely given of their time to make up the pack (toothbrush, shaver, comb, soap, shampoo, tissues, refresher towelette), make contact with a nurse manager at their local hospital and keep delivering supplies as required to support those unexpectedly admitted to hospital.
In the last year:
With the restructure of our network of benevolence officers and the role of our Divisional Grand Almoners, The Freemasons Charity is able to provide swift and sure assistance to those in need and has implemented several projects in support of our own and the community at large.
• Distribution of the Almoners Information pack
• Distribution of hankies for our Masonic widows
• Defibrillator National Project (for more details refer to the Freemasons Charity pages)
Upcoming projects:
• Distribution Stroke Recovery DVD
In the next few weeks a copy of this DVD will be distributed amongst our District Grand Masters, Almoners, Benevolence Officers and in some cases directly to Lodge Secretaries.
In 2007 The Freemasons Charity forged a relationship with Professor Valery Feigin in the production of a three-part DVD series with advice on how to assist stroke survivors, management and ongoing home care.
This information has been updated and this year concisely presented on one DVD.
The number of stroke victims continues to rise dramatically.
On average up to six other family members are affected by one of their own suffering a stroke. That is a lot of people whose lives can be improved by having access to this sort of information.
In conclusion it is important to note that all of this has been made possible by the generosity compassion and hard work of Freemasons in New Zealand over many decades. The Freemasons Charity takes its responsibilities as custodian of those funds very seriously indeed and works very hard to see that the funds are faithfully applied. We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of Divisional Grand Almoners who support benevolence officers in their work.
Without the continuing flow of donations into the Fund this work would not continue, each donation is individually recognised by Grand Lodge in an acknowledging letter and is truly appreciated. Your generosity continues and enables The Freemasons Charity to continue its tradition of caring maintained now for over 100 years.
Freemasons NZLevel 6, Freemason House 195-201 Willis Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011 PO Box 6439, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 New Zealand Ph: +64 4 385 6622 Fax: + 64 4 385 5749 Email: [email protected] www.freemasons.co.nz/charity
IF yOu ArE INTErESTEd IN MAkINg A TAx- dEducTIBLE dONATION Or WOuLd LIkE TO dIScuSS MAkINg A BEquEST, PLEASE cONTAcT:
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The Phoenix Lodge, a Freemasons’ hall built in the 1890’s, was refurbished
by its members about six years ago and the inner Lodge is close to how it would originally have been.
“The current Lodge has been going since 1882, and the original Lodge rooms were built in 1876”, said Deputy Master Terry Carrell.
“In recent years we fundraised for an ECG machine which was donated to the hospital; we have also donated a vital signs monitor because the hospital didn’t have a portable monitor, and worked with the Lions to provide a computer for Pompallier House.
“Our members also help out with a variety of community activities including the Sea Scouts, Waitangi Day and other events.
“We also have an annual achievement prize for the Akaroa Area school and we have provided a sleep apnoea machine for the Akaroa Medical Centre.”
The Phoenix Lodge welcomes enquiries like-minded men, and at present has a membership of 25. Membership is open to men aged 21 years and over. Anyone interested in finding out more about the Phoenix Lodge should contact Lodge Secretary Denis O’Hara on 03 304 8485. Mr O’Hara is also the contact for booking the hall.
Based on an article by Kaite Hansen that appeared in The Akaroa Mail.
The Phoenix Lodge No. 43
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The Lodge-room organ does it best, but is usually a gasp or two short of grandeur.
Not enough power and authority, which is a pity, because Freemasonry and music work beautifully together as the choral revival of the last few years clearly shows.
Better still, Masonic music is to meet the majesty of the newly-restored Auckland Town Hall pipe organ, mightiest of instruments. Making this happen has been an exciting prospect for the city organist Dr John Wells, who has worked for six months on a four-movement “full-scale organ symphony” to celebrate completion of the organ’s $5 million refit. And one of those movements is written in the Masonic style – for the Lodge of the Liberal Arts No. 500 and the Roskill Masonic Foundation in their sponsorship of the entire composition. This support was the idea of the Lodge’s Bro Donald Trott who was already involved in the organ project, and saw associated benefits for the Craft.
Dr Wells relishes his contact with the Freemasons, saying there have been “excellent meetings and rapport … It’s been a fantastic thing; a delightful surprise”.
The symphony, which combines the traditional with the modern, uses “the greatest range and capacity of the instrument … I nailed the last part of the last movement only this morning.”
Seismic vibrations from the century-old Town Hall organ were once thought capable of bringing the house down, flushing the public toilets, moving chairs around and thrilling the stone-deaf. It lost some of its best pipes in a world-wide organ-taming movement of the 1970s. The 32ft wooden contra bombarde went, and so did the ear-piercing tuba mirabilis trumpets, keen as sword blades. The latest overhaul, by top German organ builder Johannes Klais Orgelbau of Bonn, has meant replacement of nearly all of the present 5000 pipes. Now, restored and retuned, it is ready to demonstrate its modern refinements.
How obvious will Masonic influence be in the music? Not very, since Masonic music is not a genre in its own right, though it may have picked up a few expressive elements. The fanfare, for example. Warm melody. A touch of
the processional, or ceremonial. Even the faintest echo, perhaps, of Mozart himself, in the pieces he wrote for Masonic brethren.
The recital inaugurating the rebuilt organ will be, as it must, in the Auckland Town Hall on Sunday March 21, at 3.30pm.
Photos:WM of the Lodge of the Liberal Arts, Tom Clarke; chair of the Roskill Foundation, David Mace; the city organist and composer Dr John Wells. Bottom: the Auckland Town Hall organ in all its glory.
Earth-Shaking Test for Masonic Music
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Charles Heaphy, VC, was one of this country’s foremost artists, explorers,
public servants and soldiers from the colonial era of our history and he epitomised the spirit of the people who colonised New Zealand. He was also a Freemason. He left for us not only renowned watercolour paintings, but also lithographs, portrait studies, charts and architectural sketches. His works can be seen in the Auckland Art Gallery, in Auckland Museum, in Te Papa Museum and in various art galleries and private collections throughout New Zealand and in England. The Irish Constitution Lodge in Auckland, Ara 348, has at least one painting and several copies of his sketches and letters on display in their Lodge building and museum. He was initiated into Freemasonry, in Ara 348, in 1849.
Charles Heaphy was born in London in 1820, the son of a renowned artist, Thomas Heaphy, who served on the staff of the Duke of Wellington. Charles studied art at the Royal Academy in London and on graduation took employment with the New Zealand Company in London as a draughtsman and artist. At the age of nineteen Charles was sent as a surveyor for the company to the new colony of New Zealand. He arrived in Port Nicholson (now Wellington) in 1839 and was involved in surveying the harbour-side land. Over the following years his surveying took him to the Chatham Islands, to Auckland (especially in the Kaipara and Hokianga areas), to Wanganui and Taranaki, and to Nelson. In each place he produced watercolour paintings of landscape scenes, portraits of natives and settlers, maps, sketches and plans for land use and buildings. These were more than the topographical drawings his employers were requiring, they were illustrations
illuminated with poetic insight into the savage landscape and the problems involved in the struggle to settle on the land.
Whilst in Nelson he tried his hand at farming in the Motueka district but was soon distracted with exploration. He joined two noted expeditions to find a land route to
the West Coast. The first with William Fox in February 1846 and secondly with Thomas Brunner later in the same year where they traced the Buller River to it’s mouth and founded the pathway now known as the Heaphy Track which leads from Tasman Bay to the West Coast at a point north of Arahura. Fox and Brunner continued on to explore further south and have a glacier and a lake named after each other.
It was in Nelson that he ran foul of his employers. They accused him of over-optimism in his promotion of Tasman Bay
as the site of the main settlement in the new country. He was sent back to England in November 1841 to report directly to the company bosses. He then wrote his book, A Narrative of a Residence in Various Parts of New Zealand as support for his argument to settle the Nelson area. The company finally agreed with him and he returned
to Nelson after fourteen months away. After five more years with the New Zealand Company he accepted a position in Auckland in 1848 working as a draughtsman for Governor George Grey in the Auckland Survey Office. It was here that he was initiated into the Ara Lodge and in 1851 he married Catherine Churton, the daughter of a church minister in Auckland. They had no children.
