Freemason NSW & ACT June 2018 by APM Graphics Management

v50 n2 June 2018

MASONIC OBLIGATIONS R HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREEMASON R SIR ASHER JOEL

The

Rock

Contents

The Official Journal of The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons

8 24

This issue of the Freemason is produced under the direction of: Editor & Chairman: RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM Committee: RW Bro Graham Maltby (Secretary), Dr Yvonne McIntyre, VW Bro Andre Fettermann, RW Bro Craig Pearce, RW Bro Richard Dawes, W Bro Stephen Dally, W Bro Steve Lourey, Bro Simon Pierce Design & Production: Bro Simon Pierce, Megan Baumann and Pam Gill

30 •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Editorial 3 Quarterly Communication

Going forward

First Anzac Day

The root of every virtue

The Grand Secretary’s desk

Masonic obligations

From the Grand Chaplain

The trowel

Famous mason

Freemason’s fifty!

Be a volunteer

Touring Alcatraz

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Freemason is published in March, June, September and December. Deadline for copy is 1st of the month preceding month of issue. All matters for publication in the journal should be addressed to:

Streets of Sydney

Warialda Lodge

A dose of laughter

Masonicare 32 Letters to the Editor

Seeking to learn

What’s on 35 Grand Library

Book reviews

Regional Roundup

Initiates 44 Crossword 45 Service Certificates

The Secretary Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South, NSW 1235 Telephone: (02) 9284 2800 Email: freemason@masons.org.au Published articles do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT. Advertising enquiries should be addressed to: Bro Simon Pierce APM Graphics Management 16 Springwood Street, Blackwall, NSW 2256 Telephone: (02) 4344 5133 Email: freemason@apmgraphics.com.au Freemason is proudly designed and produced by APM Graphics Management 16 Springwood Street, Blackwall NSW 2256 Printed by PMP Limited Distributed to all NSW & ACT brethren and sister Grand Lodges in Australia and Worldwide. Electronic versions of FREEMASON can be viewed or downloaded at www.masons.org.au

COVER IMAGE:

The former Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary located on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Aims of the Freemason magazine RR To uphold and promote those values, morals and virtues which Freemasonry believes are universal and enduring. RR To foster a better understanding of Freemasonry within the general community. RR To provide a forum for discussion on masonic issues. RR To publicise the charitable works of Freemasonry. RR To provide articles of interest and education and to disseminate masonic news and views. RR To recognise masons who make significant contributions to the Craft and the wider community.

June 2018

ISSN 1836-0475 or ISSN 1836-0513 (Online) Print Post Approved 100007316 © 2018 Copyright: It should be noted that copyright for all text, photographs and illustrations (except where otherwise indicated) rests worldwide with Freemason.

INDEMNITY: It is the responsibility of the advertiser to ensure that advertisements comply with the Trade Practices Act 1974 as amended. All advertisements are accepted for publication on the condition that the advertiser indemnify the publisher and its servants against all actions, suits, claims, loss and/or damages resulting from anything published on behalf of the advertiser.

Freemason

Editorial

By RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM

How to change the world Many people when faced with times of uncertainty choose to look at the future through the dark lens of resignation, putting themselves at the mercy of others.

s masons we need to react, because a Freemason can always find within himself and in relation to others the key to open the door to a brighter future. Bro Tony, who passed this message to me, said only in researching the depths of what it means to be human and of its grand mystery may be found the resources to look to the future with confidence, despite everything that seems to stand in our way. When Matthew Flinders, after becoming the first person to circumnavigate the Australian mainland, was imprisoned in Mauritius on his return voyage to Eng land in 1803, he could have sunk into despair. Instead, he used his six years of imprisonment to write a book about his

BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA • THE BLUE MOUNTAINS • EXTEND AN INVITATION

v49 n3 – SEPTEMBER 2017

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GENERAL

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STORY R WHO WAS JACKSON?

England

Celebrates!

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R THE (K)NOTS OF FREEMASONRY

v49 n4 December

2017

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When Flinders was finally able to return to England, poor in health, his book ‘A Voyage to Terra Australis’ was published, and survived his all-too-brief life to become a widely-praised work. In 1824, the British Admiralty adopted the name ‘Australia’ for the continent. Flinders’ maps of the Australian coast were so accurate that they were used for shipping purposes as late as the 1970s. The first tool needed is the ability to see beyond the pathos of our own daily lives. This enables us to find the inner strengths and solutions to our daily problems; to overcome the obstacles that life puts in the way.

Being human is not like being an island, and you will find the best of it when one comes out of the cage of solipsism and engages with others. Even Flinders recognised this, and used the opportunity of accidentally crossing paths with the French explorer Nicolas Baudin in April 1802 on the south central coast of Australia, to ex- change ideas with his brother in science. Neither time nor circumstances stand still, change is inevitable. Even the grand institution of Freemasonry has adapted to change as centuries pass even though its basic principles remain undisturbed. Culture, Science and Brotherhood: three instruments with which man can still change the world and build the temple of humanity.

V49 N2 – JUNE 2017

SATCHMO • LODGE RICHARD COLEY REMEMBER SINGAPORE • THE GREAT

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journey, illustrated by maps proving for the first time to a European audience, that Australia was a separate continent.

Get your own! Are you borrowing someone else’s copy of the Freemason? Did you know that you can receive your very own copies delivered to your door without being a mason? For only $21 (or $26 overseas) per year, enjoy a four-issue subscription – just get in touch with the Secretary of the Freemason magazine by calling (02) 9284 2800 or by emailing freemason@masons.org.au.

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Subscribe to the Freemason from only $21 per year! June 2018

Quarterly Communication

MARCH COMMUNICATION Two major decisions were made by members at a packed Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication in Sydney in March.

working with MW Bro Robson and his leadership team to ensure a smooth transition and handover.

ore than 650 members from Sydney and country areas filled Lodge Room No 1 and the Banquet Hall to convincingly elect MW Bro Derek Robson AM as Grand Master-elect after three ballots and also approved a motion to extend the voting for Grand Master to all Masons throughout NSW.

‘I am also pleased to announce during the remainder of my term, I have decided to allow brethren from other jurisdictions within Australia to deliver one charge from their mother jurisdiction in our ceremonies. I have seen firsthand the support lodges receive from brethren living just across the border and hope this will one day be reciprocated by our other states.

There were speakers for and against the motion to change the voting system, with points made about postal voting,

OUR NEXT

COMMUNICATION The Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication will be held at the Sydney Masonic Centre on WEDNESDAY 13 June 2018 at 7:30pm. The Communication is open to all members of Grand Lodge, which includes all Master Masons. The Grand Master extends an invitation to all other brethren, especially Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft Freemasons, to attend as observers. Brethren attending as observers are not entitled to vote on matters being considered by Grand Lodge.

electronic voting, members overseas, electoral fraud and how would the country voting areas be determined. Following approval of the motion, it was pointed out that the change would not take effect until the election (if req uired) which will be held in March 2019. The next item was the election from four candidates for Grand Master and ballot papers were distributed but the first ballot did not produce a majority of 50 percent plus one from 644 votes with RW Bro Phillip Miller, with the lowest total being excluded from the second ballot. This, again, proved unsuccessful with RW Bro Andrew Fraser being excluded from the third ballot to be contested by RW Bro Antoine Georges and MW Bro Robson. Of the 621 votes cast, MW Bro Robson received 405 and RW Bro Georges 209. After welcoming those in attendance, including a visiting Italian WM, the Grand Master, MW Bro James Melville said he knew many had travelled long distances to be present to express their democratic right to elect the next Grand Master and to decide whether brethren in regional centres can vote for future Grand Masters without the financial burden of having to attend the Sydney Masonic Centre. ‘I am thankful for your support of this recommendation and I see this as an important advancement in connecting all masons across the jurisdiction to elect future leaders,’ said the Grand Master. ‘As the countdown begins to install our next Grand Master, I look forward to

June 2018

‘It saddens me to report the recent passing of brethren who have given so much to our craft and the community. I specially mention Bro Sir Nicholas Shehadie who was initiated into Lodge John Williams on 18 October 1948. He was a foundation member of Lodge Rugby in February 1954 and was knighted in the New Years honours list in 1976. ‘His sporting and political achievements have left a wonderful legacy and the dedication he and his wife Dame Marie Bashir have given to our State and country will never be forgotten. ‘Their son Michael spoke these words of Winston Churchill at his father’s State funeral “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”’ The Grand Master also announced that Masonicare will introduce an annual award to be known as the Ronald L H Johnson AM, Masonicare Life Merit Award. MW Bro Johnson PGM, CMH played an integral part in the launch of Masoni care in 2001 providing a reinvigorated and modern look for The Grand Charity. He took on the role of Chairman through until 2009 and his stewardship drove Masonicare to the forefront of

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Freemasonry in NSW and the ACT. Masonicare, has donated in excess of one million dollars to local community charities and greatly assisted in disaster relief. MW Bro Melville said the recipient of this award will be a mason who has gone above and beyond the normal call of duty in demonstrating that all important tenet of our Craft, charity and this award is Masonicare’s way of recognising to the community, the superior efforts of a brother in assisting those less fortunate or in need. Much to his surprise and to the applause of the brethren, MW Bro Johnson was then announced as the inaugural recipient of the award and was duly presented and recognised for his outstanding service. The Grand Master’s review also gave details of a proposal by the DGIW of District 45, RW Bro Rob Finlay PhD and W Bro Eddy Wilkinson to continue the Lodge Canowindra ‘Men’s Health Program and Pit Stop’. The program is designed to give men from more remote areas the opportunity to have essential health checks, seminars for members of the community and assessments made

‘I am thankful for your support of this recommendation and I see this as an important advancement in connecting all masons across the jurisdiction to elect future leaders,’ said the Grand Master.

on different health issues. He also spoke of the Hospital Wheelchair Program with 22 chairs recently donated to the Royal North Shore hospital by Districts 22, 25 and 25A. In its report, the Board of Manage ment stated the Grand Lodge website

now has a search function titled ‘Can’t find what you are looking for?’ which will make it easier for brethren seeking information. The Grand Treasurer also advised that a review of lodges’ financial statements will be taking place and all lodges are reminded to submit their Annual Financial Statements to the Grand Secretary as soon as possible. A motion to increase the Capitation Fee by two dollars was also approved. Further advice from the Board indicated that the Mentoring Guidelines document is available from the Resources/Mentoring and Membership section in the Members Area of the Grand Lodge website and it is recommended that all lodges download this helpful publication. The College of Masonic Studies said proposed Certificate Course locations and dates for 2018 were still being organised with the main focus on Orange later in the year and a proposal for Cobar is being considered. There were 19 attendees at the Orchard Hills course last November and all who completed the Workbooks passed the course.

Grand Master’s Essay

Competition 2018

he Grand Master’s Literary Com mittee has created Guidelines to assist contributors in forming their Essay to stay ‘on topic’ and has extended the terms of the essay by including a ‘scenario’ followed by the topic/title:

The Scenario: ‘ You have a friend who is well known to you and you also hold him in the highest regard. He has indicated an interest in joining Freemasonry, wants to know more about it and has asked for your advice.’

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The Topic – ‘What would you say to him?’ For 2018, the essay should be no more than 2,000 words (3 x A4 pages – regular font) and provide constructive discussion on Freemasonry and positively contribute to the objectives of the Craft in NSW & ACT.

DUE DATE: FRIDAY, 22 JUNE 2018. All essays received will be retained and form part of the Museum of Freemasonry Library Collection, and parts of their

content may be used in future considerations of the advancement of the Craft. There are three prizes on offer of $1,000, $500 and $100 respectively. Winners will be announced by the Grand Master at a Regular Communication and each will receive an appropriate Certificate. Entries should be sent to: Grand Master’s Literary Prize The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259 SYDNEY SOUTH, NSW, 1235

June 2018

Going forward

By W Bro David Mayson

Learning from history –

a possible way forward When it comes to looking at ways to build a better and more sustainable masonic fraternity, we are possibly nearing the stage of not being able to see the wood for the trees.

believe we have researched, analysed and dissected Freemasonry as we know it today and, without exception, have come to the conclusion that change is inevitable and necessary if we are to grow as an organisation, rather than sitting around just surviving. To continually portray ourselves as a movement that is dying is not good enough and is certainty not an attractive option for prospective members. We must reinvent, rather than continually repair and patch the current structure, so that we can portray Freemasonry as a positive, rewarding and, dare I say it, entertaining organisation. The majority of authors involved in research and analysis on this subject have highlighted the fact that we have failed to openly recognise our shortcomings, which has led to the lack of precise corrective strategies and which in turn is steadily steering the fraternity on a course that is not conducive to growth or survival.

June 2018

Over time there have been many good suggestions and ideas put forward to assist lodges ‘turn things around’. However, they can only be described as a patchwork approach, with little compulsion to be put into practice or a clear strategy for lodges to follow. The task of implementing these patches again falls into the in-tray of a few overworked members who may find it hard to convey the change message, and in some lodges these members are battling against a sheer blatant wall of resistance to change of any kind. Regrettably, some resistance to change may be self generated within a lodge purely because the skill and expertise required may not lie within the skill set of many lodge members. The reality is that change generally takes people out of their comfort zone and this factor alone is a major stumbling block for any new idea to get off the ground if poorly communicated or if uncertainty is demonstrated by the presenter.

The patchwork of ideas approach appears to have produced the feeling of confusion, frustration and uncertainty within lodges as to what they can do, the identification of the value of many suggestions to its members, and who is going to implement them. When dealing with opportunities for improvement, even when designed to be positive and a catalyst for improvement, many brethren feel violated or wounded and tend to become bitter and resentful about such ideas. In many cases they start building walls of resistance by saying ‘we’ll lose 50% of our members if we go down that path’, ‘it’s not the way we did it in the past’ or ‘we tried it before and it didn’t work’. And if you believe some of the statistics, 80% of brethren, due to their lack of commitment, action or involvement with any new idea, are advocating by default that they are happy to be heading towards extinction and enjoying the journey. It’s all just too hard.

Freemason

I do not doubt that perhaps the effort to overcome such resistance may be more detrimental to an individual lodge than the benefit of the improvement being sought. You may win the battle, but lose the war or worse still, lose a lodge. Perhaps in these cases, sitting back and enjoying the journey into oblivion may be the only option. Before we start down the path of looking at ways to implement opportunities for improvement, perhaps we should go back in history (sometimes called back to the future) and review the events that influenced our current situation. Perhaps we would uncover a medium or vehicle for change we could utilise that would not generate as much resistance. A point in history was when the two Grand Lodges of England, the Ancients and the Moderns, came together to form the United Grand Lodge of England. One would presume that at that time the Ancients and the Moderns had many meetings to discuss change, and I would imagine those brethren also felt violated, wounded, and just as bitter about the proposed restructure as the brethren of today. However, the outcome in 1751 was a two-way tie, with the Moderns retaining control of the Grand Lodge of England and the Ancients establishing the Most Ancient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons and adherence to the Old Constitutions. From that point, both groups grew and became worldwide organisations as we know them today. In other words, there was a clear direction made by the ‘powers that be’

...in some lodges these members are battling against a sheer blatant wall of resistance to change...

