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Page 90 - Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Local People
Centenary for Whittlesea’s Masons ■ Whittlesea Masonic Lodge held its 100th anniversary celebrations on Saturday (Nov. 30). More than 120 men and women attended, with Freemasonry Victoria’s Grand Master Keith Murray presiding over a Reconsecration Ceremony. TheWhittlesea Masonic Lodge No 256 was founded in 1919, having been sponsored by the Preston Lodge No 148. A commemorative booklet, compiled by David Draper, was issued. Foundation members were W.H. Robinson, Worshipful Master; R.W. Kieman, Senior Warden; W.A. Crawford, Junior Warden; J. Higgs, Treasurer; A. Johnson, Director of Ceremonies; R.E. Dawson, Senior Deacon; G.J. Apted, Junior Deacon; G.J. Coombs, Inner Guard; A. Gingles, Tyler. Membership also included T. Mitchell, H.H. Giddens, D. Cornfoot, H.W.B. Scott, J. Price, G. Brain, J. Stoddart, P. Bidstrup and J. Crawford. The written history notes that November 29, 1919, was a hot day, and that a large number of Freemasons arrived by train, motor car, horse and buggy. Along with the foundation members, Frederick Thomas Hickford, Victoria’s Grand Master, and his team, consecrated the Whittlesea Lodge at 5.30pm on that day, 100 years ago. The Grand Master presented a Past Master’s Jewel to Worshipful Brother Robinson. The jewel wqas donated by the Steward Street St Arnaud Lodge, where Wor. Bro. Robinson was a member. The jewel was donated back to the Lodge by the Robinson family, and has been proudly worn by evrey Master of the Whittlesea Lodge to the present day. Priore to the building of the current Masonic Hall in Beech St (opposite the Royal Mail Hotel), meetings were held in the Whittlesea Mechanics’ Hall in Forest St (now the Horizons Church). Members had to set-up and put away the furniture for each meeting. First candidates to be initiated into Whittlesea Lodge were the two sons (W.W. Robinson and H.I. Robinson). of the Foundation Master. H.I. Robinson became Master of the Lodge in 1927.
PHOTO: ASH LONG
● Freemasons Victoria Grand Master Keith Murray (centre), flanked by Bill Sheahan and Nicholas Alivizatos, makes his entrance to Saturday’s ceremony at Whittlesea Lodge. As there was no electricity until 1920, a motion was passed that the 1938, a lighting plant was supplied offer from Brother Clark of land, for in 1927-28 by Brother Owens, the building of a new temple, be acproprioetor of the local cinema, lo- cepted. A letter o fthanks was sent to all cated in the Mechanics Hall. In the early years meetings were the brethren who had offered land. In 1924 the Trustees purchased held on or about the Full Moon to take advantage of the moonlight for the current property for the sum of £150, with the intention of building those driving horse and buggies. After the meeting they could the Masonic Centre when circumclimb onto their buggies and have a stances permitted. On April 24, 1924, a motion was snooze while the horses took them passed to allow the Building Comhome. On one occasion, a brother mittee to spend £10 10s for the declimbed onto his buggy and let the velopment of plans and specificahorse have his head, when the horse tions for the new building. At the following meeting on May stopped he woke uyp, looked around and thought ‘this is not my place, this 2, 1924, a motion was passed to enis Bob’s place’, only to realise he able the Building Committee to call had taken Bob’s horse by mistake. for tenders for the construction of thre It is said the yard at the back of new building. A motion was passed at the Lodge the Mechanics hall resembled a show grounds with the variety of meeting held on June 6, 1924, to authorise the Building Committee to vehicles parked there. At a meeting held on August 13, accept the tender from W. Allans Timber for the construction of the Temple at a cost of £1072/10/-. Total cost of the building was £1326/19/8. At this meeting a motion was passed to authorise the selling of Commonwealth Bonds owned by the Lodge Trustees, a total of £750 was raised from the sale. At the time the Building Fund was increased by several generouws donations. A small banquet charge at all installations then held in the Parish Hall, was also