During his twenty years with the survey team he was involved in surveys around the Auckland isthmus, the Hokianga Harbour and the Coromandel and Waihi goldfields and he won promotion, first to District Surveyor and then to Provincial Surveyor in 1856. He was closely involved with Hochstetter in the survey of the volcanic areas in Auckland, with Donald McLean (another Freemason) in surveys for the Land Purchase Department, and with
surveys for the Commissioner of Goldfields in the Thames / Coromandel area. He also travelled with Governor Gray and Bishop Selwyn on their visit to Norfolk Island and New Caledonia acting as an advisor on plans for settlements.
Whilst still the Provincial Surveyor he joined, in 1859, the newly formed Auckland Rifles Volunteers as a Private and was in 1863 commissioned as a Lieutenant and sent to the Waikato Wars. He was attached to the renowned “Flying Column” under Colonel Havelock. On the evening of
CHARLES HEAPHY, VC, 1820-1881 Artist, Explorer, Freemason, Public Servant, and Soldier
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11th February 1864, whilst members of his regiment were bathing after a day in the field at Patarangi (near Te Awamutu), they were fired upon by a Maori scouting group. Showing great bravery, Heaphy rescued, whilst under direct fire, one badly wounded soldier. He himself was shot five times during the time it took him to get the soldier to safety. For this deed his commanding officer recommended him for the Victoria Cross, but it took four years, and only after representations from Sir George Grey to the Imperial authorities in England, before it was awarded. Heaphy was the first colonial volunteer officer to receive this high award.
On return to Auckland, Heaphy stood for and was elected to the House of Representatives for the district of Parnell. He served two years as part of the team, which supported Julius Vogel setting up the various provincial districts throughout New Zealand. In 1869 he resigned from parliament and from his position as Provincial Surveyor to take up the newly created post of Commissioner of Native
Reserves. Ten years later he added the office of Government Insurance Commissioner to his duties and he was appointed a Judge in the Native Land Court. During this time his job took him from one end of the country to the other. He was involved in overseeing surveys in Westland, in the Waikato, in Wanganui and in Taranaki.
In May 1881 he succumbed to many years of crippling arthritis and was forced to resign from all his positions. He and his wife set sail for England but unfortunately he only got as far as Brisbane where he died at the age of sixty-one on the third of August the same year. His grave went unrecognised in Brisbane until 1960 when it was rediscovered and given formal recognition by the placing of a special plaque by the Government of New Zealand.
Charles Heaphy’s outstanding characteristic was energy, self-reliance and courage, which were all amply illustrated throughout his life in early New Zealand. He is remembered mostly for his neatly drawn maps and for his paintings and sketches of New
Zealand scenes. He was said to be a very sociable gentleman with many interests, which included gardening, dancing, rowing, acclimatisation and education for all. On the converse side, his enthusiasm for the surveys of confiscated Maori land and the settlement of them by pakeha, even today, causes consternation.
Colin Heyward, PGLec29 September 2007
Photos:Opposite page: Charles Heaphy. The Nelson Provincial MuseumTyree Studio Collection: 68969
Above: Charles Heaphy Part of Lambton Harbour, in Port Nicholson, New Zealand; 1841 Handcoloured lithograph; 366mm x 525mm Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Registration number: 1992-0035-1780
Auckland’s Grand Installation later this year has a new twist or two that planners say will add extra vitality and excitement, and attract a bigger attendance.
For a start there’s the name. Grand Lodge have dropped the “Communication” title and this year’s event is called simply ‘Grand Installation 2010’. And a theme will unite the whole party – “Communicating the Vision.”
But then the Auckland ideas cut in. More official organised events, old events given new style, more choice of things to do in the big smoke and more lavish entertainment to give the whole programme a renewed sense of occasion.
The organising committee say their aim is to make our Grand Installation a must-do for all Freemasons, whether they are being invested or not, and to make sure the older feel comfortable and the young feel they are not ignored! And appealing to all means the ladies get some really special treatment.
Full details will be distributed soon but meantime, whet your appetite on some highlights:
Great venues: The superb Langham Hotel hosts all conference events except for the Grand Installation to be held in the grand old Town Hall (with refurbished organ)
The old ‘get-together’ becomes the Welcome Cocktail Party – for couples, dressy with entertainment
A new Breakfast event
A new ‘Grand Master’s Luncheon’
The old Grand Banquet becomes a really Grand Ball – with band and dancing for those who want to dress up and have fun.
And most important of all the Installation of our new Grand Master. The pomp and ceremony of our antient Craft on display and performed as it should be! All the trimmings but with an accent on time-efficiency!
2010 will set new standards for both the business of Freemasonry and the celebration of its members – that’s all of us.
Block out the dates in your diary and start preparing for Grand Installation 2010!
Auckland, November 18-21
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“Communicating the Vision”
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Looking After Our New Brethren
Our degree ceremonies all contain new knowledge for the new brother, but it
is difficult, if not impossible, to absorb all of this during the ceremonies.
A time for reflection and consolidation sometime after the evening’s work is needed, and that’s where the experienced brother comes in.
When a Lodge initiates a new Mason, they often nominate a Mentor to look after him for the duration of his three degrees, assist with the test questions, take him visiting and introduce him to brethren in other Lodges, explaining differences in procedures and protocols and to answer any and all of the numerous questions that the enquiring new brother (or his family) will ask. The Mentoring process can go on far beyond the three degrees as we all know that we need to make that “daily advance in Masonic knowledge” and we often turn to a wise brother for advice before surfing the net – where we are never really sure if
the explanation we may find there really fits the Grand Lodge of New Zealand Constitution.
In 2005 a series of nine educational books was produced by the National Education Committee to assist in the Mentoring process. These have now been extensively revised to ensure that the advice contained in them is right up to date and conforms to our very best traditions. The National Education Committee has not only used its own expertise in producing them but has also sought out other expert opinions in the hope that these booklets will provide sound advice for at least the next five years, when they may be revised again.
The nine books have been condensed into five; No 1 for the person enquiring about Freemasonry, No 2 for the Entered Apprentice, No 3 for the Fellow Craft, No 4 for the Master Mason and No 5 for the Mentor. The first four will remain the property of the new brother and form the
beginnings of his Masonic library, whilst No 5 might be used again and again by the Lodges.
The booklets are to be launched at Divisional Conferences this year and, in a departure from earlier processes, will be available from both the Divisional National Education Committee representative and also directly from Head Office.
We know that in business it is cheaper to hold on to an existing customer rather than spend lots of money on gaining a new one. So too with our new brethren, we need to look after them, help them to understand Masonic philosophy and grow in our finest traditions. The Mentoring process is a sure way to make certain that that happens. It is not a new idea in Freemasonry but it has great benefits for the new brother and the Mentor alike.
These are the existing nine education booklets. They will shortly be replaced by a set of five.
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TheLadiesSection
Having been unable to ride a bike for 24 years, you might be able to imagine
the sheer delight I felt, speeding along at 17km/h toward our local café. Wind in my face, birds chirping away, an orange indicator flag flapping in the breeze; Will and our boys riding along side me (well they would ride ahead, come back, circle me and speed off again.) No training wheels for me; this bike already has three wheels and instead of foot pedals I use hand power.
Bike riding became my main source of transport while at Teachers’ College, although my bike riding days came to an abrupt end; I had a car accident and lost my left leg above the knee and clinically destroyed my right knee. Aside from the fact that with only one leg to pedal with, and going in circles was not much fun, I found the suction in my artificial limb could not maintained on a bike (simply – my leg fell off.) It wasn’t until years later I saw a recumbent bike system in action and thought: “why not?”
So began my journey of discovery. I spent time researching the bike options that were available and e-mailed and spoke with Brian at Trikes NZ. The Kettwiesel trike stood out as most suitable, due to its height off the ground and hand pedalling action. Once I received the quote I approached ACC for assistance in purchasing a Kettwiesel trike. ACC required me to have another occupational therapist assessment. This meant a wait for an appointment, another wait for an
answer and then finally the decision: NO. It was decided I was an ‘unsuitable recipient’, as this bike was a want, not a need, and not something – they felt – was of benefit to my personal life and physical well-being.
I was really upset as I knew that cycling on a trike like this was an activity I could actually do without putting extra strain and stress on my already overworked knee. It would also get me out of the house and my car, plus get me around Twizel with my family and friends, not forgetting building up my fitness level. There weren’t many other options for me in terms of physical activity. Walking more than a short distance had become a challenge for me, and swimming was inaccessible as well as being seasonal.