(Head Office) for the way forward and the brethren at the time got on with the job. The problem now is perhaps today’s Freemasons have outlived their role as the ‘Moderns’ and are in danger of becoming the new ‘Ancients’, a fact that may be hard to swallow. As a result of our journey back to the future, perhaps we could apply a similar idea to today’s problem and generate a win-win situation as they did in 1751. This could be done by not trying to impose change via the patch system onto existing lodges, but let them continue under their current constitution as long as they can. In conjunction with lodges electing to continue with the current constitution, we introduce a new version of Freemasonry (the ‘New Moderns’) with its own new constitution. The new constitution would be based on the current rules and regulations, but

at the same time incorporating many of the changes, patches and new ideas we are currently trying to impose on today’s brethren, such as Grand Lodge suggestions regarding a lodge management structure i.e. Management Committee for private lodges, and key points of the ‘Obtain, Attain and Retain’ program. It may also include relaxation of current standards to make them more appealing to the younger demographic, i.e. dress code for example. I emphasise relaxation, not disregard. Under the new constitution, all new lodges applying for registration with Grand Lodge would have to fit in with the new constitution and become New Freemasons. But there would still be plenty of current constitution lodges around for those who wish to join, or continue with, Freemasonry as we know it today. It has been stated on many occasions that it is not Grand Lodge’s role to turn things around for struggling lodges and, in some cases this may be true, but without some sort of intervention, the persistent belief in the patch approach will surely hasten the demise of many lodges. Intervention must come from Head Office, which has the authority to develop and implement strategies for effecting change, controlling change and helping people to adapt to change. Perhaps it is time to draw a line in the sand as our Ancient and Modern brethren did many years ago and reinvent a New Freemasonry, not just continue to patch the old one until it sinks.

Dion’s Brainteasers Q: What is the longest word you can type using only the first row of letters on a standard keyboard? A good lawyer looks beyond the surface! Want to know the answer? Ask Dion Accoto next time you seem him at Lodge, or email him. Contact details are on the inside back cover of this issue! Liability Limited by a Scheme Approved Under Professional Standards Legislation MARA#1572156

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June 2018

First Anzac Day

Anzac day observance R

Front cover of the Brisbane Anzac Day programme from 1916.

A question often asked is – when was Anzac Day first observed? ecords indicate that Anzac Day was first observed as early as 1916. To support this theory, the following are extracts from the diaries of Major Reginald J Millard, 21C, First Field Ambulance.

RR 25-4-1916 – Cairo 9am. Memorial service at Anzac Hostel after which flowers were taken to the cemetery in Old Cairo. Drove there with Poate and Farrar. In 1pm sports at No 3 Australian General Hospital. RR 1917 – No mention of Anzac Day. RR 25-4-1918 - Sydney, Anzac Day, called at Barracks, then to town and saw Anzac procession. RR 25-4-1919 – London, Anzac Day, fine and bright. Walking to the office I

found Australian troops marching out of the park where they were forming up for the march through the town. Went with General Howse to Australia House where Prince of Wales took the salute. RR 1920 – No entry RR 25-4-1921 – With the boys to Town Hall memorial service. Great crowd, good place on dais. All shops shut but no public holiday. RR 25-4-1923 – With Phil to 11am service at Town Hall. Usual large crowd. With regard to the Anzac Day Dawn Service, the following throws light on its origin.

A white cross on a lonely grave in the Herberton cemetery in Far North Queensland bears two words – ‘A Priest’. Beside this grave is a plaque with the following inscription: ‘Adjacent to and on the right of this marker lies the grave of the late Rev Arthur Ernest White, a Church of England clergyman and a priest, 44, BM 1st AIF. On 25 April 1923, Albany, WA, Rev White led a party of friends in what was the first ever observance of the Dawn Service on Anzac Day, thus establishing a tradition which has endured Australia-wide ever since.’

Anzac Day procession through the streets of Brisbane, 1916

June 2018

Freemason

The root of every virtue

When is a man

a mason?

When is a man a mason? When he can look out over the rivers, the hills and the far horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope and courage â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is the root of every virtue.

hen he knows that down in his heart every man is as noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself, and seeks to know, to forgive, and to love his fellow man. When he knows how to sympathise with men in their sorrows, yea, even in their sins â&#x20AC;&#x201C; knowing that each man fights a hard fight against many odds. When he has learned how to make friends and to keep them, and above all to keep friends with himself. When he loves flowers, can hunt the birds without a gun, and feels the thrill of an old forgotten joy when he hears the laugh of a little child. When he can be happy and high-minded amid the meaner drudgeries of life. When star-crowned trees and the glint of sunshine on flowing waters, subdue him like the thought of one much-loved and long dead. When no voice of distress reaches his ears in vain, and no hand seeks his aid without response. When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of divine things and sees majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be. When he can look into a wayside puddle and see something beyond mud, and into the face of the most forlorn fellow-mortal and see something beyond sin.

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When he finds good in every faith that helps any man to lay hold of divine things and sees majestic meanings in life, whatever the name of that faith may be.

When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope. When he has kept faith with himself, with his fellow-man, with his God, in his hand a sword for evil, in his heart a bit of a song â&#x20AC;&#x201C; glad to live but not afraid to die.

Family Law

Such a man has found the only real secret of masonry and the one which it is trying to give to all the world.

This article was written by Rev Dr Joseph Newson of Iowa, USA and was printed in the first issue of the NSW Freemason in June 1968.

June 2018

The Grand Secretary’s desk

By RW Bro Stephen Green

Meet our 2018

Young Achiever The Freemasons Community Service Award is an opportunity to all lodges in NSW and ACT to interact with their communities and propose suitable nominees for the award.

ichael Bonnici has won the prestigious Freemasons of NSW/ACT Community Service Award in the 2018 NSW/ACT Young Achiever Awards.

Michael won the Award from a strong field of nominees and was one of seven category winners announced on Friday 20 April at SMC Conference and Function Centre. The Awards were hosted by Michael Usher, 7NEWS Presenter. 300 guests were in attendance at the Gala event, including official guest The Hon John Barilaro MP, NSW Deputy Premier, to celebrate New South Wales and the ACT’s high achievers and community contributors. Michael Bonnici, 20 of Alfords Point contributes over 200 volunteer hours every year. He is Director of Lifesaving, educational speaker and award-winning Patrol Captain at Wanda Surf Club. He also volunteers for Meals on Wheels, Australian Red Cross Blood Service and Salvation Army. Michael raised $3,000 for Samaritans Purse Australia and volunteered time to help build schools in disadvantaged Battambang, Cambodia. He was recently named as the Sydney South Young and Overall Volunteer of the Year. The seven category winners are: RR Emma Byrne, 27 of Canberra – First National Real Estate Leadership Award RR Grace Partridge, 25 of Northbridge – The Coffee Club Arts and Fashion Award RR Hailee Provest, 21 of Windradyne – Aboriginal Education Council Aboriginal Education Award

June 2018

Michael Bonnici – Community Service Award Winner with RW Bro Kevin McGlinn

RR Michael Bonnici, 20 of Alfords Point – Freemasons of NSW/ACT Community Service Award RR Jemma Smith, 18 of Daleys Point – Worldwide Sports Award RR Alix O’Hara – Mashblox Pty Ltd, 29 of Deakin - WFI Insurance Small Business Achiever Award RR Anastasia Volkova, 26 of Eveleigh – Soroptimist International Women Creating Change Award Michael Bonnici was later announced as the 2018 NSW/ACT Young Achiever of the Year. Winners each received $2,500 and a magnificent trophy courtesy of Masoni care. Michael received an additional $5,000 from Masonicare and an overall winner trophy.

Hannah Diviney was also announced as the NOVA 96.9 People’s Choice Award winner and received $1,000 worth of concert and movie tickets courtesy of NOVA 96.9. The Awards night was the culmination of a tremendously successful year with hundreds of nominations received from across NSW/ACT. Since the creation of the NSW/ACT Young Achiever Award in 2014, it has applauded the leadership, vision, excellence and commitment of young people, whilst highlighting their efforts and success. The purpose of the NSW/ACT Young Achiever awards is to acknowledge, encourage and most importantly promote the positive achievements of all young people up to and including 29 years of age.

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Masonic obligations

By W Bro Paul Bryant

Masonic obligations

and their significance I wish to draw your attention to the masonic obligations we have all taken over the years, and their significance to Freemasonry as a whole.

e have all taken obligations in the Craft, and it is fitting that we pause and reflect upon their seriousness, purpose and effect, from time to time.

The word ‘obligation’ is self-explanatory. It means a kind of restraint of a person’s absolute freedom of choice to do, or to refrain from doing, certain things. Such restraint can either be imposed without a person’s approval, or self-imposed of that person’s own volition. There are different types of obligations: a) Obligations imposed upon us all by the civil authorities to preserve law and order in society. b) Contractual obligations into which one enters of his own free will, in his everyday dealings, in order to promote his own interests. c) Obligations which are implanted by nature in the heart of every person to

June 2018

I sincerely hope that you will retain these points vividly in your minds throughout your masonic career...

regulate their relations towards family and fellow creatures. d) Obligations into which one enters of his own free volition and accord because he considers them to be for his own moral benefit and advancement. The masonic obligations fall into this latter category. They are freely-accepted, self-imposed obligations, the binding

strength of which lies not in the threat of punishment, material loss or penalty, but flows from the depth of a man’s conscience and from the value that he places upon his personal honour. They are, therefore, more binding and of greater personal significance than any other because there is no more valuable asset than a man’s personal honour, nor a more vigilant and infallible critic than a man’s conscience. What greater punishment can be imposed on a man than the constant remorse of his conscience (which will follow him to the grave) than that of being branded by his fellow-man with the stigma of being a person without honour? Another important aspect of masonic obligations is that they are not taken for a definite term, in respect of a particular country, or particular body of men. They are obligations taken by him as a man of the world and therefore they are not confined within the limits of time, space or circle of men, i.e. ‘unfit to remain in this Worshipful Lodge, or any other warranted lodge, or society of men who prize honour and virtue etc.’ These obligations are binding on him for the rest of his life, wherever he may be on, above, or under the globe, regardless of what society he may be in from time to time, whether he continues to remain in the Craft or withdraw from it, or is expelled from Freemasonry. In short, once taken, the obligations cannot be honourably forsaken. Generally, masonic obligations consist of a number of clauses, both positive and negative in nature. They contain the things a mason should do, and refrain from doing, in other words, ‘masonic do’s and don’ts’. Each obligation is concluded with a final point which encompasses all of the previous points, including secrecy. This is not for any sinister reason, but because we treasure our teachings and principles, and do not wish them to become the subject of commonplace discussion and derision among people who do not understand or appreciate their value and importance. What then, is the reason for such solemn and serious obligations? The answer is simple. Masonry is an organisation, and as an organisation is a group of people with common aims and

Freemason

objects, with a system of laws and rules which are designed to achieve such aims and objects, the obligations are necessary to ensure that brethren are aware of those laws and rules. These laws and rules are regulated and policed by duly elected leaders and officers of any organisation. In order to achieve these aims and objects, the members must respect those leaders and officers. Freemasonry being an organisation with a moral and spiritual mission, has its own code of ethics and behaviour which is expressed through its teachings, ritual, traditions, symbols and allegories. The strength of this worldwide organisation, its success in the face of many adversaries and adversities, and exalted reputation built over the centuries, are all due to the strict adherence, by its members to its code of ethics and behaviour, and also the discipline observed by, and to, the leaders who administer its laws and rules. However, an organisation as large and widespread as Freemasonry, will, from time to time, have some members who either inadvertently or deliberately breach that code of ethics and behaviour. In order to safeguard against these breaches (associated with obligations), masonry has not only unwritten laws, but written laws contained in the Book of Constitutions. The latter contains our written laws, and prescribes the action to be taken and the punishment to be imposed against those guilty of such offences. Punishments are appropriate to offences and vary from a reprimand for un-masonic conduct of a minor nature, through short and long term suspension of masonic privileges for

...we treasure our teachings and principles, and do not wish them to become the subject of commonplace discussion...

more serious offences; to total expulsion from the Craft for very serious offences such as heresy, treason or murder. (Brethren will note that mention of these offences is made in our obligations). Although we are all familiar with the ‘ancient penalties’ formerly associated with the violation of our obligations, there are no, nor is there evidence that there has been, any corporal punishments in Freemasonry. Such actions would not only trespass upon the province of the civil authorities, but would also be in direct conflict with the tenets and landmarks of the Craft. Freemasonry, due to its high moral and spiritual mission, would never resort to the low level of inflicting physical pain and suffering on its offenders. The supreme authority of our organisation which administers its laws, directs its functions and activities, and steers it on the proper path, is the Grand

Lodge. The Grand Lodge is invested with the power to legislate new laws, modify, repeal or update existing laws, interpret and apply such laws, and adjudicate at the trial of those who violate them. It sits as a proper tribunal, hears the allegation of the offence, hears the testimonies in support of and against the accused, allows the accused every opportunity to present his defence, arrives at its decision, and pronounces its verdict. When pronouncing the verdict, it fixes the punishment, and directs its officers to enforce it. As the elected leader of each private lodge, the Worshipful Master reinforces the lodge commitment and support of the Grand Master and his officers at Installations and at every meeting attended by Grand Lodge Officers. This, brethren, is briefly the system upon which masonry is founded, and this is the machinery through which it functions. They form the focal point of, and the essence of masonic obligations. I sincerely hope that you will retain these points vividly in your minds throughout your masonic career, because we are all bound to them by our various masonic obligations. May those obligations, freely taken, without evasion or mental reservation, be the unerring compass guiding your every step and thought throughout your masonic journey, that is, the journey of the rest of your life.

The above talk was delivered at Lodge Merrylands in March, 2012 by the then Worshipful Master, W Bro Paul Bryant.

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June 2018

From the Grand Chaplain

By RW Bro Robert Searle

…in whom do you put

your trust?

