Freemason NSW & ACT – June 2021

UGLQ CENTENARY R WHO WAS HIRAM ABIF? R THE GUYOT BOOKPLATES

v54 n2 June 2021

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect

Profile of a

Prince

Contents

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The Official Journal of The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons

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This issue of the Freemason is produced under the direction of: Editor & Chairman: RW Bro Richard Dawes Committee: RW Bro Graham Maltby (Secretary), RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM, W Bro Steve Lourey, W Bro Max Katz-Barber, W Bro Terry McCallum, W Bro Kim Nielsen, Bro Simon Pierce and Lynne Clay Design & Production: Bro Simon Pierce, Megan Baumann and Pam Gill

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16 • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Editorial 3 Quarterly Communication

4

June Quiz

5

A royal mason

6

Condolences to the Royal Family

7

From the Grand Chaplain

8

Dutch travels

10

About our GM Elect

14

Lessons from an ANZAC night

16

Sir Peter speaks

18

100 years in Queensland

20

Ex Libris

22

Famous mason

26

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Freemason is published in March, June, September and December. Deadline for copy is 1st of the month preceding month of issue.

All matters for publication in the journal should be addressed to:

Letters to the Editor

27

Benevolent organisations

28

Freemasonry in Japan

30

Friends in the chair

33

Man behind the story

34

Associated Orders

36

A story in stone

38

Regional Roundup

39

What’s On?

41

Service Certificates and Initiates

44

June Quiz answers

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The Secretary Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South, NSW 1235 Telephone: (02) 9284 2800 Email: freemason@masons.org.au Published articles do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT. Advertising enquiries should be addressed to: Bro Simon Pierce APM Graphics Management 16 Springwood Street, Blackwall, NSW 2256 Telephone: (02) 4344 5133 Email: freemason@apmgraphics.com.au

Crossword 45

Freemason is proudly designed and produced

by APM Graphics Management 16 Springwood Street, Blackwall NSW 2256

How to have a good night

Printed by Ovato

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Distributed to all NSW & ACT brethren and sister Grand Lodges in Australia and worldwide.

Electronic versions of FREEMASON can be viewed or downloaded at www.masons.org.au and www.FreemasonNSW.com

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Image: Allan Warren

COVER IMAGE:

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His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Aims of the Freemason magazine R To uphold and promote those values, morals and virtues which Freemasonry believes are universal and enduring.

R To foster a better understanding of Free­masonry within the general community.

R To provide a forum for discussion on masonic issues.

R To publicise the charitable works of Free­masonry.

R To provide articles of interest and education and to disseminate masonic news and views.

R To recognise masons who make significant contributions to the Craft and the wider community.

June 2021

ISSN 1836-0475 or ISSN 1836-0513 (Online) Print Post Approved 100007316 © 2021 Copyright: It should be noted that copyright for all text, photographs and illustrations (except where otherwise indicated) rests worldwide with Freemason.

INDEMNITY: It is the responsibility of the advertiser to ensure that advertisements comply with the Trade Practices Act 1974 as amended. All advertisements are accepted for publication on the condition that the advertiser indemnify the publisher and its servants against all actions, suits, claims, loss and/or damages resulting from anything published on behalf of the advertiser.

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

Editorial

By RW Bro Richard Dawes

Lodge Secretaries and the 21st century!

A lodge secretary looks good to the brethren if the notice papers get sent out on time and if the minutes bear some similarity to what actually happened last month. Brilliant!

B

ut the other 7/8ths of the secretarial iceberg are hidden. Of course, some things get done and others don’t. Grand Lodge doesn’t check the details of 250 lodges.

R Secretaries are able to correct and change members’ details live.

Then a new secretary takes over and discovers that the lodge records are incomplete. He quails at the thought of updating and correcting several years’ worth of errors and omissions.

R Membership applications can be submitted electronically and relevant documents such as police checks can be uploaded.

This is all changing. The new improved Grand Lodge database system went live on 27 February. From that date, or soon: R Members have access to their own records and will be responsible for keeping their basic information up to date. They cannot blame anyone else now.

R Members can download their masonic history. If there are errors, these can be reported and will be corrected.

AND... WE’RE BACK! R SEEKING THE GOLDEN LION R ORIGIN OF OUR RITUAL

v52 n3 September 2020

OF JEPHTHAH R LODGE VAUCLUSE PHOTO COMPETITION R THE STORY

Example entries on back cover

UGLQ CENTE

FREEMASON FOTO COMPETITION!

www.masons.org.au LODGE ANTIQUITY

WHO WAS NARY R

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Back to business v54 n2 June

BOOKPLATES

R Eventually all forms will be able to be completed and submitted online.

R Coming soon will be the ability to book online for events (and pay for them where applicable) and receive receipts and tickets.

R Also, coming soon will be the ability for the secretary and members to make purchases from an online shop.

This will start with the normal lodge stationery items, books and rituals.

Other items will gradually be added.

R There is a resource section which includes a training videos section;

R There are three special help desk email addresses for people having difficulties – MembersHelp@masons.org.au, SecretariesHelp@masons.org.au and DGIWSHELP@masons.org.au. People are encouraged to use these, with an expectation of having a reply within two business days. This will also help to keep track of common problems and fix them quickly.

Many lodges are creating new and attractive formats for notice papers and perhaps in the future we will see these being made available to all lodges.

Finally, the new database system will encourage all brethren to see what is available on the Grand Lodge website, and that can only bring us closer together.

v53 n4 December 2020

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect

R THE GUYOT HIRAM ABIF?

R Secretaries can submit the lodge monthly returns to Grand Lodge online without completing paper forms.

initially videos are available on using the system. Content will gradually be increased to include training videos for members, secretaries, treasurers etc.

R ORIGIN OF OUR RITUAL

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect

II R A PHILATELIC ERROR

v54 n1 March 2021

2021

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect

– Respect – Loyalty Integrity

Hill Brokofen contrasts – a town

Monumental Masonry Prince a Profile of

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June 2021

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Quarterly Communication

By MW Bro Derek Robson AM

MARCH COMMUNICATION For the first time, using the combination of city and regional centres, we now have the largest group of Freemasons ever to assemble for a Quarterly Communication in our Jurisdiction.

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mportantly, we have been able to achieve this in spite of still being under some very stringent COVID–19 protocols; building managements have had to take quite deliberate precautions identified under our positive Stage One, Two and Three preparations. I thank all of you for respecting the need for us to take these safeguards in our meetings and meeting places, and I think we can

all appreciate that these protocols will be part of our operating practices for some time to come.

That Freemasonry is meeting at all after such a disruptive past year is amazing, and I take this opportunity to thank all those who have dutifully followed our guidelines and the pathway we offered out of these most difficult of times.

Brethren, the resilience of the Craft is obvious, and as I have continued my involvement with lodges as they have reinvented themselves, and seen just what you have achieved, I have nothing but praise for you all.

OUR NEXT

COMMUNICATION The Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication will be held at the Sydney Masonic Centre on Wednesday 9 June 2021 starting at 7.30pm.

The Communication is open to all members of Grand Lodge, which includes all Master Masons.

The Grand Master extends an invitation to all other brethren to attend as observers.

A live video stream of the Communication will be shown at a number of regional Masonic Centres.

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June 2021

The COVID-19 shutdown has offered us other opportunities. The Board of Management has progressed the ongoing program of much-needed building maintenance and upkeep, and by making use of the Grand Treasurer’s innovative Loans and Grants scheme, so well supported by the Finance and Audit Committee, many of you will benefit from the marked improvement in the condition of our masonic meeting places.

Your masonic centre’s management committee can now offer far superior options for your lodge work and social activity than was previously on offer.

As I said in my last December Communication address, some of these improvements have involved major reconstruction, and they have certainly echoed the sentiments of all levels of

government when they have highlighted how important it is to introduce infrastructure improvements as a means of creating jobs and economic activity across our regions.

To have the steady stream of local tradespeople and masonic supervision working in and around the more than eighty masonic centres we are responsible for gives an enormous boost to many communities. It does instil hope.

It creates opportunities – and it certainly presents Freemasonry in a good light.

Importantly, any improvements have always been mindful of reducing our carbon footprint; every attempt has been made to improve our air circulation, more efficiently power the facilities with solar technology, and generally allow us to utilise more modern and appropriate structural treatments and cosmetic finishes.

With regard to our Grand Charity, it is obvious that lodges have not been able to promote themselves within their communities in the past year, and it follows that there has not been the opportunity for you to attract support from our Masonicare Interaction Grants. Our deliberate effort toward offering building improvement activity has been a very effective way to continue our community association during this past year, and as lodges ramp up their own enthusiasm, we now look forward to you again promoting Masonicare as an important and very useful tool in keeping contact with local community.

Here in the Sydney Masonic Centre too we have seen some innovative improvements to how conferences and seminars can be conducted. Using the state-of-the-art studio now installed on Level 4, the Sydney Masonic Centre is

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

June Quiz leading the way in the video conference sector by using interactive methods across venues both here in this building and between here and other centres throughout the country. Our General Manager, Mr Paul Davison, is the leading light in this field, and he is to be commended for the attention he has brought back to this place since the COVID closures. SMC is now assured of a very bright future.

...we now look forward to you again promoting Masonicare as an important and very useful tool in keeping contact with local community

Similarly, our Grand Treasurer has used the closure period to bring about a complete review of how we conduct our masonic administration in and around the Grand Secretariat, and I draw your attention to your notice paper tonight for further explanation of this. These changes, which will largely eliminate the extensive reporting requirements which have annoyed us all over the years, have been adopted by the Secretariat staff and our Field Officers. For the first time, lodges and lodge officers will have a real time association with the administrative business which is most important to them, and they will minimise the time they previously needed to set aside to complete their business. Also for the first time, each member will have the ability to control their personal profile and access their individual masonic history.

Brethren, these changes will benefit us all. It has already allowed us to reduce the DGIW Conference from two days to a single day, and at the first of these new conference programs, our new DGIWs clearly appreciated that their roles will be

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more automated with far fewer hands-on reporting and administrative tasks.

Importantly, brethren, our individual obligation will again prevail. What this all allows is for us to spend more of our time in legitimate refreshment, the legitimate occupations of life, the claims of civil duty, and the exercise of kindly aid and charity. I commend the excellence of Freemasonry to you.

Quiz June

Test Your Knowledge with these brain-teasers:

At this time and for all times, I encourage you to consider the circumstance of others. Please remember to check on each other and lend a hand when a brother or his family are in poor health or indifferent circumstances.

1

What are the three largest oceans in the world?

2

A Lyre bird is depicted on which Australian coin?

3

What number is represented by the Roman numerals LXX?

Please pause and remember those who are no longer with us and offer support to their widows and families should they need it, and in this regard, may I ask that you especially remember Dr Yvonne McIntyre, who made a magnificent contribution through her many years of hands-on support to the administration of this Grand Lodge, the Editorial Committee of Freemason magazine, the Freemasons Association, and to the support of our veterans and widows in particular. The plaques on the wall opposite the Roll of Honour will be Yvonne’s lasting memorial in this place.

4

The culinary term meringue entered English from which language?

5

What type of living creature is a guppy?

6

What people are known as the “thin blue line?”

7

Tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt was born and raised in which Australian capital city?

8

Lee Kuan Yew was a long term leader in which Asian country?

9

A standard deck of playing cards has how many cards in each suit?

I ask that you reflect on the great service and contribution made by our past Grand Masters and, on your behalf, I thank them for their ongoing commitment to this Grand Lodge and I wish them the best in health and lifestyle outcomes.

Similarly, I ask that you might reflect on the wonderful service made by many past and present senior Grand Lodge Officers and others near and dear to us.

Brethren, please continue to care for each other, your community and especially your families.

And finally, brethren, we are living through a very interesting part of our history with COVID and other environmental and social world problems challenging our way of life, but one thing will never change – Freemasonry, as a way of life, and with its fundamental principles of brotherly love, relief and truth, will continue to uphold its high ideals and practices, and inspire all men.

So Mote it Be.

10 What fruit was previously known as the Chinese gooseberry?

11 Nairobi is the capital of which African nation?

12 Which four films did Pierce Brosnan star in as James Bond (Agent 007)?

13 The Australian outback town of Birdsville is located in which State/ Territory?

14 Which historical figure was told to “Beware the Ides of March?”

15 What is the longest distance athletics race in the Summer Olympics?

16 Who was the first person to appear on a postage stamp?

17 If you were born on Australia Day, what would be your star sign?

18 What fruit was once known as the “love apple?”

19 Amber fluid is an Australian nickname for what?

20 What are the first names of the two Abba girl singers?

Check your answers on page 44!

June 2021

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A royal mason

Courtesy of UGLE / Freemasonry

Profile of a masonic Prince Freemasons were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Prince Philip and extended their sincere condolences to Her Majesty the Queen and the royal family.

H

is Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh started his life in Freemasonry in 1952, at the age of 31. He was initiated into Navy Lodge, No 2612, on 5 December.

On 6 March 1953, HRH Prince Philip was Passed the Second Degree before being Raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on 4 May 1953. The United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) issued his Grand Lodge Certificate on 7 May that same year and he was a member for the rest of his life.

The Duke of Edinburgh was born in Corfu on 10 June 1921, the only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg. He therefore also held the title Prince of Greece and Denmark.

Prince Philip joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1939, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, Prince

Louis, who was Admiral of the Fleet and First Sea Lord. He had a long and successful career in the Navy and rose to the rank of Commander.

Prince Philip was also a qualified pilot and was the first member of the

The Duke of Edinburgh was known to drop into meetings at his Freemasons lodge almost unannounced.

Prince Philip on a 1951 tour of Canada Photo courtesy of BiblioArchives

Royal Family ever to fly out of Buckingham Palace in a helicopter.

The Duke of Edinburgh was known to drop into meetings at his Freemasons lodge almost unannounced. Navy Lodge has a storied past and an amazing roster of luminaries appear upon its membership roll. The lodge prides itself on being the premier Naval Lodge in the world, with an unparalleled history that includes four monarchs as past members – King Edward VII, King Edward VIII, King George VI and King George II of the Hellenes.

The Duke of Edinburgh was patron or president of some 800 organisations with special interests in scientific and

Philip served aboard HMS Valiant in 1943 during the Battle of the Mediterranean

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June 2021

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

Condolences to the Royal Family technological research and development, the encouragement of sport, the welfare of young people, and conservation and the environment.

Freemasons can also count other members of the Royal Family among their number, including HRH the Duke of Kent, who is the longest-serving Grand Master of the UGLE. As well as members of the Royal Family, Navy Lodge can proudly name three winners of the Victoria Cross among its past and present members; numerous Admirals, Generals, ViceAdmirals and Senior Officers; as well as other notables such as Sir Ernest Shackleton, Robert Scott – known as ‘Scott of the Antarctic’ – and many more.