I realised I just had to accept ACC’s decision,
and financially the trike wasn’t an option for us to buy on our own; but with support from family and many friends, who also felt disappointed, I decided to wait and give it another try in a few months. In the meantime, while I was having a new leg built, Wellington ACC consulted with my prosthetist as to the components of the leg and they suggested my case manager reconsider the application for the hand bike. My next assessment was with a physiotherapist, who, happily, understood my physical limitations and the environment in which I lived. I felt more hopeful this time and was thrilled when the answer eventually came back: ‘Yes we will support you in purchasing a hand bike. We feel this will be of long-term benefit for you’. I was gobsmacked and yet so humbled by their change of heart and belief that I was worthy of the support I had requested. The earlier rebuff notwithstanding, I so appreciate the support and assistance ACC have always shown me over the twenty years since my accident.
The bike, duly ordered, arrived in Christchurch just prior to Christmas. My boys and I were off to try it and hopefully bring it home.
WOW!!! It was beautiful and – better yet – Canterbury colours! Sadly that fluoro-pink lycra ‘all in one’ bike suit would clash, so it will just have to remain on the shelf. And NO padded pants were required as the seat is luxury-plus. I test-ran the bike and with minor adjustments made, we put it on the bike rack – Oh, I needed a helmet too; last time I rode, bicycle helmets were only seen on Olympic track riders! And matching gloves were in order so I looked the part.
On returning to Twizel, I found my front door was ablaze with balloons and colour, a sign of everyone’s delight and anticipation rewarded. My goal to be more mobile was achieved, and now I had to get fit enough to enjoy it all. The following day, my home was inundated with my good friends who came to see and celebrate the success that was. A small hitch with the chain was quickly and kindly sorted; three links removed and I was off and not looking back.
Now you can see me speeding down our road, with a tail wind, and all around Twizel. (Though I’m finding the ride home is much slower – Twizel always seemed quite flat!) It is great getting along and stopping to talk to different people, whereas in the past I would just have waved as I whipped past in my car.
I now wonder how many coffee stops there are on the Central Otago Rail Trail?
Dreams Do Come True by Shelly Spry
Editorial
I must express my delight at Shelly Spry’s inspirational
feature article. The ever-modest Shelly was unwilling to let us invade her private world, but with some reluctance and a lot of persuasion she put pen to paper. We are enthralled to read and see her strength and courage. May Will, Shelly and their boys enjoy many fun action-packed cycling adventures!! With the Christmas rush now well behind us, it was a chance in the break to reflect on 2009. The destruction and devastation of Samoa. We have witnessed the dedicated help and support of “Freemasons” hard at work repairing the damage that has been done. The loss of some of our treasured, loved, family members and friends. They will always stay in our hearts – forever! Many thanks for sharing your
holiday photos with us. New Zealand is such a beautiful place to live in!
UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS:18th – - 21st March, Melbourne Installation16th – 23rd June (approx) Canada Installation1st – 4th July, Queensland Installation (all welcome, inquires to VWBro Laurence Milton, Grand Secretary) UPCOMING NEW ZEALAND EVENTS:6th March, Reefton- The Robert Burns Lodge No 50,125th anniversary. We would greatly appreciate your company on one or all of these outings. The Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon website is: http:/freemasonry.bcy.ca/gl2010/index.html and is
well worth viewing.
A call for help: Are their any volunteers out there from the top of New Zealand to the bottom of New Zealand that could help me with the “LONGEST MORNING TEA”? All proceeds to HOSPICE (in your area). Please contact me on: [email protected] or 027 454 4703. We are hoping for lots of support; I’m sure we all know of someone that has experienced the care and dedication for humanity that a “hospice near you” has provided. AGELESS INSPIRATION:In admiration of seniors who prove that age is no limit …
“Age is being seen as an INSPIRATIONAL ATTRIBUTE rather
than a LIMITATION”!!!
Happy Networking Ladies!! — Philippa
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20
Brief Background History on The Order of the Eastern StarBy Sister Leonie Eastergaard
WM Caledonia Chapter No. 293, Order of the Eastern Star
While the Order of the Eastern Star is not part of Freemasonry, many Freemasons and their partners enjoy membership of the Order, and some Lodges are fortunate in benefiting from an association with an OES Chapter. The following talk was presented in May 2009 to the Research Lodge of Wellington.
The Order of the Eastern Star was first introduced into America in 1778 but
it made very little progress until 1850 when a prominent Freemason, Dr Robert Morris, brought it into prominence and founded it upon a new basis.
When he initially entered Freemasonry Dr Morris was concerned that his female relatives could not share in Masonic activities. With the assistance of his wife, Dr Morris compiled a ritual for a new order. The new order was based upon Biblical incidents and was intended to demonstrate high ideals and principles. It consisted of five degrees which at first were presented as lectures to a gathering of friends.
In 1855 the ritual was revised, and with very few changes since then, that ritual is still used today.
Governing BodiesThe Order is a world-wide organisation with three governing bodies:
• General Grand Chapter of America• United Grand Chapter of Australia• Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland
New Zealand Chapters come under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland.
New Zealand ChaptersIn New Zealand there are currently eight chapters.
Two in Auckland, and one each in Hamilton, Otaki, Porirua, Wellington, Christchurch, and Invercargill.
Chapter members travel all around NZ to visit other chapters and support special events in each chapter’s calendar, such as annual installation ceremonies and other special celebrations. In this way the bonds of friendship are created and strengthened. In 2002, we in Caledonia Chapter
celebrated our 75th Anniversary. We had visitors not only from all corners of NZ but from Australia as well.
We also have visits from The Supreme Grand Chapter of Scotland, who will be visiting us during July this year and will be travelling around New Zealand to visit all the other chapters. Many of our members will be travelling to those chapters at that time also.
The aims and objectives of the Order are:• To associate in one common bond
those admitted to membership and give them a means whereby they can make themselves known to each other.
• To become co-workers in the services of humanity.
• To give comfort in affliction, sympathy in sorrow, and aid in misfortune.
• To “cultivate the social virtues”.
Chapter members work to raise funds to support the chapter and to benefit its members as well as contributing to such charitable causes and organisations that the chapter elects to support.
In recent times Caledonia Chapter has supported such worthwhile organisations as, Ronald McDonald House, Can Teen, Youth Suicide, The School for Teenage Parents, Women’s Refuge, The House of Grace and the Freemason’s Defibrillator Project co-ordinated by Westminster Lodge.
OfficesThe order is primarily a female order, but we do have and indeed we do need, many brothers amongst our membership. The
highest office in any chapter is that of Worthy Matron and she is assisted by the Worthy Patron which is the highest office a brother can attain. The remaining 16 offices are: Assoc. Matron, Assoc. Patron, Secretary, Treasurer, Conductress, Assoc. Conductress, Chaplain, Marshal, Organist, Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha, Electa, Warder and Sentinel. Of the 18 office bearers, 10 must be sisters, two are brothers and the remaining six can be filled by either sisters or brothers.
Each office is distinguished by a badge of office consisting of a jewel of gold or gilded metal, bearing an appropriate emblem relative to that office, suspended from a ribbon of the five colours of the Order.
On completion of a year’s service our Worthy Matrons and Patrons are presented with their special jewels like I am wearing now as I have been Worthy Matron previously.
Each year a new Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron and office bearers are elected and installed. This is a beautiful ceremony, frequently followed by a banquet and social evening.
DegreesThere are five degrees of the Order which are all conferred on the candidate at the initiation ceremony.
These five degrees represent the five points of the star used as the emblem of our Order. Each point is represented by a colour, and a heroine is chosen to exemplify one of the extreme virtues. The lessons taught by the heroines are Fidelity, Constancy, Purity, Hope and Charity.
ADAH, Jepthah’s daughter, teaches us Fidelity through proper respect of the binding force of a vow. Her colour is blue.
RUTH illustrates Constancy through devotion and loyalty to a loved one, religious convictions and principles. Her colour is yellow.
ESTER represents Purity by demonstrating the nobility of fidelity to loved ones and the tactfulness and wisdom of a truly virtuous wife. Her colour is white.
MARTHA portrays Hope through the value of undeviating faith in the hour of trial and sorrow. Her colour is green.
ELECTA represents charity and illustrates the principles of patience and submission under persecution, ill-treatment and even death for a noble cause. Her colour is red.
My recollections of my own initiation some nine years ago is of a very moving welcome into a family and any nervousness was soon dispelled during the ceremony.
At times other than when we have new brothers and sisters to welcome into our chapter we have all sorts of moving and inspirational services, and much benefit can be derived from their messages and teachings.
