NZ Freemason magazine Issue 1 March 2022

Freemason NEW ZEALAND

Issue 1 (Vol. 50), March 2022

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In this issue From the Editor 2

The Wellington Masonic Club recently gave $50,000 to the new Wellington Children’s Hospital 20

Hot Off the Press 3 Grand Lodge of New Zealand

2022 Grand Installation & Communication

Good morning Freemasons! 20 ANZAC Day 21

11–13 November 2022

Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics 22

Save the dates in your diary

TSB Area and Shed Six on the Wellington Waterfront

Masonic Knowledge 24

Grand Master’s Visits 3

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

From the Grand Master 4

COVID-19: What type of contact are you? 25

Engaging in 2022

Equality and support for all – the Freemason’s way 26

News clips 6

Are you worried someone is thinking of suicide? 28

From the Executive Director 8

What can YOU do about the rising anxiety around COVID-19? 31

Protecting our health and wellbeing as an organisation 50 Years of the New Zealand Freemason magazine 10

COVID-19: How to self-isolate 30

The accidental editor

Masonic Villages Trust 32

OPINION

The Operatives 34

Pet a day 12

A couple of Masonic Long Service Awards in different settings 34

FREEMASONS IN ACTION

What are the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage? 35

Grand Master finally makes it to Whitianga 13 125th Celebrations of Lodge Manuherikia Kilwinning 14 Scholarships to help Manawatū builders upskill 16

THE FREEMASONS CHARITY

Widow’s Sons sign Memorandum of Understanding with Freemasons New Zealand 17

New Process for Awarding Charity Jewels 36

Daylight Lodges 17

Christchurch Freemasons again support Women’s Refuge 37

Something of interest in Wellington! 18 Annual Masonic Charity Clay Bird Shoot 18 The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 19

Freemasons recently helped Graeme Dingle Foundation in Porirua with food hampers! 37

Health and Wellbeing Grants to Lodges in the Northern Division 37 Freemasons Foundation 38 Potter Masonic Trust: Freemasons and UpsideDowns 40

Social versus Ceremonial 19

Royal Arch 44

Grand Master’s Tonga 2022 Disaster Appeal 19

Welcome to our newest Freemasons 47

A facelift for Freemasonry in Ngapara 19

The Last Word! 48

Lodge of Endeavour No 504 Biennial Installation 20

Service Awards 49

Grand Master in Whanganui 20 COVER Photo by Agustin Gunawan / unsplash.com

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From the Editor

FREEMASONS NEW ZEALAND

National Office Unit 2, 22 Tacy Street Kilbirnie, Wellington 6022 PO Box 6439, Marion Square Wellington 6141 New Zealand Ph: +64 4 385 6622 Fax +64 4 385 5749 Email: membership@freemasonsnz.org communications@freemasonsnz.org www.freemasonsnz.org

Howzit going mate? How are you, old cobber? What’s up?

Do you want to talk? Can I help? I am listening, do you want to tell me about it?

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These are the questions we should be asking all the members of our Lodge as the last two years takes their toll on all of us.

Our mental health and wellbeing are probably overtaking our physical health and wellbeing or may even be contributing to that in a not-so-positive way.

Sitting down for a chat and a coffee or beverage is a great way to start because whether we know it or not, we all need some support in these challenging times. Be it freemasons, family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, or people in our local communities.

It is not just Covid-19 itself, but employment or business issues, our immediate and wider family, personal challenges, and we need to remind ourselves that no man or woman is an island.

Drawing on the values of Freemasonry in these uncertain times is important and probably the reason we have been around for over 300 years – fraternity, love of our fellow man, knowing that we need to leave this world a better place than we found it, a positive can-do attitude taking ‘im’ out of impossible and by ‘paying it forward’ in all we do.

2022 is going to be a positive year - not from Covid - but by your positive attitude towards all the challenges we face and how you treat others whether they are your nearest and dearest or those we should care about.

The ‘new’ normal is just a bit of harder work than the ‘old’ normal and will soon become our ‘now’ normal.

A bumper issue full of ideas, resources, plenty to look forward to, and lots of positivity!

VWBro Duane Williams MBE, KCLJ. JP, GSec

Hot Off the Press Save the dates Grand Lodge of New Zealand

2022 Grand Installation & Communication 11–13 November 2022 Save the dates in your diary

TSB Area and Shed Six on the Wellington Waterfront

New Divisional Grand Almoner for the Southern Division I’m very proud and excited to have been appointed the new Divisional Grand Almoner – Southern and look forward to continuing the excellent work of VWBro Jeff Elston. I have personally been involved in charity projects since joining The Crown Lodge, Canterbury District No 25, both in raising funds for charity and supporting local organisations.

Sitting on the Canterbury Masonic Charitable Trust as a Trustee and Past Chair has been particularly rewarding, helping groups of all shapes and sizes in the Canterbury area. The opportunity to extend

this Charitable work in the Southern Division was one of the main reasons to accept the nomination for Divisional Grand Almoner.

Outside of Freemasonry, I enjoy rabbit hunting, adventure motorbike riding and camping with my wife and daughter. My career as a Financial Adviser and Director of the business allows flexibility in my schedule, and I hope to visit Lodges throughout the Division when possible.

I look forward to working with the District Charity Officers, Lodges and Brethren to promote and enhance charity in the Division.

