South Australian Lodge of Research No.216

Installation Meeting 22nd October 2010

2010-10-15T14:32:00.003+10:30

NB Executive Meeting Friday 15th October at Payneham Masonic Hall, 7.00pm sharp. Installation rehearsal at 8.00pm - all office bearers are requested to attend the rehearsal.

The next regular meeting of the Lodge will be at Payneham Masonic Hall, 363 Payneham Road, Marden, Friday 22nd October 2010 - Tyling at 6.30pm sharp. Please note early tyling time.

Visitors will be admitted at 6.45pm, & Grand Lodge at 7.00pm.

Meeting 26th February 2010

2010-01-28T07:56:00.009+10:30

NB - Executive Meeting Friday 29th January at Payneham Masonic Hall 7.00pm sharp.

The next regular meeting of the Lodge will be at Payneham Masonic Hall, 363 Payneham Road, Marden, Friday 26 February 2010 - Tyling at 7.15pm. Please note early tyling time

Agenda items include:
A paper from W.Bro. Philip Rundle (Immediate Past Master) titled – “How I Discovered My Esoteric Side to Freemasonry”.
A presentation from Bro. Joe Marschall (Junior Warden) titled – “Our Future”. This presentation will include looking at the role, identity, and credibility of the SA Lodge of Research, and planning (which will include some facilitated discussion).

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Visit:
Tuesday March 3rd: Official Visit to Mostyn Goodwood and Loyalty Lodge (Illingworth Masonic Hall, 7.30pm).

Meeting 27 Feb 2009

2009-02-01T18:17:00.005+10:30

NB - Executive Meeting 14th February 2009 at Gawler Masonic Centre, 10.30 a.m

The next regular meeting of the Lodge will be at Payneham Masonic Hall, 363 Payneham Road, Marden, Friday 27 February 2009 - Tyling at 7.30pm.

A presentation by V.W.Bro. Jim Beveridge, Grand Lecturer, on the life, and times of the first Grand Master of Masons of South Australia, Sir Samuel Way (right).

W.Bro. Lew Halley will give a talk regarding Mens Health Issues at the Festive Board.

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Meeting 24 April 2009 - Lodge of Sorrow

Friday 27 June 7.30pm

2008-06-10T16:02:00.005+09:30

The next regular meeting of the lodge will be on
Friday 27 June 2008tyling at 7.30pm

There will be a showing of the new documentary
"The Scottish Key"
the first film on the origins of Freemasonry

following the film there will follow
a discussion on the origins of Freemasonry

Booking is essential for catering arrangements:
contact the Lodge Secretary
email -- ashthomas AT gmail DOT com

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24 October 2008 - no Installation this year - Discussion on researching and writing a scholarly paper led by Bro Ashley Thomas

25 April 2008

2008-04-21T16:25:00.003+09:30

SA Lodge of Research is not meeting at Marden - but paying an official visit to United Service Lodge (their Installation) at Unley RSL.

Tyling at 6:15, visitors received at 6:45
Address: RSL, 29 Arthur Street, Unley.

Meeting Friday 22 February 2008

2008-02-14T22:45:00.005+10:30

Ceremonial:

- Reading of the Warrant

- Inaugural Address by Worshipful Master, W.Bro. H.W.E.(Bill) Charnock

- Presentation of a research paper by W.Bro. Shaun Taylor

.
.

Illustration:
Warrant or Charter of Acacia Lodge, Virginia, issued 1877

Future meetings:

April 25 – Offical Visit to United Services Lodge at Unley

June – Film and Discussion

August - TBA

October - Installation

Note: Workshops on research, historical methodology and scholarly writing (to assist the brethren with their research projects) will follow Executive meetings this year.

Visiting Lecturer from England

2007-09-28T08:09:00.001+09:30

The next meeting of the Lodge is to be held Friday 19 October 2007
tyling at 7.00pm
at Payneham Masonic Hall, 363 Payneham Road, corner of Wear Ave, Marden.