The title of this article is part of a question asked of every initiate and would be familiar to every Freemason in this jurisdiction.

urprisingly, after 50 years of membership, and having witnessed over 300 initiations, this writer cannot recall having ever heard even one candidate being able to answer the question without requiring a prompt. Surely this is one question that requires a truthful answer from the heart, and, if this is so, why is a prompt necessary? If a candidate cannot answer the question unassisted, should we continue the ceremony? A ‘coloured’ (his description) South African brother once told me that in his mother lodge no candidate would be allowed to proceed unless he could answer this question unaided. The GAOTU is central to our craft. The VSL is opened at the beginning of every meeting. It remains open and many references are made to it during every meeting. The astute Freemason quickly learns that this book is central to the teachings of the Craft. A deep, and thorough, search of our Rituals will quickly convince us of this fact. If we truly seek to become better men, through the Craft’s teachings, there is no better book to study than the VSL. We are taught from the WTs the advantages of ‘knowledge and discipline’, and that knowledge must be ‘grounded on accuracy’. We are also taught to ‘regulate our lives by the unerring and unalterable law of God’s Word’ and to ‘discipline our conduct’ so that we might be acceptable to God. Searching even deeper we find that this book contains ‘a straight and

June 2018

undeviating line of conduct is clearly and unmistakably laid down for our pursuit. Our WM is also instructed that the VSL is given ‘as a rule and guide to his faith’. We have all been recommended to make ‘the most serious study and contemplation’ of this book and charged to ‘ever regard it as the unerring standard of Truth and Justice, and to regulate your conduct by the divine precepts it contains’. There are many more references which can be found if we but search for them. Given that this is Sacred Law which we are all meant to follow, one could rightly expect that all Freemasons be completely familiar with its contents and be living an exemplary life which, by our very lives, would attract men in great numbers. Surely, if we were all living our lives as true Freemasons, then people everywhere would be asking us ‘what it is that makes us so very different from other men, what is our secret for life?’

every member of the Craft to stand up and be counted as a Freemason and not simply as a member of the organisation. We owe it to ourselves, and to future generations, to set such an example in our living that we stand out from the crowd as being visibly different. We need to take Sacred Law as being Sacred Law and make it an integral part of our lives. When we truly begin living as Freemasons are taught, and are meant to live, can we hope to see the Craft which we love so dearly have the resurgence which we all desire. To be able to do this effectively the teachings of the Craft, as written in the VSL, need to become second nature to us. When we do this the world will begin to stand up and take notice of us. The question ‘in whom do you put your trust’ will then become evident to all with whom we come in contact.

Sadly, this is not happening! As a result, numbers are continuing to fall, and we are forced to consider, very seriously, whether there is a long and continuing future for the Craft. We must ensure, as individual masons, and as a Craft, that we are not among the last few generations of members. To be able to guarantee future generations of men to be able to benefit from our teachings it requires

Freemason

Whiddon tours Masonic Care Western Australia facilities and villages Whiddon Chairman Len Kearns joined Masonic Board Chairman Donald Blair in May for a successful tour of Masonic Care aged care facilities and villages in Western Australia. L–R: Ernie Law – MCWA Grand Secretary, Donald Blair – MCWA Board Chairman, Marie-Louise MacDonald – CEO MCWA and Whiddon Board Chairman Len Kearns.

Whiddon now offers Aged Care transport Assistance and Care Calls Research shows that half of Australians aged over 65 experience feelings of loneliness. One of the reasons for this is a lack of access to transport, particularly for older people living in rural and remote areas. Whiddon is pleased to now offer aged care transport services to help older people stay connected to family, friends and the community, by supporting them to get out and about to do the things they need and want to do. Whether it’s a short trip to get the weekly groceries, or a day out at a loved one’s wedding, transport services are available round-the-clock to keep older Australians stay connected to family, friends and their community. Another new service Whiddon are proud to offer are Care Calls. These scheduled phone calls offer support and assistance for older people living at home so they can continue living safely and securely in their own home. They’re like a warm and comforting call from a friend. They may be to remind a loved one to take medicine, attend an activity or appointment, ensure meals have been eaten, or to make sure the back door is locked. They are also much more than helpful reminders for things that are easy to forget, they’re also a wellbeing check with friendly conversation and time for a daily catch-up and chat.

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Care Calls can also play an important role in helping to reduce feelings of loneliness for older people living alone. This may be through knowing that a caring person is just a phone call away, to providing reassurance and help with daily activities. Whiddon has a long and proud history of caring for older Australians in rural, regional and remote areas and this project will help us further invest and grow in this region.

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The trowel

By W Bro Steve Lourey

The trowel – a lost symbol? The trowel is a beautiful masonic symbol which seems to be somewhat lost in English Freemasonry.

e read in the Book of Amos, ‘Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, a plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any-more.’ That wall would have been cemented to make it complete and that would have been applied by a trowel. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, ‘a plasterer’s’ or ‘mason’s trowel’; with which they lay their plaster and mortar on in building. According to Coil’s Masonic Encyclo paedia, its symbolism is that of spreading the cement which binds the brethren together, thus the lodge is strongly cemented with love and friendship, and every brother is duly taught secrecy and prudence, morality and good fellowship. In North American jurisdictions the proper place assigned to the working tool

of the trowel is the Master Mason’s Degree, as in operative masonry, while the Entered Apprentice prepares the materials, and the Fellowcraft places them in their proper situation, the Master Mason spreads the cement with a trowel, which binds them together. According to Mackey the work of unskilled apprentices and craftsmen was not completed until the stones adjusted have been accurately examined by the master workman, and permanently secured in their places by cement. This is accomplished by the trowel, and hence this implement is entrusted to the Master Mason. Thus, the tools attached to each degree admonish the Mason, as an Apprentice, to prepare his mind for the reception of the great truths which are hereafter to be unfolded to him; as a Fellowcraft, to mark their importance and adapt them to their proper uses; and as a Master, to adorn their beauty by the practice of brotherly love and kindness, the cement that binds all masons in one common fraternity. The Master Mason is given the trowel because it is symbolic of his function in

the great work of temple building; when that tool has done its work there is nothing more to do, because the structure stands complete, a united mass, incapable of falling apart; the stones which were many have now, because of the binding power of the cement, become as one. If the stone represents an individual man, and if the temple represents the fraternity as a whole, it is evident that the trowel is the symbol of that which has power to bind men together. Burrage states that the equilateral triangle was originally the trowel. It represented the greatest and most abstruse mysteries, signifying equally the Deity, creation and fire. The trowel teaches that nothing can be united without proper cement, and that the perfection of the building must depend on the suitable disposition of the cement. So charity, the bond of perfection and social union, must link separate minds and separate interests; that, like the radii of a circle, which extend from the centre to every part of the circumference, the principle of universal benevolence may be diffused to every member of the community. From some versions of the old catechism we learn that the junior Entered Apprentice was armed with a ‘sharp instrument’ which was a pointed trowel. In exchanging the sceptre for the trowel it was the role of Junior Entered App rentice being armed with the trowel as

Ornate trowels such as this one are often inscribed with details of their ceremonial history. This one reads: “Presented to Most Worshipful Bro William Thompson, Grand Master UGL NSW from Lodge Washington H Soul in commemoration of the laying of the foundation stone of Masonic Temple Strathfield, Oct 8 1921.”

June 2018

Freemason

the means of keeping out all cowans and intruders. So the earlier use of the trowel may have been transferred to the sword. The trowel was the emblem of circumspection and was called the ‘Jewel of the EA’. In an early ritual the EAF was extolled to ‘emblematically…stop up all interstices in the lodge so that not a sound shall escape from within nor an eye pry from without, whereby our secrets and mysteries may become known to the popular world.’ In 1 Peter 2:5, the author describes us as living stones, built upon a spiritual house. The cement of those living stones is charity and concord. The Christian writer Chrysostom writes: ‘From solidity follows compactedness, for you will then produce solidity, when having brought many things together, you shall cement them compactedly and inseparably; thus a solidity is produced, as in the case of a wall. But this is the peculiar work of love; for those who were by themselves, when it has closely

cemented and knit them together, it renders solid. And faith, again, does the same thing; when it allows not reasonings to intrude themselves. For as reasonings divide, and shake loose, so faith causes solidity and compactness.’ Interstice comes from the late Middle English from the Latin to ‘stand between’ and architecturally is an intervening space, especially a very small one, as in a, gap, opening, hole, cranny, crevice, chink, crack, or breach. For our ancient brethren, cementing interstices was vital in preserving cisterns. Cisterns are subterranean reservoirs, sometimes covering as much as 4000 square metres of land, in which the rainwater is gathered during the spring or to preserve underground streams. Their extreme necessity is attested by the countless old, unused cisterns with which the Middle East is honeycombed. Cisterns were hewed into the rock and then lined with impervious masonry and cement. If the cement of the cistern gave way, the reservoir became useless and was abandoned.

So too with masonry. If we do not take care to spread the cement of brotherly love, relief and truth, there is a risk that we, like the ancient cisterns, may become abandoned and useless.

References:

Algernon, R (1932). The director of ceremonies. London: Kenning & Son, p89. Buchan, M (1992) The Masonic Trowel, Scottish Rite Journal – September. Burrage, C (1912). Annual address of Charles Dana Burrage. Massachusetts: The Society. Haywood, H (1995). Symbolical masonry. Kila, Mont: Kessinger. Mackey, A. Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry and its kindred sciences. Macoy, R. General History, Cyclopaedia and Dictionary of Freemasonry Roberts, Allen E. Coil’s Masonic Encyclopaedia. Shackleton, E (n.d.) The Symbols of the First Degree. Dormer Masonic Study Circle.

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June 2018

Famous mason

A man of value Few men really become legends in their lifetime. Sir Asher Joel is one man who achieved that worth.

orn in Western Sydney in 1912, his father was a clerk and his mother a daughter of a Jewish Minister. The family had little money which prevented the family from attending the Great Synagogue especially during Yom Kippur, but his parents gave Asher and his brothers a sound home life.

He was educated at Enmore Public School and Cleveland Street High School until he left school at 14 and started work as a copy boy with the Daily Telegraph. As a reporter he worked for The Labor Daily and at 20 years of age he became the paper’s Parliamentary reporter. His Parliamentary reports were so well written that in 1938 he was the Publicity Director for the Coronation of King George VI and a year later organised the 150th Year Anniversary of Captain Cook’s Landing. In 1942 Asher Joel joined the Australian Army, but was released to run the Sydney Lord Mayor’s Patriotic and War Fund and the Australian Comforts Fund. In 1944 he transferred to the Royal Australian Navy where he served on General MacArthur’s Staff as Liaison Officer between MacArthur’s Headquarters and the US Navy until 1945 when he returned to civilian life. For most men after a busy war one would imagine it would be feasible to take things easy but for Asher Joel it meant back to work. In 1946 he set up and chaired the Asher Joel Property Limited, a public relations firm and in 1949 he was a founding member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia. In 1958 he was elected to the NSW Legislative Council as an Independent, moving to the Country National Party the following year and retiring in 1978.

June 2018

Asher Joel organised and was involved in many Australian and New South Wales events, from the visit of Princess Alexandra in 1957 to the visits of President Johnson in 1964 and Pope John Paul II in 1970. But in all the events in which he was involved, the opening of the Sydney Opera House stood out. According to Rabbi Apple, Joel said the easiest person to work with was Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1973 when she attended the opening and he felt that she was a true professional. Asher Joel was a man of many parts and influence. He served on the United Israel Appeal Board, he was a founder and governor of the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and he was involved in many Australian and Israeli projects including the Anzac and Menzies Forests in Israel. No doubt every journalist dreams of having his own paper and Asher had a great interest in Queensland where he published his newspaper the North West Star in Mt Isa which had a circulation over an area of 400,000 square kilometres. In addition to his many attributes he also wrote two books Australian Protocol and Procedures, 1982 and Without Chains, Free, 1977. Australian Protocol and Procedures is used by Local Government, Government Authorities and Organisations as the authority and resource on correct protocols. Asher Joel received many decorations and awards, including twice knighted by the Queen, a Bronze Star from the United States, the Order of Australia and the first Jewish person to be awarded a Papal Knighthood by the Vatican. He often joked that his children remarked that if

The Hon Sir Asher Joel, taken when he was a Lieutenant in the Navy. Photo courtesy of Michael Joel

he wore all his decorations he would look like a Christmas Tree. Brother Asher Joel joined Lodge Bexley 328 in 1930 and was raised in 1931. He affiliated to four NSW Lodges including the Army and Navy in 1974 and also joined Lodge Renown 270 in Victoria. In 1984 he had the rank of Past Grand Director of Music conferred on him. Brother Sir Asher Joel was a man who started life in humble circumstances yet rose to the top of his profession. He walked with kings, world leaders and Popes, yet he never forgot his earlier beginning, Brother Rudyard Kipling wrote; ‘if you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch, you’ll be a man’. Albert Einstein once wrote; ‘Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value’. Asher Joel was such a man.

Freemason

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Freemason’s fifty!

By RW Bro Ted Simmons

Happy birthday

Freemason

There will be quiet celebrations during the month of June 2018 as members salute the 50th birthday of the modern version of our Freemason magazine.

t has been a long running process of information since the first publication of a masonic newsletter in NSW starting in 1864 and there have been only a few occasions in that period when a masonic journal for NSW Freemasons has not been published. The history of these earlier publications was prepared for a paper on the subject by the then-Chairman of the Publications Committee, VW Bro Alan Farrell (now RW Bro Farrell, PDGM) in 1986 and this article is based on those facts. It is remarkable that publication was continued in those 154 years since the first issue considering that at the earlier part of that time the ‘secrets’ of Free masonry had to be preserved at all costs. The Australian Masonic News published in 1864 had on its front cover this interesting commentary; ‘The idea of committing any of the laws, usages or transactions of Freemasonry to print was not so much as not entertained: it was deemed a crime so monstrous as to admit neither of palliation nor excuse.’ This item recalled the position of the Grand Lodge of England which stated; ‘Universal consternation was produced amongst the fraternity in 1718, when Grand Master Payne at the Annual

June 2018

Early issues of the magazine were black and white, produced six times a year of 24 pages...