Elsewhere, there is also a Duke of Edinburgh Lodge, No 1182, Liverpool, which was issued a warrant on 2 July 1867 and was consecrated on 1 August 1867. The lodge was named after Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, who was then Duke of Edinburgh. He was born on

Prince Philip with Queen Elizabeth II during the Trooping the Colour parade on 13 June 2015 in London

6 August 1844, the second son of Queen Victoria.

In addition, there is a Duke of Edinburgh Lodge in London, No 1259, which was consecrated on 4 May 1869.

The lodge was also named after Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, who became Duke of Edinburgh in 1866.

...was also a qualified pilot and was the first member of the Royal Family ever to fly out of Buckingham Palace in a helicopter.

Condolences to the

Royal Family Please accept our deepest sympathies on the passing of His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

We are all greatly saddened by the passing of Prince Philip, and while many of us can claim to have had some personal friendship with the Duke through a working relationship, and some just as an admirer and friend from time to time, we have all been touched at some time by his dignified grace and unbridled commitment to one or other of the causes he has represented.

We have all been touched by his life of dignified service, and this will surely stand as a lasting memory of hope to all of us. His caring, his courage, his inspiration, and particularly his nurturing of our younger generation, will always be an example to us. Above all. his selfless service to Her Majesty the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our aspirations, will long live strong in our hearts.

We acknowledge his extraordinary achievements over so many years with a respectful reverence and awe, and as Brothers, we acknowledge that he has ‘lived respected, and died regretted.’

It would be appreciated if our deepest sympathies could be passed to Her Majesty the Queen, and all the Royal Family, at this most sad and difficult time.

Derek J Robson AM Grand Master United Grand Lodge of NSW and ACT

The above letter was sent by the Grand Master to the Private Secretary of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh on 12 April 2012. See page 27 for the reply.

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June 2021

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From the Grand Chaplain

By RW Bro Rabbi Dr Samuel Tov-Lev

...you shall love your fellow as yourself This commandment of the Torah (Leviticus 19:18) seems to be simple, but practically we face many obstacles in order to achieve this goal.

T

herefore, this idea is open to many interpretations. How to fulfil this commandment has been a challenge to our earliest prophets and later commentators.

around and chat with as many brothers as possible, to find out their health situation. I must admit that it was beneficial and positive both ways and very friendly. What we gained by this exercise, mainly, was to know each other a bit better.

Rabbi Akiva (50–132 CE) interprets it to be ‘the fundamental rule of the Torah’. On the other hand, Rabbi Hillel, the Elder (110 BCE–10 CE), paraphrased the commandment, saying: ‘What is hateful to you, do not do to others.’

When a person hates another person, he tries his best to cause harm and suffering to that person, and enjoys so doing. Personally, because my principles in certain religious matters could upset all his wrongdoings, I have experienced such hate by someone who felt free to break both civil and religious laws to get his way. This may be regarded as a personal hatred at its ‘best’.

Hate to one another is like a knife with a blade at each end that magnifies the hate from the giver and by the receiver no matter which side it comes from.

How can we be sure that the receiver of such genuine love will accept it and reciprocate accordingly? Or worse, by making such love a one-way action we could create a new enemy for ourselves.

an explanation between true love and false love: ‘Any love which is dependent on something, when the ‘something’ ceases, the love ceases. Any love which is not dependent on anything will never cease.’ An example of the former is the love of Amnon for Tamar his sister (2 Samuel 13), in which Amnon loved Tamar but the minute he had her, he hated her. Of the latter, the love of David and Jonathan as described in 1 Samuel 18:1: ‘Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.’

In the book, Sayings of the Jewish Fathers (Pirke Avot, Chap. 5, 19) there is

During the coronavirus epidemic, I felt that it was my sacred duty to ring

The difficulty is to measure our own love for ourselves and transmit it unchanged to others. Whatever we try, we will miss the point, being less or more love and, therefore, we will be failing to observe the commandment ‘as yourself’.

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June 2021

I faced one disappointment, when I made a phone call to a brother. Soon after identifying myself, a quick and harsh reply I had to receive: ‘How can I help you?’ Not how are you, etc. etc.

If this becomes his habit, my advice is that he should refrain from doing so.

After I explained to him my concern for his health situation, in particular during the coronavirus epidemic, suddenly, his voice changed to allow a friendly chat.

May I suggest that when you receive a phone call, do not envisage that you have, immediately to propose ‘personal’ help, without knowing whether the caller requires help, and possibly without the intention of doing so. Otherwise it becomes embarrassing to the caller to feel to be perceived as a beggar.

I consider that attempting to love a fellow as yourself, in today’s society, whether in a big city or a small town, can be a thankless task. The more effective way is to be kind and gracious to all that you meet. Kind words are worth gold. When there is no commitment from the receiver to react to this kind of gesture, no disappointment should impact the giver whose satisfaction should derive from his ‘pure act of giving’. If the receiver appreciates this gesture the benefit to all parties is magnified.

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

Whiddon Casino residents enjoying the new program

Aged care residents

cook up a storm!

The Cooking Club, run exclusively by Whiddon, is a new social cooking program that provides Whiddon’s aged care residents with opportunities to connect over cuisine and celebrate food traditions together.

Cooking has a range of emotional and wellbeing benefits for older people. More importantly, it is a great catalyst for social participation and inclusion in care home communities.

Whiddon developed the Cooking Club based on research that found that cooking as a group can foster a deep sense of community and belonging. The cooking process can also be a powerful positive reminder of family gettogethers and traditions.

Each month, residents come together at their care homes to cook the same sweet and savoury dishes, which have been contributed by residents for Whiddon’s cookbook, in total containing 60 special recipes with personal connections or memories for the residents.

The program is aligned with Whiddon’s relationship based care and creative ageing approach, where the opportunity for creative expression provides fantastic opportunities

for residents to celebrate, participate and for meaningful interaction. This approach aims to connect staff and residents on a deeper level to identify tailored and meaningful activities.

The first stage of the Cooking Club has been rolled at a number of Whiddon’s homes in New South Wales and Queensland including Whiddon Narrabri, Casino and Laurieton in NSW and Beaudesert in Queensland. The second phase of the program is set to commence in mid-2021.

This is just one example of the many programs and initiatives that Whiddon has been able to offer across our care homes as a result of the generosity provided by our communities, families and partners who have donated. You can support Whiddon by donating today and making a difference to residents’ lives by visiting www.whiddon.com.au/make-a-donation.

Support Whiddon to continue improving the quality of life of older Australians through innovation, research and new approaches to care.

Make a donation today at www.whiddon.com.au/make-a-donation.

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June 2021

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Dutch travels

By VW Bro David Slater

Journey through the Netherlands VW Bro David Slater takes us on his trip through the Netherlands and other Western European countries that he undertook in 2019.

England In May and June 2019, I was in Western Europe, visiting England, the Nether­ lands, France, Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Starting in London, my son Alex Slater and I stayed at Captain Bligh’s house in Lambeth, where William Bligh lived in his retirement, and visited Bligh’s grave which is nearby in the grounds of what was St Mary’s Church but is now the Garden Museum. Elias

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Ashmole, the first English Freemason, is also reputed to have been buried there but all I saw was his ledger stone.

Highlights included an evening stroll down the south bank of the River Thames, a visit to Cambridge and Cambridge University and a trip to Crystal Palace Park. The reason for going to England was to present my Norman B. Spencer paper on ‘Revisiting John Browne’s Ciphered Masonic Works’ at the Quatuor Coronati Lodge. It was good to have two Australian Freemasons in the audience, namely Alex and Neil Morse. Alex spoke at the festive board and acquitted himself very well.

Continental Europe After the talk I left via the Chunnel for the Netherlands (described later) and Alex travelled to Germany. After the Netherlands, I travelled to France to attend two conferences; the ICOM 19 Conference in Bordeaux, where Neil Morse was a speaker, and the World Conference on Fraternalism, Social Capital and Civil Society in Paris. I also visited Amiens and Villers-Bretonneux.

I missed the end of the Paris conference to return to the Netherlands for an appointment in Gouda, followed by

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Leeds to attend a meeting of the Lodge of Living Stones, of which I am an associate member. Then back to London, eventually arriving after the coach broke down, and a flight to Australia.

Den Haag

Manneken Pis by Jérôme Duquesnoy the Elder.

Photo by Myrabella

quick revisits to Den Haag and Leeuwarden. In Brussels I saw Manneken Pis, which was appropriate because that is what the rain was doing on that day. The next day was spent at one of Brussels’ airports before boarding a much-delayed flight. Eventually arriving in Geneva, I boarded a train to Orbe to be met by Michel Jaccard , the 2015 ANZMRC Travelling Lecturer. I stayed with Michel and his wife Christine. Michel took me to many places of great interest, including the Cathédrale de Lausanne and Chaplin’s World and Christine accompanied me on a walking tour of Orbe. I had planned to fly from Geneva to Luxembourg on that country’s national day but my flight was cancelled. The following day I was met at Luxembourg’s airport by Muhammad Hossen, a non-resident member of my Canberra lodge, Lodge Commonwealth of Australia, and stayed with him and his family for a few days. They showed me much of Luxembourg. Of special interest was where the Schengen Agreement, a precursor of the EU, was signed in 1985.

As I have been asked to concentrate on the Netherlands in this article, I will now do so. I arrived in Den Haag on a Friday and stayed at a hotel in China Town. I spent the first weekend visiting the Old Catholic church in Juffrouw Idastraat. It was constructed at a time when Catholicism was not popular and it is cleverly disguised with an ordinary doorway entrance. Inside awaits a large and beautiful church. This is an Old, as opposed to Roman, Catholic Church and has no allegiance to the Pope. I also enjoyed walking around Den Haag where many locals enjoy their weekends eating and drinking in the open.

I had enrolled in a two-week intensive Dutch language course at the Direct

1947 - 2017

Dutch Institute. To get there was just a walk to the tram station then a six-minute tram ride. Weekends were free and Alex joined me on the first of these.

It gave me an introduction to Dutch, something that I had previously tried a number of times but this time with a little more success. Apart from the language learning, other advantages in studying at the Direct Dutch Institute include advice on what to visit by Ruud, the Managing Director, and advice on how to travel to Amsterdam by Avril, the Office and Finance Manager and her daughter. There was a difficultly in that the bank had cancelled my debit card due to an attempted hack. My wife Marguerite sent me cash through WU but I found that some places accept only cards, such as the Information Centre in Den Haag and the train station toilets in Leeuwarden.

One of the best museums in the Netherlands is the Mauritshuis which displays many paintings including Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl

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Back to England I returned to England, this time on, rather than under, the English Channel and stayed with Mike Kearsley, the 2019 ANZMRC Travelling Lecturer, and his wife Anne. Mike showed me some masonic centres and we drove to Shrewsbury to hear Michael Karn give his Prestonian Lecture on ‘Freemasonry during the Great War’. I then travelled to

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June 2021

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Dutch travels Earring and a number of Rembrandt’s paintings, including one of his self-portraits. Den Haag also has the Prince William V Gallery and the Prison Gate Museum, which share an entrance. The Prince William V Gallery has its walls fully covered with paintings and the Prison Gate Museum, or Gevangenpoort, shows the conditions under which prisoners lived. Tools of torture are displayed as well as histories of well-known prisoners such as Cornelis de Witt and Abraham de Wicquefort.

Then there is the Cultural Masonic Centre Prins Frederik, or CMC, where there was a temporary exhibition on Freemasonry in Asia. This interested me because one of my wife Marguerite’s great great great uncles, William Munro, was a member of two lodges in the Dutch East Indies, the only two that transferred to the Netherlands when Freemasonry

was banned by President Sukarno in 1962. William Munro was initiated in Loge De Vriendschap in Surabaya and passed and raised in Loge de Ster in het Oosten in Batavia, both in Java. I had obtained details about him on a visit in 2013 to the CMC, then housed in a much smaller building. I was greatly assisted by Linda, one of the CMC assistants.

I visited Loge De Ster in het Oosten twice in 2013 and tried to contact Loge De Vriendschap via its website but received no reply. I had the same difficulty in 2019 but Linda was able to contact the lodge; consequently I was sure of a welcome at their June meeting.

Linda also introduced me to some Dutch beers at a pub where I found Texels to be a very tasty beer. She also pointed out the hotel where Mata Hari had stayed. On my last Sunday in Den Haag I combined a visit to St Alban’s

A guide to Dutch Words and Passwords If you wish to visit a lodge in the Netherlands, this little table may help you.

First Degree

Second Degree

Third Degree

Password

Our 3º Password

Same as ours

Our Installed Master’s Word

Word

Our 2º Word

Our 1º Word

Similar to ours

I know why the First and Second Degree Words are interchanged but I will need to undertake some research to ascertain why the passwords differ. The Installed Masters meet together in the Lodge Room before the others enter. I was not able to witness this because the WM of Loge De Vriendschap wanted me to enter separately so that he could welcome me and, although the WM of Loge Viglius was happy for me to be present at this preliminary gathering, he was overruled by the Director of Ceremonies. Now that I am a buitenlid maybe I will find out what happens on my next visit.

Liberal Catholic Church with a visit to the nearby beach at Scheveningen.

Amsterdam Next stop was Amsterdam. I had seen much of Amsterdam on previous visits so I took Linda’s suggestion to visit the Jewish Cultural Quarter. One ticket covered the Jewish Historical Museum, the Portuguese Synagogue, the Holocaust Museum and the Holocaust Memorial. The Jewish Historical Museum had an exhibition on the Kabbalah and this, together with the Portuguese Synagogue and its fascinating buildings and artefacts, took up most of the day. I had time for a quick visit to the Holocaust Memorial but not the Holocaust Museum.

Leeuwarden I travelled by coach to Leeuwarden in Friesland. This city also has many museums. The Fries Museum concentrates on Friesian culture and is really worth a visit. There is also the Princessehof Ceramics Museum with its collections of tiles, pottery and ceramic sculpture. There are other museums in Leeuwarden including an interesting private one I found when wandering around Leeuwarden. A masonic poster is displayed in a window facing the street.

The owner, Jan-Kees, is a member of Loge Vigilis and was to be raised that month. I decided to attend that Raising. In addition to a masonic collection, this museum had other collections, including cars, Phillips radios and Mata Hari memorabilia.