ANZMRC Touring Lecturer, Bro. James Daniel, Past Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England, is to deliver a paper titled:

“The Craft and the Extra-Craft Degrees 1843-1901”

Entry fee for lecture: To defray expenses associated with hosting the ANZMRC Touring Lecturer, the following entry fees will apply -
SALoR members: $5.00
Corresponding members: $5.00
Visitors: $10.00 - includes Festive Board.

Future meeting: October 26th – Installation

Next meeting Friday 24 August 2007

2007-07-26T20:59:00.001+09:30

At Payneham Masonic Centre, Marden

Two presentations:

"Freemasonry and the Third Reich" by Bro. A. Thomas, and

“Freemasonry in General & Our Lodge In Particular” by W.Bro. S. Naqvi

illustration:
poster for Nazi Lodge Museum at Chemnitz
from web page at http://www.schlossbergmuseum.de

Next Meeting Friday 22 June 2007

2007-05-04T12:03:00.000+09:30

Friday 22 June 2007 - 7.30pm
at Payneham Masonic Hall, Marden

The Agenda for the meeting includes:
‘Masonic Show & Tell’ - back by popular demand following on from our previous similar event in April 2006.
Meeting format similar to 'Antiques Roadshow'

a Masonic ball fob, unfolded

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Festive Board: No charge. Members, for this meeting please assist the Worshipful Master by bringing a plate of sandwiches. Thank you.

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Lodge programme for 2007

2007-03-18T22:09:00.000+10:30

PROGRAMME for 2007

23 Feb 2007
Read the Warrant of the Lodge.
Worshipful Master’s inaugural address.
Discussion on planning. Small group ‘brainstorming’ sessions to gather ideas to develop a comprehensive Lodge plan and program.

Warrant of an Irish Lodge No.450

27 April 2007
Visit by the Most Worshipful Grand Master –
M.W.Bro. G.L.Bollenhagen, and officers of Grand Lodge.

The image shows the Apron of the MW Grand Master of South Australia & Northern Territory.

A paper on the “History of SALoR216” – W.Bro. Alan Hills.
A paper on “The First Four Grand Masters of England” – W.Bro. Alan Wright KL.

22 June 2007
‘Masonic Show & Tell’ - back by popular demand following on from our previous similar event in April 2006.
Meeting format similar to 'Antiques Roadshow'

an old bottle with Masonic design

24 August 2007 - two presentations

"Freemasonry and the Third Reich" by Bro.A.Thomas, and

“Freemasonry in General & Our Lodge In Particular” by W.Bro.S.Naqvi

Friday 19 October 2007 - Special meeting

ANZMRC Visiting Lecturer Bro. Jim Daniel (pictured), Past Grand Secretary - United Grand Lodge of England - topic and venue to be confirmed

26 October 2007 - to be confirmed
Installation meeting

Installation Banquet

Online Masonic Education

2006-10-22T18:00:00.000+09:30

Bro. Ed Halpaus of Minnesota writes regular short articles of Masonic educational interest. Visit his home page at http://www.halpaus.net/ for his various series of publications which include:

* Mehr Licht
* Three Five Seven
* Masonic Matters

"Belmont", Brougham Place, North Adelaide

2006-08-29T23:14:00.000+09:30

The National Trust of South Australia has written (in 2002) of this building:

"This splendid mansion, designed originally as a Masonic Temple by the renowned architect Edmund Wright 145 years ago, has been vacant for 13 years and is so neglected it was declared an insanitary property by the Adelaide City Council last year.

Belmont House has been a significant presence in North Adelaide since the early settlement of the area ...

The architectural and historical significance of the house is recognised through its inclusion on the Register of the National Estate, and the SA State Heritage List."

