Freemasons New Zealand
Lodge Tawera No 188
The last and final meeting of Lodge Tawera No 188, held on Tuesday 5 th July 2022. W Bro Duechars WM, opened the Lodge at 7:30pm and shortly afterwards received visitors from across the Canterbury Region, including District Grand Lodge. A short lecture on the history of Lodge Tawera was presented and a recent newspaper article from a local newspaper was read. Visitors were then invited to share memories and give greetings.
Shortly after 8:30pm the Worshipful Master gave the Senior Warden, W Bro Peter Hildyard, the command to close the Lodge for the final time. After which W Bro Bruce Stokes, Lodge Trustee and 60 Year badge holder, closed the VSL
W Bros S B Stokes, I M Stokes and A Deuchars have now joined the Ashley Lodge No 28.
16th April
Farewell to W Bro David King
Last Thursday was a sad day for the Lodge. We said goodby at the Northbrook Chaple, Rangiora, to one of our most senior members - W Bro David King.
David became a freemason by joining Lodge Waihopai in Southland in 1956 and later he received his Third Degree at the New Zealand Pacific Lodge No 2 in The Kapiti - Wellington District in 1957. He was one of those rare individuals to be presented with his 60 year Membership Badge in The Ashley Lodge in 2015.
David joined the Holy Royal Arch and became an officer of Grand Chapter before he was the Master of the Ashley Lodge. Both of these aspects of Freemasonry encourage any member, such as David, to celebrate their own religious faith whatever it may be.
David's long career as a Craft Mason and Royal Arch Mason enabled him to memorise and deliver long passages of ritual to members. The Tracing Board Lectures and The White Veil Charge are some examples that David could complete from memory without mistake. We were always in awe of this skill as some charges required 20 minutes or more to deliver.
Time with David's family was important to him and so he was reluctant to take on the extra workload of being a Master of a lodge. Nevertheless he took the final step of being Master and later he became The Master of the Ashley Lodge in March 2007, 50 years after joining The Craft.
We are proud to say that David King was a friend to all of us as well as a brother freemason. Although we feel sad that he is no longer with us, we feel thankful that we have known such a man. He had many of the qualities that we as freemasons hope to practice and we will remember him for that.
14th April
The Empty Chair
Today was that day when at our April Regular meeting we perform the Empty Chair Ceremony in remembrance of those who have given their lives in defence of their country and the freedoms that we all enjoy.
The Empty or Vacant Chair Ceremony dates back to 1875, a decade after the close of the American Civil War, when it was used in Masonic Lodges to pay tribute to those who did not return from the war. Since then it has been used by may lodges on Remebrance Day to pay homage to those Brother Mawsons who fell during WW1, WW2 and other wars.
11th March
Disability Research and the Burwood Academy Trust
Freemasons from the Ashley Lodge No 28 based in Rangiora, met recently with Drs Jo Nunnerley and Rachelle Martin, and Ms Julianne Johns, all of The Burwood Academy Trust, to see the presentation to the Trust of a cheque for $1650.
From left to right: Gordon Sylvester - Master of The Ashley Lodge, Dr Jo Nunnerley, Dr Rachelle Martin and Ms Julianne Johns - Burwood Academy Trust and Graham Wrigley - Grand Master Freemasons New Zealand.
The Burwood Academy is a “dynamic organisation committed to delivering research excellence and outcomes that improve the lives of people living with disability”.
The money raised locally will enable the Trust to purchase a multi-person communicator to expand their service.
The Grand Master of Freemasons of New Zealand considered the donation to be sufficiently important to attend the presentation and explained that Freemasons had given over $12 million to Charitable purposes thoughout New zealand, and it was gratifying to see further evidence of this from the Lodge.
To find out more about the excelent work done by the Burwood Academy Trust ...click here.
10th March
The New Lodge!
The New Lodge building is on the horizon! Yesterday the Directors signed the appropriate documents and North Canterbury Freemasons Centre Limited became the legal owners of the land at 4 Lilburne Street, Woodend.
What will the new building look like? Designs are being drawn up, amid much discussion with lodge members, and fairly soon we will all know much more.
15th January
Coffee Morning - Friday 14th January
Yesterday we had our usual Friday coffee morning at the Rangiora RSA. Probably the best turn out we've ever had with 17 members including the GM and the DGM. Lots of talk including the usual banter and bad jokes.
For anyone reading this who is a Mason and of course for anyone who isn't a Mason, you will always be welcome to join us at these Friday meetings - they start at 1030.