added. A small mortgage was raised with repayments being £25 a quarter and the final payment was made in 1944. Worshipful Brother Johnm Crawford (Past Grand Steward) laid the Foundation Stone of the Temple on July 29, 1934. In 1934 the building was all but ● Whittlesea Lodge Foundation Members 1919. Back row: Tho- completed with only the northern end mas Mitchell, H.H. Giddens, Davbid Cornfoot, Henry W.B. Scott, remaining unfinished. J. Price, George Brain, J. Stoddart. Middle Row: Robert E. Dawson, Several gifts were presented to P. Bidstrup, John Higgs, J. Crawford, A. Gingles, Geo. Apted, the Lodge: Senior Warden, Brother Geo. Coombs. Front Row: Wm. A. Crawford, W.S. Robinson, A. McKenzie, the local chemist, donated Johnson, R. Kiernan, the Senior Warden’s chair; the
Whittlesea Stationmaster, Bro. C. Smith, Junior Warden, donated the Junior Warden’s chair. The square pavement was obtained from the Bastings St Temple which was being renovated. The Working Tools were a gift from Worshipful Brothers Eaton, father and son, from the Learning Lodge No 250. The Master’s Gavel was a gift from Bro. C.H. Reaks and Bro. Giddens. The chairs were donated by Bro. Sam Lew, who also donated pastries and cakes over many years. All these furnishings are still in use today. The first regular meeting to be held in the new building was on October 3, 1934, and was the ‘last night’ of Worshipful Brother D.A. Funstonm’s year as Master. The following meeting of November 7 was the first installation of Worshipful Brother James McKenzie. On the night following this installation (Nov. 8) the first Whittlesea Mark Lodge Installation was performed when Worshipful Brother W.A. Langfgord was installed. The Installation was carreied out by Right Worshipful Brother Rev. A.T. Holden, Deputy Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Victoria. First candidates to be initiated in the Whittlesea Craft Lodge’s new building were Bro. G. Sawyer and Bro. G.P. Child, who went on to become Secretary of the Lodge with Grand Rank of Past Grand Senior Deacon. In 1926 a motion had been passed that no alcoholic beverages be served at the festive board. The motion was withdrawn two meetings later. A few years ago, a 60-litre gas boiler was installed in the kitchen. Worshipful Brother Coulthard, a locxal dairy farmer, would supply milk whivh was heated, and the brethren at the festive board would enjoy whisky and milk. ★ On April 13, 1927, a vote of thanks to Brother Giddons was recorded in the minutes, for the mak-
Weighting of three gavels, which were consequently presented to the St Andrew Lodge No 4087, Whittlesey, Cambridge in the east of England. At the installation of Worshipful Brother Rev. A.E.T. Newman, Provincial Grand Chaplain of Cambridge, the immediate Past Master on September 27, 1927, stated: “that the handsome gavels which had been used in this ceremony had been received from the Whittlesea Lodge No 256 under the Grand Lodge of Victoria”. It was unanimously resolved that a letter of sincere thanks and hearty good wishes be sent to the Whittlesea Lodge. On February 14, 1928, Worshipful Brother J.H. Pokle from the St Andrew Lodge, reminded brthren “of the gift of the gavels from the Whittlesea Lodge No 256 under the Grand Lodge of Victoria, Australia, and drew attention to an Alms box in oak”. It was proposed to sebd eth Alms box to the Brethren of Whittlesea Lodge bearing with it the greetings and good wishes of the Lodge, the cost to be borne by voluntary subscription. The Alms Box is still on display in the Whittlesea Lodge. ★ The links continued over the years. On March 4, 2009, Worshipful Brother Allan from the St Andrew Lodge, Whittlesey, England, presented a standard from the St Andrew Lodge to the Whittlesea Lodge. In addition, he presented a cheque for £1000 for the Black Saturday bushfire relief. ★ Over the years the brethren of the Whittlesea Lodge, their familkies and friends have raised many tens of thousands of doillars from raffles, dinner dances, games and trivia nights. In the early years charitable donations were made on a regular basis. Receipients incloudeed the Eye and Ear Hospital, and Returned Services League. ● To Be Continued PHOTO: ASH LONG
● Freemasons Victoria Grand Secretary Garry Runge.