Launceston Lodge of Research No 69 T.C.

Cornerstones- Freemasonry and the opening of Historic Australian buildings is my new book I would like to share with you.

This history is the story of the number of historic Australian buildings that were opened with masonic ceremony. The Mechanics Institutes, town halls, bridges, churches, synagogues, schools, hospitals etc. These ceremonies normally involved holidays being declared in the city or town, with marches down the main streets with brass & pipes & drums bands, bunting and great local fanfare with the Freemasons at the head of the march dressed in full regalia. At the site of the laying of the foundation stone, or building opening, the local lodge master or in many cases the Grand Master and team, would conduct a ceremony steeped in history and tradition and a wonderful speech would be given to the crowd (often in their thousands) in more civic minded times. These speeches which focussed on the intended structure but were excellent promotions of Freemasonry in general, as they espoused the virtues of the order and its history.

I have featured over 78 structures around the country and include over 90 photographs. It is almost 200 A4 pages long.

This book looks at how Freemasonry became involved with each building and also looks at some opposition to their role in these ceremonies that grew as we moved into the 20th century. By the end of the first decade of the new century such ceremonies had essentially ceased across the country. Freemasonry largely went underground!

Hundreds of books have been written on Freemasonry in Australia and thousands overseas, but this is the first time to the best of my knowledge, this angle has been looked at and much of what is in this book will be as new to Freemasons as it is to those with no involvement in the craft.

I was shocked when researching many of these buildings that despite Freemasonry being the key participant in the opening ceremonies in a number of cases were written out of the published and online histories written in recent decades completely. I was able to locate the original 'writeups' of these buildings from historical newspapers and other sources. I have referenced my material I have used in detail.

I hope this book will be of interest to those with a general interest in history and our heritage buildings and setting the records straight on their genesis, and a large number of the buildings I feature are some of the best and most loved in the country, but also to be a source of pride to Freemasons around the country to discover the role the Order had in the building of modern Australia in its formative decades.

The book is $30 plus postage and be obtained from WBro James Nicolas on 0407511057 or at [email protected]

Launceston Lodge of Research has moved to meeting on Fridays.

Our next meeting will be our Installation meeting
Saturday the 22nd of July tyling at 3pm

For our September and November meetings
Dinner is at 6pm at the Royal Oak
The Lodge Tyles at 7:30

Dress code: Lounge Suit with Masonic Tie.

Recently a member of Launceston Lodge of Research was gifted this photo and Regalia of John Edwards who was initiated into ST Johns Lodge 2TC in 1906 and was elected a life member in 1931 after a 25 year connection with the lodge.

His Father also John Edwards was also a Mason. John was also a prominent Oddfellow and was a member of the Grand Lodge of Australasia. John established the general merchants in Stanley in 1857 after his Death in 1892 his son James H Edwards took over management of the business.

Temperance Hall was home to the The Independent Order of Rechabites and the International Organisation of Good Templars,

The issue of temperance became crucial in the 1850s in a colony with lowered social standards due to convictism, widespread poverty, and heavy liquor consumption.
To counteract the dominant role of public houses Temperance societies Like the IOR and IOGT grew rapidly as they promoted abstaining from alcoholic beverages.

The budling was unfortunately destroyed but was located on the site of the current radio station on York street opposite the Kingsway

The thoughts of all Freemasons are with Her Majesty The Queen.

Banquet Night

"ONCE in so often," King Solomon said,
Watching his quarrymen drill the stone,
"We will club our garlic and wine and bread
And banquet together beneath my Throne,
And all the Brethren shall come to that mess
As Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less."

"Send a swift shallop to Hiram of Tyre,
Felling and floating our beautiful trees,
Say that the Brethren and I desire
Talk with our Brethren who use the seas.
And we shall be happy to meet them at mess
As Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less."

"Carry this message to Hiram Abif-
Excellent master of forge and mine :-
I and the Brethren would like it if
He and the Brethren will come to dine
(Garments from Bozrah or morning-dress)
As Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less."

"God gave the Hyssop and Cedar their place-
Also the Bramble, the Fig and the Thorn-
But that is no reason to black a man's face
Because he is not what he hasn't been born.
And, as touching the Temple, I hold and profess
We are Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less."