MembershipOur membership of sisters and brothers can only be drawn from the ranks of affiliated Master Masons, their wives, daughters, legally adopted daughters, mothers, widows,
sisters, half-sisters, grand-daughters, step-mothers and step-sisters. The only other requirements for gaining admittance to our order are:
• To express a belief in a Supreme Being
• To be over 18 years of age• To have resided within the
jurisdiction of the chapter being petitioned for membership for at least 12 months
• To have members to propose and second your petition
• To gain a unanimous vote of chapter members to admit you to membership
Freemasonry is not identical with the Order of the Eastern Star, neither is the Eastern Star Freemasonry, and nor does it profess or wish to be.
What has OES to offer?Naturally, what each individual gets from their membership to the order depends a good deal on what they are prepared to put
into it! Some of the things that can come under this heading are: Friendship, support, being a “part” of a large organisation, being able to make contact and “join in” with another group of people in many locations all around the world when travelling if you choose to do so, working with others to achieve a common goal – sometimes large sometimes smaller, mixing with a diverse group of people, seeing others develop and grow, leadership and public speaking skills.
Presented to Research Lodge of Wellington14th May 2009
By Sister Leonie Eastergaard, WMCaledonia Chapter No. 293Order of the Eastern Star
Enquiries to be directed to:The Secretary, Lynda HutchinsonVilla13/83 Langdale AvenueParaparaumu.Ph: 04 904-7837Email: [email protected]
In the week-long wonderland of Camp Quality, it is sometimes hard to tell
camper from companion; so much is shared – the excitement, the adventure, and the quiet moments too. Busy helpers like the Freemasons are easier to spot. They’re older.
The Masons have given $250,000 to the Auckland/Northland camp in the last 10 years and in this, the movement’s 25th year, future involvement is up for discussion – with one thing evidently sure: if participating Lodges maintain their eagerness to help this excellent work, the Freemasons Charity will subsidise their donations all the way. This year’s combined offering of $23,000 was presented at the January camp, held as usual at Wesley College, Paerata.
“What we’re trying to do is keep the brethren involved,” says Charity Superintendent RWBro Mark Winger. “We don’t write a cheque to Camp Quality but to the Lodges, so they get the kudos.”
There were 85 campers – young cancer sufferers aged 5-16 – at this year’s gathering, making 11 more than last year. The 90 close companions aged up to 18 included “quite an influx, bringing new enthusiasm,” says Auckland/Northland regional manager Mr John Green.
There were 20 staff. Masonic volunteers pitched in at their appointed time to dish dinners, wash up, scrub and tidy as required. The Freemasons Charity, 33 Lodges and individuals are listed as donors along with Lions clubs, and many companies and organisations, with the Masons prominent in donations and commitment. Operation of New Zealand’s five regional camps is a $500,000-a-year enterprise.
What impresses about Camp Quality is that it creates a whole, heightened environment, intensely sociable and with a touch of the fanciful. Outside activities apart – the Rainbow’s End visit, abseiling, shooting, rock climbing, truck and police
car rides – it is a sense of ongoing fun that the young campers bring into the dining hall, dressed up, spoofily, for a black-tie banquet. They are announced at the door, couple by couple, and clapped as they walk down an avenue of staff and helpers to their balloon-bedecked tables. This is a new reality. And after dinner there is a floor show by seven tall, thin, hip-hop dancers clad in black and supple as rubber.
By common consent the whole world has changed surprisingly for the moment, the day, the week and for the better. Camp Quality represents reaffirmation in a time of threat. A quality of living.
Who’s Who At Camp Q
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District Event: 2 May
Play the Scenic TAUHARA COURSE
At the Taupo Golf Club
ENTRY FEE - $35.00pp (Taupo golf club members $15 discount)
ENTRIES CLOSE Friday 23 April or when the tournament is full
Tee off is @ 12noon Enquiries to Grant Hill, Club Manager, Ph 07 378-6933 option 4 or
Stephen Spargo Lodge Kaimanawa, 021 287 6609 [email protected]
P.O box 319 Taupo 3351
Sponsored by
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District Event: 8 May
A3_Layout_01.indd 1 22/02/2010 11:01:26 p.m.
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Creating a Lodge WebsiteFreemasons New Zealand offers a simple economic solution
The prerequisite for any man seeking to become a Freemason is
to express a belief in a supreme being, of any recognised faith. Nowadays they might also be expected to express their belief in the internet as a power of communication. If individual Lodges have not already embraced the latter, through the establishment of individual websites, the time has come to take the plunge. The longer this move is delayed the greater is the leap required.
There are those amongst us who question the need to set up a Lodge website and their reasons are many, ranging from “we have never needed one in the past” to “too hard”. The first issue can be addressed in several ways. Lodge Secretaries are deluged with communications, principally due to the explosion of email circulation. Much of this needs to be assimilated, sorted and redistributed to Lodge members, not all of whom need or wish to receive the full details. However, one of the most important reasons for launching a website is that it is frequently the first port of call for younger people seeking information about Freemasonry. This is the target market for the survival and long term renewal of our ageing Lodges.
The “too hard” issue resolves around lack of expertise within the Lodge, the costs of commissioning the setting up of a website and the effort and cost required to continue maintaining it. The good news is that Freemasons New Zealand has solved the “too hard” issue through the ability to provide individual Lodges with ready made solutions at an easily affordable price.
Freemasons New Zealand has developed a template for individual Lodge websites coupled with a service to have them up and running with minimal input from participating Lodges. All a Lodge needs to provide, by email or CD, is a welcome message from the Master, preferably with a photograph, the Lodge logo or crest, a brief Lodge history and some good digital photographs of the Lodge Building and, if available, recent activities. That is all that is needed to get started. Once received, Michael Leon at Grand Lodge offices will have the basic site operational within days.
The once only cost for this service, to support the software licence, is $500 + GST. While the individual websites can be accessed via the Freemasons NZ site it is recommended that Lodges have their own domain name for direct access. This can be arranged, also for a once only fee of $75 +GST. For consistency the recommended form of domain name is www.xyzlodge.org.nz. Freemasons NZ will register the domain name.
Once set up further material can be added or amended. The site will be easily maintainable by an assigned individual in the Lodge. Freemasons NZ will provide a 30 minute tutorial for the member either at the Freemasons NZ office or by telephone.
What will the site look like? This can be seen on a demonstration site at
http://www.freemasons.co.nz/demo/
The HOME page contains the Lodge logo or crest together with the welcome message. The CALENDAR page is set up for easy entry of meetings and other events. It has a standard format and is colour coded to allow members of any other L o d g e , searching for
meeting information, to easily navigate their way through it. The NEWS/ARTICLES page is for Lodges to post publicly available news and notices. The LODGE HISTORY and PHOTOS pages are self evident and the HOW TO JOIN PAGE comes pre-loaded. WEB LINKS give access to Freemasonry websites and any other sites individual Lodges wish to add. The CONTACT US page is a gain a standard format which includes a map location for the place of meeting. All it needs to complete it are the specific contact details for the Secretary.
The MEMBERS AREA allows restricted access by way of password. This section can contain summonses, newsletters, minutes, reports, member contact lists, by laws and whatever else the Lodge wishes to post. Once a site is established all members of that Lodge will be emailed a username and password to allow them to log in.
To get started email Michael Leon, Director of Marketing and Communications at Freemasons New Zealand, [email protected], telephone [04] 385 6622, preferably with the preliminary start up information listed above and a desired domain name if you take that option.
In summary Freemasons New Zealand has opened the way for individual Lodges to have their own websites, just one of the waypoints on the road to renewal. The cost is modest and once only. If just two young men join your lodge through this introduction the cost will have been covered and, remember, it is the younger brethren who are most likely to attract others of their age group.
As a last word, while a new website and its consequent means of communication will be all the rage in the Lodge, don’t forget those brethren who haven’t, and probably never will, grasp the finer details of internet based communications. If they want to join in please delegate a member to assist them but, if they wish to remain recipients of traditional communications, don’t forget to ensure that they continue to receive written material.
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25
Diabetes Cook Books for Library / A Book Review
It was muffins all round at the Marton Library, baked from a recipe in the
Easy Everyday NZ Diabetes Cookbook donated by the Freemasons’ Lodge Rangitikei No. 38 in Marton.
Librarian Melanie Bovey displays a plate, full of delicious muffins she baked, to Lodge Secretary, Graeme Hill.