I joined a guided tour which allowed me to see the house where Mata Hari

Panorama Mesdag by Hendrik Willem Mesdag is a cylindrical painting designed to create the illusion that the viewer is on a high sand dune overlooking the sea, beaches and village of Scheveningen in the late 19th century

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was born and also the large statue of Willem Lodewijk van Nassau-Dillenburg, the 17th century Stadtholder of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe.

this is that they gave me a lodge tie and a lodge jewel. In the Netherlands one cannot belong to more than one lodge, so they have what they call a buitenlid or outside member, which allows a connection with other lodges. They decided to make me a buitenlid and I am so proud that they did.

Utrecht and Bilthoven After Leeuwarden I travelled to Utrecht mainly to visit Loge De Ster in het Oosten which meets in nearby Bilthoven. I had kept contact with Hans, one of its members, since 2013. He was unable to attend because he was looking after his wife who, sadly, passed away soon after. I was not asked the password to the Second Degree, possibly because I was revisiting.

On my last day in Den Haag I visited Panorama Mesdag, an amazing work of art more than 14 metres high and 130 metres in circumference.

Utrecht also has many museums., including St Catherine’s Convent Museum which has a lot of art objects, some going as far back as the Middle Ages. From Utrecht I travelled to France where I attended the two conferences previously mentioned.

Gouda and return visits to Den Haag and Leeuwarden On returning from Paris to Amsterdam I arrived a few days before my luggage. I travelled from Amsterdam to Gouda and spent a couple of days there visiting such attractions as the Museum Gouda, the Stadhuis and the Cheese and Crafts Museum. I then returned to Den Haag.

On the day that I was to visit Loge De Vriendschap, my luggage arrived. So I caught a tram to the Direct Dutch Institute where I had asked for it to be delivered, changed quickly and took a taxi to the masonic centre together with my luggage. It was a fairly simple meeting, a re-installation of the current

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The Gouda Stadhuis (Town Hall) built from 1449–59. It features a carillon with animated puppets.

Photo by Samuel Mudrík

WM who did not have to be re-installed but did invest some Officers. It was also a St John’s Day celebration. The lodge opened in the First Degree and I was asked for the password. I failed because the Dutch password for the First Degree is our Third Degree password, but they let me in. I introduced myself and told them about my wife’s relative being initiated in their lodge. The upshot of

After Den Haag I returned to Leeuwarden to witness Jan-Kees’ Raising. They asked for the Password and I answered with the one given to me at Loge Vriendschap, but in the Netherlands they open in the degree in which they will be working, so they were expecting the Third Degree password, which is our Installed Master’s Word so, even if I knew that I was entering a Third Degree Lodge, I would still have failed the test. I stayed at Jan-Kees’ home that night and travelled to Brussels on the following morning.

Conclusion This journey strengthened my belief that brethren put themselves out to assist each other. It also showed that jurisdictions differ. When we are able to travel overseas travel again, I recommend these countries to you, especially the Netherlands, but I would suggest that you try to avoid domestic aeroplanes and take at least two cards. I have covered only a small part of my activities in Western Europe, concentrating on the Netherlands, but I hope that you found it interesting.

June 2021

13

About our GM Elect

By RW Bro Richard Dawes

Who is Les Hicks?

Although he covered the miles in visits to lodges throughout the jurisdiction – and there are photographs to prove it – RW Bro Les Hicks has not had the visibility that he might have had as a member of the Grand Lodge ceremonial team, visiting, representing, and meeting rank and file masons.

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hat do we know about our Grand Master elect?

RW Bro Les Hicks is currently Chairman of the Board of Management of UGL of NSW & ACT, having been appointed to the Board in 2018 and becoming Chairman in 2019. This gives him a

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unique insight into the backroom workings of Grand Lodge, its strengths and its weaknesses.

Les’ credentials at the coal face of Freemasonry are impeccable. He was initiated in 1993, passed and raised into Lodge Paxton 608 in the Hunter Valley.

After moving to Tweed Heads he

affiliated with Lodge Dawn 511, serving as Worshipful Master of this lodge in 2003, 2004 and 2008. He had further experience in the Master’s chair of Twin Towns Daylight 436 in 2018.

In 2011 Les Hicks was elected DGIW of what was then District 55, and appointed RGC for Region 1 in

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Taekwondo practitioners at a Shim Jang Taekwondo class.

2013, a position he held for two terms before joining the Board of Management.

overcoming the resistance to change that creeps into well-established organisations.

What has made the man?

During the last quarter of a century Shim Jang Taekwondo (the official name of the organisation) has developed into a business with over 10,000 members.

Branches exist throughout the mainland states and territories. The culmination of all this work is the establishment of World Shim Jang Taekwondo Academy (WSTA), the official international governing body responsible for setting and maintaining the high technical standard that is consistent within all its Shim Jang Taekwondo Clubs throughout Australia, New Zealand and around the world.

RW Bro Les Hicks is a country man. He spent his formative years on a farm in the Central West of New South Wales.

At 19 he moved to the Newcastle area, working at the BHP Steelworks and two years later started work at the Alcan aluminium smelter where he soon became a leading hand at the age of 25.

It was apparent even at this early stage that Les was destined to take responsibility and to lead.

1979 was a significant year for Les – he married his childhood sweetheart Narelle and joined a local taekwondo school.

Les’ interest in and commitment to taekwondo grew to the extent that in 1989 RW Bro Les Hicks made a major lifestyle change by leaving what was a promising and financially successful career and putting his time and future into the teaching of the art of taekwondo. By 1994 he had established five thriving taekwondo classes and a year later Les, Narelle and their young family (daughter Danielle and son Lee, now in their 30s) moved from the Hunter to Tweed Heads where more classes were established.

These were hard years, hard enough for Les to get work cleaning

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The Grand Master Elect Les Hicks slinging sausages at a fundraising BBQ

supermarkets after hours and working in clubs as a security officer – doing ‘Whatever it takes, mate, whatever it takes.’ He established more classes over an ever-growing area while continuing to supervise classes established earlier.

The need to guide and nurture younger instructors and manage an ever-growing organisation provided valuable managerial lessons, lessons that would assist him greatly in the future. In later years, Les gained further experience in

From the hardscrabble years of the 1990s and a tiny Taekwando organisation in a small town in the Hunter Valley through to the 2020s and an organisation involving more than 10,000 members and a world-wide profile, RW Bro Les Hicks has used his determination, management skills and eagerness to adopt ground-breaking information technology to create an organisation based on excellence, loyalty and mutual trust.

His determination to build a strong managerial structure within his organisation bodes well for Freemasonry in our jurisdiction during the coming year.

This is our Grand Master elect.

June 2021

15

Lessons from an ANZAC night

By RW Bro Richard Dawes Master would attend and as a consequence we would require more space than was available in the Turramurra Masonic Centre.

A very special ANZAC Night District 23 and Lodge Wahroonga 674 held a very successful ANZAC night on 21 April.

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hile this was newsworthy in itself a lot was learned by the organising committee and the detail could fill a small booklet. Yet some issues really stood out.

Every April approximately 150 to 200 lodges throughout NSW and the ACT organise an ANZAC night and if a lodge wants a different and successful event it has to really do some imaginative planning.

A key point of the successful ANZAC night held by District 23 and Lodge Wahroonga was that the WM of Lodge

Wahroonga, W Bro Rob Chapman, really went for the top. He invited and got agreement that Sir Peter Cosgrove would speak to us about the Spirit of Anzac Such an august guest inspired us to make more of this event than a standard lodge ANZAC night. It was therefore decided to make it a charity night and what more relevant charity than Sydney Legacy?

What we learned from this coup was that if you get the best – everybody wants a bit of the action. The best speaker generates the size of the audience and for us this meant the Grand

Other early actions that we should have considered: If you really do obtain a top speaker, such as a past Governor General of Australia, you have to invite the Grand Master immediately. If necessary, do this informally so that he has the event in his diary. And invite him formally when you have all of the details.

Arrange the venue as early as you possibly can, remembering that quality will generate quantity and ask yourself whether your Masonic Centre would be suitable? Not just large enough – for example, do you have really high-quality furnishing , linen, cutlery, crockery, glassware?

We assumed 100 to 150 attendees and therefore it was necessary to book the Sydney Masonic Centre Function Centre purely because of audience size.

We decided that the lodge room would not be tyled because we were not willing for our non-masonic guests to wait outside while the men did their masonic ritual behind closed doors. Be sure that you resolve all ritual and precedence issues as early as you can. We could have done a bit better in this area.

We also learned that we should have involved the Grand Director of Ceremonies from the very start!

In the lodge room ensure that all officers who have a speaking role are chosen because of their ability to speak clearly and well rather than their seniority. You really need to impress your non-masonic audience rather than defer to masonic rank.

Spread the glory: involve as many people as you possibly can!

Rehearse in the lodge room and the dinner room that you will actually use.

The gala dinner itself

His Excellency the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove

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Use an event booking system. Your night is going to be too big for one of your organising committee to scribble notes on a piece of paper! It also simplifies the collection of dining fees.

Choose a simple menu and make sure that you have vegetarian options.

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Drinks? How do you intend to cover the cost? Will you arrange a cash bar? Do you expect the people on the head tables, for example your honoured guests, to pay for their drinks or will they be paid for by the organising committee? Nominate in advance a member of your lodge to informally host each table.

Select a Master of Ceremonies. The Master of Ceremonies should not necessarily be your Director of Ceremonies.

Choose a man who can speak confidently and handle unexpected questions.

Avoid party crashers. Remember that the Grand Master’s Team will probably not be paying for their meal and some of your special guests will also not be paying for their meal. ‘Tyle’ the dining room to ensure that nobody succeeds in scamming their way in!

Having taken all of these steps, what happened on the Big Night?

The ANZAC Commemorative Service was breathtaking! The GDC announced the entry of Sir Peter Cosgrove, Lady Cosgrove, the Grand Master MW Bro Derek Robson AM and Gael Knox

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together with the President of Sydney Legacy, Legatee Nikki Hollis. The ANZAC Commemorative Service culminated in the laying of wreaths and the Last Post.

The audience, which included a lot of non-masons who had never been exposed to a masonic event, was fascinated.

The Gala Dinner was supported by the Function Centre at its best. We had reserved four tables for special guests and it was flattering that the other 100 guests all wanted to sit at those tables.

Significant diplomacy was expended

It was therefore decided to make it a charity night and what more relevant charity than Legacy?

in ensuring that nobody had their noses out of joint. The GDC, RW Bro Khris Albano and DGIW D23 VW Bro Peter Goodridge starred as joint MCs but all were overshadowed by Ms Dyontae Barnes, a Junior Legatee who explained to the audience just how Legacy has helped her. We learnt a lot from her and from Legatee Nikki Hollis who spoke with passion about Legacy.

Sir Peter Cosgrove must have shaken every hand in the Banquet Hall! He covered many issues but he emphasised his pride at being a Legatee and spoke of the personal service that was at the heart of being a Legatee.

A significant part of the evening was a Silent Auction with all profits going to Sydney Legacy. Early indications are that with Masonicare’s assistance we will donate over $10,000 to Sydney Legacy.

(Sir Peter Cosgrove’s ANZAC address is a historical document and has been printed in full overleaf.)

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Sir Peter speaks

By Sir Peter Cosgrove AK CVO MC

An ANZAC Address Sir Peter Cosgrove addressed District 23/Lodge Wahroonga meeting on Wednesday 21 April. This is the transcript of the speech he gave.

G

rand Master Most Worshipful Brother Derek Robson, Worshipful Brother Robert Chapman, the Worshipful Master of Lodge Wahroonga, the District Grand Inspector of Workings, Very Worshipful Brother Peter Goodridge, all Worshipful Brothers, and may I with your indulgence extend my greetings to Legatee Nikki Hollis, the President of Sydney Legacy, my home Legacy club – and indeed to all guests of the Lodge this evening.

Lynne and I are delighted to be with you among your guests this evening at this District 23 Anzac Meeting in 2021.

Over the years I have been to a number of similar events conducted by Freemasons on the occasion and in the vicinity of Anzac Day and have never failed to be much moved by the respect, indeed reverence towards the notion of the day’s significance. To me the Freemasons of Australia congregate at the core of why and how the Australian community carries the import and the relevance of Anzac Day, our national day of remembrance and contemplation within their hearts.

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One of the great burdens and great privileges that you carry as masons is the sense of obligation. First, obligations that you as adults will inherit or take on through your earlier lives; secondly those both anticipated and embraced obligations you undertake when you become masons. These obligations are part of your masonic system and become part of your lives.

Show me a person, people who claim that they are free of obligations, acknowledge no obligations, won’t be burdened by obligations. Show me those people and I will wonder and I will be sad for them – for a start because they are delusional and secondly because it is fundamental to our human condition that we are interdependent and that our free will comes with rich burdens of morality and responsibility that elevate us as a human race. Ironically, people who blithely pronounce themselves obligation free become part of our obligation!

There’s been a hint of this ‘obligation cancelling’ syndrome here and in many other places around the world, particularly during the recent COVID pandemic,

where people have proclaimed themselves ‘sovereign’entities’ – not subject to laws and prohibitions applying to the whole community. The wider community ‘gets’ this cant for what is – selfishness, narcissism and foolhardiness.

One of the great experiences for all of us over the last several years (bushfires, again! COVID and floods) is the sense of community and discipline of the Australian people. The Australian people have showed an admirable sense of obligation.

I might add that in this continuing time of challenge and caution, when the pandemic is factored into virtually every gathering we have made in the past and continued to wish to do now and in the future, it is refreshing, indeed uplifting to sound the drumbeat of our return to our beloved moments.

As a veteran since my return from Vietnam in 1970, I have probably lost count of the number of Anzac Day observances I have attended. Many marches in this place or that, where I have been privileged to be in the ranks, shoulder to shoulder with those

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

marvellous men and women with whom I served in war. Increasingly though, as I got more senior my role became that of an official, a dignitary, a layer of wreaths, a giver of occasional addresses: worthy roles, indeed both honourable and challenging. For a few years after relinquishing my uniform and before I became Governor General, it was a welcome time to get back into the ranks but along came chairmanship of the gathering, Australian War Memorial and soon thereafter as Governor General it was back up on the dais! You won’t be surprised to hear that I was keenly looking forward to marching in the ranks in 2020, to be back among my mob, the give-and-take of the chyacking, the sheer joy of letting the years tumble away for those brief hours of the march and the social aftermath. In particular, I was keen during the march itself to pop myself into one of the outer ranks, near the crowd on the footpath and as we marched along, to make momentary eye contact with as many people as I could.

My intention, my opportunity and privilege, was to see the expressions of affection that inevitably they were showing to us all and return those expressions with a look of thanks and pride. In many ways for veterans, especially those who are inclined and able to march, Anzac Day is the sublimation of their service overseas, and on behalf of the nation, accepting hardship and sacrifice and often standing in harm’s way – this interaction with friends and families and indeed with perfect strangers, young and old. It is a symbol of one of the great national characteristics – service before self, willingly embraced, willingly given.