VWBro Dai Eveleigh DivGAlm – Southern

GRAND MASTER’S VISITS 24-27 Feb Lodge Whitianga No 443, Whitianga Presentation and Promotions 12 Mar The Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of New Zealand – Grand Convocation Business Session by Zoom 19 Mar Lodge Torea No 121, Waimangaroa, West Coast Installation and 70th Year Bar Presentation

22 Mar New Zealand Pacific Lodge No 2, Johnsonville, Wellington Installation 24–29 Mar Grand Re-Installation MWBro Richard Elkington, United Grand Lodge of Victoria, Melbourne 1–2 Apr Lodge Wangamomona No 234, Inglewood and New Plymouth, Installation and Centennial

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6 May Lower Hutt Lodge No 299, Petone Freemasons Centre, 50 Year Service Badge 14 May Lodge Clinton No 183, Clinton, South Otago Installation 18 May Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning No 87, Oamaru 125th Celebrations

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FROM THE GRAND MASTER

Engaging in 2022 I

had hoped that I would start the New Year without making any comments about managing Covid-19 and its impact on Freemasonry in New Zealand. Sadly, this is not the case, as we now start to see case numbers rising in the community as we head towards the ‘so called’ peak and then the decline in infections as we start the journey living with this virus amongst us.

I am encouraged to see how overseas jurisdictions are now opening their borders and starting to reduce the need for masks and some mandates, but here in New Zealand we are not quite there yet. However, I am encouraged by the way that our Lodges have responded to our mitigation plans to ensure that we maintain our momentum to have thriving Lodges. I know that some Lodges have

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looked at their risk profile and made the informed decision to reduce meetings during this high infection period, whilst others have decided to continue as normal, albeit with strict protocols in place.

I respect the decisions of each Lodge, and I wish you all well over the next few months. It is important that we all continue with our engagement and focus on our members so that we do not lose any traction with those who are new to the Craft, and to those who are Masters and Officers within the Lodge.

how important this event is as a grand affair, so our objective is to maintain our momentum towards business as usual.

We will publish more information on this as decisions are made.

One Vision, one Goal and one Team

At our roadshows last year, we launched our ‘one vision, one goal and one team’ objectives to build our future. Although we have been disrupted, progress continues to be made. The Board of General Purposes is now using new tools to manage meetings through online services that ensure that we are making Communication, Installation, good decisions that are focused on best promotions, and preferments practice. We want to see a ‘single source This is a busy year as we head towards our of truth’ which means that all parts of Grand Communication and Installation the wider Freemason family work as one in November 2022. Planning is already well underway, and we know that we will have to make some changes to ensure that we meet our constitutional obligations as well as any possible restrictions on the size of gatherings.

This is very much an unknown quantity at this stage, but please rest assured that we have this well in hand.

It is important that we continue to have all the nominations available to us by the due date so that we can start to look at the promotions and preferments.

We have been quite flexible in this approach, so please treat the nominations as an important part of our tri-annual selection process.

Consideration is also being given to the best option for the Grand Communication, and it could well be that this will be by live stream rather than in-person attendance. This is far from finalised, but we are well on top of this, and I am sure that the Board will be deciding on this soon. We know

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with all of our record held centrally and in a controlled environment.

On that note, the Board has agreed in principle to support a major publicfacing awareness programme to lift the external profile of Freemasonry in New Zealand and to generate the desired perceptions and knowledge of our Craft and our organisation.

You can read more about the background to that – and some of what it will entail - in Mark Cassidy’s Executive Director’s article.

But at a high level, let me just say the rationale for this activity is directly in keeping with the overall theme of this month’s magazine. It is, in short, to secure on ongoing health of our organisation so that it is resilient and fit for purpose in our changing times.

After attending the recent Board meeting at which this campaign was discussed and agreed to, I re-read some of the comments I made in the article about me as Grand Master-elect that appeared in the lead-up to the Grand Installation in 2019. Things were obviously very different in those pre-Covid times, but many of the same challenges still exist for us.

We are an organisation whose operational structures and systems are very much predicated on and built for the kind of vibrant organisation we used to be 30 or 40 years ago. Now we face a sharply declining membership and falling Lodge numbers.

What we do and how we operate in our Lodges has been severely tested by Covid-19 and that, in turn, has created new stressors across the board.

On top of our internal issues, we are operating in an environment where potential members – and existing Brethren – have many things other than Freemasonry to occupy their time, attention, and money. In short, we are

in a competitive environment, and I’m concerned that we don’t yet have a competitive advantage.

In that Grand Master-elect article, I said I was “concerned to ensure Freemasonry adapts positively to the 21st century and remains relevant in today’s digital age.”

I said “for our organisation to remain sustainable we must also remain relevant.

We must understand the environment we are now operating in, and we must do all that we can to make Freemasonry attractive to the next generation of Masons who will follow in our footsteps.”

The roadshows we ran, and hope to repeat, were a start to that process. The public-facing awareness programme is the next step on that journey, and I can assure you there are plenty more steps to come, many of them focussed on how our Lodges themselves can better

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prepare themselves for the changes that will be necessary to ensure our Craft and our organisation remains as relevant tomorrow as it has always been.

Grand Installations – Victoria and Queensland

With the re-opening of the borders between Australia and New Zealand, I decided that I would attend the re-Installation of MWBro Richard Elkington as the Grand Master of Victoria. Traditionally, the United Grand Lodge of Victoria have a two-year term for their Grand Master and his officers, but due to the impact of Covid-19 within their State, they have decided to grant a two-year extension. I was unable to attend his original Installation in 2020, and it was a very small gathering, so it seems appropriate that he continues in the role.

This will also give me the opportunity to meet with my fellow Grand Masters in a forum where we can discuss the impact of Covid-19 on the Craft, and to learn the lessons of managing ceremonial workings post-Covid.

We have also been advised that the United Grand Lodge of Queensland will be holding their Grand Installation on 1-3 July this year, so I am looking forward to taking a substantial Delegation of New Zealand Freemasons. More details about this will be published shortly, and I would be delighted to see as many Brethren as possible accompanying me as this will be my last official visit to an Australian Jurisdiction. This is also an opportunity to travel and take that long-overdue holiday that we have all been craving.

The opportunity to attend both events mark a light at the end of the tunnel for us all and a return to some level of normality.

MWBro Graham Wrigley, Grand Master

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News clips Meet the new staff members Previously I worked at St Patrick’s College in Kilbirnie as the Cashier/ Academic Registrar. My main goal is to provide exceptional, efficient service to the people I interact with.