Grand Festival desired all old writings and records which might be in the possession of any of the brethren throughout England to be delivered up to the Grand Lodge, preparatory to the compilation of a body of Masonic Constitutions for the use of the lodges under its jurisdiction. The alarm was so great that papers in abundance were secreted and even destroyed lest they should fall into the hands of the Grand Lodge and be made public, a measure which they conceived would be highly injurious to the interests of the Craft.’ No such misgivings were felt by the masons of NSW however, for publications that were produced were the Australian Freemasons Magazine

(1870–71), following that a monthly magazine The Australian Freemason and in 1879 the Freemason appeared and was adopted as the official journal of the United Grand Lodge of NSW when it was formed in 1888. It was a monthly magazine in the form of a newspaper, containing information on various activities of Grand Lodge, private lodges, of masonic personalities and included reports from Committees. In 1882, the Freemason’s Chronicle was published, and in 1899 this was incorporated with the Queensland masonic journal The Keystone, becoming the Freemasons’ Chronicle of Australasia, published monthly. A weekly newspaper, Masonry appeared in 1900 and the NSW Masonic Herald, issued fortnightly, followed in 1906. A longer lasting publication, The Keystone existed from 1908–23 and this was replaced by the NSW Freemason, which retained its name and format from 1924 until February 1960. This was a monthly magazine printed by Cryer and Sons, and won the respect of a large circle of subscribing brethren for its wide and accurate coverage of masonic activities, informative and interesting articles by distinguished masonic authors and its authoritative treatment of current events. During the

Freemason

GENERAL DOUG

LAS MACARTHU

R R MASONIC KNOT S R TERCENTENE RY

v50 n1 March 2018

How far we’ve come! Issue 1 (1968), volume 1 vs issue 1, volume 50 (2018)!

changing to five times in 2004 and changing again in 2010 to quarterly but in full colour and boosting the content to 48 pages. Most of the issues are to be found in the NSW Grand Lodge Library. In the first year of the magazine, the then Grand Master, MW Bro Eric Primrose said in his inaugural message:

The friendly

Games overlapping period 1923–32, The Square was also circulated among the brethren. When Cryer and Sons ceased publication, the NSW Freemason was succeeded in 1960 by the newspaper, The Freemason of NSW but this did not have the appeal of previous publications. Preliminary steps were announced in June 1967 for the production of a masonic journal to be issued regularly to brethren, a committee was set up by the Board of General Purposes and a leaflet giving full details was released to each brother in the jurisdiction seeking his response and support. By December 1967 tenders had been called for the printing and despatch of the journal but it was not until June 1968 that No 1 of the Freemason was published and distributed to subscribers. The Grand Master announced that the new committee for the magazine would be: RW Bro J Cowie (Chairman), RW Bro H Thomas (secretary), RW Bro M Kellerman, RW Bro V Blight, RW Bro J Danks, VW Bro H Williams, Bro H Booth. By 1975, the Committee had been increased by three with the addition of VW Bro W Cryer, VW Bro D Wade-Ferrell and VW Bro E Simmons with RW Bro Williams as Chairman, VW Bro Simmons Editor and VW Bro Wade-Ferrell Business Manager. Early issues of the magazine were black and white, produced six times a year of 24 pages at a cost of 25 cents,

www.masons.org.au

‘Wisdom is strength and the wiser we can become of the true way of life, the better masons and men we shall be. I feel sure our readers will acquire wisdom from studying the magazine and I would remind you the dissemination of masonic knowledge is essential to masonic strength. Just as a strong press helps strengthen a nation, so will this magazine, if read and studied by our members, strengthen them in every way of life and thus the world will appreciate the beauty and greatness of our Order.’

Roche in an all-Australian final of the first Open Wimbledon, Lionel Rose won the world bantamweight boxing title against Fighting Harada and Rain Lover won the Melbourne Cup. The members of the Publications Committee are grateful to the many brethren who have contributed to the issues in the past fifty years. Their thoughts and items of interest have given much pleasure and information to our readers – masons and non-masons alike, and we hope they will continue. We live in an age of challenge to our moral and spiritual code and as masons, we can never agree to a lowering of those standards to which we were obligated. The Freemason endeavours to assist in that campaign and if we and you succeed in contributing one small component to our Craft, the discharge of that obligation will have been a privilege.

That special issue contained many different articles and used as its front cover a black and white aerial view of the Frank Whiddon Homes at Glenfield. It included the story of the Frank Whiddon Homes, the first 100 years of Lodge Antiquity No 1, the ‘Claims of Civil Duty,’ ‘Practical Freemasonry,’ a tribute to the late Rev Dr Martin Luther King, 50 years membership certificates and lodge meetings. It was also a memorable year in 1968 with John Gorton as Prime Minister, 8,000 troops fighting in Vietnam, the first Australian heart transplant performed, Richard Nixon elected US President, Robert Kennedy assassinated, and Robert Helpmann knighted. In the field of sport, Australia won five gold medals at the Mexico Olympics, Rod Laver beat Tony

June 2018

Be a volunteer

By W Bro Stephen Dally

Volunteer! ‘Volunteering is time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain’ – Volunteering Australia.

n 2014 it was estimated that 5.8 million Australians aged 18 or over volunteered to work in groups or organisations. Then volunteering dropped until the 2016 Census showed it was on the rise with 3.6 million people aged 15 years or over giving their time to volunteer with a group or organisation. The list of organisations is too long to record. Some that come to mind are the State Emergency Service in all states, the Rural Fire Service and their sister organisations in other states, St John’s Ambulance, Pink Ladies and hospital voluntary groups, Youth Organisations such as the Scout Association, Girls and Boys Brigade, Australian Air League and sporting groups that rely on volunteers. Organisations like the Red Cross, Salvation Army and charitable groups rely heavily on volunteers and our own lodges could not operate without members offering to serve in positions from Grand Lodge to private lodges and chapters. The question is often asked ‘Why do people volunteer?’ Research by organisations like Volunteering Australia has

June 2018

...people are more likely to volunteer if they know someone in the organisation because that connection lessens the perceived ‘social risk’ people feel...

shown that people volunteer for a number of reasons which include altruism, wanting to help others, giving back something to the community, using their spare time effectively, learning a skill that may help in the future. Experience has also shown that youth organisations gain volunteers from parents who offer their time to assist their children and children’s friends.

The next question is of course why don’t people volunteer? Reams of words have been written about this vexing question and it is worth looking at some of the answers researchers have found! Research by Walter Wymer, a management professor who studies volunteers at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, cites a U.S. study by Gallup which concludes that people are more than four times likely to volunteer when they’re asked. Wymer also found people are more likely to volunteer if they know someone in the organisation because that connection lessens the perceived ‘social risk’ people feel when joining a new group. Another cause for reluctance is that potential volunteers don’t clearly understand what they are being asked to do. ‘People don’t volunteer because it takes too much work to find out what it’s all about,’ says Susan Ellis, president of Philadelphia-based Energize Inc, an international training firm specialising in volunteerism. ‘Break it down into things people can picture and they are more likely to respond.’ Although a volunteer should never sign a contract, a job description or a simple job plan helps to know what is required. Some former volunteers were left with bad

Freemason

experiences and would be reluctant to take up the challenge again. Other reasons people do not put up their hand are based on a bad experience or reports from a friend. The world of volunteering has many pitfalls. The Scout Association for years had a wonderful saying about ‘if you want a job done, find a busy man’ – the trouble is the busy man is only one person, so remember the other saying about the straw that broke the camel’s back! Many youth volunteers often find that to get the job done they put their hand in their own pocket which causes problems at home. Another major problem is when looking after children, the leader spends more time with other children than their own or the volunteer’s garden is not the best in the street because the volunteer is never home. For some years the volunteer’s position was never made clear. Now there is a Volunteers’ Guide developed by Safe

Work Australia in conjunction with the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Not-for-profit Reform Council working group that covers Health and Safety, Training, Harassment, the volunteer’s obligations and the organisation’s obligations to the volunteer.

Another cause for reluctance is that potential volunteers don’t clearly understand what they are being asked to do.

In this modern age, there appears to be a ‘use by date’ for everything – but what is to be done with the volunteer who seems to fit this belief? Volunteers are hard to get and certainly hard to replace. Instead of losing a long service volunteer, find a new job in the organisation that is not so taxing or shares a role. Mary Anne Burke and Carl Liljenstolpe suggest in their book Recruiting Volunteers that many volunteer organisations are not fully aware of their volunteer’s potential. It could also be said some organisations are not fully aware of their volunteer’s contribution. Volunteers do not expect rewards or medals. What they do look forward to is a simple ‘thank you.’

The Essential Guide to Work Health and Safety for Volunteers is available from Volunteering Australia and can be downloaded from their website at: www.volunteeringaustralia.org.

I am delighted to invite you to The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT Grand Installation of MW Bro Derek Robson AM and associated events which will take place in Sydney from 3 to 5 August 2018. MW Bro Jamie Melville Grand Master The programme includes: Friday 3 August Meet & Greet Saturday 4 August Ladies Breakfast Grand Installation Grand Banquet Sunday 5 August Farewell Lunch

www.masons.org.au

June 2018

Touring Alcatraz

By RW Bro Ted Simmons Cells in Alcatraz prison Photo by William Warby

A tour of

June 2018

Freemason

Alcatraz Island, as it appears today Photo by Frank Schulenburg

‘You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Anything else you get is a privilege.’

hat rule, No 5 of the Alcatraz Prison Rules and Regulations of 1934, was one of the realities of life inside the walls of the US Federal Penitentiary on Alcatraz Island. This island in the heart of San Francisco Bay, is just over a kilometre from the sights and sounds of one of the world’s most beautiful cities and has been used as a fort, a lighthouse and a prison. Today, it is part of the national park at the Golden Gate and the National Park Service is working to keep it accessible to visitors, preserve its buildings and protect its birds and wildlife. It has been the subject of many movies and books, and of some of the

The island was a prison almost from the start.

men who lived in its cells, including Al ‘Scarface’ Capone and Robert Stroud, the ‘Birdman of Alcatraz.’ The exact location of Al Capone’s cell is unknown. Part of his four and a half years there were spent in a hospital isolation cell. Robert Stroud had canaries at Leavenworth Prison but never had birds at Alcatraz and his real nickname was ‘Bird Doctor of Leavenworth.’ For thousands of years Alcatraz was a lonely island, occasionally visited by Ohlone and Miwok Native Americans.

Between the time the Spanish settled the bay area in 1776 and the Yankees took over from the Mexicans in 1846, the island was noted on maps but was otherwise unused. Although the US Government had begun to study possible uses for the island, it was the Gold Rush that spurred the building of the lighthouse and the fortification of its surface. The enormous wealth from the gold mines dramatically increased San Francisco’s ship traffic and by 1849 the city had stopped being a sleepy outpost of 300 souls and was a glittering home to more than 20,000 citizens. In 1850, a military board proposed a three-point strategy for San Francisco Bay, with Alcatraz selected as the site of a small fort with construction beginning in 1853. However, military technology advanced quickly during the Civil War, making defences at Alcatraz obsolete and it was formally decommissioned in 1907.

Bro P huoc Vo’s

Tour of Vietnam W Bro Phuoc Vo invites all interested brethren to experience Vietnam through the eyes of those who lived through some of its most turbulent times, as told by his father, who will fly in to meet you as you explore off the tourist track with Phuoc as your guide. Tour aiming for July 2019 – more details in upcoming issues!

Call 0408 493 688 or email vietphuoc@y7mail.com

www.masons.org.au

June 2018

Touring Alcatraz The main buildings that make up the old prison complex on Alcatraz Island.

Model Industries building

Water tower New Industries building Recreation yard

Powerhouse

Military morgue Main prison

Quartermaster

Lighthouse

Officer’s club

Warden’s house

Military chapel

Barracks/ apartments

Guardhouse

Guard tower

Floating dock

The island was a prison almost from the start. In 1859, 11 soldiers scheduled for confinement arrived with the fort’s first permanent garrison. During the Civil War, soldiers convicted of desertion, theft, murder and citizens accused of treason were imprisoned there as well as Native Americans captured during the various ‘Indian Wars.’ After the Great Depression of the 1930s, Alcatraz was re-opened in 1934 as a federal penitentiary with most of the inmates men who had proved to be problems in other prisons. There were 14 attempted federal prison-era escapes, the best known in June 1962 when Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin used raincoats as flotation devices but were assumed to have drowned. Increasing maintenance and operating costs led to the closure of Alcatraz prison in 1963. Various suggestions were made about its future use until groups of Native American political activists selected the island as a place to make a stand.

June 2018

The Alcatraz lighthouse was the first on the Pacific coast...

They occupied Alcatraz three times, the first in 1964 when they stayed only four hours. Five years later, on 9 Novem ber, 1969, a small group landed on the island and claimed it in the name of the ‘Indians of All Tribes.’ A full scale occupation began 11 days later and lasted for 19 months. Echoing the 1636 purchase of Manhattan Island, the ‘Indians of All Tribes’ offered to buy Alcatraz from the federal government for $24 in beads, coloured cloth and other trade goods. But as time passed, support dwindled and in June 1971, federal agents removed from the island the few individuals who

remained. Crews began bulldozing buildings into rubble but this stopped in 1972 when the island came under the control of the National Park Service. Visitors travel to Alcatraz by ferry from Fishermen’s Wharf and alight at the original dock which was completed in 1854 and modified several times since. The guardhouse, built in 1857 is the oldest building on the island. Soldiers entered the fort through the guardhouse and its sally port, a passageway with a heavy iron-studded wooden door at each end. Touring the island will enable a visitor to see the Floating Dock, Barracks/ apartments, Fog Signal buildings, Children’s Garden, Warden’s House, Lighthouse, the Cellhouse, Military Morgue, Recreation Yard, Water Tower and the Military Chapel. In 1907, plans were drawn up for a cellhouse that could house up to 600 prisoners. When finished in 1912, the cellhouse was the largest steel-reinforced concrete building in the world.

Freemason

All material and equipment had to be brought from the mainland on barges and labour was provided by mostly unskilled inmates who also became the first prisoners to live in it. In the plans, tool-proof bars replaced the flat, soft-steel barriers of the military prison, and gun galleries were built at either end of the two main cell blocks. Outside, six guard towers were constructed, barbed wire was strung, chainlink fences erected and metal detectors and electric doors installed. The building, and its individual cells, is probably the most visited area of the island. The Alcatraz lighthouse was the first on the Pacific coast and has been in operation since 1854. The cellhouse was never filled to capacity, with average number of prisoners around 260 and the maximum 302. Executions were not held at the island although there were five suicides and eight murders. There weren’t any female correctional officers or prisoners on Alcatraz. Women prisoners were not declared ‘incorrigible’

The cell of one of the inmates involved in the June 1962 escape attempt. Note the false vent cover made from painted cardboard used to disguise the escape tunnel.

until 1969, six years after the closure of the prison. The only females on the island were visitors and the wives and children of correctional officers.

colonies on the northern Californian coast and the sharks that swim in San Francisco Bay and around the island are not ‘man-eaters’ but mostly sand sharks.

The only land mammal on Alcatraz is the deer mouse, and the California slender salamander is the only amphibian. It has one of the largest western gull

When in San Francisco, a tour of Alcatraz Island presents a glimpse of the past, the American experience and a never forgotten experience.