If you wanted to construe all this into just one sentence, Anzac Day provides a timeless opportunity for the veterans to say ‘I did this for you.’

In 2020, understandably around the nation the traditional march would have been imprudent. So, this year, I will be here, in Sydney my hometown, with the men of 9 RAR who live nearby and we all march. And even though our ranks are thinning through time, infirmity and the war in which we fought, for that time we are together we will be youthful and vigorous, naïve and irrepressible, the tramp of our feet reinforced by that of our fallen. We do not, we will never glorify war but we will not forget it.

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views either lose sight of or simply disregard the real nature of the commemoration – it brings to mind not the glory of wars past, present or in prospect but the sadness of the loss of life both to the nation, the nation’s families and mothers and fathers, sons and daughters. Not to have an Anzac Day would be the start of national forgetfulness. Not to reflect on the human tragedy of war would enhance the prospect of blundering heedlessly into some future conflict.

His Excellency the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove Photo courtesy of the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General

One of the great features of our society, our democracy, indeed our freedom is the right to examine, to question the custom and the practices of our community life. We are and we should be a restless and inquisitive national community. We should be able to accept or disagree with so much of our inherited beliefs. You don’t have to consider what I just said very long in order to ask this question: would we be a better or lesser national community if we accepted that everything we’ve been doing for decades must never be changed? Those who seek change will often have a view that we will be better for that change. Those people have courage and conviction because the status quo is often easier for us all than the proposed change. In absolutely up-to-date jargon, we, the great majority, make them carry the burden of the title ‘Woke’ or part of the ‘Cancel Culture’. What I’m about to assert is predicated on this explanation, indeed admiration of this fine Australian characteristic of challenging the norm.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Worshipful Master of Lodge Wahroonga, Very Worshipful District Grand Inspector of Workings, Worshipful Brothers all and your guests, in closing let me say that in my lifetime of observing and participating in Anzac Day marches and ceremonies here and around the world, notwithstanding the healthy and sometimes heated debate that we have come to expect about the day, I do not detect that the Australian people are ready or in any way willing to reject or even fundamentally modify the day.

In a very Australian way, we will continue to seek to commemorate those whose lives were lived and often lost, in the service of our beloved nation.

Those who rail against the notion of Anzac Day start from the idea that it inevitably, endlessly and lamentably glorifies war. That any war, all wars are abhorrent. That in some way, it propagandises the Australian community to revel in war, to be bellicose. Of course, I don’t agree with any of these propositions because those who hold these

June 2021

19

100 years in Queensland

By The United Grand Lodge of Queensland

UGLQ centenary For the United Grand Lodge of Queensland, 2021 marks a year of reflection and festivities with the Centennial Celebrations officially commencing on 27 April 2021, 100 years to the day since its inauguration.

A

s our museum team pays tribute to our fascinating and rich history, the organisation embraces the exciting opportunities our future holds, with many key events planned to ensure the year ahead is truly one to remember.

chancellors, representatives of the Royal Chivalric Orders, leaders from religious denominations and political leaders from across the state will come together to acknowledge Freemasonry’s impact on Queensland and to celebrate the last 100 years of service to the community.

The celebrations will be launched with a civic reception for His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC Governor of Queensland, hosted by our Most Worshipful Grand Master, MW Bro Paul Holland. Community leaders such as university chancellors and vice

On 2 July 2021, as Freemasons from across the country gather to join the celebrations, a meet and greet will be held in the Old Museum of Queensland.

Not only an atmospheric wonder in which to hold our celebrations, but also the very building in which the

inauguration of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland was conducted on 27 April 1921.

It seems only fitting to revisit our origins and pay tribute to where the United Grand Lodge of Queensland was formed. The evening will also see the launch of our highly anticipated centennial publication.

Brethren from across the state have put on their writer’s caps and begun

The Old Museum of Queensland will host the celebration this year just as it held the inauguration 100 years ago.

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transcribing their stories. Gone are the days when such publications focused only on the rulers of the Craft, and the cliched keynote moments so well known to us; instead, our Most Worshipful Grand Master wishes to capture the stories of ordinary masons doing extraordinary things with a focus on the unsung heroes whose tireless work has truly shaped the history of our ancient and honourable institution in Queensland.

Finally, the Grand Proclamation on 3 July 2021, will bring the celebrations to their dramatic conclusion as our Most Worshipful Grand Master is proclaimed for another year. The ceremony will feature several special inclusions including historic addresses and the presentation of a new treasure to the Museum Collection. Our Grand Lodge calligrapher and scribe, Bro Brodie Taylor, Grand Librarian, worked to produce an extraordinary document which we are thrilled to share with you today. The United Grand Lodge of Queensland was formed by the creation of the Treaty or Articles of Union, signed by the Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Queensland, and the Queensland Grand Lodge. As part of our centenary, the Most Worshipful Grand Master commissioned a ceremonial copy of this document; written on calfskin vellum, decorated with handwritten text, 24 karat gold embellishments

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The commemorative copy of the Articles of Union comissioned for the centenary

and hand-painted decorations. This historic treasure will be presented to the members of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland, by the Past Grand Masters

It seems only fitting to revisit our origins...

of Queensland, for an official signing ceremony to celebrate the commencement of our second century.

Our visitors on this historic occasion have not been forgotten. There is a wide range of merchandise and collectables available as mementos, but the memories alone of this historic event will be more than enough to warrant a special trip. The Freemasons of Queensland look forward to extending the right hand of fellowship and welcoming each and every one of you in our Centennial year.

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Ex Libris

By VW Bro Neil Wynes Morse and VW Bro Ian Shanley

The Guyot bookplates Masonic bookplates have been said to be ‘probably the rarest of all genres’. This is the first of a two-part research paper by VW Bro Neil Morse and VW Bro Ian Shanley.

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ookplates are labels pasted in the front cover of a book to indicate ownership. As well as the owner’s name they include pictures ranging from the armorial and pictorial to the allegorical, varying over time with fashion.

Masonic bookplates are usually just a decorative combination of various symbols, often attempting to cram in as many as possible into a small space.

However, this article reproduces two examples of the allegorical form. We know this because the artist provided the recipients with an extended explanation of the thinking behind the various elements of the designs.

The first plate is held by the State Library of New South Wales within the Chester Smith papers and the second in Bro Ian Shanley’s personal collection.

Our thanks are due to Bros Philip Quadrio (UGL Secretariat), John Davison (USGC) and Arthur Macken (A&AS Rite for Scotland) for their assistance.

The Artist VW Bro Alexander Lyon (also used Lyall) Guyot was born in 1893. He grew

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up around Auburn and Granville and spent all his working career with the railways as an engineer. While he married in 1914 he was divorced during the Great Depression and spent the rest of his life as a bachelor living in Kings­ grove until his death in 1969. This presumably accounted for the ample time he dedicated to his masonic essay writing and work as an artist.

The books, that one collects over a lifetime, are mute examples of dear friends, reflections of one’s deep­est thoughts, the Sanctum Sanctorum...

His artistic talents were recognised during his apprenticeship when he won the Mechanical Drawing award on graduating from Granville Tech in 1917.

From 1946–50 while working in the Chief Mechanical Engineer’s design office he worked with another brother (Herbert Overett) to paint coastal scenes – six-foot-by-three idylls over blown-up photographs of paddocks and waterfalls, creeks and valleys. These adorned commuter trains in Sydney at that time and may be remembered by some of our members.

Masonic Career His masonic career began in 1940 when he was initiated at Lodge Prince George 520 on 22 February 1940 (aged 47 years). He took senior office in the late 1940s/early 1950s and served as secretary from 1954 to 1963. He was conferred with 12Grand Rank as PAGDC in 1959. While the dates are unclear our brother also served as an Official Lecturer. In December 1968 he joined Lodge Oatley 381 calling off from Lodge Prince George in February 1969. He died on 18 May of that year.

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Other Orders Bro Guyot was most active in the Royal Arch, Scottish Constitution (SC) where he achieved the rank of PGJ and for whose Study Circle he created a bookplate. He also had a deep interest in the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite (SC) for which he wrote some significant papers including ‘An Interpretation of the Lodge of Perfection’ which was published in 1961 with the official sanction of the Rite. He was perfected into Granville Sovereign Chapter No 38 on 12 September 1949, and received into the Sovereign Council of NSW No 9 on 18 September 1958. He was suspended from the Rite on 11 December 1964; we believe this was as a result of the ‘’64 Split’.

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Chester Smith 3

Bro Chester William Goulburn McIntosh Smith (1888–1967) was editor of the NSW Freemason from 1950 to 1960 when the magazine ceased to be published by Cryer and Co. Ltd. He was initiated in Lodge Byora 589, a temperance lodge meeting at Hornsby, on 22 April 1929. He called off on 27 November 1933.

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Smith was a journalist and keen amateur historian, with a particular interest in colonial New South Wales.

He further pursued this by membership of, and involvement in, the Royal Australian Historical Society.

In 1940 Smith joined the Sydney Lodge of Research 290. In March 1945 he was installed as WM of that Lodge.

He remained a member of 290 until the lodge’s warrant was suspended ‘at the pleasure of the Board of General Purposes’ in March 1956. He was a Grand Lodge Lecturer and was appointed DGIW in September 1953.

His bookplate The explanation was accompanied by a note from Guyot to Smith in the following terms: 15 Northcott Avenue, Kingsgrove

G. Chester Smith Dear Sir and VW Bro,

Herewith my poor efforts on the explanation of your bookplate.

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A brief guide to the symbolism present in the first of the two works we will be examining in this paper – A L Guyot’s bookplate for Chester Smith: 1. Labour teaches us the necessity of, but also the nobility of work.

5. The Scroll is indicative of life, for thereon we put our thoughts.

2. Age indicates the decades of the past which man has laboured, and to which youth must turn for guidance.

6. The book adjacent to the scroll reminds us of our dependence on our fellow man for instruction.

3. Compasses are used by the Architect to enable him to give just proportions. The square teaches the lessons of morality.

4. The Ten Commandments – books whereby man may act accordingly to his Creator and to his neighbour.

7. The Egyptian Column depicts or refers to age of thought and development by man.

8. The books, that one collects over a lifetime, are mute examples of dear friends, reflections of one’s deep­est thoughts.

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Ex Libris

By VW Bro Neil Wynes Morse

If any portion offends, my apologies.

If any portion applauds, put it down to circumspection.

Yours fraternally, A L Guyot The explanation provided reads as follows:

Smith was a journalist and keen amateur historian

Bookplate. G Chester Smith A Bookplate is indicative of character, personality and environment, delineating the type of owner, and expressing in form his mental outlook.

In this bookplate for G. C. S. the designer has embodied the fundamentals expressive of the man himself.

A brief description of the salient features is here given: R Labour: Labour is one of the most beautiful features of our institution insofar that it not only teaches us the necessity of, but also the nobility of labour. The labour of an Operative Mason will be visible, and he will receive the reward for it, even though the building he has constructed be overthrown within the next hour, he knows he has accomplished that which he has set his mind to do. As we build neither a visible Solomonic Temple, nor an Egyptian Pyramid, our industry must become visible in the works that are imperishable, so that when we vanish from the eyes of mortals, it may be said of us that our labour was well done. Hence the Gavel and Chisel.

R Age of Architecture: The urge toward art of constructing dwellings as a shelter from the elements, must have been resorted to from the very first effort of the human race. Rude and perfect must have been the first efforts of the human race. As Geometry is the science on which our Craft is founded, architecture is the art from which it borrows the language of its symbolic instruction.

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Age indicates the decades of the past which man has laboured, and to which youth must turn for guidance and experience.

R Compasses in the hand of Age and Square at feet: As in Operative Masonry the Compasses are used by the Architect to enable him to give those just proportions which will ensure beauty as well as stability to his work, so that implement is symbolic of the even tenor of deportment, that true standard of rectitude which alone can bestow happiness below, and felicity hereafter. As the V.S.L. gives us light on our duties to God, and the square illustrates our duty to our neighbour, so the compasses give that additional light which instructs us in the duty we owe to ourselves.

The square inculcates the lesson of morality, of truthfulness and honesty, and therefore the square at the feet is indicative of rectitude of conduct.

R Ten Books: Represent the Ten Commandments whereby Man may act accordingly to his Creator and to his neighbour. It also refers to the tetractys of Pythagoras consisting of ten arranged in the form of a pyramid.

One point was the active principle or Creator. Two points the Passive principle of Matter. Three points indicated the world proceeding from their union. Four points indicate the Liberal Arts and Sciences which complete and perfect the world.

R Scroll and Inkstand: The Scroll is indicative of Life, for thereon we put our thoughts which may develop into actions, and so reminds us of the words in the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: “The moving finger writes; and having writ, moves on: nor all thy Piety nor wit shall lure it back to cancel half a Line, nor all thy Tears wash out a word of it.” The Moslems believe that the Eternal Decrees of Allah are inscribed by the Divine Pen on a tablet beneath His Throne.

R Book adjacent: This reminds us of our dependence on our fellowman for instruction, assistance and companionship and shall ever remain open should we so desire while we are penning the biography of our existence.

R Egyptian Column: This depicts or refers to age of thought and development by man. The outstanding feature of the religion of those of Egypt was their strong belief in a future State. This religious attitude is typified by their dominating columns; the hope of eternal Life.

R Ex Libris: The books, that one collects over a lifetime, are mute examples of dear friends, reflections of one’s deep­ est thoughts, the Sanctum Sanctorum where one’s hidden thoughts rebound due to the love and thought displayed in a collection.

So out of the vast mental world we poor humans hope to bathe in the glory of those whom we cherish.

In the next issue we will be taking an in-depth look at Guyot’s bookplate for the Royal Arch Study Group.

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

A history every Mason should be a part of...

In 1893, a group of Masons, seeing the need for a closer union among the fraternity, founded the NSW Masonic Club in Sydney. And now, 128 years on, we invite you to be a part of the Club’s historically significant story.

Arising from the Australian Masonic movement, on 15th September 1893, was the formation of the NSW Masonic Musical and Literary Society, later to become the NSW Masonic Club.

From a modest enrolment in 1893, membership grew through the years to many thousands, as also did the need for a suitable home. Land was purchased and, on 12th September 1927, our current premises, at 169-171 Castlereagh Street, were officially opened. And what a magnificent home it is!

Remarkable for its architectural attractiveness and internal beauty, the Club stands 12 floors high and, when first opened, was the tallest building in Sydney. The building is heritage-listed, renowned for its historical significance, and is imbued with a touch of “old-world charm” throughout.

