TESSELLATED Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
TALES Autumn 2017
Tessellated Tales
Grand Masonic Charity Ball Brethren, it is only a matter of weeks until the inaugural Masonic Charity Ball will be held in the Great Ballroom of the Langham Hotel. It will follow District Grand Convocation and Communications at 6pm on Saturday 20th May and is shaping up to be a great success. The purpose of the Masonic Charity Ball is to fundraise for the Teddies For Loving Care Appeal in a formal setting as a black tie dinner and dance. It IS open to non-masons. Your friends, your family and your colleagues are all invited. Please do invite people in your lives that this Ball may interest. We have a tremendous opportunity to showcase how we as Freemasons have fun and simultaneously do good for our communities.
such as Expedia, Trivago, Booking.com etc. Members have also found far cheaper accommodation at other hotels in the vicinity of Auckland CBD. Please explore your options to find the best deal that suits you. The Langham Hotel will cater for any dietary requirements you may have. Let us know by email at events@masonicevents.co.nz Please ‘like’ our Facebook page and share it with your friends. www.facebook.com/masoniccharityball, We will be giving away a luxury bed package on the night worth $5000. It includes a Langham Blissful Bed (your choice of size), sheet and pillowcase set, plus two luxury bathrobes.
The tickets are $199 and can now be purchased by credit card or online at www.masonicevents.co.nz. The price of the ticket is all inclusive, you will not be asked to dig into your pocket at all on the night. Your tickets will be emailed/posted to you in the coming few weeks.
For lodges and groups that have bought multiple tickets, or a table of 10, you will be seated together. If you are inviting friends, family and colleagues to purchase tickets and attend with you at the ball, we will do our utmost to design the seating plan around this.
Everyone who has purchased and paid for a ticket is in our system. Some lodges are purchasing tickets for widows of former members, a truly charitable endeavour.
For any enquiries please contact W Bro Andrew Cochrane on andy.keys@mac.com or W Bro Tony Mansfield at tonybmanz@gmail.com.
Although the Langham Hotel is offering a special room rate (10% off), many people have found it significantly cheaper to book online using websites
W Bro Andrew Cochrane
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www.masonicevents.co.nz
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
Tessellated Tales
Wellington Lodge Awards Educational Grant Bro Cameron Macfarlane joined Wellington Lodge in July 2015. Having served as a member of the staff of the Wellesley Boutique Hotel, he had met a number of Brethren during their refectory on several occasions. He was passed in April 2016 and raised in September 2016. At the Christmas meeting in December, he was presented with a cheque for $500 by W Bro Tony Cross, the third education grant from the North Island English Masonic District Charitable Trust. He has an interesting background as the following brief biographical note reveals. Cameron Macfarlane was born in Rotorua, he is the 3rd son of a Marine Engineer and a Teacher. His family soon moved to Wellington where he spent three short years before moving to the United States of America due to his father’s job.
He lived in the USA for about 5 years before moving to Singapore again due to his father’s job. Singapore is where he attended United World College of South East Asia which allowed him to travel around a fair bit of South East Asia and Europe in the process. Some memorable trips included visiting the foothills of the Himalayas and trekking through them for three weeks and camping in the Malaysian jungle. In 2006 Cameron and his parents made the return trip to New Zealand where he finished his high school education at Scots College in Wellington. Whilst at Scots he took part in several school productions as a lighting and sound technician winning school awards for his work. On top of this he also spent time as a crew member aboard the sail training ship the Spirit of New Zealand. Helping to mould New Zealand’s youth into successful leaders through the medium of teaching them to sail and work as a team.
After his graduation from Scots he proceeded to enter the workforce as a bartender and bar manager at the St James Theatre in Wellington while also studying towards a Bachelors of Design in Photography from the Wellington Institute of Technology. He graduated with the degree at the beginning of 2013. After which he decided to further his education by gaining a Diploma in Journalism, to try and achieve his goal of one day being a photojournalist, a goal he is still working towards. He continued working at the Theatre till the end of 2014 where he transferred his skills to the Wellesley Boutique Hotel for a summer job, it is at this point that he was introduced Freemasonry. At present Cameron is in his final year of studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce in International Business, after which he hopes to enter the workforce either with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade or the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.