I look forward to working alongside you all.

Debbie Mellett

I have been the Charity Administrator since October 2021.

I am enjoying this position and settling in well; there has been a lot to learn and get used to.

My personal highlight was getting to know more about The Freemasons and all the good they achieve Debbie in the community through The Freemasons Charity.

Thank you all for your help with the launch of The Freemason Charity Online Granting Programme.

Thank you for your enormous contributions. I am proud and inspired by how you all rose to the challenge of changing over to The Freemason Charity Online Grant system.

Let’s work together to make next year Jacky smooth sailing and great.

Rosalind Smith

Hi, my name is Roz, and I am the new Communications Officer for National Office; and have been here since late November 2021. I love the team I’m working in and coming to work every day is a pleasure. Every member of the Freemasons I’ve met has been so welcoming, and I thank you for the warmth and kindness I have received.

I look forward to meeting and working alongside more of you in the future.

With all the fantastic work the Freemasons do in the community, it is a privilege to work here and try to help support the brethren in the way I can help best. We can make our team stronger with excellent communication and spread the word together.

Monique Webster

Hi everyone, I have been here with the team since June last year. We have been working on improvements in the National Office to better support the lodges and the charity. In October the new online charity system was launched, and it was great to see how everyone has jumped into using it. We have also launched some other new online systems to support the organisation and the Board of General Purposes work in remotely during Covid. A highlight for me is the commitment of the team to find ways to support each other and the wider team.

Monique

Jacky Reid

Hi, my name is Jacky Reid. My role at National Office is as the Membership Administrator.

Rosalind

Self isolation kit

Queen’s New Year Honours Freemasons New Zealand congratulates Bro William (Willie) Richard Wright in Whangarei, on being honoured by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, who has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to conservation in the 2022 New Year Honours List.

Willie has been a Freemason since 2017 and is a member of Lodge Parahaki No 269 in Whangarei.

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Ten ways to support your Lodge

Be a regular attendee of Lodge (emergencies excepted).

Always be on time for Lodge (emergencies excepted).

Take up an Office or fill a role in the Lodge to make your contribution to its wellbeing.

Always offer to help with any task that needs doing.

Pay your obligations on time. If you can support charitable projects.

Support your Officers and Members with gentle guidance and mentoring.

Ensure everyone in the Lodge has something to do to contribute to the running of the Lodge.

We all have opinions, and they can be heard but once a majority decision is made support it.

Concentrate on ceremonial to show support for those conducting it.

If you have a difference with a Brother, try to sort it out and work together amicably.

GRAND INSTALLATION 2022 Date Claimer

The United Grand Lodge of Queensland MW Bro Paul Andrew Holland, Grand Master Invites you to attend

The Grand Installation of RW Bro Jeffrey Robert Harper AFSM 01-03 July 2022, Brisbane Friday

01/07/22

Meet & Greet Reception Hilton Hotel Brisbane

Saturday

02/07/22

Ladies Breakfast

Sunday

03/07/22

Crossword solution

Grand Installation

MMC

Grand Banquet

Hilton Hotel Brisbane

Farewell Lunch

Hilton Hotel Brisbane

*** Registration details will be forthcoming***

New Zealand Freemason magazine preferences Freemasons New Zealand is supportive of sustain­ability and environmental responsibility and so if you wish to only receive your New Zealand Freemason magazine by an online link or PDF let us know by emailing communications@freemasonsnz.org and we will take you off the mailing list and place you on an emailing list for future issues of the magazine.

Hilton Hotel Brisbane

Masonic Memorial Centre (MMC) 311 Ann St, Brisbane, QLD, 4001 Phone: (07) 3229 3533 Email: membership@uglq.org.au https://www.uglq.org.au

United Grand Lodge of Queensland – Grand Installation Our Grand Master MWBro Graham Wrigley cordially invites Freemasons and their partners to join the New Zealand delegation to the UGLQ Grand Installation in Brisbane from 1-3 July 2022, the last in Australia before our own Grand Installation in November 2022.

Expressions of interest to our Grand Secretary at secretary@freemasonsnz.org who will send out Registration details once received.

What a great way to celebrate your birthday as a Freemason As part of his celebrations for his thirty-five years in Freemasonry, he has introduced a system of ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ into two local supermarkets, they can pay customers’ bills who would otherwise have to return shopping to the shelves. People are experiencing financial hardship. He is hoping to help 100 customers in this extreme period of uncertainty. An idea that’s worthy of emulation.

Anonymous Freemason (name and location removed) www.freemasonsnz.org

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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Protecting our health and wellbeing as an organisation T

he health and wellbeing of Freemasonry in New Zealand. It’s an interesting subject. One worthy of informed and possibly challenging debate, a debate that desperately needs to be had, especially in the changing and challenging times we face at the moment.

Some would say our organisation’s health and wellbeing is fine, thank you very much. And if you look at us at a granular level, you’d have to agree that some of our Lodges are doing fine.

Everything’s tickety-boo in some parts of the country and in some Lodges, and that’s great.

Well done to those of you who can claim that position.

That’s not the case across the board

But take the helicopter a bit higher and have a more holistic look at us and the picture is not quite so rosy.

Member numbers continue to drop, and some Lodges are increasingly struggling to remain sustainable, but the picture’s not totally bleak (but it’s not an oil painting either) and nor is the situation irreversible.

And while the overall picture’s not rosy, it could be.

Because we have a role to play in ‘interesting times’

mental health pandemic in this country.

We have rising inflation, a problem that generations of us have never experienced, with all the financial pressures that imposes on families.

We have growing political uncertainty at home, and an increasing view (if you believe the polls) that more and more Kiwis believe things will get worse around the economy and a range of other indicators.

As we have seen at Parliament in recent weeks and at other protests around the country, we have, seemingly, growing and quite tribal divisions within our society.

And we now have the humanitarian crisis that’s unfolding in the Ukraine, with all the concerns about what the future may look like for the world as a whole.