Entrusted with this heritage jewel, the

Board of Directors undertakes a continual program of restoration and enhancement, from the exquisite handmade carpet of The Boardroom to the ornate art deco detail and magnificent sandstone streetscape.

Currently comprising of a street café, elegant bars and lounges, seven function rooms, and the magnificent Cellos Grand Dining Room, the Club also operates under the banner of “Castlereagh Boutique Hotel”. Featuring 83 boutique-style accommodation rooms, a stay at the hotel is a wonderfully unique experience enjoyed by Members and visitors.

In the 1920s the Club’s dining room and ballroom were bustling with the “who’s who” of society – debonair gentlemen, and ladies adorned with georgette and sequins. Almost 100 years later the Club still boasts a lively Membership who regularly enjoy the many facilities and benefits the Club has to offer.

The busy schedule of events includes regular themed luncheons such as wine appreciation, Christmas-in-July and Melbourne Cup Day, plus dinner shows, cabaret and opera - all set in the stunning Grand Dining Room!

Our function and meeting rooms are highly sought after for their versatility and uniqueness.

The central Sydney location and onsite accommodation are ideal - and just a short walk away from the Sydney Masonic Centre.

While the magnificent fraternity of the past has taken on a different shape, the Club remains prosperous and progressive, welcoming a new generation of Members, and a growing number of female and Associate Members.

NSW Masonic Club Members enjoy 15% off the Hotel’s best available accommodation rates, 10% off personal beverages and dining, Member Reward Points to redeem within the Club, a birthday gift, access to our network of Reciprocal Clubs, and more!

Membership is available at Masonic and Provisional Masonic levels, with family and friends most welcome to join as Associate Members.

There is a certain prestige that comes with being a part of a century-old institution. We extend to you an invitation to take your part in history and join our magnificent Club.

Enquire about joining on 02 9284 1006.

NEW SOUTH WALES

MASONIC CLUB CLUB FOUNDED 1893

Join the Club before the end of August and receive Membership valid through to 31st December 2022.*

UP TO 6 MONTHS FREE MEMBERSHIP Club Membership entitles you to many benefits, including: DISCOUNTS OF 15% ON ACCOMMODATION, AND 10% ON FOOD & BEVERAGE FUNCTION DISCOUNTS • REWARD POINTS • RECIPROCAL CLUB NETWORK JOIN NOW, OR FIND OUT MORE - WWW.NSWMASONICCLUB.COM.AU OR CALL OUR ADMINSTRATION OFFICE ON 02 9284 1006 169-171 CASTLEREAGH ST, SYDNEY NSW 2000

*MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 31 AUGUST 2021. LIMITED TO FIRST TIME CLUB MEMBERS ONLY.

Famous mason

By RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM

Eddie had a ball As a youngster, my parents taught me many habits which still persisted as I got older but which now seem to be part of today’s modern ‘it’s old fashioned, throw it away’ system.

A

ustralia is well known as the home for outstanding sports personalities and snooker player Eddie Charlton was always high in the rankings.

Born Edward Francis Charlton on 31 October 1929 at Merewether, Newcastle, he dominated the snooker and billiards world in Australia and England and earned the nickname of ‘Steady Eddie’.

Charlton came from a sporting family and had an early introduction to table sports through his grandfather who ran a billiards club in the NSW town of Swansea, and young Eddie began playing cue sports when he was nine years old. At the age of eleven, he defeated fellow Australian Walter Lindrum in a wartime snooker exhibition match and made his first century break when he was seventeen.

His subsequent career record included the remarkable feat of having beaten eight world champions.

Hard work were the key words to his success. He was involved in numerous

other sports during his youth: he was a first-grade footballer for ten years, a champion surfer, played state-level rugby and competitive cricket and excelled in speed roller skating, rowing, boxing and tennis. In 1956, he was chosen to carry the Olympic Torch on part of its journey to the Melbourne Games.

Charlton, who worked as a coal miner until the age of 31, decided to turn professional in 1963 when he was 34, on the advice of Fred Davis, after winning four amateur snooker titles.

He won his first Australian Professional Championship the following season. For the next ten years he won the title annually and made at least the semi-finals in every subsequent meeting until its last edition in 1988.

He unsuccessfully challenged Rex Williams for the World Billiards Championship title in 1974 and 1976.

His third appearance was in 1984 when he lost by a handful of points to Mark Wildman. Four years later, he lost to two-time champion Norman Dagley in his last World Billiards final.

Charlton at that time was the most successful Australian snooker player and from the first year of the snooker world rankings in 1976/77, he was ranked number three in the world for the next five consecutive seasons. But he never won a ranking tournament (because, in the early years, only the Snooker World Championship counted).

However, his record will prove hard to beat. Among his victories were the following titles – World Matchplay Snooker Champion, World Open Snooker Champion, British Commonwealth Open Snooker champion, Australasian Professional Snooker champion, Australian and NSW Professional Snooker champion, World Champion of Champions, and the winner of 20 television tournaments.

Another unique record was when he made two consecutive breaks of 137 and 135 without either opponent getting a shot, making a world record running break of 272.

Photo courtesy of Michael Maggs

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Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

Letters to the Editor Charlton, who was known for his focused and dogged performances, challenged for the World Championship in 1968, and was runner-up in the World Championship finals in 1973 and 1975, losing the 1975 world final by one frame (30–31) to Ray Reardon. However, his 1972, 1973, and 1980 victories in the BBC’s Pot Black Competition, with its one-frame-per-match format, gave him a high-profile with television audiences.

He also recorded the first century break (110) on Pot Black.

Charlton was known for playing with a very straight cue action and rarely hitting the ball with any side spin.

In his later career, Charlton continued to perform at a competitive level and his last major achievement was a 10–9 first round win over Cliff Thorburn at the 1989 World Championship. He qualified for the 1990 and 1991 World Championships but lost in the first round on both occasions.

Charlton’s final appearance came in 1992 when he was defeated 10–0 by defending champion John Parrott in the first round, the only recorded whitewash in the history of the World Championship until 2019, where Shaun Murphy defeated Luo Honghao 10–0.

Always active in the organisation and promotion of the game, Charlton was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1980. He formed the Australian Professional Players Association and was responsible for bringing many of the top players to compete in Australia.

He released a 30-minute beginners’ instructional video, Eddie Charlton’s Snooker, Pool & Trick Shots and in 1993 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

‘I have met some wonderful people in my travels and I have always thoroughly enjoyed the game. The things that I try to do are play the game well and leave a good impression wherever I go,’ Charlton said.

He stopped competing in 1995 and died in Palmerston North, New Zealand at the age of 75 on 8 November 2004, following an operation.

Eddie Charlton joined Freemasonry when he was initiated in Lodge Swansea 755 on 14 July 1961.

www.masons.org.au

Send your Letters to the Editor by: Email to: freemason@masons.org.au Post to: The Secretary Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South NSW 1235

The Secretary Freemason Editorial Commi ttee The Se The United Grand Lodge of cr NSW & ACT Freemas etary PO Box A259, Sydney South, NSW 1235 on Edito The Un rial Com ited Gr mittee an PO Box A259, Sy d Lodge of NSTh We&Se dney So AC crTetar uth, NS Free y Wm 12as The U 35on Editor ni ia PO B ted Grand l Commit ox A25 te 9, Syd Lodge of N e ney So SW uth, N & ACT SW 12 35

Have your say Dear Grand Master Thank you very much for your letter and message of condolences following the announcement of the death of The Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle on Friday, April. I have passed on your condolences to Her Majesty The Queen.

We are immensely saddened this day has now arrived, but we have taken some consolation from the many warm tributes to Prince Philip, reflecting the broad span of His Royal Highness’s endeavours and interests both in this country and further afield.

Thank you again for your kind thought in writing at this particularly sad time, it is much appreciated.

Suzy Lethbridge, MVO Duke of Edinburgh’s Office

contacted me to say how pleased they are to see that Yvonne’s contribution to Freemasonry has been acknowledged.

The editorial comment at the end is a wonderful tribute to a person who had Freemasonry and the welfare of others at heart.

In particular, I wish to thank the editor and chairman, RW Bro Dawes, and RW Bro Simmons, for honouring Yvonne’s life with their presence at her funeral.

Would you also pass on my sincere appreciation to Bro Simon Pierce for preparing the artwork for a memorial card on Yvonne’s remarkable life. The card looks quite beautiful and has been forwarded to RW Bro Dawes and RW Bro Simmons.

I will post one to you for the committee’s records.

Fraternal regards to all and congratulations on another wonderful issue of the Freemason.

Alan Farrell Lodge Burnside 729

This reply was received in response to the Grand Master’s condolence letter to the Royal Family which we have published on page 7.

Vale Yvonne I wish to express my gratitude to the Editorial Committee for the inclusion of my vale to Yvonne McIntyre in the March issue of the Freemason.

A number of readers of the magazine have

Foto Competition We have come to the end of the Foto Competition and in the next issue of the Freemason we will use the back cover to display the winning photos.

The judges congratulate the entrants and trust that the quality of the entries will be reflected in the quality of the general photos submitted to the Freemason.

The Editor

June 2021

27

Benevolent organisations the relief effort. For example, money has been donated to Victorian bushfire appeals, flood victims and the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Do you know our charities?

The procedures are on the Masonicare website.

Most of these charities are known to you. But some don’t get much publicity. However, brethren, they exist to be used, and supported.

The Whiddon Group Formerly the Frank Whiddon Masonic homes, The Group was established in 1923 and focuses on residential aged care, retirement villages and community care (private or ACAT).

The first homes were developed in 1948 and there are now 19 homes.

Homes are located in Belmont, Burke, Casino, Glenfield, Grafton, Hornsby, Kelso, Kyogle, Largs, Laurieton, Maclean, Narrabri, Redhead, Temora, Walgett, Wee Waa and Wingham. There is also a home at Beaudesert in Queensland.

Masonicare In the main we suggest that you refer to your Masonicare Caring Officer or District Masonicare Representative for details about all things pertaining to Masonicare. The following items are reminders of some of the basic facts about Masonicare:

The group provides a Whiddon Scholarship Programme for staff.

It has tax deductible status.

R Interaction Grants – The recipients must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Com­ mission (ACNC) as a charity and have Deductible Gift Recipient status. The procedures are on the Masonicare website.

R Benevolence Grants – This is a fund available for masons who have fallen on hard times. Application forms are only available to the Worshipful Master and the lodge secretary.

They are confidential and are not forwarded to the Regional Masonicare Manager but direct to the Grand Secretary. Amounts up to $5,000 are available, and for funeral expenses $6,500.

R Disaster Relief – The Grand Charity is able to respond immediately to a disaster, which has to have been declared. The money is donated directly to organisations involved in

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A Start In Life This was formerly known as the Masonic Youth Welfare Fund and was established in 1923. It’s tax deductible and receives no government funding.

Masonicare has been improving the lives and wellbeing of people in our community for over twenty years. info@masonicare.org.au www.masonicare.org.au

MASCAR0002 banner 2200x850 FA1.indd 1

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Masonicare’s roll-up banner, for helping publicise masonicare events

A Start In Life is an Australian charity with over 90 years’ experience in assisting young people in necessitous circumstances to access an education on an equal basis with their peers. A Start In Life works to improve the educational outcomes of disadvantaged children and youth so that they may rise

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

above their circumstances and reach their full potential.

For example, the charity assists: R Education beyond textbooks – This provides an all-round education which includes participation in extracurricular activities, access to technology, and tuition in areas of Stay connected, healthy, underperformance.

Surf Life Savers’ iconic ‘pink rashy’ supplied by Freemasons on the Central Coast

active and informed

R Family support by by a Student and Family Management Team.

At RFBI, we understand that our residents, clients,Sponsorship staff, family members and local R Student Programme community may be feeling anxious, scared – This programme is specifically and lonely during these unusual times. designed for children and young That is why we have come up with easy and people whotips have to connected, leave home to practical to stay healthy, attend high active andschool, informed.university or TAFE. Head over to rfbi.com.au or our Facebook page to find out the ways you can keep yourself, the people you care about and your community safe.

Stay Informed

Stay Active

Stay Healthy

Stay Connected

closed in the interim, the matter was 140for adjusttaken to the Supreme Court ment in the terms of the will; hence, an annual scholarship is now available.

The scholarship is advertised in Freemason magazine.

YEARS OF SERVICE

2020 Freemason Covid-19 Ad August.indd 1

Royal Freemasons Benevolent Institution Established in 1880, you may know them now as RFBI. Retirement villages are located in Armidale, Basin View, Bathurst, Bellingen, Berry, Canberra, Cessnock, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Glen Innes, Goulburn, Hawkins, Lake Haven, Leeton, Moonbi, Moss Vale, Roselands and Tamworth.

Residential care units in Basin View, Berry, Concord, Lakemba, Cessnock, Lake Haven, Hawkins, Kurri Kurri, Goulbourn, Holt, Bathurst, Dubbo, Leeton, West Wyalong, Armidale, Glen Innes, Moonbi, Tamworth, Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Raleigh and Urunga.

Home care services are available.

Lorna Milgate Scholarship Trust In 1988, Lorna Milgate bequeathed her estate, after payments, to the UGL of NSW & ACT for children in the care of the William Thompson Home and Hostel, to provide an education at tertiary level.

In 1991 Grand Lodge was advised of the bequest and as the William Thompson Home and Hostel had been

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4/08/2020 2:56:37 PM

Scott Young Trust

Grand Lodge Trustees Scholarship This was established in 2014–15.

Two scholarships are awarded, one to a boy and one to a girl, for children advancing to years 11 and 12. Value – $1,000 per annum.

This trust was established to assist the families of deceased masons. Refer to the Grand Secretary for details.

NSW Freemasons’ Orphans Society This was established in 1854 for children of deceased masons.

Assistance is currently provided to approximately 150 children in NSW who are attending high school or a tertiary institution.

The CR Buchanan Trust The focus of this trust is the advancement of education. Refer to the Grand Secretary for details.

The Corinthian Trust The Corinthian Trust was funded by the estate of the late RW Bro Enoch E (“Nock”) Walker and was give that name by him.

One third of the income from the funds invested is to be donated to medical research. The funds have been donated to prostate research to date.

Freemasons on the Central Coast (FotCC) A trading name of Karagi Court Ltd, FotCC is a registered charity operated by local Freemasons on the NSW Central Coast.

Established in 2009, FotCC assists community groups and individuals within the Central Coast LGA. Its charitable outreach is structured to promote Freemasonry on the Central Coast.

