Southern Cross milestone celebrated
150 years of Invercargill Freemasonry A mighty milestone for the Southern Cross Lodge No.9 was reached on 6th April 2014 marking 150 Years since its foundation in Invercargill in 1864. The actual jubilee meeting took place on 3rd April at the splendid Southland Masonic Centre.
T
he Jubilee Meeting consisted of four consecutive parts. Following a short meeting of Southern Cross Lodge members, visiting Masters and Brethren were received followed by the reception of the District Grand Master, VWBro Alan Gurney and the Grand Master, MWBro John Litton and Officers of Grand Lodge. The Grand Master’s entry was accompanied by fanfares from WBro Lee Newcombe and organ processional by RWBro Gilbert Murphy. The absence of bagpipes was duly noted. Following a short formal meeting the Brethren retired in the customary manner and escorted their ladies and friends into the Lodge Room for the public part of the meeting. The open meeting started with the reading of the list of Lodge Members by the secretary, VWBro Martin McGregor, who read a summary of the Lodge History, beginning with a scene-setting description of Invercargill and its people in 1864.
Public part of meeting in the lodge room.
The Grand Master then presented the Cinqucentennial Jewel to the Master of Southern Cross, WBro Jim Lamont, who then reciprocated by presenting the Grand Master with the Jewel. The jewel is closely modelled on the Centennial Jewel and was made in Invercargill. Next was the presentation of ten sitting Masters of Southland to the Grand Master, who followed with a presentation of Master Mason’s Certificates to newly raised Brethren. The open meeting concluded with an address by the Grand Master in which he congratulated the Southern Cross Lodge and Southland Freemasonry on achieving their historic milestone. Next on the agenda was a superb banquet put on by Invercargill’s awardwinning restaurant, Paddington Arms, the tables splendidly set out and decorated by WBro Harold Scobie and his family. VWBro John Marshall, Past District Grand Master, in proposing the toast to the Southern Cross Lodge,
ABOVE WBro Jim Lamont, Master of Southern Cross Lodge. LEFT 150 year Jubilee Jewel.
pointed out the close association over the decades between Southern Cross and his own Lodge, Lodge St. John No.94, and in particular their leading role in promoting the foundation of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. After proposing the toast to Ladies and Friends, in which he thanked them for their support of their menfolk, especially those whose Masonic activities took up a lot of time, WBro B Padget presented The Grand Master and Diana Litton with gifts on behalf of the Lodge and the Southland Masonic District. The Grand Master’s gift was a book entitled
The Grand Master presents Master Masons certificates.
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