Please note - February the 10th is our first regular meeting of the year and March the 10th will be our Installation where our next W Master will be installed in the Chair of King Solomon.
14th December
The WM's year end summary
Companions, we have almost ended another year. This is despite the ravages of Covid19 in the greater community of New Zealand.
It has been difficult for all of us but as 'companions' we will hopefully all be pulling in the same direction to overcome our difficulties.
We have some big decisions to make in the coming months despite the problems in the wider community - and although these decisions are the concern of the whole Lodge, much of the decision making will fall on the shoulders of the Directors of the building company, the Lodge Trustees and those other members of the building committee as and when appointed.
Hopefully we will have a result early next year.
In the meantime, I wish you a Festive Christmas however you choose to spend it, and an iterestingf and productive New Year.
14th November
The other orders of Freemasonry
Our last regular meeting was the Thursday just past, and instead of undertaking ritual activities, several of the Brethren made short presentations on different aspects of Freemasonry.
Although the basic unit of Freemasonry is the Masonic Lodge, which alone can initiate a Freemason, and while there is no degree in Freemasonry higher than that of Master Mason, there are additional degrees which are part of several 'side orders' that are open only to those who are Master Masons.
Several of these 'side orders' were the subject of the evening's activities. Talks were given on The Society of David and Johnathan - the Secret Monitor, the Rose Croix, the Knights Templars, the Holy Royal Arch and the Operative Masons.
For more on the Operative Masons click here... The other 'side orders' referred to above will be covered in the future.
6th November
Special Olympics - 2022
However dissapointing it was to postpone the Special Olympics because of covid 19, it will go ahead in December next year.
To quote from the letter from Carolyn Young - Chief Executive of the Special Olympics,
As a valued supporter of Special Olympics New Zealand and the Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics National Summer Games. We are pleased to inform you that we have just announced the new dates for trhe Games after this years event had to be postponed due to covid 19 restrictions.
We have moved the four-yearly event to 8-12 December 2022, in Hamilton, exactly one year from the original dates. As our pinnacle event for many of our athletes, we were heartbroken when we had to postpone, but with the current uncertainty, we did not have any other options
16th October
The Walking Charge
Last Thursday, the 14th, was our Regular meeting for October.
After the usual business session, the Brethren got together to perform the Walking Charge - one of those charges not found in the formal ritual, but one that sticks out as getting to the heart of what Freemasonry is about.
The Candidate is usual a newly raised Mason and is performed as a way of reinforcing key elements of the rituals of the Three Degrees of Masonry
To find out more about the Walking Charge (it goes by other names as well), have a look at the 'Thoughts' section of this website
10th October
Coffee Club
Our Friday coffee mornings have now resumed. We will be meeting every Friday at The Rangiora RSA at 1030 - excellent coffee, tea, hot chocolate, scones and muffins!
ReopeningLodges all over Canterbury are reopening in Alert Level 2. The Masters and District Grand Master have been busy completing the Risk Mitigation Plans, as per the Most Worshipful Grand Masters instruction.
30th September
Metal Worker Needed
Do you have experience in metal work? If you do then W Bro Malcolm Johnson RH would love to hear from you.
Malcolm collects recycled materials to build Kids Karts and W Bro Jimmy Roscoe of the Canterbury Kilwinning Lodge No 23 is assisting with paintwork 'I am currently building four Kids Karts for charity. I have previously placed a Kids Kart to the Battered Woman's Trust and one as a fundraiser for a local preschool,' said Malcolm.
'I do need a hand from someone with metal work and welding experience to help with construction'. If you are able to help please contact Malcolm: mjohnson@maxnet.co.nz Ph 03 347 2457.
The Special Olympics
Freemasons from North Canterbury teamed up with the North Canterbury branch of Special Olympics New Zealand to assist with time keeping and ribbon presentation on Sunday 25th July at the Special Olympics NZ Swim Meet at Dudley Pool, Rangiora. This local swim event, which included participants from all over Canterbury, is part of the lead up to the Summer Games to be held in Hamilton later this year.
Members of The Ashley Lodge No 28 became offical timekeepers for the day, and was assisted by W Bro Alan McGill of The Avon Shirley Lodge No.185
W Bro Gordon Sylvester RH, W Master of The Ashley Lodge, said afterwards 'The enthusiasm of the participants was heart warming and we really enjoyed our morning. We are pleased to announce The Ashley Lodge will be providing some extra funding to attend the Summer games for the participants'
The swim event was well run by Swimming New Zealand and the local North Canterbury Committee of Special Olympics NZ, with the North Canterbury Freemasons providing some much-needed extra help.