Tessellated Tales - Spring 2016

Spring 2016

Masonic News A Jewel to Celebrate the Tercentenary of the United Grand Lodge of England A new breast jewel, approved by the Grand Master as a permanent jewel, to commemorate the Tercentenary of The United Grand Lodge of England, is now available.

It is based on the Arms of the Grand Lodge and is on sale now in time for the start of the 300th year celebrations.

Those entitled to wear it are Master Masons and above, who at any time between June 2016 and the end of 2017 will have been members of a Lodge in the English Constitution.

It is the Pro Grand Master’s hope that Grand Off icers – who normally wear no breast jewels other than the Royal Arch jewel – will wear it throughout the period, and will not feel obliged to stop wearing it once we reach 2018.

He believes that it is a particularly attractive jewel and is sure that many, if not most members of the English Craft, will want to wear it with pride.

A new Craft tie, incorporating a revised version of the square and compasses, which has been adopted as the logo in the run-up to the Tercentenary has been released.

The old Craft tie, introduced about 15 years ago, may continue to be worn, but it will go ‘off-sale’ from June 2016.

300 Year Celebrations in London We have an opportunity for up to 11 members of our District to attend the meeting in London next year in October this will be a very memorable occasion for those who can make it.

In order to prepare for such a visit I would like those who might like to attend to let me know so I can co-ordinate plans for such a trip.

I understand 5000 can attend the meeting but there is only room for half that number at the dinner afterwards we are still awaiting f inal detail.

I would look at some accommodation outside London perhaps in Reading where there are a number of Lodges meeting and it’s is close to Blenheim Place (Churchill’s home) and the home of the Duke of Wellington. It’s a simple train ride into London for the main event and you all may like to do some site seeing while in UK. Our own celebrations are timed to allow this trip to London and give us plenty of time to return to NZ for our local events.

If your’e interested please let me know by email: mac@chopping.co.nz W Bro Michael Chopping ADGM

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Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

Spring 2016

Masonic News Grand Masonic Ball, celebrating 300 years of The Grand Lodge of England and supporting Teddies For Loving Care Brethren, this is your time to celebrate an event that will never come again. For three hundred years the Grand Lodge of England has been in existence.

There have been many fraternal organisation in the last thousand years.

The strongest has been Freemasonry... it’s time to celebrate!

We are hosting a Grand Masonic Ball with two goals, the f irst is to have great time and celebrate our 300th anniversary. Secondly and this is close to all freemasons hearts is charity. From the prof its we will give to a charity that few would complain about and that is, putting a smile on a child’s face. Our charity of choice is TLC – Teddies for Loving Care.

Come and celebrate, enjoy the companionship of brethren and nonmasons. This event might never be repeated in your life-time!

So where is it going to be held?

The Langham Hotel. One of, if not the best, hotel in Auckland.

A three course menu of varying delights to tempt your taste buds, to prance on your palate, a gastronomical feast of gargantuan proportions.

Oh, yes the cost is only: $200.00 per head for a night never to be forgotten

Grand Masonic Ball

When? May communications 2017.

Cost: $200.00 per head - tickets are selling fast so you must book now!

20th May 2017

Send payment to credit account: 03-0259-0012422-000 Place the name: ‘Grand Masonic Ball’ in appropriate slot on bank details.

Include: Your name and lodge number.

If you are not able to pay by direct credit then a cheque sent to: W.Bro. Tony Mansf ield C/o P.O.Box 9337, Newmarket, Auckland 1149.

The Langham, Auckland Full 5-star 3 course meal, all you can consume drinks, dancing and great fun!

If you cannot afford the upfront amount then you can arrange to pay by instalments.

Brethren, we need your payment either by instalments or complete payment as soon as possible, as this event is strictly limited and tickets are selling fast!

$200 per head Book your ticket now to avoid missing out!!!

This will be a swanky black tie affair, ball gowns or cocktail dresses. For those masons that want to wear a ball gown or cocktail dress please ensure you have the correct accessories.

Don’t worry about extra cost everything is included in the price of the ticket.

No raff les, No extra donations, just fun, fun, fun, so come dance the night away!

One cost covers all. A three course dinner, as much wine, beer and soft drinks you can consume. A musical ensemble that will play all your old favourites and some new ones.

Bring your friends, bring your family, bring your workmates, and let them see how Freemasons enjoy themselves.

Spring 2016

Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

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Masonic News Alexandra Lodge Sesquicentennial 150 years ago, on Friday the 10th of August 1866, at Alexandra (now Pirongia) in the Waikato, the Alexandra Lodge No 1188 under the United Grand Lodge of England was Constituted and W Bro William Otty was installed as its f irst Master.