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www.masons.org.au

June 2018

Streets of Sydney

History repeating The problems currently affecting traffic in the streets of Sydney City are not new. In fact they have been recurring at regular intervals for more than 200 years!

n the book The Masonic Sites of Sydney by RW Bro Grahame Cumming OAM, he devoted an entire chapter to Sydney’s streets pointing out that the first thoroughfares were tracks through the bush from the shoreline to the tents of the First Fleeters. Governor Phillip defined a street plan but it was ignored and the tracks became narrow, crooked, un-named streets. Later, some were given descriptive names such as Bridge and Spring streets. When Governor Macquarie arrived, it was too late to create an orderly pattern and all he could do was a partial straightening and widening. On 6 October 1810, he ordered that finger boards be erected with street

Governor Phillip defined a street plan but it was ignored...

names painted on them. Some streets were named for the first time, others were re-named or the original retained. Some of the names were those of Freemasons such as the Dukes of York, Clarence, Kent, Sussex, Gloucester and Cumberland or locals such as William, Harris, O’Connell, Jamison and Harrington.

rahame Hugh Cumming, who passed away in April this year, was better known as an author of Sydney history, the influence of Freemasonry in the early years and masonic education. His work was recognised in many areas, being conferred as Past Deputy Grand Master in 2001, Grand Lodge Trustee in 2002, Grand Master’s Distinguished Service Award in 2003, Carrington Medal of Honour 2007 and the OAM in 2009 for his research into Australian masonic history. He was born at Balmain Hospital on March 16,1933, attended Gladesville public school and matriculated from Sydney Technical High school. He completed a diploma in mechanical engineering, later a Bachelor of Engineering with honours and

June 2018

Above: the 1934 edition of Gregory’s Street Directory. Left: The Masonic Sites of Sydney, an invaluable reference book.

Two others, Carrington Street and Rawson Place were named after Grand Masters of the United Grand Lodge of NSW. In recent years, the best way to find a street location was to use a Gregory’s Directory, first published in 1934 by Bro Cecil Gregory, a member of Lodges Arcadia and Literature.

As his interest grew in masonic education, he became an official lecturer with the Grand Lodge Committee for Masonic Education, a member and then chairman of the Committee and a Director of the College of Masonic Studies. His work on masonic history still serves as the foundation for the College’s history component. He was also active in Associated Orders as a member of the Royal Arch, the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and the Order of the Secret Monitor. completed National Service in the Royal Australian Air Force. Grahame was initiated into Lodge Allambie at Gladesville in February 1957 and installed as WM in 1967, again in 1984 and following the consolidation with Lodge Gladesville, he was again Master in 1995.

Past Grand Master, MW Bro George Curry, in his foreword to the Masonic Sites book, wrote: ‘We, as masons, should be very proud of our history and Grahame in this book has produced a wonderful record in which people will be made aware of the excellent community service masons have provided throughout the development years of Sydney.’

Freemason

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Lodge Warialda

By W Bro Stig R Hokanson

Freemasonry and history While most traffic between Brisbane and Sydney make use of either the Pacific or New England highways for the twelve hour drive, some are tempted to divert from the main trajectories and discover interesting places en route. A recent visit to Warialda, some 480 kilometres south-west of Brisbane yielded a pleasant surprise.

eaders will recall that I visited nearby Bingara in 2012 and again some years later in the company of Ken and Glennis Corley. Bingara’s Masonic Temple, inaugurated in 1904, showed signs of deterioration and neglect at my first visit; swallows nesting above the Junior Warden’s chair and ghost-like cobwebs creating a feeling of total abandonment. Four years later, local Gwydir Council had injected funds and restored/renovated the old temple and in the process morphed it into an early childcare centre. Sounds of children’s laughter rang out where solemn Tracing Board

...trace the town’s history back to its humble beginnings...

lectures had earlier been presented. Forty-five kilometres north of Bingara is the quaint town on Warialda, population 1,120. Warialda means ‘Place of Wild Honey.’

Freemasonry came to Warialda in the 1890s; as did other orders such as Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows and the ever popular Buffaloes. Lodge Warialda No 257 was inaugurated in 1908 and flourished for little more than a century. Lodge Warialda met in the Buffalo Hall for the first nine years of its existence. In the middle of World War I, when almost all construction ground to a halt, diligent brethren toiled to see the Warialda Temple completed and dedicated. Some of the lodge’s brethren never made it back from the war. Those who did formed, together with older brethren, the core of a most successful country lodge. Sadly, as is the case with countless country lodges both in Queensland and New South Wales, an ageing membership, lack of candidates and/or affiliates caused Lodge Warialda to surrender its warrant and end over a century of solid masonic activity in 2012. Interestingly, Freemasonry was the last of the aforementioned three Orders to close its doors. Some three years later the Warialda Historical Society moved in. Government funds were sought and granted. A necessary face lift followed. However, the new

The Warialda lodge building lives on as a local museum. Right: The old lodge doormat still welcoming all visitors

June 2018

Freemason

A dose of laughter

By RW Bro Ted Simmons

Funny and healthy ‘The art of medicine consists of keeping the patient amused while nature heals the disease’ wrote French philosopher Voltaire.

M Lodge Warialda’s Centenary Installation programme.

owners did not try to erase the building’s past. On the contrary, they left the outside facade intact, converting the temple’s spacious ante room to a masonic museum. There, the visitor can peruse minute books, view regalia worn by a shop dummy, sit in the Wardens chairs and enjoy a collection of Installation cards from the past. The tessellated pavement remains polished and impressive inside the old lodge room, while a tasteful display of historical artefacts trace the town’s history back to its humble beginnings in the 1850s. So where do remaining Warialda brethren find an outlet for Freemasonry? They do so in Inverell, a much larger New England town where Freemasonry is strong, augmented no doubt, by affiliates from a string of country lodges within a 100 km radius. Yes, one may argue that this is not ideal conditions, and few appreciate the added travel. However, suggested consummate Warialda History Society curator, former School Principal Peter Hancock, ‘it is a sign of the times in the bush.’ Meanwhile, Lodge Warialda No 257’s welcome mat greets every visitor to the well presented museum in this Place of Wild Honey.

www.masons.org.au

edical research has shown that the body reacts favourably to positive emotion and scientists have continued research into the link between psychological and physical well-being. Emotions are chemical messages that create communications between mind and body and not just simple feelings. How often has the phrase ‘a healthy body and a healthy mind’ been used? Add to that the emotion of feeling better after a good laugh, whether at a film, party or just an amusing incident. The body reacts favourably to positive emotions but negative thoughts or actions have the reverse effect. Body cells receive messages through individual receptors so their reaction is dependent on how well we use our senses. Obviously, they function better if you have a happy and healthy lifestyle. One of the most valuable feel-good hormones in the body are endorphins. When something funny occurs, the brain releases a series of endorphins which activate receptors in the blood vessels. This helps to reduce pain and reportedly has other benefits in its effect on tumours and viruses in the body. One of the big problems facing people, whether at work or home or even on holiday, is the onset of stress. It can be caused by computer problems, traffic jams, late trains, buses or planes or even a crying baby.

One point to remember is that all cells in the body receive messages through their individual receptors and the more we can provide these receptors with exercise through laughter and a sense of humour, the better they work. For example, think of your car, computer or smart phone with all of the attachments they now have. If they all work, everything is fine and life is a breeze. It is so easy then to make contact or complete your journey. And usually it is accompanied by a smile or a laugh and you feel good. Scientists have conducted experiments on the reactions from laughing and have discovered the benefits are numerous. There can be relief from pain, headaches, less stress and better sleep. Laughter can also burn calories in the battle against weight, doesn’t seem to produce as many wrinkles as frowning and let’s face it, which would you prefer to be sitting next to – a happy face or a miserable face. There is an old saying of ‘laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.’ That’s why the audience at a good comedy or a happy movie come out with smiling faces and an attitude of having enjoyed themselves. If you feel good, invariably you look good. And your body repays you with actions that help to keep it in good shape. So remember, positive emotions and a goodly use of your funny bone will help keep you on the path to better physical health and a happier and more enjoyable life. Now where did I put that book on jokes and funny sayings! Sometimes laughter is the best medicine!

Stress can lead to heart attacks, stroke, high blood pressure, headaches, migraine – the list just goes on and on. Arriving home from a stressful day at work or shopping can lead to situations with angry words or not being your usual self with the family.

Photo by Jan Kaláb

June 2018

Masonicare

MASONICARE

Your Grand Charity

INTERACTION GRANT CHEQUE PRESENTATIONS

Cowra Hospital gets help Lodge Cowra No 33 and Masonicare have made a $6,100 presentation to the Cowra Hospital Auxiliary. Lodge secretary RW Bro Ron Webb said the lodge decided 12 months ago it wasn’t doing enough to fulfil its duty as good citizens and Freemasons. ‘We had a little think session and decided to try and raise funds for local charity, as well as enjoying ourselves along with the possibility of attracting some new members. All I can say is two out of three isn’t bad,’ he said. Cowra Hospital Auxiliary president Pat Smith welcomed the lodge donation and expressed their appreciation. ‘This will benefit all in the community and enable the auxiliary to purchase more vital medical equipment for patient care to help in their recovery.

‘We thank the lodge very much for supporting us and wish them well in their endeavour in helping others in the community,’ she said. RW Bro Webb explained the lodge found out the protocol for applying for funding from Masonicare and made

Lodge Cowra presenting the cheque

application for the maximum amount of $3,000, which is allocated on a dollar for dollar basis to augment the donor lodge’s fundraising efforts.

Blacktown Kildare helping students

On 20 April 2018 Lodge Blacktown Kildare No 393 made a cheque presentation of $6,000 to Eagles RAPS to help purchase computers for their students. The donation was announced by W Bro Con Calpito, secretary of Lodge Blacktown Kildare.

June 2017

Freemason

A Royal function

interACTION

Grants How your lodge can help... Did you know that your lodge can apply for an interACTION Grant before it embarks on a charitable fundraising activity in your local Community? The correct procedure to get this underway is:

Obtain an interACTION Grant Application Form from your Regional Masonicare Manager (RMM) or download from the website: www.masonicare.org.au

The Royal Haven Court raised more than nine thousand dollars for local charities.

On Saturday 3 March the Royal Haven Court of the Order of the Amaranth held a function in Nowra to raise money for local charities. They also presented cheques to the Maternity Unit of the Shoalhaven Hospital and the local Parkinson’s Support Group. The Order of the Amaranth is a fraternal organisation primarily for ladies and a few men. The Order originated in Sweden and impresses upon its members their duty to God, their Country and each other, with Courts in many countries. Each year a Court raises funds for charity as well as helping others in their local area.

Over the previous year Royal Haven has raised $5,000 for charity at fundraising events and meetings. Masonicare chose to support Royal Haven by supplementing the money they raised. Rosemary Aitkinson, the current Royal Matron of Royal Haven and Ian Newbery the Royal Patron, together with Brian Mackander OAM and Peter Stemp on behalf of Masonicare, presented cheques for $5,000 to the Shoalhaven Hospital Maternity Ward and for $4,600 to the Nowra Parkinson’s Support Group.

Plan to do a particular fundraising activity with the funds raised to be presented to a local charity which is registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).

Apply for the interACTION Grant, in principle, with an amount nominated.

Approved (at Board meeting).

Fundraising activity.

Cheque request sent to Masonicare along with funds raised by lodge, which will be matched, dollar for dollar, by Masonicare.

Cheque sent to your RMM or designated person for presentation at organised event.

You should allow about six weeks for the whole process, so plan accordingly!

Masonicare Charity Jewels Has your Lodge Management Committee considered making a special presentation of one of these beautiful Masonicare Charity Jewels to a deserving brother at your Installation meeting? One of the jewels could even be presented to the incoming/ outgoing MCO at an appropriate time or at the festive board. Jewels can only be purchased by the lodge and are not tax deductible in compliance with ATO ‘charity’ regulations. Funds raised from the sale of jewels go to The Benevolence Fund. These Jewels make great presentations! Contact Masonicare for more information.

www.masons.org.au

This is how the members of your lodge can demonstrate their commitment to the lodge and the local community, not only assisting in a charitable sense but also showing Freemasonry in action. The application process has now become more streamlined! Applications can now be emailed directly to: Angelo Sanchez Sojo at info@masonicare.org.au These requests will be dealt with by the Masonicare Board. Those charities that are eligible for an interACTION Grant must have DGR status. DGR status can be checked at www.abr.business.gov. au by entering the ABN for the nominated charity.

June 2017

Letters to the Editor Send your Letters to the Editor by: Email to: freemason@masons.org.au

Post to:  The Secretary, Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South NSW 1235

Have your say A knotty memory The article on Knots in the March issue of the Freemason revived memories of a special event concerning knots which was carried out on 21 December 1987 by the then NSW Grand Master, MW Bro Professor Roy Woodman. A special centenary gift of a knot board was presented to W Bro J Harold Kaye, chairman of the NSW Branch Executive Committee for the Scouts Association and WM of Lodge Baden Powell. The gift was to commemorate the 16th World Scout Jamboree held at Cataract Scout Park on 31 December 1987. The knot board, measuring 1,800mm by 900mm, displaying more than 50 different

knots used in scouting, was made by W Bro Albert Hargraves, a Past Master of Lodge Padstow as a memorial to the late W Bro Stan Bound, a PM of Lodge Panania and a District Leader for ‘training in Scouting’ and his wife Jessie, a District Commissioner of Girl Guides. Branch Commissioner for Scouts who was present, said the knot board would be an inspiration to Scouts generally and one of the actions to be held at a Scout Rally in Newcastle would be the making of a knot board. Lodge Baden Powell was the host to 120 Scout Leaders attending the Jamboree at its meeting on 4 January 1988 in the Egyptian Room at Petersham. More than 207 brethren attended the meeting,

3. Babies are born without bone kneecaps. They don’t appear until they are 2–6 years old.

Comedy corner True or false? Can you guess which of the following are true and which are false? Check your answers on page 44! 1. Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking you up in the morning. 2. Alfred Hitchcock did not have a belly button.

June 2018

4. The average person over 50 will have spent 5 years standing in line. 5. The toothbrush was invented in 1498. 6. The average housefly lives for one month. 7. The average computer user blinks 7-times a minute. 8. Your feet are bigger in the afternoon than any other time of day. 9. Most of us have eaten a spider in our sleep. 10. The REAL reason ostriches stick their head in the sand is to search for water.

ee tary The Secre Editorial Committ W & ACT on Freemas Grand Lodge of NS W 1235 d uth, NS The Unite Sydney So , 59 A2 x The Secretary PO Bo Freemason Editorial Committee The&Secret The United Grand Lodge of NSW ACT ary Freem ason Editorial Committee PO Box A259, Sydney South, NSW 1235 The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South , NSW 1235

including visitors from other Australian States as well as overseas representatives from New Zealand, England, Canada the USA, Greece, Norway and Papua New Guinea.

Got something to say?

We want your opinions on masonry-related topics! Send your queries, opinions or ideas to: freemason@masons.org.au

12. In most television commercials advertising milk, a mixture of white paint and a little thinner is used in place of the milk. 13. Prince Charles and Prince William never travel on the same airplane, just in case there is a crash. 14. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle built in 1903 used a tomato can for a carburettor. 15. Most hospitals make money by selling the umbilical cords cut from women who give birth. They are used in vein transplant surgery. 16. Humphrey Bogart was related to Princess Diana. They were 7th cousins.