The Lodge donated three of the cookbooks to Rangitikei Libraries and two copies to Stewart Street Surgery for reading in their waiting rooms. The cookbooks have been on sale to raise funds for 50 defibrillators to be placed in different NZ communities. In this district, Lodge Rangitikei has already generously provided one for use by Hunterville Police.
The Freemasons Charity promoted the issue of the NZ Diabetes Deliciously Healthy Recipes book compiled by Alison and Simon Holst as part of the Freemasons Live Life Lighter Project.
Book Review:DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY RECIPES: The New Zealand Diabetes Cookbook
Who hasn’t got one or more well-thumbed Alison Holst recipe
books on their bookshelf? That doyen of sensible cooking, together with her son Simon, has now compiled a timely book for all those who want to ‘live life lighter’.
The book begins with an informative forward about diabetes written by Jim Mann, Professor of Human Nutrition and Medicine at the University of Otago and further information from Diabetes New Zealand is included.
The recipes cover every occasion from breakfast to dinner and full-colour photos make the dishes look delicious. There are footnote tips from someone who has kept her diabetes under control through diet for many years and each recipe has an approximate per-serving nutritional analysis.
However this is not a recipe book just for diabetic people. It is a worthwhile addition to the bookshelf for anyone who wants to eat well and stay healthy. I, for one, look forward to making Moroccan chick-pea and chicken soup, sang chow bow (lettuce leaf and trim pork mince parcels) and spiced tea cake. I know, too, that I will find the list of sandwich combinations invaluable when I have to produce sandwiches for the Mahjong ladies’ afternoon tea!
This ninety-pages-plus book comes with a booklet Understanding and Preventing Stroke. Stroke is the second-largest single killer in New Zealand – learn to recognise the symptoms and act fast.
– Margaret Robertson
On 3 July 2010, it will be my honour to install my successor, RW Bro. Adrian Burton DGM as the 27th Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland.
It is my pleasure on behalf of Regina, Adrian, Pam and myself to extend to all members of our Masonic family the warmest fraternal invitation to join us in Brisbane for the Grand Installation and associated events from Friday 2 July to Sunday 4 July 2010. A Sunday coach and steam train excursion will take us through the Mary Valley, birthplace of the Grand Master elect.
We look forward to the privilege of welcoming you to Brisbane to join us in celebrating this auspicious occasion.
Graeme A. EwinGrand Master
Graeme and Pam Ewin
Invitation
Adrian and Regina Burton
26
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Scouts should be prepared. But the officers of the Auckland Central Gang
Show knew they were not quite ready to start a planned upgrade of their hall in Remuera, Auckland. They still needed money to buy paint. The Gang Show is self-administering within the Scouting movement, and has to raise its own funds.
Bert Phillips, who is on the Gang Show executive (and a non-Mason), happened
to tell Ray Laurance about it, and he mentioned it to John Caulfield. And within a few days, Scouting being highly regarded for its work with youngsters, three Lodges came up with the money – $500 from The Lodge of Peace No. 322, and $250 each from Lodge Arawhaiti No. 267 and The Ara Taimau Lodge No. 1.
Two Gang Show representatives were invited along to a Masonic dinner where
VWBro Laurance handed over a cheque for $1000 – and VWBro Caulfield was there to see it happen. Which goes to show that Freemasonry is always prepared – to help a worthy project within the community.
A Helping Hand For the Scouts
Don’t let your Masonic interest fade away, and become another of those
unattached Freemasons.
Modern and comfortable facilities await you.
Five Lodges to choose from including a daylight Lodge.
Other orders are Royal Arch, Rose Croix, and Monitor.
Contact: Mike Cooke PDistGMPh. (07)5779462email: [email protected]
Les Borrell PGLec Ph. (07)5712232email: [email protected]
Are You Moving to
the Tauranga Area?
27
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Bay of Plenty/Geyserland Charles G. Miller4b Harrow Place, Mt MaunganuiPh: 07 575-7665 / Mob: 021 025 15183email: [email protected]
TaranakiW.V. (Bill) Workman3 Winston Place, New PlymouthPh: 06 759-4271 / Fax: 06 759-8481email: [email protected]
Manawatu/Hawkes Bay/Gisborne Colin Heyward10 Rose Street, WaipawaPh: 06 857-8299email: [email protected]
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28
The last issue of New Zealand Freemason magazine contained an article on the
new Westminster Lodge Rooms in Central Wellington. It described how, after 10 years temporary relocation at the Petone Masonic Centre during which options were explored for a return to Wellington City, an opportunity arose for the Lodge to move into the historic Wellesley Building with its boutique hotel business.
The completion and dedication of the Westminster Lodge Room was the first stage in the ambitious plans for the building. The Chairman of the Board of Wellesley Boutique Hotel Ltd. was quoted as saying, “The Lodge intends that the whole facility becomes a meeting and gathering place for Freemasons worldwide. It’s a great place to stay if visiting Wellington.”
The realisation of that ambition is now gathering pace. It began with the launch of
“Friday Fives”. On the last Friday of each month, from 5.30pm, Westminster brethren and their partners have been gathering in Maginnity’s, the hotel’s restaurant and bar, for casual drinks and, sometimes, meals. However, it is not desired that this is solely a Westminster gathering. All Freemasons, their partners and friends are invited to participate and spread the fellowship of Freemasonry. It is also a great opportunity for you to bring along prospects for your Lodge and let them see that Freemasons aren’t really so formal and mysterious.
Freemasons are also offered the privilege of a card, which discounts the cost of food and beverages at the hotel. Membership is achieved through the acquisition of a pre-loaded Freemasons Card, either at $100 for $111 credit or $200 for $250 credit on the card. Top-ups follow the same formula. If you would like to know more about membership either telephone Wellesley
Boutique Hotel, phone [04] 474 1308 or email: [email protected] and an application pack will be mailed to you.
There are many other benefits available to individual Freemasons and to Lodges as a whole. The hotel’s Grand Dining Room, which is used by Westminster Lodge for refectory, is available, fully serviced, for functions, conference, weddings and other special occasions. In addition there are a number of smaller rooms available for meetings. Those who live away from Wellington do not need to miss out. All Freemasons are offered discounts on accommodation rates for the 13 individual suites. Those wishing to book should telephone the hotel, [04] 474 1308, and identify themselves as Freemasons. This discount is not available via web or agency bookings.
A Place for All Freemasons to GatherCard membership scheme launched
Leave the hustle of the world behind you and step into the charm and
sophistication of the Wellesley Boutique Hotel.
Nestled in the heart of Wellington’s CBD and just a stroll away from shopping, major sports venues
and a host of other attractions is a very special boutique hotel which is home to Westminster Lodge
and a place for Freemasons to gather. One of the city’s most charming heritage buildings has been
transformed into a 13 room hotel with an ambience which envelopes you the moment you enter its doors.
please contact the hotel.