The Lodge will be celebrating this auspicious occasion on Saturday the 5th of November 2016 at the Waikato Masonic Centre, 198 Barton Street Hamilton when we will also be hosting the District bi annual Communication Meeting. We invite all Masons, their wives/partners, family and friends to attend and help us to make this a memorable day and weekend.

The following is a brief synopsis of our programme.

Friday 4th November 7.00pm Meet and Greet at the Barton Street lodge rooms.

Saturday 5th November.

9.45am Regular Meeting of Alexandra Lodge, Tyled.

10.15am Visitors admitted.

10.30am District Grand Lodge and Sister

Constitution Representatives admitted.

10.45am Lodge Called Off, wives and other nonmasons admitted for a presentation of the history of the Lodge and a presentation to our nominated charity to mark the occasion.

Non-masons are invited to retire. The Lodge will call on and close.

12.00 Noon Rejoin wives for a light luncheon served

in the refectory.

2.00pm Ladies’ Function – a tour of the Hamilton

Gardens and afternoon tea.

As an alternative they may wish to independently visit The Base Shopping Centre or the race meeting at the Te Rapa Racecourse.

3.00pm District Communications Meeting.

7.00pm Dinner-Dance at The Verandah Function

Centre beside Hamilton Lake.

Preferred dress for this event is Black Tie and Evening Dress, otherwise Lounge Suit.

We are looking forward to hosting as many brethren as possible and look forward to your support and company. If you are, unfortunately, working during the day come to the dinner-dance in the evening and unwind.

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Accommodation for the weekend can be booked at the following locations. Book early as the rooms at these prices will be limited and will be released for general sale after Friday the 14th of October.

Use the reference ‘Alexandra Lodge’. Both facilities are a short walk to the CBD and restaurants.

Ventura Inn & Suites, 23 Clarence Street, Hamilton, Ph 07 838 0110, www.venturainns.co.nz.

Standard Studio including Continental Breakfast at $119.00 Mill Lodge, 135 Ulster Street, Hamilton, Ph 07 838 1282, www.milllodge.nz Double Studio, No breakfast, $95.00.

Note that the prices here have recently increased but the rooms are being held for us at this price.

W Bro Roger Johnstone Master, Alexandra Lodge No 1188

District Grand Lodge of the North Island New Zealand Communications The next District Grand Lodge Communications meeting is to be held in the Lodge Rooms at 298 Barton Street, Hamilton on Saturday the 5th of November 2016 at 2.45 P.M. Registrations need to be submitted no later that Friday the 21st of October 2016.

Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

Spring 2016

Masonic News North Island English Masonic District Charitable Trust Education Grants At the Annual General Meeting of the Trust, the Chairman, W. Bro. Murray Macdonald announced the introduction of an education scholarship to support brethren who were undertaking tertiary study. Those eligible qualify for an annual grant of up to $500 to assist with their fees and other costs incurred in university and other tertiary education.

W. Bro. John Mitchell of Aorangi Lodge was the f irst to apply and received a grant which was presented to him by the Master of the Lodge on Wednesday 10 August 2016.

He was educated in a number of schools, as his father was in the Royal Air Force(RAF). He joined the RAF in November 1976 as a f light engineer f lying on Nimrods. In 1983 he was medically grounded and until 1998 served as Operations Support Manager. While in the RAF John gained an Open University degree in 1991 and a Post Graduate Certif icate of Education. In September 1998 he started teaching mathematics in secondary schools. In 2009 his family emigrated to New Zealand where he still teaches.

John has taken a year’s study leave to carry out research into the effect Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD) has on the achievement and engagement of Year 9 students in New Zealand schools. This will form a thesis towards a Master’s in Education at Victoria University Wellington. His particular interest is how we can best use BYOD in our teaching to improve engagement and interest in mathematics.

John was initiated into Ashford lodge in September 2003 and passed and raised in 2004. He rose to be Senior Deacon before departing England and joined Aorangi in 2009 where he went through the chair in 2013, receiving the District rank of District Junior Deacon in November 2015. John is currently Senior Warden in the Wellington Research Lodge a New Zealand constitution lodge and will be taking the chair in November.

W. Bro R M McKillop

Chapter Chat Chapters in our district are all doing reasonably well, some of course in a stronger position than others, but they all need your support, please get out and visit other chapters to support each other.

We have been looking into the possibility of establishing a new Charter in Auckland and with all these exercises a lot of investigation and preparation work is required, due to some of the conditions required by London this project is on hold at this time.

This does not mean we are not looking into the possibility of an English Royal Arch Chapter in Taupo this challenge is still very much work in progress.