So it was ordered and so it was done,
And the hewers of wood and the Masons of Mark,
With foc'sle hands of Sidon run
And Navy Lords from the Royal Ark,
Came and sat down and were merry at mess
As Fellow-Craftsmen-no more and no less.

The Quarries are hotter than Hiram's forge,
No one is safe from the dog-whip's reach.
It's mostly snowing up Lebanon gorge,
And it's always blowing off Joppa beach;

But once in so often, the messenger brings
Solomon's mandate : "Forget these things!
Brother to Beggars and Fellow to Kings,
Companion of Princes-forget these things!
Fellow-Craftsmen, forget these things!"

Rudyard Kipling

The Farewell To the Brethren of St. James' Lodge, Tarbolton

Adieu! a heart-warm fond adieu;
Dear brothers of the mystic tie!
Ye favoured, enlighten'd few,
Companions of my social joy;
Tho' I to foreign lands must hie,
Pursuing Fortune's slidd'ry ba';
With melting heart, and brimful eye,
I'll mind you still, tho' far awa.

Oft have I met your social band,
And spent the cheerful, festive night;
Oft, honour'd with supreme command,
Presided o'er the sons of light:
And by that hieroglyphic bright,
Which none but Craftsmen ever saw
Strong Mem'ry on my heart shall write
Those happy scenes, when far awa.

May Freedom, Harmony, and Love,
Unite you in the grand Design,
Beneath th' Omniscient Eye above,
The glorious Architect Divine,
That you may keep th' unerring line,
Still rising by the plummet's law,
Till Order bright completely shine,
Shall be my pray'r when far awa.

And you, farewell! whose merits claim
Justly that highest badge to wear:
Heav'n bless your honour'd noble name,
To Masonry and Scotia dear!
A last request permit me here, -
When yearly ye assemble a',
One round, I ask it with a tear,
To him, the Bard that's far awa.

Robert Burns

Tasmanian anthem.
Words by the Rev. R. K. Ewing.

All hail to thee, our Island home,
Bright skies unmatched thy glories dome,
Inviting back, where'er we roam,
Star of the Southern Sea.
All beauty spreads thy woodland's o'er,
Each wave that breaks against thy shore,
Shouts to the world, with glad uproar,
Thou art, and shalt be free.
God guard from foes our native land,
And help us bravely to withstand,
The might and skill of those who band To crush Tasmania ;
And sheltered by the parent arm
Of British power from every harm,
We'll sing, of loyalty the charm, God bless Victoria.
May peace thy future ages grace,
High Justice ever find a place,
To save thy laws from foul disgrace,
And ever make thee smile.
Religion o'er thy sons preside,
And humble worth, not wealthy pride,
For ever in their midst abide,
God bless Tasmania.

The Lamb Skin
It is not ornamental, the cost is not great,
There are other things far more useful, yet truly I state,
Though of all my possesions, there's none can compare,
With that white leather apron, which all Masons wear.

As a young lad I wondered just what it all meant,
When Dad hustled around, and so much time was spent
On shaving and dressing and looking just right,
Until Mother would say: 'It's the Masons tonight.'

And some winter nights she said: 'What makes you go,
Way up there tonight thru the sleet and the snow?
You see the same things every month of the year.'
Then Dad would reply: 'Yes, I know it, my dear.'

'Forty years I have seen the same things, it is true.
And though they are old, they always seem new,
For the hands that I clasp, and the friends that I greet,
Seem a little bit closer each time that we meet.'

Years later I stood at that very same door,
With good men and true who had entered before,
I knelt at the alter, and there I was taught
That virtue and honor can never be bought.

That the spotless white lambskin all Masons revere,
If worthily worn grows more precious each year,
That service to others brings blessings untold,
That man may be poor tho surrounded by gold.

I learned that true brotherhood flourishes there,
That enmities fade 'neath the compass and square,
That wealth and position are all thrust aside,
As there on the level men meet and abide.

So, honor the lambskin, may it always remain
Forever unblemished, and free from all stain,
And when we are called to the Great Father's love,
May we all take our place in that Lodge up above.

Edgar Albert Guest