W Bro Tony Cross presents Bro Cameron Macfarlane with an Educational Grant from the North Island English Masonic District Charitable Trust. Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
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Tessellated Tales
The Annual Pilgrimage Being October, it was time for the annual pilgrimage round the East Cape, to relax and enjoy some time with our friends in Opotiki and Gisborne. No van on this trip, a decision that may have been influenced by the saga of the disintegrating van of the South Island trip, so several cars launched themselves from Auckland, earlyish on the Saturday morning. First was the traditional stop at Ronnie’s Café in Matamata. Some enjoyed the usual, very reasonably priced breakfast while others stuck with the coffee, preferring to wait until the next stop. And then on we went, over the Kaimai Ranges, skirting round Tauranga and onto the new toll road past Te Puke. And what a marvellous road too – one of the best stretches of road in the country. Then through Matata to the next scheduled stop – the Red Barn just outside Whakatane, where many enjoyed a fantastic lunch, even including some who had only break-
Fine detail on the ceiling of the Turanganui Lodge Rooms
fasted a couple of hours previously in Matamata. Back on the road again, we were soon in Opotiki. After a quick stop at the supermarket for Lotto tickets and to make sure all the necessary supplies were on hand, it was time to get changed and head to the Opotiki Lodge for their installation. As always we were made extremely welcome and the ceremony went well. The day being on the Page 3
warm side, many found it difficult to keep their eyes open during the ceremony but there were no recorded instances of disgrace through snoring. The ladies of the lodge provided an excellent meal which included the option of a South African dish known as Bobotie. Apparently quite tasty but detailed enquiries into the ingredients were avoided. Then it was back to the motel to relax and solve the problems of the world and of freemasonry. In the morning, we were again welcomed back at the lodge for a great cooked breakfast, as has become traditional. Regrettably, no whitebait fritters were in evidence this year and some of the travelling players were very disappointed. It seems that since Jeff Vanstone moved to Pukekohe, the lodge has not had anyone to supply the whitebait. We are, however, assured that this keenly felt lack will be redressed in future years as Jeff will travel down a week earlier and spend the week fishing to make sure there are adequate stocks. The leisurely breakfast finished and the dishes all done, it was time to cruise over to Gisborne. As it was a brilliantly sunny day, there was some debate whether to go through the Gorge or round the East Cape. Most elected to go through the Gorge but a couple decided to take the longer, more scenic route. A nice easy drive to Gisborne followed by a quiet afternoon relaxing before meeting some of the Turanganui brethren at the fishing club for dinner, followed by another relaxing evening setting the world to rights. For the last few years, Monday morning has meant a trip out to Merv Harding’s farm for a bit of a tour and a scrumptious morning tea. Sadly, this year, the morning tea had to be foregone as Merv’s wife was ill. Some consolation was had by a visit to the local Irish pub
for their steak and Guinness pie, accompanied, of course, by a pint of Guinness. That night we were welcomed into what has to be one of the most stunning lodge rooms in New Zealand – that owned by Turanganui and Montrose lodges. Built as a perfect cube, it is worth the trip to Gisborne just for the privilege of seeing it. The refectory was remarkable for the clean sweep of the raffle by the Prince of Wales brethren who declined to share the whisky there and then, but did undertake to share it with everyone at their next meeting. Up early on Tuesday for the trek back to Auckland with the usual stop at the Red Barn for lunch.
Centre piece of the Turanganui Lodge Rooms Ceiling.
Another successful away trip enjoyed by all. The travelling players were Graeme Abbott, John Aldcroft, Stan Boyask, Chris Butterworth, Mike Chopping, Steve Foggin, George Imlah, Murray Macdonald, Tony Mansfield, Graeme Martin, Rex Newton, Graeme “Barney” Norton, Nick Rogers, Jeff Vanstone and John Woodage. And a postscript – it seems some of the travellers lived to regret not taking a van as their chosen vehicle decided to cook its electronic innards making travel homewards just a trifle difficult – it seems a disintegrating aged van may not be such a bad option after all! W Bro Tony Mansfield PDGJD
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
Tessellated Tales W Bro John Elliot – United Manawatu Lodge - 60 Years Certificate In life it is so crazy that when the best they have gone A eulogy is given about one’s life that is thru. Today I’d like to break the mould of a tradition That when this One who is not even close to being thru. And say these heartfelt words There is a man they call him the Don of Masonry. He’s like the mighty Oak of Forests Who has stood tall and strong. Who arms they stretched almost to Infinity and beyond. He roamed the Hills of (Scot) to the far South African coast To the Heart of the Manawatu. He roamed the bonny glens of peat that is true. A drop a dram and a great big How Di Do He’s known the Mighty Douglas of whom is White and Blue. He’s told my Dad now distance from this abode gone to faraway lands
W Bro John Elliot, his wife Yvonne and sons Craig and Riaan outside the Lodge Rooms
I’ll wash the little Black Douglas till his flesh is good as new. The man they call him JCE, it’s true He’s a Rock and a Legend and a friend thru and thru. A might Mason for 60 years who’s lead the way for me and you. So stand strong my mighty Brother you have set the bar high Well make sure that Masonry is far from thru. W Bro Owen Jarrett DDGDC
Holy Royal Arch Older Constitutions Meeting The Older Constitutions meeting this year is being hosted by the Ara Chapter No. 348 Irish Constitution, on Monday 8th May at 7.30 PM. Our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent expects every Chapter within reach of Airedale Street to be represented and is also looking for a good turnout of District Officers W Bro John Elliot and his wife Yvonne, with W Bro Jarrett, presenting the explanation of the Certificate, and also trying to figure JCE mother Lodge, which he confirmed, the King’s English version was White Wooten. Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
E Comp Bruce McMurtrie DGS E Page 4
Tessellated Tales
Wellington Lodge pulls out all the stops for Christmas Traditionally, Wellington Lodge has made a special event of the Christmas meeting at which the Senior Warden, Bro Chris French gave a fine delivery of the Long Closing, after which the ladies and guests were invited to join their husbands and partners in the Lodge room where W Bro Nicholas Griffin (who was the instigator of the proceedings and in the Chair for the evening) gave a brief explanation of the officers of the Lodge.