Let us all work towards the ongoing success of all our chapters in our District.

Michael Chopping P CCGP

Spring 2016

Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

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Masonic News Gavel visit - St George Lodge & Star of the North Lodge

Celebration of 60 Years of Gavel Exchange between Franklin and Zealandia Lodges

On Monday the 29th of August we had our annual gavel exchange.

Saturday the 6th of August 2016 was a cold and wet evening, but the atmosphere inside the Lodge Rooms in Whangarei was warm and welcoming, as 32 members and 13 ladies gathered for the 60 year celebration of the exchange of the gavel between Franklin and Zealandia Lodges. The Lodge was tyled at 4:00pm.

This exchange is to commemorate the annual exchange of the gavel between Star of the North Lodge No 1647 and St George Lodge No 1801.

The tradition of the exchange visit has been going since 1932.

The gavel is inscribed with the following.

To Commemorate Annual Exchange Visits of Star of the North Lodge No 1647 St George Lodge No 1801 Presented by Bro L. H. Brown 1932 Â I believe there has only been one or two occasions when the gavel did not get exchanged on an annual basis since 1932.

W Bro Michael Hunter Master St George Lodge 1801

The Lodges were fortunate to be able to pass Brother Hanz Hapin, an entered apprentice from Eden Lodge 1530 to the second degree. All went smoothly for the Zealandia Lodge, who performed the working, even though the practices had been a bit shaky.

While the men held their meeting the ladies gathered for a good old friendly catch-up. It turned out that Jan Weir, from Auckland has many cousins all over the north.

At 6:00 pm the pot luck dinner was served and enjoyed by all in attendance. Our Lodge ladies certainly know how to turn it on!

After the meal a brief explanation of the exchange of the gavel ceremony was given by W Bro Des Stuck, and a copy of W Bro Harry Turner’s explanation was presented to the Worshipful Master W Bro Ian Jenkins of the Zealandia Lodge and to our new member, Hanz Hapin of the Eden Lodge.

A sad note though, was that W Bro Harry Turner, a member of Northern Light Lodge and Franklin Lodge, was unable to attend the function, and warm wishes for a speedy return to good health were extended to him.

All in all, a very successful meeting with warm camaraderie amongst everyone.

Zealandia and Franklin Lodges would like to extend our warmest thanks to the Eden Lodge for giving us the opportunity to pass Bro Hapin.

The gavel was presented by W. Bro. Michael Hunter (Master of St George Lodge) on the right of W. Bro. Ian Metcalfe (Representing Master of Star of North Lodge) on the left.

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W Bro Wayne Maday Secretary, Zealandia Lodge 2072

Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

Spring 2016

Masonic News Mentoring Brethren, in addressing the issue of Mentoring I am reminded that this is something we all practice daily in our personal lives with family, colleagues, friends and fellow Brethren.

There are many articles, commentaries and guides etc. that address the specif ics and interpretations of mentoring.

Masonically we are approaching mentoring from a predominantly pastoral care perspective including the aspects of education and knowledge. The pastoral perspective is well known by you all and no doubt practiced regularly.

The educational perspective reminds me of the 3 R’s programme that both Grand and District Grand Lodges implemented in the 1990’s, Retain, Regain and Recruit.

The 3R’s encapsulated the essence of Pastoral perspectives; care, education / knowledge and fostering relationships and conf idence.

This programme was designed to identify to all Brethren that masonry was suffering with declining membership, as were all other organisations, which unfortunately is still the situation. Part of this is the social environment of today with safety and security issues, work and family demands, and other activities you may deem as important alternative uses of your spare time, which for most is perceived to be declining.

These three activities, the 3 R’s, still apply and will always apply to masonry

Spring 2016

especially to Mentoring Activities, as they apply in many other aspects of life in various ways: Retain – is all about the current practicing brethren, new and long time, their enjoyment within our fraternity and a willingness to be involved in any way they feel comfortable.

Regain – is all about working with those who have ventured elsewhere and encouraging them to return to the fraternity, however to do this we need to have established an environment and camaraderie they will feel comfortable with.

Recruit – is all about identifying good men in the community whom we feel would benef it from the principles we practice in our everyday life. This of course supposes that each Brother has the willingness and ability to identify a possible candidate, and has enough knowledge to enlighten and ignite his contact’s interest or is able to put him in touch with a Brother who can.

Every Brother’s extent of knowledge varies, however the Lodge Mentor is ‘the turn to’ Brother, for help and guidance in this respect.

Where do the Mentoring aspects arise in relation to the aforementioned?