Edmund Wright won a competition to design a building for the North Adelaide Masonic and Public Hall Association in 1856. The building was opened 27 December 1858 (St John the Evangelist's day), and sold in 1863 when it became a private residence. It is located at 71-75 Brougham Place, North Adelaide. The building was entered on the Australian Heritage database in 1980.

Next Lodge meeting Friday 25 August 2006

2006-08-18T21:51:00.000+09:30

Members are reminded of the next Lodge meeting to be held Friday 25 August at 7.30pm, at Marden - please see notice paper for further important information.

Islam

2006-07-31T20:44:00.000+09:30

The Adelaide Mosque

The first Muslims arrived in South Australia in 1838, less than two years after the arrival of the first British settlers. The Adelaide Mosque in Little Gilbert Street was completed in 1888. Hadji Mulla Merban from Kandahar, Afghanistan, is said to have been the first spiritual leader of the Afghan community in South Australia, after the completion of the Mosque. The "Ghan" railway runs 2979km across central Australia from south to north - the name of this rail journey commemorates the contributions of the early Afghan settlers in Australia. Further information on the history of Muslims in Australia may be seen at http://www.icv.org.au/history.shtml

The Muslim population of Australia grew 40% from 1996 to 2001, when the Census recorded more than 280,000 Muslims in Australia, of whom one third were Australian-born.

An interesting paper, "Islam and Freemasonry", has just been published in Singapore. It may be seen at www.dglea.org/islam.html

Seven steps to stagnation

2006-07-09T11:15:00.000+09:30

Sometime in the 1980's Rev. Erwin M. Soukup (Archdeacon of Chicago) compiled "The Seven Steps to Stagnation":

1. We've never done it that way before.
2. We're not ready for that.
3. We are doing all right without trying that.
4. We tried it once before.
5. We don't have money for that.
6. That's not our job.
7. Something like that can't work.

Soukup added "there's probably an eighth step, but we've never looked it up before."

Norm Lincoln (of Ohio Lodge of Research) suggests the eighth (ninth?) step might be - "Don't stir things up!"

On the bedside table ...

2006-07-01T20:14:00.000+09:30

"More Inner Workings - The Evolution and New Meaning of the Master's Word" by C Bruce Hunter (2004, Macoy). Heavy going in places but an interesting postulate.

"The New Man - an interpretation of some parable and miracles of Christ" by Maurice Nicoll (1967). I am halfway through slowly reading this book, first published 1950. Dr Nicoll was a pupil of Jung and wrote a five-volume commentary on the teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky. Chapter One of this book starts with the following words: "All sacred writings contain an outer and an inner meaning." Provides a mature insight into happenings etc of the New Testament.

"The Hell-Fire Clubs - Sex, Rakes and Libertines" by Geoffrey Ashe (2005, revised). The second noble Grand Master, Philip Duke of Wharton (shown on the frontispiece of Anderson's Constitutions, 1723) was a member of the first Hell-Fire Club. He squandered his inheritance and his life, and is buried in a Spanish monastery near Tarragona, Spain. A research lodge in Spain is named in his honour. The speculative Freemasons of the 1720's were obviously not totally serious in their researches and pursuits.

"Rose Croix Essays" by John Mandleberg (Lewis Masonic, 2005). A highly detailed series of research essays (with copious footnotes) on the history of the Ancient and Accepted [Scottish} Rite in England and dependencies. Said to have been prepared for delivery as "talks" at meetings of English Rose Croix Chapters. I suspect most Freemasons would find it difficult to concentrate if these essays were delivered exactly as printed. The researcher will find this a valuable complement to Mandleberg's masterly and detailed history "Ancient and Accepted" published in 1995. Bro. Mandleberg was recently Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge. This is a book to dip into from time to time. The large format makes for difficulties reading in bed!

"Washington Master Mason" by Allen E Roberts (Macoy 1976). A very readable account of the man and Mason.