11. The only two animals that can see behind themselves without turning their heads are the rabbit and the parrot.

Freemason

Seeking to learn

seeker The young

How do we meet the needs of the young initiate or Fellowcraft who wants to know more, a lot more, about Freemasonry?

e hear: ‘Wait, be patient. You’ve got plenty of time.’ ‘You’re not ready for that yet.’ ‘Memorise some ritual – that’s the way to learn.’ But what we are really saying is, ‘get the information from somewhere else.’ And guess where the ‘somewhere else’ will be – the internet. Wherein lie all the facts, myths, fiction and fantasy that they could ever wish for. How can we direct enquiring minds along genuine paths of knowledge? A Worshipful Master is enjoined to ‘...employ and instruct the brethren in Freemasonry.’ RR Invite knowledgeable lecturers to speak at a lodge meeting – ALL your brethren stand to benefit. RR Contact the Grand Librarian. He can select suitable books for the young

...a Worshipful Master should balance his year’s work between ritual, masonic instruction and social activities.

mason. He can choose books to match the young mason’s intellectual capability. RR Arrange for your new mason to visit The Discovery Lodge of Research No

971. They focus on masonic knowledge and their members can encourage a young mason to learn more about our wonderful Craft. RR Most of all, a Worshipful Master should balance his year’s work between ritual, masonic instruction and social activities. This results in a year of variety and enjoyment by all his brethren. Every Worshipful Master should remember that ‘The better he educates his new members the better will be the quality of the future management of our jurisdiction.’

Lodge Mayfield Daylight No 493

Calling Newcastle masons Newcastle’s only daylight lodge welcomes masons unavailable for or cautious about night-time meetings! 2nd Tuesday of every month. Tyling at 9:30am. Lunch $10. New Lambton Masonic Centre. For details call 02 4968 4511. List your event or notice here! freemason@apmgraphics.com.au

www.masons.org.au

June 2018

WHAT’S ON

EVENTS AND NOTICES

Grand Library Freemason’s Hall: The home and heritage of the Craft Sir James Stubbs and TO Haunch

New books

available

The Grand Library at the NSW Masonic Centre has received a generous donation of books from Bro Marc Bindner of Lodge Kensington which are available to members to read or borrow.

he books cover a wide range of masonic topics and could even provide the basis for lodge talks. Some of the books are listed below and full details can be obtained from the Grand Librarian, RW Bro Robert Taylor or by calling in to Grand Lodge. Let them be Admitted James W. Jacobs Secrets of the Widow’s Son: The mysteries surrounding the sequel to The Da Vinci Code David A Shugarts Keepers of Genesis: A quest for the hidden legacy of mankind Robert Bauval and Graham Hancock The Temple and the Lodge Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh The Secret Societies Handbook: The truth behind the world’s most sinister secret brotherhoods Michael Bradley

Rosslyn Tim Wallace-Murphy and Marilyn Hopkins The Invisible College: The Royal Society, Freemasonry and the birth of modern science Robert Lomas

Speculative Masonry: Its mission, its evolution and its landmarks AS MacBride The Element Encyclopedia of Secret Societies John Michael Greer The History of Freemasonry in Victoria PT Thornton A Century of Union PT Thornton Solomon’s Power Brokers: The Historical Sketch GL of Scotland 1736–1986 Christopher Knight and Alan Butler The Jesus Conspiracy Holger Kersten and Elmar R. Gruber

The Last Templar Raymond Khoury

The Second Messiah Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas

The Templar revelation Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince

The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh

Fodor’s Guide to the Da Vinci Code: On the trail of the best-selling novel Jennifer Paull and Christopher Culwell

Our Separated Brethren the Freemasons Alec Mellor

The Sion Revelation: Inside the shadowy world of Europe’s secret masters Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince Freemasonry Giles Morgan The Templars Knights of God: The rise and fall of the Knights Templar Edward Burman

The Shadow of Solomon: The lost secret of the Freemasons revealed Laurence Gardner

King Solomon’s Temple: Masonic Tradition Alex Horne

The Da Vinci Codebreaker James L Garlow

The Mythology of the Secret Societies J Roberts

June 2018

Inside the Brotherhood: Further secrets of the Freemasons Martin Short

The lost treasure of the Templars James Becker

Masonic Facts and Fictions: Comprising a new theory of the origin of the Antient Grand Lodge Henry Sadler

The Masonic Grand Masters of Australia Kent Henderson

Labour and Refreshment: Speeches, lectures and stories for many occasions JSM Ward Secrets of the Code Dan Burnstein A Treasury of Masonic Thought Carl Glick A Short History of Freemasonry to 1730 Douglas Knoop and GP Jones All these books and more are available to borrow! Call 02 9284 2825 for hours or to arrange a visit!

Freemason

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tay in handpicked accommodation and weave through the local villages that larger vehicles simply cannot access. Small group touring operator BackRoads Touring is renowned for authentic local tours and invites travellers to discover the diverse wonders of Asia in what will be the holiday of a lifetime. Delve into the exotic world of Thailand on the Wonders of Thailand tour. This tropical escape will have you fascinated by heavenly shorelines, bustling cities and the glittering 13th and 14th century restored temples in Sukhothai Province. Explore the vibrant street food culture throughout Bangkok and sample delicious home-style Thai cuisine prepared by a local family. Visit the majestic Asian elephants at the

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June 2018

Book reviews

AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE Whether you live in a city or the country, the songs of birds will always catch your attention. But how would your life be if birds such as the kookaburra, magpies, willie wagtails became extinct and their music was lost. They bring song and beauty into our lives but currently in Aust ralia and world-wide now face extinction. Publisher: Hardie Grant Books

Officially, 22 Australian species have become extinct in the wild in the past two centuries and almost 150 species are classed as endangered with the number continuing to rise each year along with the effect on native flora and fauna. Author Geoffrey Maslen in his book An Uncertain Future writes about the fascinating ISBN: 978 1 74379 3237

lives of Australian birds, their intelligence, their role in sustaining our eco-system and the threats they face from decreasing habitats and an ever-expanding human population. Read the results of researchers, biologists and local and overseas scientific reports on what disappearing bird populations means to humanity.

by Geoffey Maslen, reviewed by RW Bro Ted Simmons

Available from: Major retailers

THE INVISIBLE COLLEGE: THE SECRET HISTORY OF HOW THE FREEMASONS FOUNDED THE ROYAL SOCIETY Lomas has done an enormous amount of research for this book on the ‘The Royal Society’ for the study of modern science, which is accurate and well written history. The Plague and the great fire of London had come and gone and much had been done to move away from old traditions – not the least of which was to break with tradition and medieval superstitions. ‘The Church’ had power of veto over everything and if they disagreed with a publication, of any subject, it was not publicised. Thus, twelve men met in Gresham College – the Invisible College – for the purpose of scientific and philosophical enquiry and decided that neither politics, nor religion, would intrude upon their considerations in what would later become ‘The Royal Society’. The first man Initiated into Freemasonry, on English soil, Sir Robert Moray appears to have had an extraordinary interest in the Gresham College group and Publisher: Corgi Books

June 2018

to have been a major driver in establishing their meetings. As a ‘secret’ meeting all but two members were Freemasons. Moray’s equally extraordinary interest in Freemasonry and exposure to its ‘secrecy’ encouraged him to extend that to the Gresham College group. It appears that the veil of secrecy not only arose from the desire to promote free scientific and philosophical thinking, free from external interference, but also provided a shared environment in which these men who had been drawn from both sides of the Civil War could amiably meet in pursuit of the higher ideals of intellectual enquiry that animated them. Apparently Moray could not find a ‘rich’ widow to support him, concentrated his endeavours on the Gresham College group, promoted it politically, and facilitated its ultimate patronage as ‘The Royal Society’ by King Charles II. The journal book of the Royal Society states that on 5 December 1660:

ISBN: 978 0 55215 8374

‘Sir Robert Moray brought in word from the (Royal) court, that the King had been acquainted with the designs of the meeting. And he did well approve of it, and would be ready to give encouragement to it.’ The regular attendees of the meetings at Gresham College were: Viscount William Broun cher, Dr Jonathan Goddard, Dr William Petty, Robert Boyle, Alexander Bruce, Earl of Kin cardine, Sir Robert Moray, Sir Paul Neil, Mr William Ball, Mr Lawrence Rooke, Sir Christopher Wren and Mr Abraham Hill, all of whom were well known in their own fields.

by Robert Lomas, reviewed by RW Bro Ron Boath

After having finished the book I re-read many chapters to affirm my thoughts. This book has greatly informed me about the origins of Free masonry in England and its progressiveness in advancing free and scientific thought. I recommend the book to anyone similarly interested in masonic history and the social contribution of Freemasonry.

Available from: Major retailers

Freemason

Regional Roundup Send your masonic news by: Email to: freemason@masons.org.au

Masonic News from NSW & ACT Post to:  The Secretary, Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South NSW 1235

Regional roundup

NSW S ACT

Lodge Kensington No 270

Richard takes over Lodge Kensington had a pleasing night when it installed Bro Richard Stacey as its WM at the February meeting. W Bro Stacey had completed a switch from secretary for many years to progressive office, finally being elected to the Master’s chair. A good representation of District members attended the Installation and watched while W Bro Stacey received his Installed Master’s Certificate from RW Bro Christopher Blaxland-Walker – RGC R3. The Maroubra Lodge No 725

Simon steps up It was a big night for Bro Simon Miller in March when he was installed as WM of The Maroubra Lodge at Kensington. Representatives attended from all District lodges to watch W Bro Alex Mesterovic capably handle the Installation proceedings in a smooth presentation which flowed with very few hitches. Among the visitors was a WM from England who was interested and highly impressed with the ceremony. RW Bro Alec Parker, PJGW (who had the rank of PSGW conferred at the March Communication a few days later) represented the Grand Master and spoke

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Representative RW Bro Parker presents W Bro Simon Miller with his Installed Master’s certificate

warmly of the working officers and the support given by the District. There was a further link between the new WM and RW Bro Parker as both can claim Scottish ancestry. A delightful Installation Banquet was thoroughly enjoyed by the brethren and speeches were kept short which led to an even better night for all those who attended.

RGC RW Bro Blaxland-Walker presents the Worshipful Master’s Certificate to W Bro Stacey

June 2018

Regional Roundup

Masonic News from NSW & ACT

Lodge Nepean No 29

Order of the Eastern Star

Jack reaches sixty Several brethren from Lodge Nepean, including the Director of Ceremonies RW Bro George Bell and the Treasurer VW Bro James Mason OAM visited the home of Bro Jack Rattenbury on 20 February, to present him with his Sixty Year Certificate and Jewel. With his years becoming a burden, Jack does not get about as much and has not been to lodge since his son Gavin was also initiated in Lodge Nepean a few years back. However he still keeps in touch with members who call regularly and keep him informed of current events. Bro Rattenbury’s love of life is his family, his career as a police officer and his role in Freemasonry. VW Bro Mason, who presented the Certificate, spoke of previous years of Lodge Nepean and the ‘good old days’, with membership approaching two hundred and nine gallon kegs of beer

Bro Jack Rattenbury (right) and his son, Gavin celebrating the presentation of Jack’s 60 year Jewel.

being consumed in a smoke filled haze in the South. When RW Bro Bell, also a retired police officer, presented Jack with his Sixty Year Jewel they laughed and joked about their sometimes hilarious experiences in ‘the force’ which bought back fond memories for both. The presentation party left a very happy and contented Bro Jack Rattenbury, glad that he had lived in good health long enough to receive his Sixty Year Certificate and Jewel and contented that Lodge Nepean and Freemasonry had given him recognition for his 60 years of service to the Craft.

Changes for the Eastern Star All things have a time and place said Janelle Love, the Worthy Grand Matron as she handed over the care of the Grand Chapter of NSW & ACT to the new Worthy Grand Matron, Sister Jennifer Shepherd, and wished her and the Worthy Grand Patron, Brother Kenneth Auld and their new board of Grand Office Bearers a fulfilling year ahead. During February and March, Janelle had the honour of installing the presiding office-bearers of the Illawarra, Parramatta and Sydney District Grand Committees at a chapter within their districts and offered sincere congratulations to WDGM Sister Norah Mitchell and WDGP Brother Raymond McIntosh IDGC; WDGM Sister Katherine Mitchell PDGC, and WDGM Sister Janette Wilson SDGC. Sister Gwen Irving completed a successful term as Parramatta Worthy District Grand Matron in handing control to Sister Katherine Mitchell at the Hawkesbury Masonic Centre Amongst her travels, Sister Gwen attended Malvern Chapter which had an Affiliate from the dormant Liverpool Chapter and four new members initiated into their Chapter with another two ladies ready to join.

Lodge Westlake Daylight No 997

Lesley sees the light It was a good time for Lesley Robertson to make his debut into Freemasonry when he joined Lodge Westlake Daylight. The initiation was capably performed by the WM, VW Bro Jack Harris and his officers with the DGIW, VW Bro John McDonald in attendance.

June 2018

She also travelled to Wollongong Chapter in February to see Sister Norah Mitchell and Brother Raymond McIntosh installed as Worthy District Grand Matron and Worthy District Grand Patron of Illawarra District Grand Committee. It was the first time this ceremony has been conducted within a district instead of being part of the annual Grand Chapter meeting since the restructuring of district Grand Chapters to District Grand Committees. It was a great occasion and the meeting was very well organised and very dignified.

Freemason

Lodge Thespian No 256

A special tribute The word ‘modesty’ is defined in the dictionary as ‘the quality or state of being unassuming in the estimation of one’s abilities.’ There are a number of men and women around the world who possess this fine attribute who quietly go about the business of caring for others and making lives more fulfilled and satisfying. One such man is RW Bro Glen Green, the Immediate Past Regional Grand Counsellor of Region 3 who was the guest of honour at a special appreciation dinner at the St George Masonic Club, Mortdale on Saturday 24 February. Organised by Lodge Thespian, the theatrical masonic lodge of Australia, the evening was a resounding success with the Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and present Regional Grand Counsellor in attendance. A capacity room paid tribute to Glen Green who, having been invited to the stage after a sumptuous three course

Lodge Thespian put on a special evening for RW Bro Glen Green

dinner with a selection of fine wines, was the subject of a humorous but good natured roast conducted by RW Bro Dee Donavan OAM. The Grand Master then made presentations to Glen and wife Carole, organised by Pamela Miller and RW Bro Philip Miller on behalf of Region 3. It was a fitting tribute to a very special man and mason. Lodge Thespian provided a visual display of floodlit stage banners and colourful table settings in a beautifully presented evening which will be remembered for some time to come. In March, Thespian showed it was never short of ideas in staging colourful and entertaining festive boards for the

MW Bro Jamie Melville and the honoured guest, RW Bro Glen Green

enjoyment of its members and guests. On Saturday 3 March, the hall at Peters ham was ablaze with colours green and gold as the lodge paid a special tribute to the Irish. Members dressed in various hues of emerald green in the spirit of the day and enjoyed a traditional meal of superb Irish stew served with home baked Guinness bread followed by a trifle to die for. There was no shortage of draft Guinness or whiskey from the Emerald Isle and the lilting strains of Celtic music provided by the Thespian Orchestra rounded off a day of fun that will long be remembered. A packed hall gave evidence that effort, planning and a good product will attract and with an average meeting attendance of 50 plus one can’t argue that this is something that this masonic lodge does very well!