As is the Lodge tradition their choir – the Mellowcrafts – presented two brackets of Christmas Carols led by Organist and Choir Master W Bro David Trott. The Lodge Christmas Song started the first bracket continuing a tradition that has been a part of the Christmas meeting for seventy-three years. Br Steve Haultain was the soloist. The toasts and responses were of a very high standard although W Br David Crump walked out after hearing Bro John Rapunut’s toast to the Past Masters. The response was finally given by David’s alter ego (see photo) much to the enjoyment of all. This was the first occasion on which the Lodge had included wives, partners and friends in the Christmas meeting and judging by the comments it is likely to be repeated in the future. W Bro Bob McKillop
November Communication Early Warning
Clockwise from top left: The Mellow Crafts – W Bros Sam Perry, David Crump, Satish Chandra, Bro Steve Haultain, Tom Nelson (Guest), W Bro Malcolm Baker, W Bro Nicholas Griffin and Gerard Paver. Top Right: W Bro David Crump with W Bro Tony Cross; Centre Left: Bros Jack Robinson and Ephraim Wilson; Centre Right The Barber’s Shop Quartet “Kiwi Tones”, Bottom: Helen and W Bro Richard Prothero, W Bro David Crump and Bro Alan Harris with Meg Harris, W Bro Rolfe Everson (having a night off) with W Bros Satish Chandra and Tony Cross in the background. Photos: Bro Cameron Macfarlane.
Everyone then retired to the Grand Dining Room of the Wellesley Boutique Hotel for a splendid meal and entertainment. Nicholas had engaged a Barber’s Shop Quartet, Kiwi Tones, who presented a bracket of numbers before the meal was served. Page 5
The New Zealand celebrations of the Tercentenary of The United Grand Lodge of England Will be graced by the attendance of Sir David Wootton, Assistant Grand Master To be held at the Novotel, in Rotorua From Friday 17th November to Sunday 19th November 2017
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
Tessellated Tales Public Relations – Part 2 Why Public Relations? Why so much emphasis on Public Relations? Some of us think that public recognition of our dignified organisation is un-Masonic, that it has never been the way we do things, that it isn’t traditional. Others think that if we do our good deeds, the community in general will respond and gravitate towards us in admiration and esteem. Unfortunately, neither of the above concepts is true or realistic. In fact, they are dangerously false. Due to predilection and a lack of understanding of our organisation, our Masonic message is flying way above the heads of our audience. Why is this so? It’s because they have no reason to consider our message or actions, that they think we hold little meaning to the concerns of the greater public, or worse, a negative connotation. Positive Public Opinion The main purpose of Public Relations is to create and instill a positive Public Opinion. Basically, that’s it. How to do it – is the skill. No part of the science of Public Relations principles includes publicity, and/or advertising, except as an adjunct to PR efforts – Public Relations is not about publicity, and/or advertising. Public Relations work is done quietly and with great dignity, respect and good taste, and very much ‘behind the scenes’, and it is done deliberately and proactively. The skill includes an active connection with influential areas of the community. It doesn’t include open publicity of our affairs or events. However, it does require that we associate our name and logo with specific events involving public awareness that reflect a positive light on our organisation. This requires a certain subtle cooperation with the media, since firstly, it is through the media that the community remains aware of us, and secondly, by
word-of-mouth. And it requires the same subtle cooperation with local groups and other elements of our community with which we can be positively seen to associate. The cooperation we receive from the media is quite important and significant to our positive public image. Without it we cannot address any negative concerns that may arise, nor can we can ever hope to attract suitable men (and their families). It is a positive image of our organisation that draws people – not simply brand recognition. Attraction to our organisation is the knock-on effect. Staying remote, ‘out of trouble’, and below the ‘spotlight’ can in no way enhance public opinion of Freemasonry. We have to be seen, whether we like it or not subtly. NZ Freemason Magazine The summer issue of the New Zealand Freemason magazine contained many articles directly addressing Public Relations, or orientated in that way. Get a copy and have a look through it. Not all of those words are concerned with pure Public Relations, some of them reflect the usual confusion with advertising/publicity, however, the general idea is clearly obvious and worth considering.