"Irish Freemasonry in Australasia" by AM (Mick) Cam (2006). Written for the recent sesquicentenary of the Duke of Leinster Lodge No.363 IC, containing a detailed account of the Lodge and associated bodies, and a less detailed account of all other Irish Masonic lodges in Australia and New Zealand. Irish Freemasons were responsible for the introduction and nurturing of Freemasonry in Australia and also New Zealand.

Restructuring and Freemasonry

2006-06-23T23:14:00.000+09:30

(please click on the above image for a better view)

Lew Halley's presentation tonight had a change in title - to "Restructuring and Freemasonry", from his own unique perspective based on previous occupation. His presentation provokes considerable discussion. Discussion included mention that the number of Freemasons in the jurisdiction had fallen from a peak of almost 28,000 in 1961 (563 Freemasons per 10,000 males) to the present 3,700 (approx.), while the number of lodges had halved to about 110. Per capita costs have escalated and active members are spread thinly.

Restructuring implies change. Many people do not like change. The Wikipedia entry on "restructuring" makes for interesting reading, but perhaps the claimed results offer some encouragement to Freemasons willing to consider the process: "A company[/lodge] that has been restructured effectively will generally be leaner, more efficient, better organized, and better focused on its core business."

Mention was also made of help and materials available from the Membership Ctee of Grand Lodge to assist lodges to succeed, including materials presented to each Master on Installation Night. The District Superintendent may be able to offer additional advice.

Next meeting Friday 23 June 2006

2006-06-21T10:48:00.000+09:30

June 23, 7.30pm, Payneham Masonic Centre - paper by W.Bro. Lew Halley titled "Change In The Lodge".

Time permitting, an additional short paper to be delivered by W.Bro. Bill Charnock.

Masonic Research Conference, Ballarat, October 6-8

2006-06-20T08:51:00.000+09:30

The Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council will hold its eighth Biennial Conference in the old goldfields city of Ballarat on 6-8 October 2006. mid Springtime.

ANZMRC membership includes
- 17 lodges from Australia,
- 10 from New Zealand, and
- 8 from other parts of the world including Africa, Asia, Caribbean, North America and Europe.

Lectures for delivery have the following titles:
- Science, Freemasonry and the Third Millennium;
- Doors in Freemasonry;
- A Conceptual Overview of Maoridom and Freemasonry in New Zealand Society;
- The Christian Objection to Freemasonry;
- Catherine the Great and Freemasonry in Russia;
- The Triangle; and
- Freemasonry and Islam

The Conference Information and Registration brochure may be downloaded from the front page of the ANZMRC website at http://anzmrc.org

Vistors are welcome.

news - April - May 2006

2006-05-18T21:44:00.000+09:30

The "Masonic Show & Tell" evening was held April 28 was a success. 9 members and 5 visitors attended. We have since had enquiries from brethren of other Lodges who were not able to participate asking when the next one will be. This might become an annual event. There was much discussion about the presentations, which continued at the festive board.

Presentations included the following:

- Shaun Taylor showed a "firing" glass from Fidelity No.5 circa 1900 (The WM of Concordia assisted with a demonstration of how to "fire" with a glass), and a hand-made Royal Arch Chapter Companion's jewel with date of Exaltation 1867 (from Barossa Lodge No.49), origin unknown.

- Lew Halley showed an apron thought to be of Scottish origins with curved flap and magenta trim.

- Alan Hills talked about his involvement with the production of "A History of Craft Masonry in SA 1934-1984".

- George Woolmer presented original drafts of documents and reports he had produced for Grand Lodge with respect to Induction and Mentoring of Candidates etc.

- Bill Charnock presented Rose-Croix regalia including an apron for the same.

- Jim Naqvi talked about Islam and Freemasonry.