“May you live in interesting times” is an expression, thought to be Chinese in origin, which is pure irony. We are definitely living in “interesting times”, and they are not all they are cracked up to be.

But, again, that’s what makes Freemasonry so important, and our organisation can play an important role in bringing people together in these uncertain times.

Because, when you think about it, the changing and challenging times we are now experiencing are exactly the backdrop against which an organisation like Freemasonry, with its strong traditional values of fraternity and of making good men better, and its rich history as a solid and long-standing pillar of our communities, becomes so important.

We have Covid, with all the anxiety associated with that, as well as a more fundamental and just as far-reaching

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So, we need to be stronger

But we, as an organisation, must be strong and resilient to do that. We must be united and focused on achieving our organisational goals.

And that’s why the Board of General Purposes has now approved in principle a wide-ranging awareness and perceptionchanging programme, that will span two years, and that is designed to raise our profile and encourage new members in keeping with our Thriving Lodges and Growing Membership goals.

On the back of last year’s roadshows, the Board has agreed we can’t keep on doing what we’ve been doing and expecting different results.

We need to be aspirational

So, the decision has been taken to ‘be aspirational’ in our thinking and to commit, boots and all, to a programme that will revitalise Freemasonry in New Zealand and make it, as the Grand Master said in 2019, “relevant for today’s digital age”.

This public-facing awareness and perception work is one component of a bigger “refresh” that will see the Board invest heavily in the organisation and the way it operates.

A lot of the background work has been going on for over a year now in National

Office and I touched on some of those logistics in my last article – new systems and processes, new staff to bolster our capacity – and while there’s still a bit more to do, the Board has decided that now’s the time to press play.

So, we are now doing the planning that will see the awareness programme commence at the start of our new financial year in July.

Our timing is great Jernej Furman / Flickr

The timing is great for this because by then we will have new Grand Lodge officers selected, we have the Grand Communication and Installation in November and the Special Olympics Summer Games in December, two very high-profile events that we will leverage heavily to generate widespread awareness of who we are, the good that we do and, importantly, the ‘why’ you should be part of us.

Our strategic plan, due for a review in 2023, will also be front and centre as part of our organisational refresh. And while that work hasn’t started yet I can state with some confidence that the plan, when it is redeveloped, will be heavily focussed on what needs to happen at the coalface to strengthen Freemasons New Zealand from the ground up.

Setting our benchmark

The first tranche of our awareness activity is a public ‘perceptions audit’ that benchmarks where Freemasons sits in the public’s mind. Do they know about us, what do they know about us and, importantly, what do they think about us? And what is their propensity for becoming a Freemason?

That survey is in the field as this issue of the magazine is going to print so I can’t share the findings with you yet, but we will do so once we have them.

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Those findings will underpin the awareness work we carry out over the coming two years, and we will be running follow-up public surveys to check our direction of travel with the work we are doing and whether we are hitting our perception KPIs. Picture that duck!

Running alongside all this public-facing activity will be a comprehensive Lodgefacing work stream that will help to strengthen Lodges and support them to welcome and accept new members. The details of that work are being developed as well so it’s going to be a busy couple of years.

But my message is this to those of you who may feel that nothing’s been happening since the roadshows – it has been. Picture that duck swimming serenely across the water and think about how much paddling goes on unseen.

That’s been us … and there’s much more to come.

Mark Cassidy, Executive Director

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50 Years of the New Zealand Freemason magazine

THE ACCIDENTAL EDITOR

Morris Robertson had a decade’s association with this magazine, including roles as reporter, writer and editor. He was never formally appointed to any of these roles.

He just did what he felt was necessary to support the place of Freemasonry in the modern world. He describes his experiences and how one thing led to many others.

In the beginning

Having gained somewhat of a reputation as a producer of newsletters for various organisations, I was approached in 2009 by Dexter Bambery, then Chair of the Freemasons Communication Committee, to support the current Editor of the magazine, Michael Leon, Director of Communications and Marketing, who while skilled as a designer, was not perceived to be a writer. At that time, there was some concern that the magazine could not survive much longer.

Whilst I began by submitting short pieces I soon realised that the magazine was short on in depth articles, which explored deeper into the background of Freemasons. My first such story was triggered by Harry Hayward, Freemason, Airman, Teacher, Real Estate Agent and Golfer, achieving his first hole in one at age 91. Interviews with Harry revealed his role as an RAF bomber pilot in WW2 and his subsequent varied career.

A second story was triggered by an item in the Hutt News, which referred to the naming of Lowndes Lane in honour of 60-year Freemason Brian and his wife Thelma Lowndes. My interviews with the couple revealed a long history of service to the Eastbourne community, beginning with support for his parents’ business giving popular donkey rides at Days Bay. As a volunteer fireman for 20 years Brian was in the front line of rescuers following the sinking of the Wahine in 1968. Brian remembers carrying survivors to the nearest road head and returning later to gather up belongings washed ashore.

Winger, comprising myself for Central Division, Jack Leigh, Northern Division, and later joined by Rob Cope-Williams, Southern Division.

A turning point came on 12 February 2011, the day after the Christchurch Earthquake. The Editorial Committee, was holding a scheduled meeting in Wellington. Rob Cope-Williams was absent, fate unknown. Rob was a CTV reporter in Christchurch, the scene of many fatalities, including CTV staff. As we discovered later, Rob had been out on an assignment at the time, but was devastated by the death of many of his colleagues.

The March issue of the magazine was due at the printers the next day. As the cover image and lead story were no longer considered appropriate, it was agreed that it should be replaced with a message from the Grand Master, MWBro Selwyn Cooper who was overseas at the time. I volunteered to draft a Grand Master’s message overnight, focussed on our Christchurch Brethren, with an underlying theme of “we are all almoners”. I sent the draft to Mark the following morning, he contacted Selwyn who accepted it and it was duly published along with a cover picture of the ruined cathedral. In the following years, I wrote

A new look

Having taken responsibility for the magazine I set about instituting a number of changes. These including adding more structure by dividing the contents into

A growing involvement

Early in 2010 an Editorial Committee was established overseen by RWBro Mark 10

many editorials and speech notes for Grand Masters.