so obvious to the layman who explores the definitions of PR on the internet. Many high-calibre advertising agencies employ a Public Relations division for service to their clientele, which includes well-known organisations and famous people in such fields as popular music and the arts, and other areas that require constant public grooming to maintain positive public interest, and an audience. The Royal Family is one example, NZ Opera singer Kiri Te Kanawha is another – there are many, many more. Public Relations involves more than ‘brand awareness’, it most importantly involves projecting a positive image to the general public, or a specific area of our community. The Most Trusted list of New Zealand companies are ruled by this science – you’re probably not banking at a certain bank for no reason – you would likely have a positive inclination toward that bank, and their positive public image has been created by major players in the field of Public Relations. Of course, as a banking institution, they have to meet up to their reputation – or lose it. Well – So Do We!
Examples of the positive public opinion of Freemasonry can be found in the USA, South America, parts of Europe, and parts of Asia where many of their Lodges work with the media constantly to effect a positive public image. That is professional Public Relations in action.
Insurance companies sell life insurance partly on the basis of positive public opinion. Selling life insurance requires professional grooming. Sales of life insurance are referred to as ‘soft sell’ and require careful application by their Sales and Marketing areas. They are in part assisted by Public Relations specialists. Some Brethren find an equal challenge in discussing Freemasonry with others.
The Uninitiated
Public Appearances
Most of us are uninitiated in Public Relations because it is a very specialised and subtle science usually employed in the background commercially and used as a major part in ‘social engineering’ in a number of relevant areas such as government and large corporations. The skills used by Public Relations specialists involve strategies that are not
There is little value in making public appearances with the idea that the context will interest the general public/community without preliminary adequate PR spade-work. Unless the general public already have a positive opinion of our organisation, anything we say or do will make little sense to them. Why show them how great we are when
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
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Tessellated Tales they aren’t actively listening. The few people who do know more about Freemasonry are not talking about it widely because they fear negative feedback from their opinions, and are generally ill-qualified or equipped to speak on behalf, or defence of Freemasonry. Brethren have been lost to our Lodges due to the influence of the negative opinions of their friends and colleagues, or their perception of public embarrassment. Many of our Brethren are well aware of this. What is the value of Freemasonry? As Freemasons we know full well of our high value, both as an organisation, per se, and as a valuable asset to the community in which we live. That high value is well-earned and well-deserved – we need to retain that value in the public eye. However, that value is only recognised in a small sector of the community, and not in an overt way. We are viewed in general in New Zealand with some suspicion, and certainly in true ignorance of what we are, and what we do.
How often do the media describe themselves as ‘The Watchdog of the People’? Did you vote for them? Or did they take it on themselves to describe themselves that way – before anyone else offered another kind of description? If they did, they show an excellent grasp of Public Relations. And few people make any special effort to go to the library to find out more about Freemasonry – why should they? They’re busy raising a family, or working hard to pay the bills, as we all do. Most of their information comes from the media! Word-of-mouth generally ‘parrot’ the media.
of a major city in New Zealand. Together we found that we knew a few people mutually, one of whom was well-known as a Justice of the Peace. He was also recognised by the mayor as a Freemason, and that led to an acknowledgement of Freemasonry by the mayor. The mayor stated that ‘…you Freemasons make a major contribution to the good of the community’.
This is a basic truth of the value of good Public Relations technique.
Where have you heard that before? It’s a well-known caption of Masonic publicity by New Zealand Freemasons! And that’s where the mayor got the words for that positive opinion! That well-known poster appears in many parts of the country and is easily visible on the outside wall of several Masonic buildings.
…the Trees
W Bro Steven Elliott,
The writer spoke with the mayor
PDGP
So, it’s the Media again – Don’t miss the forest for the trees! The media, however, have a unique place in our culture, in the communities in which we live. The reason is that the media have already established their bona fides in a positive way. They are generally credible in the public eye, and if our image is portrayed in a positive way by the media, then our good works will reflect well in a way that the public will definitely recognise. That is how positive public opinion is created. It doesn’t just happen.
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Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand