Lodge St George

Welcome to the Lodge St George website

From December 2013 we resumed our original name of Lodge St George. The explanation for this is provided elsewhere on this site. Our previous site, Yeronga Lodge, has been archived but will remain available for review. Posts on that site take in meetings and events from August 2007 to December 2013.

This site has been designed in a similar way, so that all our previous web functionality will be available here.

Please feel free to comment on posts and also follow us on Social Media.

Find out more about joining Freemasonry and Lodge St George here.

Founders' Jewels

Lodge St George Founders’ Jewels.

 

Again preparation time for our June joint Installation meeting with our sister Lodge Silver Cross. Like many lodges, part of the ceremony involves the transference of perpetual jewels to incoming officers and others who have distinguished themselves.

 

As we approach ANZAC Day my thoughts often go to the formation of the lodge and the founders’ jewels that represent that. The lodge was conceived in a series of meetings in April 1915, right at the start of the Gallipoli Campaign. It was consecrated Lodge St George 1152 Scottish Constitution on 3 July 1915.

We had 21 founding members from several local lodges. We know who they were from our rolls and minute books. St George wasn’t a daughter lodge but was formed independently with the support of Lodges Woolloongabba 947 SC and Hope 1134 SC (now Kaye). Lodge Aberleigh 1133 SC provided the lodge furniture for our consecration meeting.

 

To celebrate the new lodge, a set of Founders Jewels were struck and presented. We now know all 21 received them.

 

Up until a few years ago the only surviving jewel was believed to be the 'Deane Jewel' presented originally to Charles Henry Deane from Fenwick Lodge 2378 EC, the inaugural Junior Deacon. It has been traditional to present the Deane Jewel to the incoming Junior Deacon each year. I have worn it.

 

In 2014 a second Jewel was found - the 'Morton Jewel' presented to Charles Robert Morton the first Substitute Master (an old Scottish office). Bro Morton was from Fassifern Kilwinning 808 SC. He was the Headmaster of Yeronga State School in 1915. This was kindly provided on permanent loan by this family and refurbished and is now presented to the outgoing IPM.

 

In 2019, the seemingly impossible happened again - a third was found - the 'Baxter Jewel' - presented to James Alexander Cadenhead Baxter from Lodge Morningside 1079 SC, a 27 year old bone miller from Runcorn who joined with his father Henry Baxter, the manager of the bone mill.

 

Mike Smith from Sydney found the 'medal' in his newly purchased house in Seven Hills 20 years ago. He's been searching for an owner ever since and in 2019 finally found me. Mike generously donated the jewel back to the lodge. It was refurbished by Somers.

 

I thought that was that until about two years ago we were approached by the grandson of another founder, Henry Rankin, a plumber from Auchenflower and member of Lodge Fernberg 1091 SC. We managed to purchase the jewel and have it refurbished.

 

This precious set is a permanent reminder of those 21 committed Brethren, who even in the dark times of war, committed to form our lodge. These jewels will again be on show in June. All are engraved and are gold.

 

I wonder how any other lodges struck founders’ jewels and how many survive?

Gathering of the Clans photos

A couple of very good pics from the recent Gathering of the Clans in Townsville. We had fine representation there and it was a wonderful event. Congratulations to Unity Lodge for hosting.

 

Get ready for the next GoTC in 2024 hosted by Stanley Lodge here in Brisbane.

Gathering of the Clans 2022

The Gathering of the Clans 2022, held yesterday, was hosted by Unity Lodge No 300 in Townsville Queensland. It is a biennial event which brings together the 30+ Scottish ritual lodges in Queensland. The ceremonial is a Third Degree on a candidate of the host lodge. The ritual is delivered by a team comprising representatives from many different Scottish Working lodges.

Our WM, Richard Arthur, accepted the Clans Travelling Gavel as Lodge St George had the greatest representation including a senior officer (WM or Warden).

The Gavel will be displayed at our lodge meetings.

The Clans will be run again in 2024 with the host being Stanley Lodge in Brisbane.

Two new members

Very enjoyable meeting at Lodge St George last night. We welcomed Bro Richard Dunlop into Freemasonry as we did with Bro Shanil Verma last month.

 

Very good work throughout the ceremony. It's great to see the lodge returning to full working order after the past couple of years of disruptions.

Catch up

This website has been playing second fiddle to our Facebook group for some time as we have had almost two years of disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic.

Attached are a few pics that capture some of our activity during this time.

We are now back meeting face to face in our new home at the Masonic Memorial Centre in Ann St, although the current wave of Omicron infections may well cause another short hiatus.

Zoom Session - Presenter Ms Ros Lauder

20 May - Very interesting presentation tonight at Lodge St George by Ros Lauder UGLQ Archivist on researching Masonic Connections. A very good rollup and many welcome visitors.

The presentation was recorded and the link can be provided on request.

Third Degree part B - Bro Glen Weston

Great night in lodge with Silver Cross' Bro Glen Weston completing his Third Degree with us.

Great charge work by the ceremonial team and a very enjoyable festive board.

 

Apron Origins

I've posted on this before, but with Lodge Ginan due to be consecrated next month and the lodge adopting Scottish style regalia I was asked again why Scottish aprons have a rounded neck.

One school of thought from the GLoS suggests that the Scottish Masonic apron, which has a rounded flap, is descended directly from the working Stonemason's apron.

Stonemasons sometimes wore a sheepskin as a protective apron during their work. The fleece was shaved giving a smooth side and rough side. The smooth side was worn next to the body and rough side out. The skin was fixed by means of a cord or belt around the waist.

When carrying stone or other hard or sharp objects the apron flap was fastened up to cover the chest area. When not doing that the top part of the skin (the sheep's neck) was unbuttoned and let drop over the cord/belt. That part of the exposed smooth side of the sheepskin could be used to clean working tools etc.

A good story and a logical one which I like to think may be correct.

Tried it with a sheepskin (fleece intact) and it does work.

Lodge Ginan

Mark your diaries for Saturday 22 February. On this date, at the Neil Street Masonic Centre in Toowoomba, Australia's first lodge with a First Nation's focus will be consecrated.

Lodge Ginan 541 takes its name from smallest star in the Southern Cross. This Indigenous name means 'a small dillybag full of knowledge and songs'.

Lodge Ginan will work a Scottish ritual and have a travelling warrant for the Darling Downs area. It will also sport some startlingly different regalia.

It will be open to all - those who identify as Indigenous and those who don't but have a strong interest in and feel for First Nation's initiatory culture.

The ceremony in February will be open and is an event of national Masonic significance.

I will be conducting the ceremony and will be a founding member and the first IPM. I feel very honoured.

Installation of Wor Bro Andy Baker

October - I was very privileged to be able to install our own Andy Baker into the Chair of King Solomon in Star of the East Lodge No 21 at Maryborough last night.

It was a wonderful occasion for Andy who was tremendously well prepared by his lodge and we enjoyed a terrific banquet following the ceremony.

I was also able to present Wor Bro Peter Keller (who many will know from the Order of the Secret Monitor) with the prestigious Order of Service to Benevolence for his ongoing work in the Maryborough area.