Best known for the pioneering sponsorship and supply of the Surf Life Saving pink safety ‘rashies’, FotCC has become a staple of the Central Coast’s community charity scene. As of 2020 FotCC, with the help of the lodges of District 21, have donated more than $1.2m to the Central Coast community.

Visit their website at www.freema­ sonscc.org for further details.

June 2021

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Freemasonry in Japan

A little history…

Japan and Freemasonry From a nation of near seclusion to the universality of Freemasonry

A

lthough originally settled by paleolithic hunter-gatherers possibly as far back as 35,000– 50,000 years ago, as an island nation Japan’s unique civilisation developed in virtual isolation from the rest of the world, influenced only by its proximity to Asia, particularly China and Korea.

Portuguese traders were the first Westerners to arrive in 1543, landing on the small island of Tanegashima, in southern Japan. Traders from other nations soon followed and the ruling Shoganate – the hereditary military dictatorship technically answerable to the emperor but in reality the actual seat of power – became increasingly concerned about the growing foreign influence on the Japanese people, fearing their religion and culture would be contaminated and lost forever.

This came to an abrupt and tragic end at 11.58am on 1 September 1923...

In response, Japan largely isolated itself from the world from the 1630s through to 1853. During this lengthy period, only non-Christian Chinese and Protestant Dutch were allowed to trade with Japan. Among the latter was a Dutchman named Isaac Titsingh from the Dutch East India Company, initiated in Batavia in 1772 and believed to be the first Freemason to ever visit the

country. Titsingh visited Japan three times between 1779 and 1784 and headed the Dutch trading post established in Nagasaki. However, these were difficult times with continued harassment and assaults on foreigners by the ruling samurai classes through the first half of the 19th century.

In 1853, with Japan still maintaining a policy of isolation from the rest of the world, Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry of the United States Navy with a squadron of nine warships (the Black Ships) was sent to Japan by then President Fillmore to forcefully request the re-opening of Japanese ports to American trade. This ultimately resulted in the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa on 31 March 1854, opening Japan to limited communication with the United States. Similar treaties were enacted An illustration from c. 1820 showing foreign trading ships at Dejima, Nagasaki

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Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

during the following months with Great Britain, the Netherlands and Russia.

All lodges in Yokohama eventually conducted their meetings in the two-storey No 61 Yamashita-cho, called the Masonic Hall, which was built in approximately 1890. This came to an abrupt and tragic end at 11.58am on 1 September 1923 when the TokyoYokohama earthquake struck. Also known as the Great Kanto earthquake, it was considered at the time to be the worst natural disaster ever to strike Japan. With a magnitude of 7.9, closely followed by a 40-foot-high tsunami, and devastating fires that raced through the largely wooden buildings, some 140,000 people lost their lives, over 2 million people were left homeless and Yokohama and Tokyo cities were virtually destroyed.

By 1863 the Japanese Government had agreed to have both French and British troops stationed in Yokohama and it was shortly after that the military Sphinx Lodge No 263 was introduced in Yokohama in 1864 (operating under the Grand Lodge of Ireland) arriving with a detachment of the 20th Regiment of Foot (Lancashire Fusiliers). The lodge had a total membership of some 20 men including a few local foreign residents, and operated until March 1866 when the US forces were withdrawn.

Brethren living in Yokohama felt the need to form a lodge of their own and petitioned the Grand Lodge of England for a charter which was duly signed by the Earl of Zetland, Grand Master of England, and received on 26 June 1866.

The new lodge, Yokohama Lodge No 1092 E.C. first met in 1867 in the home of Mr J.R. Black, editor and proprietor of the Japan Gazette. It remained active for many years, going into darkness prior to World War II and it has not been reactivated. Its masonic banner hangs on the wall of the Masonic Temple in Yokohama.

Several other early lodges were established under a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ that the government would not interfere with the fraternity’s membership as long as this was limited to foreign nationals and that meetings were conducted without ostentation.

Many members of these early lodges contributed significantly to the modernisation of Japan, including Bro A. Kirby who built the first Japanese ironclad warship. Only three of these lodges remain working under their Charters; two under the Grand Lodge of Scotland and one under the United Grand Lodge of England:

Japanese woodblock print of Commodore Matthew Perry, c. 1854.

R Lodge Hiogo & Osaka No 498 S.C., chartered on 7 February 1970, meets in Kobe R Lodge Star in the East No 640 S.C., chartered on 1 May 1879, meets in Yokohama R Rising Sun Lodge No 1401 E.C., chartered in 1872, meets in Kobe In early 1913, a few leading Englishspeaking Freemasons in Kobe met with the idea of establishing a lodge restricted to men of British birth or ancestry; a lodge that would devote a portion of its time to masonic instruction and research, with the initiation of candidates a secondary concern. This lodge, Albion in the East No 3729 E.C. was formally constituted and consecrated on 13 June 1914.

With utter devastation and chaos across all aspects of the economy and society, recovery after the earthquake was slow. The first masonic meeting held in Yokohama after the quake was Lodge Star in the East gathering in the ruins of the American Trading Company offices. According to W Bro Michael Apcar: ‘Old packing cases and boxes were used for the principal chairs, and lighting was by candles, the atmosphere shared by those brethren present demonstrated the true character of masons, poor and penniless, but rich in Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.’

Following the earthquake a move had begun to build a permanent masonic home in Yokohama and, with the assistance of funds donated by the United Grand Lodge of England, a new Masonic Temple was built at No 3 Yamate-cho on the Bluff, dedicated on 12 February 1927.

During the 1930s, the situation for Freemasons in Japan became very difficult when the government began to

Nihonbashi and Kanda after the 1923 Kanto Earthquake

www.masons.org.au

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Freemasonry in Japan crack down on the Fraternity, especially after the outbreak of war with China in 1937 and many brethren were imprisoned. All lodges had to cease operating in the early 1940s. When war was declared on 8 December 1941 (the day following the surprise attack on Pearl Harbour), the Japanese Government confiscated the Masonic Temple building together with all furniture, regalia, jewels, books etc. Difficult and dangerous years for masons.

Following the war, Lodge Star in the East was reactivated on 9 April 1946 by pre-war members with the assistance of masonic brethren of the American Occupation Forces. Bro General Douglas MacArthur and Bro Lt General Robert L. Eichelberger were made honorary members. In January 1947, Bro H.C.H. Robertson was elected to honorary membership with all three leaders of the Allied Occupation Forces now being members of Lodge Star in the East.

During the early period of Occupation, many Masonic Clubs were formed and the Grand Lodge of the Philippines assumed an active role in furthering Freemasonry in Japan with lodges instituted under that Grand Lodge. For the first time, Freemasonry was made available to Japanese nationals with the ritual soon translated into the Japanese language. Land and a building was purchased in Tokyo that became the forerunner of the new Tokyo Masonic Centre.

The various lodges and appendant bodies enjoyed considerable growth and prosperity during this period and, at the Annual Communication of the MW Grand Lodge of the Philippines in 1954, a petition was read which stated that all lodges in Japan under the Philippine Jurisdiction wished to form a District Grand Lodge. This request was granted and RW Bro W.J. Eichorn was appointed the first District Grand Master for Japan for the lodges in Japan under the Grand Lodge of the Philippines.

On 16 January 1957, Moriahyama Lodge No 134 passed a resolution calling for a convention to consider the formation of a Grand Lodge of Japan.

This was followed on 26 January by a meeting of the District Grand Lodge, conventions were held on 16 February

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The main lodge room of the Tokyo Masonic Building.

Photo courtesy of Zucowall

challenge of diminishing membership and consolidation of lodges. However, influential personnel in the Japanese community have become members of the Fraternity strengthening the firm footing that Freemasonry now holds in Japan.

Japanese Masonry is now, and will continue into the future, to play a valuable role in strengthening the bonds of friendship and brotherly love not only within the country, but throughout the wider world.

The one metre cubic ashlar that marks the entrance of the Tokyo Masonic Building.

Photo courtesy of Olemiswebs

References www.grandlodgeofjapan.org

and 16 March which resulted in fifteen out of the sixteen lodges involved supporting the formation of the Grand Lodge of Japan. A delegation attended the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines in April 1957, all appropriate formalities were duly enacted, and the Grand Lodge of Japan was instituted on 1 May 1957.

Since that time, the number of constituent lodges under the Grand Lodge of Japan increased to twenty and, by 1972, there were 4,765 members on the rolls. In more recent years, Freemasonry in Japan has faced the worldwide

Article by Duncan T. MacPherson, P.M. 1145 S.C., Proxy Master 640 S.C., M.M. 1305 S.C. that appeared in the Year Book of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland 2005, reproduced at www.skirret.com>papers>macpherson by kind permission of the author www.starintheeast640.com www.greatkantoearthquake.com www.britannica.com www.smithsonianmag.com www.japan-guide.com

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

Friends in the chair

By RW Bro Geoff Bunn R–L: Kerry McAndrew, Geoff Bunn, Lyn Bunn, Colleen Perriman and Les Truesdale.

The Masters of ‘93 In the early 1990s, Districts 102 and 102A consisted of eleven lodges within the ACT and three lodges in NSW at Braidwood, Queanbeyan and Yass.

T

he Junior Wardens of these lodges regularly visited each other’s lodge meetings and formed a close bond which grew stronger until eventually they were all installed as Masters of their respective lodges during 1993.

The Masters (in order of Installation) were: R Lodge Philosophy Les Truesdale R Lodge Capitol David Kaye R Lodge Caledonia of Canberra Kerry McAndrew R Lodge Canberra George Stergiou R Lodge Campbell Keith Cossart R Lodge Perfect of Canberra Bill Bodger R Yass Lodge of Concord Ernie Sly R Jerrabomberra Daylight Lodge Dennis Turner

www.masons.org.au

R Lodge of Truth Braidwood Geoff Bunn R Lodge Woden Valley Rowland Stewart R Lodge Ethos Hugh Davies R Lodge Gowrie of Canberra Peter Forrest R Lodge Queanbeyan St Andrew Chris Eaton R Lodge Commonwealth of Australia Bob Perriman At this time membership of these lodges was strong and they prided themselves on their ritual work which was always of a high standard, often competing with each other to get through a ceremony without a prompt.

Each man left his mark on the character of his lodge.

After a successful year in the Chair, they all, bar one, had the pleasure of installing their successor. The competing continued, as score cards were regularly displayed at installation

ceremonies, marking out of 10 the quality of the Installing Master’s work.

On 20 May 1994 Kerry McAndrew organised a dinner to celebrate the year that was. This was the start of many such dinners for the fourteen Masters and Mistresses of ’93. Up until March 2020 four dinners were held every year with an interesting mix of venues selected in turn by each Master and Mistress. Many Canberra and regional restaurants were subjected to the raucous behaviour of the excited group.

Many weekend adventures were held, including visits to Merimbula, Berry, Braidwood, Temora, Batemans Bay, Araluen plus a Sydney Harbour weekend cruise.

The unity of the group was further promoted by the production of scarves for partners and ties for the men. They certainly created a hit for the group when they were noticed by a former Governor General, the late Bro Sir Michael Jeffery in the café at Bredbo.

Good PR for Freemasonry in general and the Masters of ‘93 in particular.

Over recent years the evening dinners have become Sunday lunches, but with the same spirit and style. The first postCovid dinner was held on Sunday 21 March at the Gathering Restaurant, Bungendore. True to form, the year 2020 was the only year since 1994 that the four lunches were not held.

The passing of time has seen a slow decline in the number of Masters and Mistresses of ’93. From the original group of fourteen Masters and twelve Mistresses, six Masters and five Mistresses have passed to the Grand Lodge above, one Master has since returned to live in Greece and one Master is AWOL. Such is the friendship and strength of this group, born and nurtured by Freemasonry, that it endures to this day.

The following Masters of ’93 have been conferred with Grand Lodge honours: R RW Bro Bob Perriman PAGM (dec’d) R RW Bro Geoff Bunn PAGM R RW Bro Hugh Davies PAGM R VW Bro Rowland Stewart PDGDC

June 2021

33

Man behind the story

By RW Bro R.L.G. Clark, SGW Tasmania

Who was Hiram Abif?

The name Hiram Abif is first mentioned in the first degree during the explanation of the First Tracing Board and regularly thereafter and so is known to every Freemason.

H

owever, unless a Candidate has an amazing memory or has undertaken his own research, he will know very little of Hiram Abif before being told at the end of the Retrospect that he was the principal architect at the construction of King Solomon’s Temple and was eventually murdered.

This paper does not contain any details beyond the first degree but does suggest that the authors of the masonic ritual may have used the injuries, death and interment of an Egyptian pharaoh as the basis of a fictional work.

A connexion between Hiram Abif and the pharaoh, Seqenenre Tao II, was identified in a book, The Hiram Key by Knight and Lomas, (both Freemasons) and approved by the United Grand Lodge of England, which was printed in the mid 1990s.

This article will not confirm the identity of Hiram Abif, but it is suggested that what we are told of his death and the recorded history of the mummy of Seqenenre Tao II in the Cairo Museum contain details that I consider to be too similar to be coincidental.

Thus, this article concentrates on Egyptian history and specifically that of the Pharaoh Seqenenre Tao II.

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June 2021

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

Egyptian Pharaohs (circa 1720 – 1500 BCE)

Around 1720 to 1710 BCE, Egypt began to be invaded by an Asiatic people of obscure race, who became known as the Hyksos, meaning ‘Shepherd Kings’, who came from Palestine, Lebanon or Syria (coincidentally in the vicinity of the home of Hiram, King of Tyre).

These Hyksos melted easily into Egyptian society at first and they eventually became very powerful, and finally, in a coup, they came to rule the whole of northern Egypt, imposing one of their people as the legitimate pharaoh.

For about 100 years, there was relative peace and cooperation between the two pharaohs simply because the Hyksos were really very good rulers and knew how to adopt and improve the Egyptian lifestyle. They dominated Lower Egypt and established their capital in the city of Avaris (now Alexandria) on the Mediterranean coast in the Nile delta.

About this time Seqenenre Tao II, the 14th pharaoh of the Theban dynasty and the last of the legitimate line of Egyptian pharaohs, was forced to live in exile in Thebes (now known as Luxor) more than 650 kilometres south where he was considered to be the King of Upper Egypt only.

Today, Luxor is the home of the Temple of Karnak and the nearby Valley of the Kings.

The Hyksos adopted traditional Egyptian names and the last Hyksos pharaoh Apophis (also known as Apepi) was an example of an adopted name.