Shortly after the earthquake issue, Michael Leon moved to Perth with the assurance that he could continue his role as Editor. That arrangement did not last the distance and, although Michael moved back to Wellington, it was decided to terminate his employment and, by default I took over the editorial role as I was already providing much of the content. I sought no remuneration, preferring to invest on growing the strength of the magazine. Meanwhile, Rob Cope-Williams was otherwise occupied rebuilding CTV and Jack Leigh continued to source Northern Division material. The Editorial Committee was dissolved into one of the seven pillars, with VWBro Duane Williams responsible for communications. Hence, from the May 2011 issue, I effectively became both the reporter and editor.

With Michael Leon’s departure, while I had writing and editorial skills, I lacked the technical experience and graphic software used in page design. After interviewing several potential designers, I selected Matthew Bartlett for the role.

This proved to be an inspired choice as Matthew continues in the role and has been of value to Freemasons NZ for his other contributions to publications. The arrangement we had was that I would source, write and edit the content, size it to fit and prepare the overall layout for Matthew to design the individual pages, leading to the final print file.

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categories such as Hot News, Freemasons in Action, Education, Health and Science. The Ladies Pages were quietly dropped and quickly forgotten. The premise was that partners of Freemasons were given equal consideration in the content. The index column was replaced by an illustrated page of contents. Last, but not least the cover typeface was modernised to reflect a new era for the magazine. I sought to have a strong cover story for each issue, reinforced by the cover itself.

Regular events, such as the Freemasons and Heartland Bank Scholarships and Powering Potential were given more coverage with a number of recipients selected for in depth stories.

Likewise, the 2016 Grand Installation was commemorated with a wraparound montage cover and a 16–page supplement.

Stepping back

Early in 2014, when I was Master of Westminster Lodge, I suggested to Mark Winger that I would like to scale down the editorship which apparently had no end date. Mark accepted my position and it was agreed that the September issue would be my last as Editor. This was to give time for a successor to take up the reins. There was an unsuccessful search for a new volunteer editor and Duane Williams was engaged to take up the role.

The last issue

Most years, my wife and I slotted in trips to visit family in London between the May and September issues. In 2014, I also had a mission for the magazine, which was to find the sites of the four lost taverns.

Each year at Westminster Lodge Installation, there is a presentation to the Incoming Master of a boxed set, described as the Lodge of Antiquity No.2 Records. The set was presented to the Lodge

by WBro Sir Cyril Newall, Governor General of New Zealand and Master of Westminster Lodge in 1943.

These documents included the proceedings of the four Lodges which joined together to form the Grand Lodge of England in 1717. Although none of the taverns where they met exist today I was able to locate their sites. The Goose and Gridiron was close to the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral. The Crown Ale House and The Apple Tree Tavern were near Covent Garden and The Rummer and Grapes Tavern was located in Westminster, on a site now occupied by Portcullis House, which houses the Parliamentary offices.

Below ground level is Westminster Tube Station, serving the District, Circle and Jubilee lines.

As a fan of urban rail networks, I had long hoped for an excuse to include a rail story in the magazine. The opportunity arose when Jack Leigh sent me a photo of the first fare paying train on the newly electrified Auckland network. The chosen driver was his son Chris. With Jack’s input, a back story on Chris was crafted to cover his prior experience as a driver and Line Manager for London Underground. In the same issue, there was a story on Miles and Janet King, Wairarapa farmers who were producing a range of sheep cheeses. Having been alerted to it by a TV segment in the Topp Twins series. I subsequently interviewed Miles, who also appears on the cover, at a farmers market in Wellington.

These last two stories led to the theme for the issue being Freemasons at Work. As well as their

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day jobs, both Chris and Miles were Masters of their respective lodges.

Finally, not having received an Opinion Piece for the issue, I composed one which looked at the historic parallels between Freemasonry and my former profession as an Architect.

I took on a 36-page magazine, which was rather traditional in its content and format. I stepped back from one which had been modernised, expanded in its feature stories, had a structure and had been expanded to 52 pages. Funding for the enlarged magazine was covered by advertising sourced by Duane Williams.

The Freemasons Charity

After stepping down as Editor I was asked by the late Sheila Hicking to write the regular Charity pages. This was extended to writing feature stories with a charity theme as well as also becoming Editor of The Charity Herald. The former role carried on until June 2020 when I wrote a series of stories on the Freemasons University and Heartland Bank Scholarships.

During this period, I was able to secure the occasional cover. The March 2018 cover photo was taken at the January Camp Purple camp held near Auckland.

Mark Winger is seen chatting with Nicole Thornton, Junior Ambassador for Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand.

In retrospect

During my ten years of gathering material, writing, editing and writing charity articles, I had the privilege of meeting may Freemasons of all ranks and the people who had benefited from their generosity. As a Master Mason at the time, I was also able to get to know many of the leaders of the craft and appreciate the tremendous efforts they put into the success of Freemasonry in New Zealand.

This time I am really signing off.

Bro Morris Robertson QSM PGStdB PM Westminster Lodge No.308

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OPINION

Pet a day A health and well-being opinion piece It is a well-known fact that animals can have a therapeutic effect on older and lonely people as well as those who are unwell.

I, the proud owner of a retired racing greyhound and his role in life is as a pet therapy dog. He and I belong to a group known as Canine friends and we visit retirement villages, hospitals, hospices etc to enable the residents to share in pet therapy.