2-8 Maginnity Street, Wellington
04 474 1308
0800 272 452
www.wellesleyboutiquehotel.co.nz
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Service Awards
70 Year Service AwardsName Lodge Joined a NZ Lodge
WBro John Richard Claydon PM Lodge Sumner No. 242 15/01/40
WBro Douglas Haig McCorquindale PG Std B Lodge Apanui No. 395 9/01/40
50 Year Service AwardsName Lodge Joined a NZ Lodge
WBro Ian Milne Skene PM The Ara Taimau Lodge No. 1 19/01/60
Bro Stanley Thomas Bennetto MM The Feilding Lodge No. 41 18/01/60
WBro Ramon John Sheehan PGBB The Advance Mawhera Lodge No. 61 13/02/60
WBro John Gash Beckwith PM The Advance Mawhera Lodge No. 61 9/01/60
WBro Bryan Lewis Northcott PM RH Otangaki Lodge No. 70 27/01/60
WBro Colin Lowe PM The Ruahine Lodge No. 80 23/02/60
WBro Alan Graeme Fraser PM Lake Lodge of Ophir No. 85 13/02/60
Bro Henry Golden Davidson MM Lodge Dunstan No. 103 23/02/60
WBro James Albert Nichols Halford PGBB The Lion Lodge No. 114 11/01/60
WBro William Ernest Rogers PM RH The Wallace Lodge No. 129 19/01/60
WBro William Brierley PGBB RH Lodge Whetu-Kairangi No. 201 20/02/60
WBro Peter Henry Stephen Kelsall PM Lodge Manurewa No. 222 23/02/60
Bro Burnett Edward Powell MM Lodge Brighton No. 236 3/02/60
Bro Christopher Patrick Duffy MM Lodge Tawera-O-Kapiti No. 253 10/12/55
WBro George Richard Drever PM Harmony Lodge No. 325 4/02/60
Bro Harold George Earles MM Browns Bay Lodge No. 346 19/01/60
WBro Arnold Bowden PM Lodge Waiheke No. 367 26/02/59
Bro John Hunt MM Lodge Mt Maunganui No. 376 10/02/60
Bro Harold Cyril Bateman MM RH Lodge Waikanae No. 433 20/11/58
Bro Richard George Guyton MM RH Lodge Wakatu No. 385 27/08/59
60 Year Service AwardsName Lodge Joined a NZ Lodge
WBro Andrew Ian Cook PM The Fortitude Lodge No. 64 14/02/50
WBro Ronald Dreadon Avery PM The Taupiri Lodge No. 118 18/01/50
WBro Hugh Baird Dunlop PM Te Awahou Lodge No. 133 9/01/50
Bro Alexander Mackintosh MM Doric Lodge No. 275 12/01/50
WBro John Alexander Robertson PM RH Lodge Fendalton No. 384 11/02/50
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On Saturday 13th February, 130 years to the day since Lodge Arrow
Kilwinning No. 86 opened, our Grand Master MWBro Stan Barker, assisted by his GL officers and with four Past Grand Masters taking active part, conducted a re-consecration ceremony of the Lodge’s refurbished building. The tiny hall was fairly bulging with the number attending. Included amongst these were two ladies, Eimear O’Connell and Jackie Gillies of Jackie Gillies and Associates, who oversaw the project.
One hundred and thirty years of
history
The story of the Arrow Kilwinning Lodge No 86 is part of the gold mining history of the district. There were many miners in the area working the alluvial deposits in the rivers and streams as well as the Bullendale and Macetown quartz mines. The Lake Lodge of Ophir had been meeting in Queenstown under the English Constitution since 1867, however, the difficulties of travelling over the un-bridged streams and muddy tracks at night highlighted the need of a Lodge for the outlying districts around Arrowtown.
After some informal meetings in an upstairs room at Pritchards Store (currently Arrowtown Stores), a meeting on 15th November 1878 at The Royal Oak Hotel chaired by Bro Pritchard agreed to ascertain the likely support for the formation of a Lodge in Arrowtown. Sufficient support led to a resolution asking for a charter under the Scottish Constitution. On 29th December advice was received that the Prov GM of the S.C. had agreed to authorise a Lodge to be known as Lodge Arrow Kilwinning No 637 S.C. This Lodge was formally opened on 13th February 1879 when WBro J. Barlow was installed as WM.
No time lost in that day and age!
Home of their own
They were busy times for the young Lodge, in the first year 20 proposals and nine affiliations were recorded. On December 12th 1879 six Master Masons were raised! Meetings were held firstly in the Oddfellows Hall and later in the Municipal Council Hall.
A need for a meeting place to call their own was always in mind and discussion about
this was recorded in 1881. In 1882 Bro W.C. Bremner donated a building section. This was later sold (1886), the present site purchased and, with due ceremony, the Foundation Stone was laid on April 23rd 1887. The building was consecrated on January 23rd 1889 and it is this same refurbished building that is still in use and was re-consecrated by MWBro Stan Barker on 13th February 2010.
During the next (1890-1900) decade interior work such as interior plastering and woodwork was carried out and, to this day, the building has been in constant use pretty much as was completed at that time. At some date the interior was lined with Pinex, probably in an effort to insulate a little more efficiently against cold winter evenings. When this was stripped away as part of the refurbishment the hand-painted motif of square and compasses was revealed and has been retained.
It appears, although by no means can this be said with any certainty, as though the members met on a dirt floor in the earliest years. Certain it is that the building was treasured and improved on as circumstances permitted with addition of a kitchen, constant attention to the spouting and roof and some pride taken in the grounds.
Through the years
In 1889 the Grand Lodge of New Zealand was brought into being. After some discussion Arrow Kilwinning agreed, on 6th February 1892, to join the NZ Constitution and the final meeting under the Scottish Constitution was held on 8th March 1893, the Lodge re-opening as Arrow Kilwinning No 86 under the New Zealand Constitution.
Many members in early times were miners working and living in harsh situations and the quartz miners in particular suffered
lung problems from the dust entailed. These conditions meant many calls for support both of members with failing health and their widows and families. Lodges throughout New Zealand assisted both their own dependants and those of all Lodges throughout the country.
Over the years membership peaked at around forty and currently stands at 20 or so effective members. Long serving Secretary Bob Russel says Arrow Kilwinning has always sought after quality rather than quantity.
This was never better illustrated than on the recent occasion of the presentation of a sixty year service award to Lodge Arrow stalwart WBro Dick Wilson. When GDC Alistair Cowan called for WBro Wilson to be presented to VWBro E. J. Steele for the ceremony WBro Wilson rose from the Deacon’s chair. How many sixty-year brethren still fill office in their Lodge?
Arrow Kilwinning No. 86 Re-Consecration
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Re-furbishment of the Lodge Rooms
As can be imagined, a 120 year old building put together and maintained over the years under some budgetary constraints was showing its age by the turn of the 21st century. An ambitious and extensive project was fronted up by WBro Blair Rodgers. This entailed strengthening of the roof and walls; repairs to exterior stonework and interior plastering; an electrical rewire and upgrade of fittings, and a new set of steps at the front door.
At a cost of more than $220,000 this was obviously beyond the Lodge’s resources and thanks for their support are due to The Community Trust of Southland ($70,000,) The Central Lakes Trust ($70,000,) Lottery Heritage Grants Board ($49,114,) Arrowtown Heritage ($4,000)for their grants and Grand Lodge $27,450 by way of grant and loan.
Acknowledgement is expressed of the expertise brought to bear by Eimear O’Connell of Jackie Gillies and Associates for management of the project and to Bob Craigie of Craigielaw, Donald Jackson of McCulloch and partners and to David Clark and his staff at the Lakes District Museum.
Firstly as Otago Lakes District GM and later as Southern Divisional GM, VWBro Gervan Duff has been a tower of strength.During the re-furbishing the Lake Lodge of Ophir made their Lodge rooms available for Arrow Kilwinning’s regular meetings and their generosity is gratefully acknowledged.
Following the closing of the South Otago Lodge of Unity at Balclutha, Lodge Clinton donated Lodge furniture and regalia.
Recording on DVD
A DVD recording of the project has been developed and this will be released later, maybe as part of the Arrowtown Autumn festival when the refurbished Lodge will be open for public. Those brethren who have previewed this are most enthusiastic about it and are looking forward to the release. But that is another story.
– Lin McKenzie
WBro Graeme Wilson (acting WM), Bro Marc d'Andre and WBroRussell Houlistan at a recent Lodge practice.
Looking over the vessels before the ceremony. Below: Members of Arrow-Kilwinning.
The quest for 2010 Freemasons Scholars will begin soon. For
many of those selected it is but one step in a stellar career and it is always a pleasure to report on their continuing achievements.
Eleanor Bishop, who was awarded a Freemasons Scholarship in 2008, is a creative producer and director whose interests lie in developing work by emerging artists as well as producing new New Zealand work.
Eleanor was named "Most Promising New Director of the
Year" at the 2009 Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards. The awards honour Wellington's best and brightest theatre productions, with over 100 shows competing each year. The award was for her production of Eli Kent's The Intricate Art of Actually Caring, which was staged in Eli's bedroom in the NZ Fringe Festival. The show won "Most Original Production of the Year" and was nominated for "Production of the Year". It has had subsequent seasons at Downstage Theatre and the Christchurch Arts Festival and, this year, is touring nationally.
Eleanor received a Freemasons Scholarship in her Honours year at university and has since graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with a First Class Honours degree in Theatre and a Commerce degree in Marketing. She has spent 2009 making theatre, working as a producer and a director. She runs the Wellington Producers Room, a creative space for theatre practitioners at Wellington's Arts Centre Toi Poneke, as well as tutoring Theatre and Arts Marketing at Victoria University.
Scholar Eleanor Bishop
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Photo: Eleanor Bishop and Eli Kent
33
An appeal was launched by the Whakatane and Kawerau
Freemasons to help to provide a car for Mr. Jim Savage. Jim’s original car was stolen and trashed, and the driving rods which made it possible for him to drive it were thrown away and have never been found. Jim and his wife were then left with no means of transport.
