A Masonic Life

As one of the masterminds of the Masonic Homes, RW Bro Geoff Burchell had unique insights into the initiative. In this paper, which he wrote in 2004, he shared his memories of those early days, and of his life in the Craft.

Itook my Third Degree in 1956, having been in Masonry since 1954. I progressed through the various offices until I became Master in 1964, and then again in 1969 and 1974. All the service I was able to give gave me much pleasure and satisfaction.

I was given office in Provincial Grand Lodge in 1965 and during 1974 proposed that we have a Masonic Spring Ball. This was not very favourably received by PGL, but with PGLs permission I went ahead. With the assistance of Brothers G. Gross and R. van der Merwe we had the first Ball at the Heerengracht Hotel. The result was a small profit of R1000. We then carried on the Spring Ball for the next 13 years. The result was that we raised some R180 000. We then gave up running the Ball and handed it over to MW Bro Okkie Louw. What to do with these funds was not apparent to the officers of PGL, and despite our intention of making a home for our Seniors, nothing was done. So I went to MW Bro Louw and it was agreed that I must look around and see what was available.

Having searched the Peninsula for a suitable building, I narrowed it down to five possible places and then MW Bro Louw, Andy Van Niekerk and Norman Sandler went to see them. As a result we purchased Desmain Lodge for R360 000, taking a bond of R180 000. This consisted of 12 two-bedroomed flats and one single-bedroomed flat. During the next few years we built five garages on the site, paved the yard area, and redecorated the whole building. We have had up to six Masonic folks in residence, there and they have all received special reduced rentals in consideration of their income.

When MW Bro Graham Karstens became PG Master, he suggested that we needed another project to keep the Brethren interested. So again I went round, and as a result of discussions with the Abbeyfield Homes it was decided we would try and find a house suitable for such a home. This type of home is where the tenants have a bedroom of their own which they furnish, and they do their own cooking. The home must have the facilities for a good kitchen, dining room and lounge, and bathrooms sufficient for the tenants. They pay a nominal rent, which goes towards the running costs.

Eventually we found a house in Bergvliet, which was rundown but could be suitable. It was decided to buy it for the sum of R350 000, also because it had a large piece of ground at the back where we thought we could build some small houses for Seniors at a later stage.

My friend Bro Dave Lithgow again drew up the necessary plans so that we could go ahead with the alterations. A lot of work was required to alter the house to make it suitable for eight people to stay there. However, I was able to carry out the work as I had semi-retired then, and with the help of some of my old employees and Bros Graham and Alf Rhoodie it was completed and opened in June 1995. It has been fully occupied since then.

The House Committee under the chairmanship of Wor Bro Nick Leary has managed the affairs of the home very well during this period. I have served on this committee since its inception. We formed the Masonic Abbeyfield Society of South Africa and have continued our membership since then.

During 1978 I had a phone call from a Mr Horst, who was a friend of one of my own Lodge St James members, Wor Bro T. Surgeoner, who had died and left his house and effects to him. The proviso was that he would try and get the house to be used by elderly folk. He had tried to get hold of the English Grand Lodge, but they were not interested. However I went to see him immediately, and as a result I went back to PGL and it was agreed that we would take the house over and make the necessary alterations for another Abbeyfield Home.

The home was transferred to PGL free of charge, but we had to pay for the alterations. Again my friend Bro D. Lithgow drew up the plans and work commenced. However I became ill and had to have a bypass operation, so the work was finished by my two sons, who are also Masons.

It has been fully occupied by some six seniors and the House committee under the Chairmanship of Wor Bro Jackie Wentzel has carried on the affairs of home very well. A lot of additional work has also been done to improve the facilities for the residents.

During 1972 to 1977 with the help of MW Bro Graham Karstens we managed to get the ground at the back of the Bergvliet home divided up into nine plots and get the Council’s approval. The whole process took almost five years, but in the end we succeeded. A lot of help was given by Wor Bro Brian Rossouw, who drew up the plans for the plots and houses. I obtained prices for building the homes, which came to R1.2 million. Nothing, however, was done as I was taken ill. When I had more or less recovered I again obtained prices, but the escalation had set in and the prices were then in the R2 million bracket, which made the proposed houses too expensive.

Brian Rossouw then suggested that we sell the plots, and after a great deal of work the plots were sold for over R800 000. It took time to get the deal settled, but eventually we had the funds and were able to pay off the two bonds we still had on the homes. It also left us with an amount over of some R450 000. This is now being used to buy a home for the Quadriplegics in Durbanville.

During all this time I served on the PGL Committee for over 30 years and was raised to the office of PG Orator. Also I received Grand Lodge Offices up to the rank of Grand Lodge Orator.

I joined the Supreme Council in 1965 and gradually moved through the ranks until I was given my 33rd Degree. I was requested by MW Bro Phillip van der Spuy, MW Bro Charles Moore and MW Ben Klopper to help them form a Supreme Grand Council of South Africa, as we were still working under the Netherlands Grand Council. This was eventually accomplished. The then Supreme Grand Commander of the Netherlands came out to South Africa to inaugurate the first Grand Council. I was made the SGIG for the Western Cape – an office which I held for 10 years until I was 75 years of age and then I had to retire.

From the time we bought our first home I helped see that all the minor repairs and renovations were attended to on all the homes and to the complaints as they occurred.

I faithfully attended my Lodge and my PGL work during all my years in office. I have grown spiritually and morally in my life through my belonging to Freemasonry, for which I am very grateful. I am pleased that I was able to do so much in bringing about the Homes for our Seniors.