Lodge Ethos No 963

Ethos has a memorable night 0n 21 February, W Bro Simon Vanholland, the new Master of Lodge Ethos in Canberra, took the chair of King Solomon for the first time, and presided over a very successful first degree. The work was carried out with precision and sensitivity, but the icing on the cake was to see the lodge so well attended, with

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44 members in the Lodge Room. At the conclusion of the degree work, the DGIW, VW Bro Roman Cholowinskyj went to congratulate the candidate only to find that there was a total of six Entered Apprentices in the Lodge!

success of the previous weekend’s activity, during which a large and tireless group manned a stall at the Canberra Multi cultural Festival, resulting in a profit of $6,000, which will greatly assist our Charity Account.

Also, the chairman of the Charity Committee reported on the resounding

Lodge Ethos is now looking forward to another outstanding year.

June 2018

Regional Roundup

Masonic News from NSW & ACT

The Grand Ceremonial Team

Lodge Leeton-Yanco No 313

The annual Grand Ceremonial Team dinner was held in February to celebrate the contributions by RW Bro John Begbie and RW Bro Alan Owen to the team and to welcome new members.

Lodge Leeton-Yanco has had a remarkable run this year in having seven members presented with long service certificates.

The team says thanks A special guest speaker at the dinner was James Stewart, a triple Olympic rower who represented Australia at Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, and has been honoured with the key to the city of Sydney twice. VW Bro Owen Parry interviewed James Stewart and drew parallels between the amazing Olympic experiences of James and the principles of Freemasonry and its practice. The interview identified the following key learnings from James’s experiences as relevant to Freemasons: RR Commitment is love, commitment to something you truly believe in should not feel like you are owed something for your time. RR Working with volunteers is beneficial because motivation levels are high, but there are also challenges with the many different personality types. Everyone has something to contribute, embrace the diversity of skills and personalities, work

A good innings It is an unusual but highly satisfactory situation to have seven brethren in the same lodge to be given certificates of 50, 60 and 70 years of membership.

L–R: VW Bro Owen Parry, triple Olympic rower James Stewart and MW Bro James Melville

together in harmony and be cognisant of people’s strengths and weaknesses. RR It is beneficial to remind yourself why you are doing what you are doing and the best way to achieve your goal is to motivate and include others. RR To be the best at something, nothing beats consistent disciplined practice, which is especially relevant for our ritual work.

Seventy year certificates have been presented to W Bro Ian Cameron and Bro Peter Hinton, 60 year certificates to VW Bro Thomas Manning and VW Bro Harold Nicholls and 50 year certificates to RW Bro Peter Simpson, RW Bro Bruce Guymer and Bro Colin Walker. This is a combined 410 years of involvement in Freemasonry, with another four members nearing 40 years and 50 years. The current Worshipful Master W Bro Roger J Whitehead has been WM in three lodges and is now serving his second year in Leeton–Yanco. Lodge Leeton-Yanco may be a small lodge, but it works hard in the district and recently presented a cheque for $400 to the local community organisation ‘Can Assist’ to help them assist local residents who have fallen on hard times. It was their second donation in the past six months.

Coffs Coast Freemasons

Coffs CanDo Coffs Coast Freemasons have a long association with the CanDo Cancer Trust in Coffs Harbour. This year they again sponsored the annual Coffs Harbour Rottnest Swim held at the Coffs Harbour Memorial Pool. Twenty-five teams from local businesses and schools swam half hour relays to complete the 19 kilometre course. Members of the CCFA were kept busy counting laps, selling raffle tickets and cooking the sausage sizzle which was enjoyed by competitors and pool goers. The event raised over $9,000 which included a $3,000 interACTION Grant from Masonicare.

June 2018

L–R: W Bro S Morris, W Bro R Batchelor, VW Bro A Boyden, Mrs C Boyden, Mrs C Robertson, RW Bro P Robertson, VW Bro G Chandler, RW Bro D McCumstie, Ms A Carter.

Freemason

Order of the Amaranth

A royal evening The Honoured Lady Kate Wallace stepped up as the Grand Royal Matron and Sir Knight Donald Cobcroft Grand Royal Patron when the Grand Court of the NSW Order of the Amaranth held a very successful Open Installation at Bankstown Sports Club on Saturday 24 March. It was ablaze with colour as the ladies presented themselves in an assortment of fashionable attire and conducted the Installation with splendid precision. The Grand Master was represented by RW Bro Philip Miller PSGW who was accompanied by his wife Pamela. In his address to Lady Kate and Sir Donald, RW Bro Miller complimented the Court at the way in which the evening was presented.

Lodge Thespian Nos 256 and 268

A great double act What does it take to build a reputation for a lodge and make it successful? Apart from good ritual work, other qualities are being made welcome, attracting candidates and visitors, a good festive board and working with other lodges. The WM of Lodge Thespian Sydney, W Bro Patrick Spicer said as they already had a fantastic and entertaining South thanks to RW Bro John O’Connor OAM (Dee Donavan) and his band of entertainers performing a variety of songs and comedy, it was his belief they were most of the way there already. And those qualities resulted in an unexpected unique double meeting between Lodge Thespian No 256 in Sydney and Lodge Thespian No 268 in Brisbane combining to perform a Second Degree after

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Another visitor, RW Bro Dee Donavan OAM PSGW also complimented the Court on what he said was an interesting and flawless performance for his first Grand Court Open Installation.

an exciting proposition from Brisbane counterpart, RW Bro Stig Hokanson offering assistance to help their overflow of candidates. W Bro Spicer says it’s been no secret that Lodge Thespian No 256 has been booming. Since the Installation in May last year, they have initiated 10 candidates with a further ten plus affiliations with most of the candidates 20–25 years old. Beginning with a few MAS candidates and membership expanding from there, the workload regarding the various Degrees was such that it was becoming clear that an EAF might wait over a year to pass to the Fellowcraft Degree. In contrast, Thespian Brisbane members had an average age of 80 and candidates were rare. ‘The idea was immediately appealing to me and we began to formulate a plan. It was no easy task, permission from both Grand Lodges needed to be sought, plane tickets and accommodation organised, Qld ritual to be learnt and most importantly – a candidate! Who would be willing to fly to Brisbane for the ceremony,’ said W Bro Spicer.

Honoured Lady Kate Wallace was installed as the Grand Royal Matron during a splendid Open Installation in March.

‘I put the question to several of our qualified initiates and the first to respond were our twins, Daniel and Dean Bosilkovski. Two very fine young men who are keen and enthusiastic members of our lodge. Suddenly the original idea exploded – a double Second Degree with twin brothers – could it be more fitting?’ Much planning and organisation occurred over the next few months in conjunction with Thespian Brisbane as well as mentoring the candidates to pass their exams (Queensland style) with flying colours. On 9 December 2017 they arrived at the Masonic Centre in Stones Corner in Brisbane to witness Lodge Thespian Brisbane perform the ceremony. W Bro Spicer was accompanied by his wife Mesha, and other NSW brethren including RW Bro Philip Miller and his wife Pam. About 100 attended, including the twins’ younger brother Dylan (also a member of NSW Thespian), who was not qualified to be Passed but came along to support and also the Assistant Grand Master of the UGL of Queensland RW Bro Christopher Pyke and his delegation of Grand Lodge officers.

June 2018

Editorial Initiates

United By RW Grand Bro Lodge Ted Simmons of NSW &OAM ACT

Welcome to our new members

It’s easy to be nice ABDULLAH, Abdullah. . . . . . . . Lodge Alpha 970 ALBA, Earl. . . . . . The United Lodge of Sydney 11 ALBANO, Howel. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Alpha 970 ALEJO, Curt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge The Star of Australia 200 ALMOGARBEL, Hazaa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Punchbowl 244 APPLEYARD, Josh . . . . . . . . . Lodge St James 45 ARCHARD, Clyde. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Trinity 666 BAIONI, Enrico . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Trinity 666 BATARSEH, Shadi. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Sir Joseph Banks 300 ’m referring to words and actions which BAYACA, Honour 1054 do notCy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge occur as frequently today and BELL, Michael. . . . . . . . The Sydney Lodge 1020 which still rankle by their absence. BIRAM, Nayef . . . . . . . . The Sydney Lodge 1020 You remember them – grace, BIRAM, Alex. . . . . . . . . . The Sydney Lodge 1020 manners, civility, courtesy. BLAKE, Hywel. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Barham 561 For example, grace is something you BORG, Fielding. . . . . . . The Queen’s Lodge 229 would think of as belonging to an older BRADY, Rob. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Cronulla 312 era, when people were automatically BRIMFIELD, Alex. . . . . . . . . The Hills polite, when you wrote letters byLodge hand,1025 BRINKMEYER, Alex . . . . . . . . . ladies and gentlemen wereLodge easilyCapitol recog-612 BULSECO, Patrick. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Blacktown nised, being kind and a willingness to help Kildare 393 others. BURGESS, Adam. . . . . . . Lodge Germania 1036 Manners of course were automatic BURNS, Oli. . . . . . . . . . . The Sydney Lodge 1020 with respect given to elders, not interruptCANNALIRE, Richard. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Richard ing when someone else was talking, Coley 152 thanking people for gifts or assistance, CANNON, Marcus . Lodge Central Australia 88 giving up your seat in the tram or bus and CASTRO, Danielthe . . . . . . . . Lodge even holding door open. Kellerman 1027 CHAHINE, Samir. . . . . . . . . Lodge Horizons 1032 These actions could also be consistent CHRISTIE, Dom. . . . . . . Lodge Ku-Ring-Gai 1033 with the words ‘courtesy’ and ‘civility’ COOPER, Paul. . . . . . . . . Lodge Canowindra 478 which was part of the era when children DANTON, Gregor . . . . . . . . . . The Prince Charles were taught what was considered the Edward Stuart Lodge 1745 correct thing to do. DAVID, Shane . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Toxteth 1052 People say to Lodge me that world has DE DIOS, Andre. . . . Thethe Star Of Australia progressed since then and we must 200 adjust to modern timesLodge and methods. DIMOVSKI, Chris. . . . . . . . . Trinitarian But 978 IDOJCINOSKI, wonder whether we should. George . . . . . . . . . Lodge Canberra We don’t listen anymore and itUnity is 465 DRECH CATELEN, Renan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge becoming an endangered skill. We talk to, 341 or at, each other but not with Woollahra each DRYSDALE, Krys. . . . . . . . Lodge Balgowlah 392 DURO, Stefan. . . . . . . . The Sydney Lodge 1020 EBRON, John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Celebration of Fairfield 345 EL HASSAN, Abdallah. . . . Lodge Horizons 1032 EL-CHAMI, Rafic. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Celebration of Fairfield 345 ERANSEN, Kaan. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Oatley 381 EVANGELISTA, Rod. . . . . . Lodge Horizons 1032 FIESTAS LOPEZ GUIDO, Jorge . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Antiquity 1 FOK, Mason. . . . . . Lodge Artarmon United 285 FOSTER, Stan. . . Coeur De Lion – Narooma 84

FURRY, Nathan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Yass Lodge of Concord 27 GUILFOYLE, Karl. . . . . . The Schools Lodge 639 HABITZ, Gunnar. . . . . . . . Lodge Germania 1036 HAMID, Ahmed. . . . . . . . The City of Wollongong Lodge 1049 HANNA, Victor . . . Lodge Sir Joseph Banks 300 HEALEY, Paul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge of Truth 26 HOBBS, Chris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Picton 258 HOSWELL, Timb. . . . . . . Lodge Emu Plains 860 HUMAM, Aidan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sir Walter Scott Lodge 123 HUNN, Robert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Antiquity 1 HUSSEIN, Mohamad . . . . . . . Lodge Axiom 1047 IRWIN, Dean . . . . . . . . The Builders Lodge 1048 IVORY, Kirk. . . . . The Sir Walter Scott Lodge 123 JENNINGS, Col. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Antiquity 1 JONES, Matthew. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Axiom 1047 KABIR, Ray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Thespian 256 KAHN, Talha. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Queanbeyan St Andrew 56 KALINISAN, Krisdan. . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sir Walter Scott Lodge 123 KEIGHER, Mathew. . . Lodge Prince Leopold 87 KELLY, Chris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Peel Lodge 209 KELSON, Jared. . . . . . . . Lodge Nowra Unity 60 KHALIL, Sohayb. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Sir Joseph Banks 300 KHAMAS, Daniel. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Liverpool 197 KINGSLEY, Clive. . Lodge Artarmon United 285 KOSSERIS, Kyle. . . . . . . . . . . . Lachlan Macquarie Lodge 1042 LIM, Ross . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge West Epping 731 LOLOA, Dre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Alpha 970 MARCHEGIANI, Christian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Challenge 284 MARTIN, David. . . . . . . . . . The Australian Lodge of Harmony 5 MELVILLE, Ian. . . . . . . Lodge Hunter Hiram 246 MOGRIDGE, Carl. . . . . . . . . Lodge Woollahra 341 MOOSA MAJEED, Aqueel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Beecroft 359 MORANDIN, Declan . . . . . . . Lodge Galileo 1019 MORTHORPE, Lachlan. . . . . Lodge Camden 217 MUSSOLINO, Adrian. . . . . . Lodge Liverpool 197 NACOLLARI, Dhimitris. . . . . Lodge Galileo 1019 NADAR, Malad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sir Walter Scott Lodge 123 NEEDHAM, Peter. . . . The Builders Lodge 1048 NEIBERDING, Luke. . . . . . . . . . Balmain Lodge 23 OKARO, Michael. . . . . . Lodge Warragamba 541 O’LEARY, Ryan . . . . The Prince Charles Edward Stuart Lodge 1745 OSAN, Yavuz. . . . . . . . . The Sydney Lodge 1020 PARKER, Thom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Star of Wauchope 310

POPOVIC, Remy. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Thespian 256 PRADO, Brett. . . . . . The Prince Charles Edward Stuart Lodge 1745 RAHMAN, Muda. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sir Walter Scott Lodge 123 RIZZO, Louis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kirrawee 903 ROBERTSON, Joe. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Westlake Daylight 997 ROMERO, Michael. . . . The Lodge of Australia 3 RUSSELL, Josh. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge St James 45 RUTHERFORD, Duncan. . . . . . . Lodge Kiama 35 SALMAN, George. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Sir Walter Scott Lodge 123 SALMAN, Junior. . . . . . . . . The Australian Lodge of Harmony 5 SHISHINEH, Mahan. . . . . Lodge Harold Herman Unity 428 SMITH, Nigel. . . . . . . Lodge Canberra Unity 465 SMITH, Craig. . . . . . . . . Lodge Fire Brigades 940 STEIN, Ian. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Mark Owen 828 THOMAS, Malcolm. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Alpha 970 THOMAS, Ben. . . . . . . . The Lodge of Australia 3 TRETHEWEY, Zaine. . . The Lodge of Australia 3 WHITEHEAD, Nick. . . . . . . The Hills Lodge 1025 WILKIN, Rob. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Allan Stuart 416 WILLIAMS, Tom . . . . . . . . . Lodge Woollahra 341 WOOD, James. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge St James 45 WORRAD, Tim. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge St James 45 WYLLIE, Craig. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Camden 217 YOUNAN, Ben. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Toxteth 1052 YOUNG, Lincoln. . . . . . . . . Lodge Horizons 1032 ZAMMIT, Shaun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kiama 35 ZOGHBI, Charlie. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Toxteth 1052 ZUCCALA, Eddie. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Trinity 666

As a youngster, my parents taught me many habits which still persisted as I got older but which now seem to be part of today’s modern ‘it’s old fashioned, throw it away’ system.