The appeal went out to the community, and enough was raised, along with help from the Freemasons Charity, to supply Jim with another car. This was a low mileage Ford Focus, equipped with driving rods and a hydraulic hoist which allows the wheelchair Jim uses all the time to be raised and lowered to and from the roof of the car.
Jim was a polio victim at the age of 22 years. As a result, he is unable to use his legs, and has been in a
wheelchair ever since. This has not stopped him from becoming involved in community events, serving on committees, and being always willing to help others less fortunate than himself. He even chops wood for some elderly residents in his area.
Jim is a Paralympian, and has competed in the games for many years with great success. Some of his supporting roles are with the Rural Education Activities programme, the Disabilities Resource Centre, the Polio Association, and the Disabled Persons Association. In 1976 Jim became a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) for services to the community. Jim is an inspiration to others who suffer disabilities, and when talking to them his biggest advice is “Never say never.”
Jim has never joined Freemasonry, but that is about to change. Word has it that Lodge Kawerau No. 422 will soon be getting a new initiate, and what an asset he will be.
The total cost of this project has been $23,000. Freemasons Charity supported it with $6,127 for the hydraulic hoist and driving rods. The balance has come from the Lodges of the Eastern Bay of Plenty and the communities of Whakatane and Kawerau. A great effort; one that all involved can be very proud of.
On Friday 14th November 2009, Jim was presented with his adapted vehicle at a morning tea held at the Whakatane Lodge rooms, followed by an afternoon tea at the Kawerau Lodge rooms.
Mobile Again
34
Royal Arch Mason
A Unique MeetingThe Research Chapter of New Zealand No 96 hosted a special event on Monday 26 October 2009 when, as the newest affiliate of the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council, the Visiting Lecturer, RWBro Peter Verrall PGW presented the final paper of his 2009 New Zealand tour.
REComp Don Cathey, Grand Superintendent of the Auckland District, was received into the Chapter and he received the First Grand Principal MEComp Graeme Pengelly who, in his turn received and welcomed the Deputy Grand Master, RWBro Neil Ingram.
Also present were VWBro Colin Heyward PGLec, Co-Secretary and New Zealand Coordinator for the Council and WBro Kerry Nichols PGS who toured Australia as Visiting Lecturer for 2009.
RWBro Verrall presented an impressive paper entitled The Ark of the Covenant which was very well received by the large number of Royal Arch and Craft Masons present.
RWBro Verrall was congratulated by MEComp Pengelly and then RWBro Ingram formally closed the 2009 lecture tour through both countries.
The evening was a highlight in our efforts to promote research and study on the one side and friendship on the other.
RWBro Peter Verrall PGWPeter Verrall, an architect by profession, lived for a number of years in Rotorua where he was instrumental in establishing the Waikato Lodge of Research No 445 and became the foundation Master. An enthusiastic promoter of research, eduction and understanding, his name has become well known as the title of the “Verrall Lecture” the annual, prestigious lecture of the Lodge. He has himself presented a lecture in the series. He moved to Western Australia some years ago and has been prominent in promoting his favourite enthusiasm in that jurisdiction.
Peter Verrall Writes About The 2009
Lecture TourPrior to leaving on my ANZMRC Lecture Tour to New Zealand at the end of September 2009, I was very pleased to hear that the Research Chapter of New Zealand had become an Affiliate Member of the Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council. The Council’s Constitution allows both Research Lodges and Chapters to be full members.
This allowed the Research Chapter to invite me to visit them in Auckland on my tour.
The presentations that were available for the tour did not include Royal Arch Masonry but I suggested to my very good friend Hans Kracke, when he contacted me, that the Western Australian Kellerman Lecture, delivered by RWBro David Ganon at the ANZMRC Biennial Conference at Queanbeyan in 2008 and entitled Ark of the Covenant would be appropriate for this occasion. RWBro Ganon, who is the WM of the Western Australian Lodge of Research, kindly agreed that I could be the ‘deliverer’. I was also pleased to hear that Hans would be the First Principal of the lodge during my visit.
It was very gratifying indeed to see the number of both companions and brethren present at the meeting that evening and I appreciated the actions of the Deputy Grand Master, RWBro Neil Ingram in inviting me to join him when being welcomed by the First Principal, VEComp Hans Kracke in the presence of the First Grand Principal, MEComp Graeme Pengelly.
As the Powerpoint presentation is complete with sound, it was a joy to have all the equipment already in place and ready to go. The difficulty was that no one seemed to know how to work it until one of the Companions came to my rescue. The opening slide is accompanied by a very loud piece of music and those waiting and chatting before the Chapter was opened were suddenly blasted out with the sound when it was finally connected.
After the Chapter was closed the remaining brethren came into the Chapter Room and the presentation was well received.
The study of research is a common denominator between many of us who are connected with the different aspects of Masonry and this is amply demonstrated by the fact that brethren from other Constitutions in New Zealand can be full members of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand Research Lodges.RWBro Neil Ingram DGM, RWBro Peter Verrall PGW,
VEComp Hans Kracke PGSoj, MEComp Graeme Pengelly GZ, WBro Kerry Nichols PGS
35
Royal Arch MasonThe meeting that night was another link for those concerned with the study of research in our individual orders and I sincerely hope that the success of the evening will allow joint meetings in the future between our respective research organisations.
During my tour I endeavoured to bring to every meeting an aspect of surprise and humour by entering the refectory unannounced as Hiram Abif in full costume armed only with a mobile phone. It is part of a presentation that we take to the Lodges which are members of the Western Australian Lodge of Research. The cast involves Hiram Abif, from King Solomon’s Lodge in 960BC, the Master Mason from the Lodge at York Minster in 1360AD, Anthony Sayer, the First Speculative Grand Master in 1717 and Bro Robbie Burns in the 18th century.
I would like to personally thank all the companions and the brethren who attended the meeting. Many of you I had already met at other venues and it was the biggest attendance of all my eleven presentations. Having lived for 38 years in New Zealand the friendship and hospitality are what I have grown accustomed to expect.
The Australian and New Zealand Masonic
Research CouncilConceived in 1991 and formed at its inaugural conference in June 1992, the ANZMRC has 13 Affiliate Lodges in Australia and 11 Affiliate Lodges in New Zealand. It also has 11 international associates. The Research Chapter of New Zealand is its latest member.
As well as biennial conferences the Council organises periodic tours by prominent Masonic scholars and lecturers. These have included John Hamill, Cyrill Batham, Rev. Neville Barker Cryer, Wallace McLeod, Yasha Beresiner, David L Gray, Robert L D Cooper and James Daniel.
2009 saw an innovation with two lecturers simultaneously touring in Australia (Kerry Nichols) and New Zealand (Peter Verrall).
Pictures courtesy of “Harashim”, the quarterly magazine of the ANZMRC.
First Grand Principal Awards
MEComp Graeme Pengelly presented First Grand Principal’s Awards to three Companions at the Hauraki District Grand Chapter Luncheon on Sunday 7 February. Held at the Bay of Plenty Masonic Centre, Hairini, Tauranga, over 70 Companions and their wives and guests attended.
In presenting the Awards to Andrew Kay, Selwyn Collins and Brian Purvis MEComp Pengelly commented that he never ceased to be amazed by the contributions many of our members made, not only to the Royal Arch, or to wider Freemasonry, but also to their communities. The First Grand Principal’s Award recognise Companions who have given significant service to their Chapters and the Order but who, for various reasons, have not been otherwise rewarded with promotion.
Brian Purvis was initiated into Freemasonry in May 1973, was installed as Master of Lodge Kawerau No 422 in 1983, and promoted to Grand Steward in 2000 and subsequently Grand Standard Bearer in 2004. In March 1975 he joined the Bay of Plenty Chapter No 57 of the Royal arch, serving as First Principal in 1982, 1988 and 1997. He joined the Rotorua Cryptic Council No 44 in 1984, rising to Thrice Illustrious Master in 1993. He has taken the Chair Degrees in the Royal Ark Mariner and Red Cross of Babylon.