However, there were always undercurrents of enmity because the Hyksos pharaohs were desperate to prove their doubtful and even non-existent legitimacy. As such, Apophis as Hyksos pharaoh, never had access to the secret king-making rights of the legitimate pharaonic line. This reportedly remained a real cause of concern with the Hyksos and probably led to Apophis writing to Seqenenre Tao complaining about the snoring of the hippopotami in the sacred pool at Thebes and demanding that he suppress his hippopotamus pool for keeping him awake at night. This despite living in Avaris around 650 kilometres downstream!

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Seqenenre Tao had battled the Hyksos, although indecisively, during his lifetime and this letter may have initiated the war that ultimately led to the restoration of the rule of the pharaohs in Egypt in the 16th century BCE and the expulsion of the Asiatics from Egypt. Unfortunately, this war also lead to the death of Seqenenre Tao II. The history of the pharaoh Seqenenre Tao II, was always considered legendary, and the signs of wounds present in the mummy suggests that he had died in battle. The following description provides an account of the injury that was done to the pharaoh at his death:

It is not known whether he fell upon the field of battle or was the victim of some plot; the appearance of his mummy proves that he died a violent death when about 40 years of age.

Two or three men, whether assassins or soldiers, must have surrounded and dispatched him before help was available.

Seqenenre Tao’s mummy was discovered in 1881 and was reported to have been mummified in most unusual circumstances. Following the discovery, the museum noted that ‘a foul, oily smell filled the room the moment the case in which his body was exhibited was opened’. This is likely due to the poor embalming process and the absence of the use of absorbing natron salts, leaving some bodily fluids in the mummy at the time of burial.

His mummy appears to have been hastily embalmed and x-rays that were taken of the mummy in the late 1960s show that no attempt had been made to remove the brain or to add linen inside the cranium or eyes, both normal embalming practise for the time.

Seqenenre Tao II is the earliest royal mummy on display in the Royal Mummies Hall, Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

His sons, Kamose and Ahmose succeeded to the throne after their father’s death and it was they who ultimately made the final conquest of the Hyksos and reunited all of Egypt c.1500 BCE.

A blow from an axe must have severed part of his left cheek, exposed the teeth, fractured the jaw, and sent him senseless to the ground; another blow must have seriously injured the skull, and a dagger or javelin has cut open the forehead on the right side, a little above the eye.

The wound on his forehead was probably caused by a Hyksos axe and his neck wound was probably caused by a dagger while he was prone. There are no wounds on his arms or hands which suggests he was not able to defend himself.

His body must have remained lying where it fell for some time for when found, decomposition had set in and the embalming had to be hastily performed as best it might.

This article was reproduced courtesy of Freemason Tasmania

June 2021

35

Associated Orders

By RW Bro John Anderson

A royal invitation I have much pleasure, on behalf of Mark and Royal Arch Masons of NSW & ACT in inviting you to attend the installation of Deputy First Grand Principal and Grand Master, Right Excellent Companion Robert Mitchell Drake as the next First Grand Principal and Grand Master of our magnificent Order.

T

he installation of a new First Grand Principal and Grand Master is a highlight in the long history of Mark and Royal Arch Freemasonry in our state. This year’s Grand Installation promises to be no less an exciting occasion than previous Grand Installations being held at the Novotel Pacific Hotel in Manly, and the Grand Mark Installation to be held in the Egyptian Room in the Royal Arch Centre at Petersham.

The festivities commence with a reception for all attending on the Friday night, followed by the Royal Arch Grand Installation and banquet on the Saturday.

Sunday is a leisure day affording the opportunity for taking a short trip to explore the World War II fortifications on North Head, or taking it easy on magnificent Manly Beach or beautiful Sydney Harbour.

The weekend will conclude on Monday morning with the installation

of the new Grand Master of Mark Master Masons in our stunning heritage listed Egyptian Room. The Mark installation will be followed by a light lunch.

Robert, Penny, Bev and I all look forward to welcoming you to Sydney to share in this special event for Mark and Royal Arch Masons of NSW & ACT. John B Anderson First Grand Principal & Grand Master

You are

invited!

To the installation of Deputy First Grand Principal and Grand Master Right Excellent Companion Robert Mitchell Drake.

10–13 September 2021 Full details at www.usgcnsw.org.au

36

June 2021

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

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A story in stone

By RW Bro Ted Simmons

Some Sydney sites Many visitors to Sydney often walk past statues and other memorials, pausing for a moment to look and then continuing their walk without any real idea of the history behind the statues.

F

or example, Macquarie Street presents a large part of ancient Sydney, almost from the days of its beginning.

practice. But he was jailed in 1818 for ridiculing Macquarie and after release resumed his private practice.

He helped draft bills for the Constitution and in June 1843 was elected to the new representative government and later served in the Legislative Council. In 1859, he became the first president of the Australian Medical Association.

Named after Major General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of NSW, the street was created at a time of great development in the city when banking was commenced, public buildings erected, streets named and the Blue Mountains crossed.

He was made a Mason in Sydney on 1 July 1822 in the Australian Social Lodge, No 260 Irish Constitution.

A walk along Macquarie Street, from the Opera House to Hyde Park, will introduce a large slice of Sydney history, including Parliament House, Il Porcellino, the Mint Museum, Sydney Hospital, the State Library, the William Bland Centre and Queen’s Square.

Another member of the Australian Social Lodge, Francis Greenway, who joined in June 1822, also left a permanent mark on Sydney after being convicted of forgery in 1814 and transported to the NSW colony.

Each has played a role in the creation of Sydney as the gateway to Australia and the centre of the nation’s commercial and tourist life.

At that time he was the only architect in Sydney and Governor Macquarie made good use of his talents in his building program.

In his book The Masonic Sites of Sydney, the late RW Bro Grahame Cumming found and explained many areas of interest which could attract visitors and locals alike.

For example, Macquarie Street has always been regarded as the equivalent to London’s Harley Street because of the many medical specialists who have rooms there.

So it was appropriate that the William Bland Centre at No 229 is named after Dr William Bland, Sydney’s first full-time private medical practitioner.

Bland was born in London in 1789 and became a surgeon in the Royal Navy. He mortally wounded the purser

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June 2021

Major-General Lachlan Macquarie monument at Hyde Park.

Photo courtesy of Maksym Kozlenko

of HMS Hesper in a duel at Bombay and having been tried, was sentenced to seven years transportation to NSW. He reached Sydney in July 1814 and was sent as a convict surgeon to the mental asylum at Castle Hill. Bland was pardoned in 1815 by Governor Macquarie and established his private

Queens Square might just as well be called Greenway Square. In the pavement opposite the Law Courts is a plaque depicting Greenway and listing the buildings he designed. Among them are St James Church begun in 1819, next to it is the Supreme Court begun in 1820 and across the road is the Hyde Park Barracks, started in 1817.

Greenway was also the first architect to submit a proposal to build a bridge across the harbour.

There were many outstanding colonists in Sydney, some of whom were Freemasons and a number of them have been remembered in stone, steel and statue.

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

Regional Roundup Send your masonic news by: Email to: freemason@masons.org.au

Masonic News from NSW & ACT Post to:

The Secretary, Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South NSW 1235

NSW S

Regional roundup

ACT

Lodge Bland No 337

Father and son Lodge Bland was consecrated in West Wyalong in October 1919 and a tradition of father/son membership of the lodge was established in the very earliest days of the lodge’s history. Indeed, at the first meeting after the consecration of the lodge in December 1919 there were six affiliates and two initiates. One of the initiates was Fredrick Sutherland the son of Perceval Sutherland who affiliated at the same meeting!

Since then, 82 fathers have sat in Lodge Bland with their 107 sons.

District 37

A happy hand over It was a happy night when Lodge Kingsford Smith hosted a welcome to the new DGIW for District 37 and a special ‘thank you’ to the retiring officer after four years of hard work.

All lodges from the District were represented at Kensington in February when VW Bro George Shenouda stepped forward to present the patent and badge of office to his successor VW Bro Nic Pagonis.

After the presentation was completed, a representative from each District lodge rose to pay tribute to and thank VW Bro Shenouda for his efforts in promoting the District and issue a welcome to his successor with the hope that he would continue the good work.

www.masons.org.au

The WM, W Bro Jim Day then made a special presentation to VW Bro Shenouda who thanked everyone for their support during his term of office and promised he would still be around to give his support whenever needed.

VW Bro Pagonis said he was aware of the responsibility of the office and promised to continue the efforts of his predecessor.

‘This night has been a wonderful occasion and I am grateful for the support already given. I am also aware it will be a difficult start to this office because of the pandemic but assure the brethren I will do my best during the term,’ he said.

It was a very early practice that if a candidate’s father was a Past Master of the lodge the father would be invited to occupy the master’s chair for his son’s Initiation. This tradition has been followed on many happy occasions.

On 15 May 1952 Herbert Walter ‘Bert’ Staniforth initiated his son Malcolm, whose brothers occupied the chairs of Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon & Inner Guard. Later Bruce Staniforth initiated his sons Peter, David and Johnny Staniforth. Later Johnny, as a Master Mason, was present for the initiation of his own sons Brian and Bradley.

There have been seven families with three generations of Lodge Bland membership.

In February 2021 Lodge Bland initiated James Avalos and his father Michael (a Master Mason of one year’s standing) was Inner Guard. Long may the tradition continue!

June 2021

39

Regional Roundup

Masonic News from NSW & ACT

Forster Great Lakes United No 994

District 21

Forster’s catch up time District 21 handover February was an occasion when Forster Great Lakes United caught up with COVID-delayed business.

Wyong Masonic Centre was at COVID-19 capacity on 25 January to witness the District 21 DGIW jewel of office being transferred to VW Bro Andrew Kfoury. The special occasion was viewed by a number of PDGIWs, and brethren from all the lodges in District 21. Our new DGIW was initiated into Freemasonry almost exactly 13 years ago and is the youngest DGIW in District 21 for many years.

Bro Paul Holbrook was Raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason and on the same evening was appointed as Inner Guard.

Later in the evening Bro John Daniel and W Bro Ron Willman received their 60-year certificates. A nice contrast of the start of service to the Craft, and a reward for a lifetime of similar service.

‘Freemasonry has been practiced on the Central Coast since 1892, and along the way there have been many challenges, yet only a few organizations have been able to adapt, overcome and be as globally successful as Freemasonry. As we begin a new chapter, we will embrace the future in the sure knowledge that we have weathered greater storms in the past, yet the basic principles of Freemasonry have remained unchanged,’ said VW Bro Kfoury.

‘All the lodges of District 21 are now open for business and there is an eager sense of optimism as we return to physical lodge meetings,’ he added.

Top: Bro John Daniel (left) and W Bro Ron Willman (right) receiving their 60 year certificates with WM Preston Gowing (middle).

Above: Bro Paul Holbrook is pictured with VW Bro Tony Spouse, the New DGIW of Region 1, District 13, his father RW Bro Robert Holbrook of Lodge Panania and WM Preston Gowing.

Royal Empire Lodge

Royal Empire’s 1,000th The Royal Empire Lodge held its 1,000th meeting on 11 March.

To celebrate the occasion, the meeting was arranged as a Past Masters’ night during which Bro James Greig was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.

All the chairs were filled by PMs and a very convivial meeting and South were held.

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June 2021

The brethren of the jurisdiction are forewarned, to mark in their diaries, that the traditional annual luncheon, hosted

by The Royal Empire Lodge, at Parliament House, will be held on Wednesday 3 November 2021.

More details will be announced in the September edition of Freemason.

VW Bro Scott Cunningham PDGIW presented the DGIW jewel of office to his father VW Bro Bruce Cunningham at The Lodge Federation 196’s meeting on 6 February.

It was the first lodge meeting since March 2020 and was the first instance of our lodge witnessing a son-to-father DGIW handover.

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

Lodge Bland No 337

A busy time at Bland Forty brethren enjoyed a festival of freemasonry at West Wyalong on Saturday 20 March. Lodge Bland 337 was honoured by the entry of a large delegation led by the Grand Master and including the Grand Master elect and both Grand Wardens.

The ladies were re-united with the men at the Phoenix Restaurant at the golf club

Calling Newcastle masons Newcastle’s only daylight lodge welcomes masons unavailable for or cautious about night-time meetings!

2nd Tuesday of every month.

Tyling at 9:30am. Lunch $10.

New Lambton Masonic Centre.

For details call 02 4968 4511.

Rainbow Girls Meetings Now meet on 4th Sunday of each month at 11.00 am at the Blacktown Masonic Centre 5/1 Carnegie Place, Blacktown For further details please phone Talese on 0401 213 800 or email: Talese_s@hotmail.com Lodge Morning Star No 410

100 Years – Help!

Another well-deserved 60-year certificate

for a relaxed and jovial festive board. The toasts and responses were entertaining and of a high standard matching the work done in lodge.

The Grand Master presented a 60-year service certificate to the Worshipful Master.

Nobody wanted to go home! All said that their next visit to Lodge Bland could not be soon enough.

Lodge Morning Star is compiling a Centenary book and would welcome any stories or memorabilia you may have for inclusion. Please contact us at email@lodgemorningstar.com

WHAT’S ON

While the brethren were at labour, their ladies enjoyed a bus tour hosted by Mrs Rosemary Scascighini. The tour included visits to the Bland Museum in the historic Wyalong Court House, The Splatter Art Gallery & Studio and champagne with nibbles at the Foyer Gallery to view the work of local artists including the prizewinning Women of the West tapestry.

Lodge Mayfield Daylight No 493

International Order of the Rainbow for Girls

The work for the meeting was the passing of Bro James Avalos, after which the Grand Master presented master mason’s certificates to Bro Garreth Brose and Bro Ian Dodge.

The Grand Master, Gael Knox, RW Bro Les Hicks and RW Bro John Jacobson took the opportunity to inspect the progress of the Community Theatre being built on the ground floor of the West Wyalong Masonic Centre with the project manager Bro Ian Dodge. RW Bro Hicks presented him with an illuminated square and compasses for the eastern facade of the building.

What’s EVENTS ANDOn? NOTICES

Have you visited our lodge in the last 100 years? If not, why not?

Calling all lodge

secretaries!

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Let masons all over the state know and support Freemason magazine at the same time. List for as little as $12.50 per issue ($50 for four listings). freemason@apmgraphics.com.au

L–R: W Bro Russell McCarthy, Bro Liam Hatch, VW Bro Shane Foley and W Bro Darren May

Lodge Warringah, which meets at the Collaroy Masonic Centre, had a wonderful evening in March with the initiation of Bro Liam Hatch.

Lodge Warringah No 83

On the initiation trail www.masons.org.au

Visitors from around the district and the presence of the DGIW District 22, VW Bro Shane Foley, made for a wonderful evening.

The work by the acting WM W Bro Darren May was superb as was the rest of the work of the evening, followed by a happy and enjoyable gathering in the South.

June 2021

41

Regional Roundup

Masonic News from NSW & ACT Lodge Young Burrangong No 20

A special first duty At Lodge Young Burrangong’s regular meeting on 3 February, VW Bro Glenn Linsdell in his first duty as DGIW District 43b, was pleased to make presentations to a father and son.

Bro Graham Jamieson received his 40-year certificate and his son W Bro Trent Jamieson was presented with a Past Master’s jewel.

Lodge Toukley No 933

A tale of two continents

n2 June

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Integrity – Loyalty – Respect

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect

While living in Rhodesia, Jim was initiated into Freemasonry on 9 March 1970, passed on 12 October 1970 and raised on 8 March 1971. He became a Mark Master Mason on 14 June 1971 in the Que Que Kilwinning Lodge No 1320 SC. (The joining fee was $23 and annual fee was $10.50).

The Masonic Temple was located in the town of Que Que in the heart of Rhodesia.

During Jim’s time in Rhodesia many visits were made to English, Irish and Netherlandic (Grand Orient of the Netherlands) constitutions. One Irish lodge, Selukwe Lodge, was founded by VW Jock Douglas Smith the father of Ian Douglas Smith, the former Rhodesian Prime Minister. It is interesting to note that the DC in that lodge carried a shillelagh to keep order.

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June 2021

cover on back

N FOTO

Example entries

O

COMPETIT

ION!

L–R: W Bro Stephen Black WM of Lodge Toukley, W Bro Jim Simpson, VW Bro Andrew Kfoury DGIW D21

FREEMASO

Lodge Toukley 933 celebrated a milestone on 3 February 2021 with the presentation of a 50-year certificate to W Bro Jim Simpson.

B ac to businek ss

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While living in South Africa Jim became involved with lodges in Vereeniging (Losie Staal 1579 SC, an Afrikaans speaking lodge) and in Benoni the Benoni Kilwinning Lodge SC. In 2005 and having moved to Australia, he affiliated with Lodge Resurgo 223 at Wentworthville. Following a move to the Central Coast he affiliated with Lodge Toukley 933 in September 2008. Jim went through the various offices culminating in his installation as Master in May 2013.

Having been involved in Freemasonry on two continents Jim still occasionally uses signs not too familiar with some of the brethren in Lodge Toukley, raising the odd eyebrow and curiosity amongst the brethren present.

Profile of Mo nument Prince Masonryal

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Online!

Did you know that Freemason is available on the web?

Now it’s even easier to share that story with a friend! Read or download at:

www.masons.org.au and www.FreemasonNSW.com

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Lodge Resurgo No 223

Lodge Resurgo defies floods!

Lodge Resurgo 223 experienced an unusual occurrence for the re-installation of W Bro Zsolt Bakon in the presence of the Grand Master’s representative, VW Bro Kenneth Byrnes DGIW. Just before the meeting the floods hit Western Sydney. This resulted in some key

participants for the meeting being unable to attend. In true masonic manner members and visitors rallied round to ensure the re-installation ran smoothly and a good evening was enjoyed by all present. Fortunately, those who had a flood problem did not suffer any damage

The assembled Lodge Resurgo gathered against all odds to celebrate the re-installation of their WM, W Bro Zsolt Bakon

to property, only disappointment that they were not present.”

Lodge Enterprise No 400

A fraternal visitation On 18 February members of Lodge Enterprise travelled to Belmont to visit Lodge Benjamin Pryor 709.

These two lodges visit each other biennially and this year it was Lodge Enterprise’s turn to visit Lodge Benjamin Pryor.

The Worshipful Master of Lodge Enterprise, WBro Philip Holden and his officers were invited to raise one of Benjamin Pryor’s candidates, Bro Luke Darcy to the third degree.

The Enterprise fraternal consisted of 16 members, including the DGIW of District 14, VW Bro Peter Andrews.

www.masons.org.au

Cooperative effort makes anther Master Mason

As Lodge Benjamin Pryor is part of District 16, VW Bro Stephen Brown, DGIW District 16 was in attendance and he invited VW Bro Andrews to re-enter the lodge officially with him.

of both lodges and greatly impressed the candidate.

The ceremonial degree work of the evening was shared between members

It was another wonderful night in Freemasonry, enjoyed by all brethren.

June 2021

43

Service Certificates and Initiates

United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT

Congratulations to our masons

70

YEARS SERVICE

ARROWSMITH, Alan. . . . . . The Star of Australia Lodge 200 CRERAR, Hugh. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Condoblin 185

LEVER, George. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge St David & St John 180 MASTERS, Peter . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Sir Joseph Banks 300 MENZIES, Neville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge St David & St John 180

GERBER, John. . . . . . . .Lodge Millennium 2000 HANDLEY, Robert. . . . . . . . . . . The Hawkesbury Heritge Lodge 150 HARRIS, John. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kirrawee 903 JAGGER, Ian. . . . . . . . . Lodge Millennium 2000

MOLE, Kenneth. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Edinburgh St John 38

KNOWLES, Howard . . . . . . . Lodge Barham 561

DOLLISSON, Clarence. . . . . . Lodge Dubbo 906 HOLMES, Leslie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Farrer 69

PEREIRA, Ross. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Cowra 33

JACKSON, Russell. . . . . . . . . Lodge Toukley 933

RADBURN, Bruce . . . . . . . Lodge Broughton 131

PULLEY, Graham. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Barham 561

MATHEWS, Eric. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leisure Coast Daylight 999

ROSSER, Barry. . . . . . . Lodge Cornucopia 1037

PRESS, Howard. . . . . . . . . Lodge Condoblin 185

SAUNDERS, Edward. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Middle Harbour 85

PARSONS, Darrell . . . . The Lodge of Peace 120 RADBURN, Clive . . . . . . . . Lodge Broughton 131 SARGEANT, Timothy. . . . . . Lodge Barham 561

SHEAN, Bruce. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Cowra 33

FLETCHER, Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Verity 570

Welcome to our new members

12 Tomorrow Never Dies, Golden Eye, The World is Not Enough and Die Another Day.

DONOGHUE, John . . . . . . Lodge Macquarie 53

13 Queensland.

DAWES, Richard . . . . . . Lodge Wahroonga 674

JONES, Robert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coffs Harbour Daylight Lodge 1016

14 Julius Caesar.

COHEN, Alfred. . . . . . . . . Lodge Allan Stuart 416

HARPER, Adrian. . . . . . . . . . Lodge of Peace 120

15 50km walk.

YEARS SERVICE

16 Queen Victoria.

GARDINER, Robert. . . . . . . . Lodge Barham 561

50

17 Aquarius.

FRANKLIN, Robert . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sir Walter Scott Lodge 123

18 Tomato.

BISHOP, Colin. . . Lodge Sydney St. George 269

WILSON, Ian. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Vaucluse 266

June Quiz answers

19 Beer.

ALLEN, James. . . . . . . . . Lodge Greater Taree 66

SMITH, Michael. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Scone 183

20 Agnetha, Anni Frid.

YEARS SERVICE

How did you go?

60

SMITH, Graham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Cowra 33

11 Kenya.

WILLIS, Beau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Fitzroy 248

KAMARA, Alusaine. . . . . . The Hills Lodge 1025

YOUSSEF, Ricardo Sebastian. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Canberra Unity 465

KELLEY, David . . . . . Lodge Army and Navy 517

ZANIN, Antonio. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Galileo 1019

44

June 2021

June Quiz

JOVANOSKI, Justin. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kiama 35

WILLIAMS, Chris. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Farrer 93

answers

GOCON, Mark. . . . . . . . Lodge West Epping 390

TOH, Alfonso. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Celebration of Fairfield 345

From page 5:

GIBSON, Michael. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Camden 217

TAMAYO, Filemon. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Blacktown Kildare 393

Pacific, Atlantic, Indian.

GAUDIELLO, Daniel. . . . . Lodge Jerusalem 1056

STOKER, Jordan. . . . . The Glen Innes Lodge 44

1

GARCIA, Donald. . . . . . . . . Lodge Woronora 414

ROSA, Rafael. . . . Lodge Blacktown Kildare 393

Ten cents.

GALVAN, Aaron . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Celebration of Fairfield 345

ROLEVSKI, James. . . . . . . . . Lodge Galileo 1019

2

FIAS-AYON, Tony. . . . . . . . . . . The United Lodge of Sydney 11

3 70.

FERRANDO, Ernie . . . Lodge Leeton-Yanco 313

POLLARD, David . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Lodge of Tranquillity 42

4 French.

ESKICIOGLU, Oscar. . . . . . . . . Lodge Axiom 1047

PEARCE, Jay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Antiquity 1

5 Fish.

ERNST, Gareth. . . . . . . . . Lodge Germania 1036

OKARO, Alex. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kirrawee 903

6 Police.

ELKATEB, Omar. . . . . . . . . . . . Balmain Lodge 23

7 Adelaide.

MONTANEZ, Jed. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Blacktown Kildare 393

EL SABEH, Rami. . . . . . . . Lodge Sutherland 585

8 Singapore.

KOCATURK, Emre. . . . . . . The Hills Lodge 1025

DAVIDSON, Jay . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Milton 63

9 13.

KESHWA, Vijay. . . . . Lodge Army and Navy 517

BENNETT, Daniel. . . Lodge Canberra Unity 465

10 Kiwi fruit.

BELLAMY, Nick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Antiquity 1

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

UGLQ CENTENARY R WHO WAS HIRAM ABIF? R THE GUYOT BOOKPLATES

v54 n2 June 2021

LODGE ANTIQUITY R ORIGIN OF OUR RITUAL II R A PHILATELIC ERROR v54 n1 March 2021 AND... WE’RE BACK! R SEEKING THE GOLDEN LION R ORIGIN OF OUR RITUAL

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to all our sponsors who have helped make this edition possible:

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1 Fourth part of a circle has one right angle, a WT (5) 4&13 Peer parent enticed to find an initiate (7, 10) 9 Strange, I bath at my natural environment (7) 10 Easing of strained international relationship noticed when ten teed off (7) 12 A collection of miscellany at end of the portfolio (4) 13 See 4 across 15 Alarm key lost through such nonsense (8) 16 A wicked thing (6) 19 Low ridge between two peaks suitable for riding (6) 20 Polo pill for all day sucker (8) 22 Minimum anniversary for 4 and 13across (10) 24 Some old-time nudes hide bill of fare (4) 26 Striker arranged string measuring instrument, a WT (7) 27 Marist brother gets cross about a red (7) 28 Outer rim to which spokes are attached by the chaps we hear (7) 29 Mixed guano in Quebec’s capital for Government Corporation (6)

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The classrooms as arranged for teachers (13) 2 Such ambition as needs to be curbed when animal headgear removed (9) 3 About to use such to learn ritual for instance (4) 5 The lowest drains fixed up (6) 6 Able to be made larger? Be with next deal (10) 7 Listless and bored stiff by some brazen nuisance (5) 8 Pst! Dope has been arrested (7) 11 Baker’s dozen rearranged twelve plus one (6, 4, 3) 14 Three sided contest at later trial aborted (10) 17 Somehow pointed the French characters to a reduction of stock (9) 18 Even echoing the omen to hold beneath consideration (7) 21 The working pin of 26 across is recent upheaval (6) 23 Appearance of the Yankees from 28 across by the sound of it (5) 25 Some defrauding letters posted to the missus in Germany (4)

June 2021

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How to have a good night

By RW Bro Ted Simmons

Do you have trouble sleeping?

“To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question” ...with apologies to Shakespeare.

I

f you have problems getting a good night’s sleep, a good solution may be the creation of some healthy habits and a better knowledge of what is sleep.

As we get older, sometimes it is not so easy to enjoy and get a restful night.

Research shows that good sleep adds years to your life and even increases happiness.

There will also be a decline in sleep quality which will have other side-effects.

There are many reasons why a person cannot sleep well – anxiety, arthritis, incontinence, depression, obesity, caffeine, late night snacks and too much television. Other reasons could be not getting enough exercise and napping too long during the day.

The majority of adults need to sleep between seven and nine hours a night but nearly two thirds fail to do so on a regular basis. Medical experts say the body thrives on a regular sleep-wake rhythm.

These signs and symptoms are easily recognised with the most common

During sleep most of the body’s systems are in a state which helps to restore the immune, skeletal, nervous and muscular systems. These are the vital processes that maintain mood, memory and cognitive function and play a large role in the working of the endocrine and immune systems.

R waking up before your alarm goes off and being unable to go back to sleep

A medical report says about two thirds of older Australians experience one or more symptoms of sleep problems at least a few nights a week and that as people get older, their sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented.

An adult can’t expect to sleep as well at 65 as at the age of 20 because you will sleep for a shorter time and less deeply.

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June 2021

R having difficulty falling asleep R waking up during the night and staying awake

R tension headaches R not feeling refreshed when you wake up in the morning R poor concentration or feeling fatigued during the day R worry about sleeping.

‘Acute’, or short-term, insomnia can be anything from a few nights to a few weeks of bad sleep. ‘Chronic’, or longterm, insomnia involves having at least three nights of bad sleep per week over the course of a month or longer.

Two other sleep problems which can cause concern are snoring and poor

breathing and leg movements. The throat usually narrows during sleep which could interfere with breathing and an urge to move your legs to a better position can keep you awake during the night.

If you’ve tried various home remedies and your insomnia doesn’t go away after a couple of weeks, professional advice may be needed.

One helpful suggestion is to keep a sleep diary in which you detail the time you go to bed, the time you wake up, your mood, and any food, drinks or medications you take before bed. If your sleep is still interrupted, your local GP may be needed to prescribe temporary sleep medications or get a referral to a sleep clinic which can diagnose any severe sleep disorder.

These few simple ideas may also help.

Only spend the amount of time in bed needed to get enough sleep; establish regular times to go to bed and get up; reduce screen time (TV, computer, smart phone) before bed; try to get some exercise and sunshine during the day; a short nap during the day can help providing it is not long or late in the afternoon.

And finally, give an occasional thought to an old Irish saying – ‘A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in a doctor’s book’.

Integrity – Loyalty – Respect Freemason

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Bro Dion Accoto Lawyer & Investigator Two main areas of practice:

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u o Y hank port

T r your sup

For over 140 years, Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution (RFBI) has provided assistance to those in need.

Today we continue this important work through our Annuity Assistance and Benevolence Programs.

fo

Thank you to all who generously donated to the 2021 RFBI Annual Appeal. So far we have raised over $14,000 and every dollar donated will be used to assist those in need.

If you would like to help us continue to help others, you can donate at any time via our website, visit rfbi.com.au or call CEO Frank Price on 8031 3200.

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ANZAC Meeting