June 2018

Comedy corner ANSWERS FROM PAGE 34

THEY ARE ALL TRUE!

As Freemasons, we are taught to be civil, to help and to become better people, to give aid and support to our community...

Now go back and think about 9!

Freemason

Editorial

MASONIC OBLIGATIONS R HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREEMASON R SIR ASHER JOEL

v50 n2 June 2018

GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR R MASONIC KNOTS R TERCENTENERY v50 n1 March 2018 THE CHRISTMAS STORY R WHO WAS JACKSON? R THE (K)NOTS OF FREEMASONRY

v49 n4 December 2017

By RW Bro Ted SimmonsJune Crossword OAM2018 1

It’s easy to be nice Sydney’s The friendly

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Sandstone RockGames

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Thank You As a youngster, my parents taught me many habits which still 11

to all our sponsors who have helped persisted I got older but make this editionas possible:

which now seem to be part of today’s 14 15 16 modern ‘it’s old fashioned, throw it away’ system. Back-Roads Touring Co. 27

7 & 47

DA Amaton Lawyers

’m referring to words and actions 15 Frank Whiddon Masonic Homes of NSW which do not occur as frequently Interactive Solar 17 today and which still rankle by their Lodge absence. Mayfield Daylight No 493 35 You remember them – grace, manners, civility, courtesy.

Lodge St George and St Andrew No 7

O’Connor Legal

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Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent 47 Manners of course were automatic Institution of NSW

with respect given to elders, not inter-

Terry McCallum Photography 35 rupting when someone else was talking,

thanking people for gifts or assistance, giving up your seat in the tram or bus and even holding the door open.

The Freemason is supported These actions could also be consistby our generous sponsors.

ent with the words ‘courtesy’ and ‘civilIf you wish to become a sponsor, or ity’ which was part of the era when would like a rate card, please contact: children were taught what was considAPM Graphics Management ered the correct thing to do. Phone: 1800 806 930 or email People say to me that the world has freemason@apmgraphics.com.au progressed since then and we must adjust to modern times and methods. But I wonder whether we should. T W O G R E

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Across 1 & 2 Down Organotherapy theme for a proven Masonic proposition (11, 7) 8 Drunken moron ate in the Tyler’s domain (4-4) 9 Gleans apparitions of heavenly bodies (6) 11 Pin up new recipe (6) 12 Let tunes perturb (8) 14 Measure on paper was 480 now it’s 500 (4) 16 & 17 Across Open lid for an unexpected revelation (3, 6) 17 See 16 across 18, 19 & 20 Across Panel strapped to find contents of cruet (6, 3, 4) 19 See 18 across 20 See 18 across 22 This breakfast uses 18 across perhaps (8) 25 Some abysmal, low selfish character lets it happen (6) 26 Bookmaker uses rats to catch a mackerel (6) 28 Many leave Gerry Sampson upset with future developments (8) 29 Strange anthologies about those who study the gospel (11)

Down 1 VIP seen somehow to be deeply thoughtful (7) 2 See 1 across

3 Much ado before this building material was used (5) 4 Measure of resistance not being all On Her Majesty’s Service (3) 5 Past mornings used for tests (5) 6 & 7 Down Strange thin glow of morning sends her to bed (5, 3) 7 See 6 down 10 A 3rd WT working on a centre pin (7) 12 Its purpose is unseen oddly enough (3) 13 Argentine ants carry fungal disease of the skin (5) 14 Ravening birds of the air attack parrots (7) 15 Enough! The French following financial giant (5) 16 Repair every other organ (3) 17 & 19 Down It’s all too common these days moving members in a lodge (3, 3) 19 See 17 down 20 A sailor rolls over in some sun rooms (7) 21 Sons use devices to lift stone (7) 23 Tales about the slightest (5) 24 Sense in order of a test (5) 25 Hiram on good terms with those within his midst (5) 27 & 28 Down Personal correspondent in a farm yard with mate (3, 3) 28 See 27 down

June 2018

EditorialCertificates Service

By RW Bro United Grand TedLodge Simmons of NSW OAM & ACT

Congratulations to our masons

It’s 70 easy to be nice YEARS SERVICE

BLAKE, John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Oatley 381

MANWARING, Eric . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Oatley 381 MAY, Robert. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Condoblin 185 MEDCALF, Arthur . . . . . . . . Lodge Far West 482 MONTGOMERY, Thomas . . . . . . . . . North Shore Daylight Lodge 1044 PIGGOTT, Anthony. . . . . Lodge Castlereagh 72 PYNE, Lindsay. . . Lodge Edinburgh St John 38 SCOTT, Donald. . . . . . . . Lodge West Epping 731 SEAGLOVE, Victor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . North Shore Daylight Lodge 1044 SECOMBE, John . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Oatley 381 SPACKMAN, Charles . . . Lodge Federal United 193 STANDEN, William . . . . . . . Lodge of Peace 120 UNICOMB, Barry. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Gymea 796 WATT, George. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Condoblin 185 WEIR, Wesley. . . . . . . . Lodge Morning Star 410 WHEELER, James. . . . . . . . . . . . The Yass Lodge of Concord 27

Lodge 102 EDGE, John. . . . . . . . Lodge Cooma Monaro 164 EDWARDS, Brian. . . Lodge Cooma Monaro 164 EDWARDS, Douglas. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge of Truth Braidwood 26 GUYMER, Donald. . . Lodge Leeton-Yanco 313 HENNEN, William. . . . . . . . Lodge Forster Great Lakes United 994 HERRING, David . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kirrawee 903 HORGAN, Harry. . . . . . . . . The Australian Lodge of Harmony 5 HUMPHREYS, Norman. . . . . Lodge Fitzroy 248 JOHNSON, John. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Gymea 796 JOHNSON, Robert. . . . Lodge Chelmsford 261 LEE, Alan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Cowper 295 LEWIS, David. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kiama 35 LIBAUER, Berrie. . . . Lodge Cooma Monaro 164 MAWBEY, Robert . . . . . . . . Lodge Far West 482 MCNAUGHTON, Jack. . . . . . . . Lodge Benjamin Pryor 709 MEDWAY, Patrick . . . . Lodge St George and St Andrew 7 MORRISON, Ronald. . . . . . . . . Lodge Scone 183 NETTLETON, Burdett. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Ku-Ring-Gai 1033 PICKARD, Raymond. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Carlton Kogarah 305 PLUMMER, Harold. . . . . . . Lodge Far West 482 POLLARD, Adrian . . . . . . . . . Lodge Taralga 648 SCHOLZ, Alfred. . . . . . . Lodge Chelmsford 261 SMALL, Keith. . . . . . . . Lodge Morning Star 410 WALD, Graham. . . . . . . Lodge Condobolin 185

DICKSON, Keith. . . . . . . . . . .my Forster Great Lakestaught me many habits which still As a youngster, parents United 994 persisted as I got older but which now seem to be part of today’s LESLIE, William . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Independant Lewis 592throw it away’ system. modern ‘it’s old fashioned, TUCKER, Jeffrey . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Oatley 381

YEARS SERVICE

BARLOW, Graham. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge of Truth Braidwood 26 BUTLER, George. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Cowper 295 CARTER, John . . . . . Lodge Liverpool Plains 191 COWAN, Brian. . . . . . Lodge Foster Great Lakes United 994 DAVIDSON, Alan. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Chelmsford Technology 261 DOYLE, Richard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Mayfield Daylight 493 FISHER, Lloyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge St David & St John 180 INMAN, Brian. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Oorana 1053 IRELAND, John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Horace Thompson Ryde 134 KNODLER, Gregory. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge United St Andrew Singleton 34 LAZAR, Peter . . . . . . . . The Schools Lodge 639 LEGGE, Terence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Yass Lodge of Concord 27 MANN, Robert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Brundah Endeavour 429

Australia Day

Honours The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT extends congratulations to the following member for recognition and being awarded the OAM on Australia Day. W Bro Richard Cranna The Schools Lodge 639

June 2018

YEARS SERVICE

AGLAND, Bruce. . . . . . . . . Lodge Wallis Plains 4 BIESHEVEL, John . . . Lodge Port Stephens 522 BRANDY, Barry. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Chelmsford Technology 261 BUTLER, Alfred . . . . . . Lodge United St Andrew Singleton 34 CHESHER, Glen. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kirrawee 903 COLLETT, John . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Artarmon United 285 COOKE, Charles. . . . . . . . . . The Prince of Wales

Lodge Morning Star No 410

A sterling effort!

Bro Weir told his personal story of the war

Lodge Morning Star’s Anzac meeting was made even more special with Bro Wes Weir giving a sterling account of life prior to the outbreak of World War II and enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force. Bro Weir spoke candidly about his first few months in the Infantry and how the bonds of mateship or in masonic terms Brotherhood was engrained into each and every man. Bro Weir was one of the first

Australian servicemen to see Hiroshima only days after the atomic bomb had been used.

Freemason

DA Amaton

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Working Together for our Communities For 138 years, Royal Freemasons’ Benevolent Institution (RFBI) has provided assistance to those in need. Today we continue this endeavour through our Annuity Assistance and Benevolence Programs.

Thank you to all who have generously donated to the RFBI Annual Appeal. We have so far raised just over $4000 and every dollar donated will be used to assist those in need.* Improving people’s lives is at the core of all we do at RFBI and we are always happy to hear from people with ideas on how we can help more people in our communities. If you identify a need that you think we can help with, please let us know. *All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

For all enquiries regarding our Benevolence Program please call Sue Marcaida on 02 8031 3200 or email admin@rfbi.com.au

v50 n1 March 2018

GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR R MASONIC KNOTS R TERCENTENERY

The friendly

Games ROYSTON CAVE – A TEMPLAR REFUGE? • THE WHITE MOUSE • NOBLE ART OF AN EMISSARY

v49 n1 – MARCH 2017

Great Barrier

Reef!

WWW.MASONS.ORG.AU

DEATH RAILWAY • SECRETS OF THE ARCHIVES • IRVING BERLIN • PRUDENCE

V48 N1 – MARCH 2016

THE CHRISTMAS STORY R WHO WAS JACKSON? R THE (K)NOTS OF FREEMASONRY

v49 n4 December 2017

BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA • THE BLUE MOUNTAINS • EXTEND AN INVITATION

REMEMBER SINGAPORE • THE GREAT SATCHMO • LODGE RICHARD COLEY

England

Sydney’s

Sandstone

www.masons.org.au

STAR OF BETHLEHEM • THE OLD GREY MATTER • AUSTRALIA DAY • TRAVELLING LODGES

v48 n4 – DECEMBER 2016

Chinese New Year! WWW.MASONS.ORG.AU

Celebrates!

WWW.MASONS.ORG.AU

THE ROCKS • PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS • WC FIELDS • HISTORY OF BREAD

WWW.MASONS.ORG.AU

JOURNEY TO AN ANCIENT ORDER • REAL DRAGONS • FORGOTTEN FLOTILLA

v49 n3 – SEPTEMBER 2017

V47 N4 – DECEMBER 2015

v48 n3 – SEPTEMBER 2016

Sydney’s Taronga Zoo

THE GRAND MASTER SPEAKS • FROM PEDALS TO POLITICS • AN HISTORIC DYNASTY

V47 N3 – SEPTEMBER 2015

WWW.MASONS.ORG.AU

v49 n2 – JUNE 2017

Panama Canal

TRAVELS IN INDIA • A GREAT FRATERNITY • AUSTRALIA’S DECIMAL CURRENCY

V48 N2 – JUNE 2016

Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden Celebrating 200 years of history

WWW.MASONS.ORG.AU

ABOUT THAT PHOTO • OUR GRAND MASTER-ELECT • 27 HOURS TO ULAANBAATAR

V47 N2 – JUNE 2015

Honoured masons The Queen’s Birthday Honours List

Engineers Without Borders Engineering a better quality of life

WWW.MASONS.ORG.AU WWW.MASONS.ORG.AU

SOLDIER ON • AN ANCIENT SOUTH • MEN’S SHED • JUST A BROWN SLOUCH HAT

V47 N1 – MARCH 2015

Go for a walk

Valorous Freemasons

Grand Installation

Meet the new team

How far can you go?

The tale of tails

A history of evening dress

The inspirational story of John Maclean

APM > FM_Dec2014_Final Layout.indd > Output: 17/11/2014 @ 18:49 > Page 1

(Process Black) Cyan) Magenta) Yellow)

Mortuary Railway Station

FM_Sept_2014.QXP_Layout 1 20/08/2014 09:19 Page 1

GRAND PROCLAMATION • MALTESE CROSS • STATE THEATRE • LODGE MENTORS

V46 N4 – DECEMBER 2014

The mighty

Amazon A jungle adventure

CHOLESTEROL • ORIGIN OF THE APRON • PERFECTION • SYDNEY’S TANK STREAM

v46 n3 – SEPTEMBER 2014

WOMEN AT WAR • EPONYMOUS FOODS • BRIDGECLIMB • COCKATOO ISLAND

v46 n2 – JUNE 2014

Freemason Freemason

Thermal Cameras Lifesaving gifts from Masonicare

Vivid Sydney

Lighting up the night!