He is also a member of the Rose Croix (31°), Knights Templar (reaching the rank of District Grand Constable), Knights Templar Priests, Secret Monitor (where he has been promoted to Grand Sword Bearer), The Royal Order of Scotland, and The Order of the Eastern Star. In supporting his Award REComp John Wink PDepGZ and REComp Ross Dalziell PGSupt wrote:
“In making this application for VEComp Brian Purvis for the First Grand Principal’s Award, we are aware of the considerable service that he has given, particularly to the Bay of Plenty Chapter No 57. Whenever we have a problem he has been only too willing to put his hand to the wheel and help the Chapter maintain the high regard in which it is held throughout the District. As a result he is held in high esteem by the members of his own Chapter and we feel sure he will continue to serve us faithfully in the future.
“The award would be a fitting reward for the service Brian has given, not only to his Chapter but also to the District and Freemasonry ion general. We trust that you will give this application your support as we know the applicant to be a worthy recipient.”
Selwyn Collins was initiated in 1954 in Lodge Arawa No 97 and was installed as Master in 1985. He joined the Rotorua Chapter No 44 in 1968 and was installed as First Principal in 1991. He has taken the chair Degrees of Royal Ark Mariner and Red Cross of Babylon.
He is a Secret Monitor Mason (achieving the rank of Grand Registrar) and a Rose Croix Mason where he has been recently promoted to 31° and in which Order he has continuously held the office of Prelate for over 10 years.
Despite years of ill-health and personal tragedy Selwyn has been a stalwart supporter of Freemasonry in Rotorua. He has served his Chapter six times in the office of Haggai and twice as Jeshua.
Andrew Kay is an example of a Freemason who has rarely offered himself for office or promotion because of his involvement in his community but has worked tirelessly in the background supporting his Lodge and Chapter. He was initiated into Lodge Waipa No 119 in 1954 and served as Master in 1975 and 2005. He joined the Te Awamutu Royal Arch Chapter No 88 in 1968 but has never taken senior office. He is also a member of the Rose Croix where he has achieved the 31°.
RE Comp Jim Ingley wrote:“Masonic information regarding Andrew’s involvement is difficult to obtain, principally because he has seldom made himself available for promotion. He has however, particularly in Royal Arch Masonry, been a regular and dedicated member. He is described as being the Janitor of the Chapter for nearly 40 years. I understand that he still arranges the transport for the visits of the First Principal and is always amongst the last to leave being one of those few members who always stay behind to “clean up” after meetings.”
However, it is in his community service that Andrew shines.
• Past Secretary of the Parawera Federated Farmers, serving 24 years.
• Current Treasurer of the Kihikihi Presbyterian Church – from 1981
36
Want to know more about the Royal Arch, or got an idea for a Royal Arch story? Contact Royal Arch publicity officer Gary Kerkin: email: [email protected] Tel: 07 889 3607 Fax: 07 889 3028http://www.royalarchmasons.org.nz
onwards.• Current Treasurer of the Waikato
Presbytery, 1990 onwards.• Current Treasurer of the Kihikihi
Heritage Community, 1996 onwards.• President of the Waipa Racing Club
from 1975-1980.• Clerk of the Course for the Waipa
Racing Club for 25 years.• A life member of the Waipa Racing
Club.• Volunteer and supporter for Meals on
Wheels for 5 years.• Volunteer and Supporter of the
Kihikihi Polo Club.
MEComp Pengelly, in congratulating the recipients, said that it is a pleasure to be able to reward the many years of support and dedication they represent.
A Unique MeetingEach year a meeting which is probably unique in New Zealand takes place in Tauranga. For some years, since the consolidation of Masonic organisations in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui area into the Bay of Plenty Masonic Centre at Hairini, the Tauranga Kilwinning Royal Arch Chapter No 515 Scottish Constitution and the Mt Maunganui Chapter No 103 have combined forces for their February meeting. They had found that the regular meeting of Tauranga Kilwinning Chapter clashed with the rehearsal meeting of the Mt Maunganui
Chapter. Between them they decided to hold their respective meetings on the same night and to alternate the hosting of some function or activity. The non-hosting Chapter would meet early in the evening to conduct their normal business and after closing it would join the hosting Chapter for its regular meeting. On Monday 15 February the Chapters continued this tradition but departed from the usual format by involving six Companions, three from each Chapter, in the presentation of the Lecture on the Royal Arch Tracing Board. In doing so they created an interesting situation since the Scottish Constitution does not have a Tracing Board. The Mt Maunganui Chapter in this instance was the hosting
Chapter and presentat ion was held during its meeting.
The meeting, however, was not unique for just this event. Present at the meeting was the Third Grand Principal of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland, MEComp George Alexander. He was accompanied by MEComp Ian Law Grand Superintendent
of the District of New Zealand North Island for the Supreme Grand
Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland. Also present were REComp Jim Ingley Grand Superintendent of the Hauraki District and REComp Les Borrell Second Grand Principal who is also the Director of
Ceremonies of the Mt Maunganui Chapter.The Tauranga Kilwinning Chapter, as the non-hosting Chapter opened early and formally received MEComp Alexander. On closing all other Companions entered and the Mt Maunganui Chapter was opened with entry of the six Principals of the two Chapters.
After the opening of the Mt Maunganui Chapter, REComp Borrell welcomed MEComp Alexander and introduced him to REComp Ingley.
Following the presentation of the Lecture on the Royal Arch Tracing Board, VEComp Ron Pibworth of the Mt Maunganui Chapter asked why Chapters of the Scottish Constitution did not have a Tracing Board. MEComp Alexander replied that they were “saving up for one!”
The refectory proceedings were hosted by the Tauranga Kilwinning Chapter during which, replying to a toast, MEComp Alexander said that he had taken the opportunity to visit the Chapter while on a holiday visit to Tauranga. Although not his first visit to New Zealand he was impressed by the hospitality and admired the obviously close relationship between the two Chapters.
Visitors from Auckland and other parts of the Hauraki District also attended the meeting.
EComp Andrew Kay, VEComp Selwyn Collins, MEComp Graeme Pengelly, VEComp Brian Purvis
Royal Arch Mason
REComp Jim Ingley, MEComp George Alexander and MEComp Ian Law
at the opening of the Mt Maunganui Chapter No 103
Applicant Details Please print in block letters using ballpoint pen
Tick
Mr Mrs Miss Ms Other Date of Birth
Name
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Postal Address (if different from Residential Address)
Daytime Phone Number
Qualifying relationship to Freemasons
Member Wife Widow DeFacto Partner Daughter Son Brother Sister Grandchild
Lodge associated with
Withholding Tax
Please indicate your status for withholding tax purposes.
New Zealand Resident Please supply your IRD number
Please tax me at the rate of: 19.5% 33% 39% Exempt**Please supply a copy of your exemption certificate
Non-Resident** Please indicate your country of residence**If you wish Approved Issuer Levy to be deducted, please contact Freemasons Deposit Scheme to obtain the appropriate declaration.
Interest Payment Option
Compound quarterly
Pay directly into Name of Bank Branchmy/our bank account
Account Number
Transferring Funds by Telephone
I give authority to action requests from me/us by telephone, to transfer funds from my/our Freemasons Deposit Accountto my/our bank account:
Name of Bank Branch
Account Number
Authorised Operators of Deposit Scheme Account
Each authorised person to signIf account is to operate as a joint account:
Either party to sign and operateBoth parties jointly to sign and operateIf more than two parties: Any two parties jointly to signOther
By signing this application form I/we agree to be bound by and acknowledge receipt of the attached terms & conditions.
Surname First Names in Full
Lodge NumberLodge Name
Bank Branch Account Number Suffix
Bank Branch Account Number Suffix
Signature
Signature
Signature
d d m m y y
Includepostcode if
known
Occupation
Send this completed form together with your initial deposit to:Freepost 804 (no stamp required)The Grand SecretaryFreemasons Deposit SchemePO Box 6439, Marion SquareWellington, 6141
the national bank of new zealand, part of anz national bank limited.
Freemasons New Zealandin conjunction with The National Bank of New Zealand
Application to join Freemasons Deposit Scheme
Since 1977 the Freemasons Deposit Scheme has enabled Freemasons andtheir families to reap the benefits of a highly competitive interest rate that isbased on the collective savings of all accounts in the scheme. Your funds willbe ‘On Call’ and most importantly, your deposits help the Craft as a whole.
For an application form or more information regarding the FreemasonsDeposit Scheme please call 0800 659 876, or visit www.freemasons.co.nz
© freemasons nz. a current disclosure statement and full details (including terms and conditions) may be obtained through any branch ofthe national bank of new zealand (part of anz national bank limited). 0 8 - 0 6 2 3
Benefitsof belonging
you can bank on.