My greyhound is called Con and he is 4 years of age and a typical greyhound, laid back and very lazy. He was successfully assessed for the role of a pet therapy dog and I now visit the Palmerston North Masonic Court twice a month, Palmerston North Hospice Day-care centre once a month and a new retirement village care centre twice a month. During these visits we are escorted by an Occupational Therapist to rooms where there are residents who would enjoy some therapy time with a dog. Greyhounds are well suited to this work as they are tall in statue which means they are easily reached by bed ridden residents, very calm in nature and just love being patted. It is quite amazing to see the reaction of many of the residents when they see the dog and can interact with him. He very obviously brings joy to those people and sometimes the resulting reaction is very surprising. As well as resthomes,hospitals and the like Canine friends also visit in Palmerston North Massey University when the students have what is called their stress free week.

The Asian students are very receptive to the dogs and the biggest thrill you can get from this visit is to see the reaction of these students when they are told they can walk the dog themselves. A number of vet students also take the opportunity of these visits to practice some of their vet skills by examining the dogs and generally looking the dogs over. We also visit the International Pacific University in Palmerston North and again it is the Asian students who want to spend time

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with the dogs. The visits I enjoy the most are my monthly visit to the Palmerston North Hospice Day Care centre where Con is usually the hit of the day.

While visiting the Day Care Centre we are often asked if we would visit folk who are in beds in their rooms. This part of the visiting is very satisfying especially when you see the reaction of the folk as the dog nears their bed. It is my experience that my dog seems to have an inbuilt ability to sense that something is not right and will react to that situation. I remember making a visit one day to a room where the person was not very well at all and my dog put his snout on the person’s hands and would not leave. He seemed to know that all was not well here and wanted to stay. A very moving moment, one that showed me how animals can react to situations. I get much satisfaction from these visits and I feel that this is a type of Masonic Work that is not very well known.

Apart from all this visiting my dog is also under training for a qualification called CGC. This qualification is about dogs being good citizen hence the initials CGC. Canine Good Citizen. It is not too difficult to qualify but a dog must be able to complete the following tasks to be a success. He must sit on command, stay put where he is until told to move. Be

hitched to a post while left alone and not allowed to bark or make other moves, be able to be touched by others without incident and to walk on a loose lead not being bothered by other dogs as they go past. At all times the handler must be in full charge of the dog and is responsible for picking up any dog fouling’s. We are almost at the point of passing. You might think that this is all rather ho hum but I can assure you that for a greyhound that has been retired from racing it is not that easy. Most of the tasks required are not normal behaviour for a greyhound and so careful and small steps are required in training but the outcome is very satisfying. Greyhounds have tended to have a bad press but like the old saying there are no bad dogs only bad owners so to this end there are a number of organisations that take retired or nonracing dogs into care with a view to rehoming them. One organisation that is NZ wide is Gap which stands for Greyhounds as pets. Greyhounds make wonderful pets especially for the older retired couple or a family with small children. Greyhounds just love to be patted and fussed over and generally do not have any bad habits.

Gary Muir PGLec I have been a Freemason for almost 50 years being initiated into Lodge Rutland No 398 Whanganui.

On moving to Palmerston North I joined the Royal Arch Chapter Noll where I met Brethren with whom I trusted resulting in my acceptance in to Lodge Awatea No 258. I was Master of this lodge 3 times. I was appointed A Grand steward and a number of years later was appointed Grand Lecturer Central Districts in 2008. Following the closure of Lodge Awatea I transferred my membership to The Ruahine Lodge No 80 and was Master there twice.

Due to declining numbers The Ruahine Lodge decided to hand in its Charter and I was the Master during this period.

Apart from my Masonic activities I belong to the Feilding dog training club as a committee member. I am learning to play the tenor drum with a small pipe band group. I enjoy riding my motor scooter and would love to ride in the South Island Scooter Charity ride but budget restraints make this not possible.

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Freemasons in action Grand Master finally makes it to Whitianga With a number of re-schedules, Saturday’s meeting of Lodge Whitianga No.443 in the Northern Division, proved to be a very special day and will go down in the annals of history for both the Lodge and the District.

In spite of the number of changes to the date, the Grand Master, MWBro Graham Wrigley was still able to meet his commitment and was in attendance.

After being received and welcomed into the Lodge with all due ceremony, the Grand Master was handed the gavel and took control of the Lodge closing in the 3rd and 2nd Degrees and resuming in the1st, before handing control back to VWBro Paul Chappel, the District Grand Master then presented his district report to the Grand Master who then met the Masters’ who were in attendance. The District Grand Master then suspended Masonic Labour and put the Lodge at ease whilst some of the ladies were invited into the Lodge to hear the very informative presentation on South Auckland Masonic Charitable Trust from VWBro Murray McLean PGDC. Murray divided the presentation into three parts, covering the history of the Trust, the establishment and ownership of South Auckland Masonic Properties, the development and progress of the villages to date, along with the plans for the future, and an overview on how the rights agreements operated.

With the presentation completed, VWBro Chappel invited MWBro Ian Ross PGM to give thanks to Murray for the presentation, and after placing Murray and his wife Arlene in the southeast

part of the Lodge, proceeded to deliver a narrative on Murray’s journey through life including his studies of accountancy, his term as a National Party Member of Parliament and then having completed his MBA, this narrative went on to cover Murray’s journey through Freemasonry and the many years of involvement with SAMCT and the property company.

With proceedings being handed back to the Grand Master MWBro Wrigley, he went on to personally thank Murray for the many years of contribution, before announcing that with the powers vested in him as Grand Master, he was now delighted to exercise that power and promote Murray to the rank of Past Grand Warden and with it the title of Right Worshipful Brother, and duly invested Murray with the apron of that high office, and, that as the regalia had been worn for many years by the late RWBro Derek Meredith; MWBro Wrigley invited Jenny Meredith, Derek’s widow, to invest Murray with the collar and jewel of the office.

In reply, it is fair to say that Murray was overwhelmed, not only at the surprise at receiving such a promotion but having been a very close friend of Derek’s for so many years, was absolutely humbled to be receiving this particular regalia.