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The next Executive meeting will be on Friday 26 May at 7.00pm sharp, at Marden. Items for discussion include:

# Discuss options in support of Men’s Health Project.
# Officers for 2006/2007

Research Lodge of New South Wales

2006-05-03T22:01:00.000+09:30

The Research Lodge of New South Wales No.971 is currently not holding lodge meetings, but continues to publish, including a supplement to "Pillars of Light", the monthly newsletter of the Grand Library of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and ACT. See Pietre Stones website for some papers by a Past Master of the lodge.

This prompted a search for other Australian Masonic research bodies with websites. Only a few were found, the pick of the bunch being Victorian Lodge of Research No.218. Here you can find various articles, mention of the Diploma of Masonic History and Ideas, and the current lodge program. The other websites we found included
Kring Nieuw Holland
Holden Research Circle
Australian and New Zealand Masonc Research Council
Leichhardt Lodge of Research No.225

Personal websites
George Woolmer
John M Stubbs

the Da Vinci Code court case - the Judgment

2006-04-08T07:36:00.000+09:30

The 1 page summary of the Judgment may be read at http://tinyurl.com/npfdw and the full 71 page Judgment (in pdf format) at http://tinyurl.com/lcav2

Program for April June August

2006-04-01T09:00:00.000+10:30

April 28 - 'Masonic Show & Tell'

bring along your most obscure, unusual, favourite, or most treasured item of Masonic interest

e.g. regalia, memorabilia, book, ritual, jewel etc from any order and give a 5 - 10 minute talk on the same (more than one item OK within time frame).

Visitors welcome to participate!

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June 23 - members presentations

A paper to be delivered by W.Bro. Lew Halley titled "Change In The Lodge".

Time permitting, an additional short paper to be delivered by W.Bro. Bill Charnock.

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August 25:
WM to deliver a paper titled,
"The High Fibre Diet for Freemasons (or The Question of Masonic Regularity)"

The Lodge and its future

2006-04-01T01:22:00.000+10:30

WORSHIPFUL MASTER’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS

24th FEBRUARY 2006

Dear Brethren,

Firstly, I would like to thank the brethren of this Lodge for their confidence and support. Secondly, I re-affirm what my predecessor, W.Bro. Philip Rundle said in his own inaugural address, “That when it comes to discussion, thoughts and ideas within this Lodge, there is no right or wrong, there are only opinions.”

Brethren, the Installation in October last year marked the beginning of the fortieth year of operation of this Lodge, and while currently membership and participation is low, and despite some very trying and difficult times recently, we are still here! However, perhaps this juncture is an appropriate time to ask ourselves, what the future of the South Australian Lodge of Research is. Does it have a viable and sustainable future?

I of course hope that it does, but I believe that like Freemasonry in general, we cannot continue to operate the way we currently do. For a start, it should be obvious that our current level of membership, participation, and our financial base is not going to be sustainable in the medium to long-term. Something needs to change if we are to continue!

So what can be done? As previously mentioned, in common with the rest of our fraternity our most pressing issue is that of membership. Increase membership and we necessarily increase our financial base, and with new and interested members we will obviously increase participation. But in today’s climate, when the whole of our Fraternity is struggling with this issue, how and where are we going to get new and interested members?

Before I discuss some of my ideas for gaining new members and sustaining this Lodge, perhaps it behoves us to first look at what the purpose and aims of this Lodge might be.

The Lodge of Research No.216 was consecrated on 8th of October 1965, thanks primarily to the efforts of W.Bro. Graham Hill, who was also one of the prime movers behind the formation of The Perfect Cube Lodge No.201. In 1960, W.Bro. Hill was also responsible for forming the Australian Chapter of the Dormer Study Circle, which unfortunately lapsed through lack of popular support in 1966. W.Bro. Hill then approached W.Bros. James Marshall and Ralph Beck of Payneham Lodge, and to quote from “A History of Craft Masonry in South Australia 1934-1984” (pg.297) W.Bro. Hill suggested the foundation of

“…a Lodge which would follow up workings with a lecture of explanation of the ritual for the benefit of the recently initiated candidate and brethren who wished to understand Freemasonry in greater depth.”

