The third Masonic hall.
it was forced to sell the hall to the Provincial Council, although still meeting there until sharing the building proved inconvenient to all. Gradually numbers built up again and the Lodge offered to buy back the Hall in 1868 but was declined, so it continued to meet in hotels until building a very small hall in Nith Street in 1876. Joined there by Lodge St. John No.610 SC in May 1877, the hall very soon proved far too small and the two lodges joined forces to build a large and rather splendid hall, also on Nith Street. This, the third hall, was completed in March 1882. The following year saw the foundation of Lodge Victoria No.471 IC, which lodge also used the new Nith Street hall. Around this time there was a considerable expansion of Freemasonry in wording in all three degrees. The with the founding of many lodges in the explanation of the Third Degree Tracing rural Southland districts. Board is never given. Officers do not The Southern Cross Lodge and Lodge wear cuffs, although recently the Master St John lobbied hard for the formation of and Wardens started wearing cuffs the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. When inherited from Lodge Adoniram No. the Grand Lodge was formed in 1890, 411. As for suppers, a character called the Southern Cross Lodge emerged at ‘John Bull’ used to put in an appearance No.9 and as a foundation Lodge. The but his costume has been lost, as has other two Southland foundation Lodges the tradition. The Lodge is traditionally were the Mokoreta Lodge No.63 and the a ‘wet’ lodge, but nowadays alcohol is Fortitude Lodge No.64. Lodge St. John seldom brought to the table. was prevented from joining by protracted For the past hundred years or so, the negotiations with the Grand Lodge of fortunes of the Lodge have been largely Scotland. However, by 1906, Southland typical of Lodges throughout New was the only province with all its lodges Zealand. Like so many others, Southern in the Grand Lodge of New Zealand. Cross has suffered a decline in numbers, The next big development was the not only of overall membership but completion of the vast and splendid of its core of dedicated Brethren upon masonic hall in Forth Street in 1925, whose shoulders rests the management financed by Southern Cross and St John of lodge affairs. Nevertheless, the lodge Lodges, Lodge Victoria No.147 and is noted for its support of Grand Lodge Lodge Waihopai No.189, which sold its hall in Southland Masonic Centre today. Grey Street in order to join the scheme. Much of the furniture from the old hall was moved into the new building, including the famous ‘Hawcridge Pillars’ which feature on the Master Mason’s certificate. The Lodge does not have many tradit ions which mark it out. It works the ‘English’ version of the Third Degree and there are minor diff erences
and District schemes, having some effective planners and organizers among its members. The Lodge has recently seen a healthy influx of new, young members, mostly Filipinos with a keen attitude, which augers well for the future although it presents challenges for masonic education. Southern Cross will join other lodges to rise to the education challenge on a District basis. The Lodge has already started by making the role of Preceptor one of mentor-in-chief and instructor of ritual and protocol, an active office not necessarily given to the most senior member of the Lodge. The Lodge would like to thank John and Diana Litton for honouring Southland with their visit and hope they will visit us again before not too long. Their friendliness and sociability made a great impression on us all.
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