This was one of those emotional moments that had to be observed.

VWBro Chappel then invited VWBro Paul Larsen GDC to place WBro John Smart in the SouthEast part of the lodge; with WBro Martin Ratcliffe delivering a narrative on John’s Masonic history

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and his involvement as Chairman of 168 Holding Ltd, a company owned by lodge Onehunga/Maungawhau No.168. The District Grand Master then thanked WBro Smart on behalf of the Auckland District Grand Master VWBro David Piper and the Counties-Hauraki district.

With proceedings passed on to the Grand Master, MWBro Wrigley thanked John for his many years of service and again with the powers vested in him promoted and invested John with the apron, collar, and Jewel of Past Grand Deacon.

In reply, John was clearly caught by complete surprise and was very humble in thanking those involved and his delight at being honoured with this promotion.

With control of the lodge handed back to WBro Smart, he proceeded to close the lodge, although MWBro Wrigley announced that on this occasion, he and the Officers of Grand Lodge present would stay behind so that he could retire with the new appointments.

A social hour was spent in the refectory with the traditional toasts being observed before the brethren retired to meet up with their wives and partners at a local restaurant to complete the day.

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Freemasons in action Lodge Manuherikia Kilwinning, No 109 – 125 years FROM TOP Grand Master with all Freemasons at the 125th.

Visiting Masters and Grand Master talking to them.

Grand Master with Entered Apprentice Freemasons – Neil Gillespie and Andre Cavalcanti.

Top Table at the 125th Dinner with Grand Master, Divisional Grand Master Pat Cooney, and Alistair Smith District Grand Master amongst others.

Justin Harding and Bert Kemp and the 125th Cake with The Grand Lodge of New Zealand Coat of Arms.

Lodge Members at the 125th.

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A potted history of the last 125 years On 30 October 1896, the Charter for Lodge Manuherikia Kilwinning 109, in Alexandra, was signed and dated and then forwarded to the Lodge. To mark the Lodge’s 125th jubilee, Saturday 30 October 2021 was selected as the appropriate date to mark this auspicious occasion and the Grand master was invited to attend.

Regrettably that date clashed with the Grand Master’s intended trip to Australia for a Grand Lodge installation meeting; Lodge Manuherikia Kilwinning opted for the following weekend [6 November 2021], so that the Grand master could attend – it also meant that the Lodge could also celebrate the 90th birthday of the Acting Master, RWBro Wilson Mawhinney PProvGM and also the 89th birthday of Bro John Matheson – three celebrations for the price of one!

The format for the day’s celebrations was relatively simple – in the morning, the Grand Master accompanied by the Grand Director of Ceremonies (VWBro Lindsay Bain) and the Lodge Secretary (VWBro Les Brenssell PDivGAlm) visited three elderly Lodge Brethren (WBros Alan Mitchell, John Winter, Fred Peyton) who were unable to attend the day’s events. The Lodge Brethren assembled at 2pm for group photos, with the Lodge tyling at 2.30pm, receiving visitors from throughout Otago and Southland

Districts, followed by the reception of the Otago District Grand Master, VWBro Alistair Smith, who in turn received MWBro Graham Wrigley GM who was accompanied by a contingent of Grand Lodge officers.

A summary of the Lodge’s history had been prepared by BWBro Bert Kemp and Bro Nick Langley, and was presented to the Lodge. Following the conclusion of the Lodge meeting, group photos of all attending Brethren took place, before the Brethren retired to the Rectory to be joined by the attending spouses, to enjoy an afternoon tea.

That evening, a sumptuous jubilee meal was held at The Cellar Door function room, and during the course of the meal, official toasts and speeches were held. These included comments by the Grand Master, the Deputy Mayor of the Central Otago District Neil Gillespie (who had been initiated as a Freemason in The Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge 98 the previous month), as well as a toast to the Lodge by VWBro Malcolm Moore PDistGM. All in all, a very enjoyable day in wonderfully sunny and warm weather (naturally).

Over the years, the Lodge had been a very strong supporter of various local and District charitable and fundraising projects – of recent time, these include Oncology Research, special bassinets

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for the Neonatal and Children’s Ward in Dunedin, national Daisy Players project, Otago Rescue Helicopter Trust, St John Ambulance training mannequins, and Otago Alzheimer’s Trust [the latter three being part of the respective District Grand Master’s three year District projects). The Lodge has also taken a leadership role in the Central Otago Freemasons Mobility Scooter Charitable Trust which has around 20 scooters hired out throughout Central Otago.

The Lodge has also been represented with Grand Lodge officers throughout its history, including RWBros Jim Harborow [2012–15] and Pat Cooney [2019–22] being Southern Divisional Grand Master; RWBro Wilson Mawhinney PProvGM [1994–97] (prior to joining Manuherikia Kilwinning); RWBro John Barton PGW [2019]; VWBro Lindsay Bain GDC [2019–22], and VWBro Les Brenssell PDivGAlm [2012–19], to highlight a few thereof.

Although the past couple of years have been “quiet” in terms of numbers of new members being initiated, the Lodge continues in good heart and receives good support from its members; as with all Lodges, an increasing and active membership remains essential for the future of the Lodge and of Freemasonry in general.

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Freemasons in action Scholarships to help Manawatū builders upskill For Manawatū builders Jack Lord and Connor Deane, receiving a Freemasons Willson Lewis Scholarship is an opportunity to take their careers to the next level.

The Freemasons Willson Lewis Scholarship is a joint initiative between Manawatū Kilwinning Lodge No. 47, The Freemasons Charity, UCOL, and Registered Master Builders that began in 2017. It is aimed at helping tradespeople working in the construction industry develop their skills further.

Scholarship recipients have the option of studying one of three programmes at UCOL part time for a subsidised fee - the New Zealand Diploma in Construction, the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology, or the New Zealand Diploma in Business. CEDA and Mitre 10 Mega Palmerston North provided Mitre 10 gift vouchers to the scholarship recipients.