Principally mentoring is all about guiding, supporting, encouraging and helping our fellow Brother enjoy the institution he has joined, have a sense of belonging, develop a knowledge of craft

and an understanding of the fraternity he has joined which in turn will give him the conf idence to share amongst his numerous contacts the benef its of the craft hopefully in turn igniting their interest.

Being endowed with this enjoyment and conf idence of the craft, his comfort in being a member of it, he is ideally suited in being an ambassador for craft. To me these are the bases to help grow ourselves and our fraternity.

Mentoring is the responsibility of each Brother, remembering that we all should assist a fellow brother in his enjoyment and daily advance in Masonic knowledge by providing both “pastoral” care and educational guidance to all our fellow Brothers be they new members or long serving.

With a sense of belonging will come enjoyment, with knowledge the conf idence in understanding the craft, and collectively the ability to discuss the craft with non-masons.

I urge each and everyone one you to work with the Lodge Mentor and assist him by taking responsibility to mentor brethren within your Lodge. The Lodge Mentor is there to help and guide. Be active and continue to enjoy your masonry.

W Bro Bill Andrew PAGDC, PADGM District Grand Mentor

Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

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Masonic News The Long Way Round It was a dark and stormy day when the seven intrepid adventurers embarked upon their perilous quest …..

Sounds like the start to a great story but, in reality, it was a brilliant sunny day when seven of us gathered at Auckland Airport to make our way down south for a brief trip to parts of the South Island and two installations.

After an uneventful f light to Christchurch, we negotiated for the use of a somewhat larger vehicle (as there had been an unexpected addition to the travel team in the early hours of the morning) and took temporary possession of our kitset van – so called due to the propensity for bits to fall off.

from the outside, except two very nice columns beside the main entrance, the interior was probably best described as “intimate”. Certainly, with around 50 masons in the room, there was no room for more. The ceremony was interesting as it incorporated a number of different charges only found as part of the “West Coast Working”. Given the visitors were welcomed with a whisky or two before the meeting and the somewhat stif ling atmosphere in the crowded temple on a hot day, it was unsurprising that a number of masons were observed drifting off during the ceremony. A reviving whisky or two after the meeting soon had everyone perked up again in time for a very pleasant refectory at the village.

Although the Lewis Pass had been closed the day before and Porter’s Pass had required chains, we had an absolutely brilliant day driving over the Southern Alps with bright sunshine shining on the fresh snow much of the way, and a brief stop at the Famous Sheff ield Pie Shop. Opinions were divided as to the best pie on offer but the steak and kidney edged out the lambs fry and bacon by a narrow margin.

Stopping only brief ly for a quick look over the Otira Gorge and to let George make a new friend, the f irst bit fell off the van. An indeterminate piece of metal, later identif ied as part of a seatbelt catch, it was consigned to the glovebox. We made it safely to Greymouth in the early evening, just in time to join the travellers from Christchurch for a meal at the Union Hotel. Old friendships were renewed and new friendships started over good food and drink.

Saturday saw us off to the historic village, Shantytown, for the installation at Greymouth Lodge No. 1233. The wooden lodge room was built at Shantytown by local masons as a replica of an early lodge room in the area. Nothing much to look out

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on the West Coast, they do expect speed limits to be obeyed. Another bit fell off the van, some sort of plastic cover also possibly part of a seat belt, and into the glove box it went.

The Denniston mining area was fascinating, especially how they shipped the coal down the hillside in a sort of relay cable car system. At one stage there was a complete town, including two schools, on the plateau but the mining has long since stopped and noone really lives there anymore.

Back down the hill, we headed into Westport for lunch. Most of the team had hamburgers that were fantastic – steak, mushrooms, cheese, salad and a huge serving of chips. Despite some valiant efforts, no one managed to f inish their meal.

Returning to the van, we found the cause of what had been an annoying rattle – another bit of a seat belt catch which had been rattling round the f loor of the van so that too was consigned to the glove box. We never did f ind the rest of that catch. Some brief repairs to stop the irritating squeak in the back seat and we headed south again.

George and friend

Sunday was free and the weather gloriously sunny, again, so we decided to drive up the Coast beyond Westport to visit the historic Denniston coal mining area and then return after visiting some old masonic graves at Charleston and the Pancake Rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki. The drive north was largely uneventful although some inattention did result in the driver being given a stern warning by the local police – it appears that even

Some 40km south, not long before reaching Punakaiki we were stopped and told a large landslide had completely blocked the road and it would be some considerable time before the road was re-opened. Some people might suggest that, given we were slowly reducing a rental van to its component parts, it was not too much of a stretch of the imagination to blame us for the similar disintegration of a substantial part of a West Coast mountainside. Def initely NOT so – at the time we were miles away having lunch.

Having little option, we turned our van around and headed back north. After a brief detour back into Westport for petrol, we headed back towards

Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

Spring 2016

Masonic News those who use Emulation ritual although there were some differences. Towards the end of the evening, representatives of the local Caledonian and Thistle lodges were presented by George Imlah with Grand Lodge of Scotland Master Mason’s certif icates issued to their members in the 1880’s.

After a convivial refectory at the local hall, it was back to Geraldine for a nightcap and a sleep before heading back to Christchurch in the morning for the f light home.

The travelling team

Greymouth via Inangahua Junction, Reefton and the Grey River Valley eventually getting back to Greymouth several hours later and about 200km further than planned – it really was the long way round.

Before leaving the West Coast, we thought we had better repair the stop on one of the van’s sliding doors before it too fell apart. Just a loose bolt we thought. A couple of turns of the spanner will soon put that right we thought. Yeah, right.

One turn of the spanner and the whole thing fell off the door – the thread of the retaining bolt was completely stripped. A big sigh and it too was consigned to the glove box with dire warnings to everyone not to open the side door too far in case it fell off its runners. Actually it wasn’t too much of a problem because the door wouldn’t open from the inside as the door handle and/or locking mechanism were broken.

the pies at Sheff ield were better and the Famous Sheff ield Pie Shop nominated as a “must stop” site for future travel, the same as Ronnies and The Red Barn are “must stop” places on our Opotiki/ Gisborne trips. Onto Geraldine where we stayed in the historic Heritage Hotel.

We really can’t say a lot about that hotel apart from the fact is was cheap and clean.

In the evening we drove over to Winchester to see Tony Mansf ield reinstalled as Master of Lodge of St John No. 1137. They have to use the Winchester Lodge rooms as their own were badly smoke and water damaged after an arson attack on the community hall next to their own lodge rooms. Right on the main road, the Winchester Lodge building looks a bit like a concrete bunker from the outside but the temple is very nice with a beautifully painted plaster frieze.

Again a somewhat intimate meeting as the temple was full to capacity. The ceremony was somewhat more familiar to

And the last entertaining moments on the trip were at the rental car company.

The look on the staff faces was priceless when they were presented with the collection of random bits that had fallen off and informed that those were their van. After recovering from the shock and being informed the rest of the van was in fact in the carpark and not scattered along various South Island roads, they quickly agreed to a substantial discount.

A fantastic trip, thoroughly enjoyed by all and one to be repeated in the future but hopefully without bits falling off and without having to take the long way round.

The team were Graeme Abbott, John Aldcroft, Chris Butterworth, George Imlah, Murray Macdonald, Tony Mansf ield, Graeme McKandry and John Woodage.

W Bro Tony Mansf ield Master The Lodge of St John

An early start on the Monday saw us head back over the Alps, again in brilliant sunshine. We stopped at Devil’s Corner to admire the viaduct over the top section of the Otira Gorge before heading for Christchurch to pick up the last member of the team.

From Christchurch, we headed south, stopping at Dunsandel to try the Jimmy’s Mutton Pie recommended by George.

After extensive sampling and a comprehensive review, the party agreed Spring 2016

Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

Landslide on the way to Punakaiki

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Masonic News

W Bro F G (Graham) Ireland (1919-2016) On the 10th of September W Bro Ireland passed to the Grand Lodge Above. His active participation in Waitemata lodge’s affairs brought a traditional history of substance, standards and balance.

My f irst memory of Graham must be like the memory of many others. I was a young boy of just under 10 years when I met Father Christmas at a children’s Christmas Party at Princes Street. He was the real thing, right down to the smell of drink on his breath.

A more recent memory is of a severe and focused ritualist and as a result many a candidate will have indelibly etched in their memories the obligations set out for them by W Bro Ireland.

His ritual was of such quality, that there was often a quiet pause in lodge after he f inished, as the Brethren wondered at what they have just witnessed.

Joined and initiated: 17th September 1962 Passed: 19th November 1962 Raised: 18th March 1963 J. Warden: 1969 S. Warden: 1970 Master: 1 9 7 1 & 2001 50 Year PIN District Ranks ; District Grand Senior Deacon: Past District Junior Grand Warden: Past District Senior Grand Warden: Side degrees: Royal Arch (Eden Chap):Joined Appointed 1st Principal

1974 1992 2005

2nd September 1963 6th May 1974

He will be greatly missed.

W Bro Clynton Hardy, J.P., P.D.S.G.W., P.M. Secretary, Waitemata 689 E.C.

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Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island, New Zealand

Spring 2016