The purpose and aims of the Lodge as per the current By-laws are:

1. To provide a forum for students of Masonry, for the presentation and discussion of research papers and ideas;
2. To train and encourage brethren in the study of all aspects of Masonic research, whether historical, philosophical, symbolic or otherwise;
3. To publish the results of Masonic research and other items of interest or use to the Craft;
4. To liaise with, promote and supplement the endeavours of, and otherwise assist other lodges or groups engaged in the dissemination of Masonic knowledge; and
5. To discover and publish or preserve material which might be lost or unknown.

I along with many others in Masonic research also believe that our researches should not necessarily be confined to the history, symbolism, and philosophy of our Fraternity, why not also ethics, and jurisprudence; indeed every aspect of Freemasonry should be open to research and discussion in my opinion. Unfortunately, this philosophy of ‘pushing the boundaries’ in our quest for knowledge has made us anathema in the eyes of some. There are without doubt those who don’t like or support us, because we unashamedly ask and pose questions, because we are not afraid to challenge convention, because we don’t deny the esoteric elements of Freemasonry, and because we do push the boundaries in the cause of furthering research and knowledge. But on the same token, it is these very same traits that tend to attract brethren to this Lodge and Masonic research in general!

While we have all come into Freemasonry for our own reasons, and while we may perhaps perceive it differently, and place significance and importance on different aspects of the Fraternity, there is no denying that by its very nature Masonic research tends to attract those who are philosophically and esoterically minded, those who are not afraid to ask questions and challenge convention, and to speak about there thoughts, ideas and experiences. So, if that is the case, like it or not, it is with those who have that mind-set where I believe we will find potential new members. We also know that not all lodges cater for these various leanings. That is where there is great potential then for us to fill those gaps perhaps left by a brother’s Mother Lodge. However, these potential members are not going to come to us, if they don’t know we exist, or if they don’t know what we are about. Brethren, we have to go to them and we have to promote the Lodge, and market it in such a way that it captures their interest and imagination, and fires their interest for research and knowledge.

To go out and market the lodge to the right audience is not necessarily going to be an easy task, particularly when we consider that in this Constitution (South Australia & Northern Territory), while unlike some constitutions where the Research Lodge fulfills that constitution’s education and lecturing needs, here the membership is fortunate to have a Grand Lodge Education Committee and Lecturing Panel. While this is great, it means that as a Research Lodge we have some stiff competition for the brother who is interested in lecturing and Masonic Research.

So what do I suggest we do to see this Lodge survive? We must, I believe:

* Raise the profile of the Lodge through visiting and vigorous promotion of events.
* Improve our credibility by delivering work of high quality and interest.
* Apply the stated purpose and aims of the lodge as the basis of our work.
* Promote membership to potential members in the identified ‘market segment’.
* Foster a co-operative working relationship with the G.L. Education Committee.
* Act professionally in the management of the Lodge.
* Promote Correspondence Circle membership.
* Review our meeting frequency and perhaps even consider whether or not we even need to be a warranted lodge to meet our purpose and aims.

While these are just some of my own thoughts on how we can maintain the future viability of this Lodge, and indeed broader Masonic research in this State, and while I am equally sure you all have ideas and suggestions of your own, it will not happen by itself, or by working as individuals, or by closing our minds to possibilities; it is up to all of us to work together, to restore this Lodge to its rightful place as a premier Lodge of Research held in high esteem throughout the wider Fraternity, not because of the number of members holding Grand rank, or because of word perfect ritual, or slavish adherence to procedures, but, because we offer something that should be much sought after and highly regarded throughout Freemasonry – learning and knowledge.

Brethren, in conclusion, the motto of this Lodge says “Knowledge is Light”. Let us therefore use and apply our knowledge in keeping the light of the South Australian Lodge of Research burning.

Shaun Taylor
W.Master