Jack Lord joined Isles Construction as a labourer in 2017 after studying UCOL’s New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills (Carpentry). He went on to complete his building apprenticeship in October 2021.

“I feel grateful that people have seen my talent, my commitment to the trade, and my keenness to pursue it further,” says Lord on receiving his scholarship.

Lord has chosen to study the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology, as he has ideas around designing buildings that he wants to bring to life.

“Construction has always been my passion from a young age and I’m at the stage in my career where I’m ready to pursue it at a higher level and gain more well-rounded knowledge,” says Dean.

“I love being part of the team and on the tools. That said, I’m keen to take a bit of weight off my boss’ shoulders in terms of the paperwork side.”

Danny Reilly, UCOL Executive Dean Engineering & Applied Technologies, says UCOL is proud to be part of a scholarship initiative that helps put learners through its highly successful construction and architectural technology programmes.

“The staff leading these programmes go above and beyond in not only teaching our learners, but also connecting them with employers,” says Reilly. “Graduates of these programmes are highly sort after and all gain employment. Our skilled and passionate staff have achieved so much through hard work, tenacity, and a true desire to deliver for learners and industry. We need those qualities now more than ever before.”

“I congratulate Jack and Connor on receiving their scholarships and believe that they will make the most of this opportunity to expand their skill sets.”

Ainsley Watson, Master of Manawatū Kilwinning Lodge No. 47, says the Freemasons Willson Lewis Scholarships are an important part of the charitable contributions the Lodge makes to the community.

“We appreciate being able to help “I felt that the Architecture our recipients to further develop their programme would be a great way to knowledge and skills. We are pleased unlock my creativity.”

Connor Deane, a foreman at Turbine Residential with seven years of experience in building, will study the New Zealand Diploma in Construction. He says the programme will give him the skills to step up into a project manager role.

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to be supported in this initiative by the Registered Master Builders, UCOL and The Freemasons Charity.”

“The recipients this year show us that the calibre of applicants remains high and offers the sector competent new talent for the future. We wish them well as they progress in their study.”

Shaun Mainwaring, Master Builders Manawatū President, says these scholarships are a great way for the next generation of tradespeople to upskill and challenge themselves without having to leave the workforce.

“It’s great for our community to have quality skilled tradespeople giving back to our region, especially in these current times where there is a real shortage of qualified tradespeople.”

“I hope the scholarship recipients gain wider knowledge within the building sector and it helps them to move forward in their careers. I encourage builders who feel their financial situation could be a barrier to further study to apply for these scholarships in the future.”

Background

UCOL is a part of Te Pūkenga. Te Pūkenga was established to better meet the needs of learners and employers by bringing together on-job, on-campus and online learning across Aotearoa New Zealand.

By 1 January 2023, Te Pūkenga will create a unified, sustainable public network of regionally accessible vocational and applied learning.

Together, we aim to provide excellent quality education opportunities that support learners, employers and communities to gain the skills, knowledge and capabilities Aotearoa needs now and for the future.

Paal Iversen of Master Builders Manawatū, UCOL Executive Dean Engineering & Applied Technologies Danny Reilly, Jack Lord, Palmerston North MP Tangi Utikere, Connor Deane, Chairman of the Scholarships Committee Darren Shadbolt, and Manawatū Kilwinning Lodge No. 47 Master Ainsley Watson after the presentation of the scholarships.

Widow’s Sons sign Memorandum of Understanding with Freemasons New Zealand Our Grand Master Graham Wrigley signed an MOU with the Executive of the Widow’s Sons – the masonic motorcycle chapter in New Zealand, recently during a visit to Whanganui. While enjoying fraternal rides, they do a tremendous amount of fundraising for charity in the name of Freemasonry in New Zealand.

Graham Wrigley Grand Master, Jim Watt Deputy Grand Master, and Widow’s Sons New Zealand Chapter Executive and members.

Daylight Lodges Busy or can’t get out during the evenings?

A small number of Freemasons lodges in New Zealand meet during the day.

Typically, these are light-on ceremonies, with other activities happening including social events.

The Daylight Lodges are located in Auckland (several), Hamilton, Wellington, Ormondville, Dunedin, Morrinsville, Tauranga, Christchurch, Napier, Palmerston North, Wanganui, and Whangarei.

HAVE YOUR SAY 3 Write a letter to the Editor 3 Submit an Opinion piece

– preferably 300 words maximum.

– 800 words plus a 100-word author biography, and a photo.

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Freemasons in action Something of interest in Wellington!

Freemasons can perhaps see some masonic symbolism as well.

Stunning new artwork has been created by local artist Keri-Mei Zagrobelna for the Savica Investments Building, 86 Customhouse Quay, Wellington.

The artwork reflects the history of the area and complements the city’s sculptural walk. Depicting a carved koruru (figure head) and maihi (representing the arms), transitioning into a 1920s architect’s compass, the work is a vibrant addition to the side of this prominent heritage building.

Wellington City Council and Keri-Mei Zagrobelna

Annual Masonic Charity Clay Bird Shoot For the past eight years, Freemasons in the greater Wellington region have been supporting charities that receive no governmental funding, through an annual Clay Bird Charity Shoot, which has raised over $37,000 to date

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with assistance from Lodges and The Freemasons Charity.

Again this year, Sands (www.sands.org.nz), who do sterling work to support people who have lost a baby, was chosen to receive the benefit

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of the 9th Annual Clay Bird Charity Shoot held at the Blue Rock Gun Range in Martinborough on Sun 31st Oct 2021.

Several lodges took part. The format was two rounds of five stands that each launched ten clays totaling one hundred clays for each person. Each stand launched in a different direction to test the skills in hitting clays coming in different directions and heights.

The skill levels on show, as reflected in the wide-ranging scores, ranged from competitive shooters to casual shooters and some absolute beginners who have never handled weapons. Lodge Te Puni retained their title with an impressive score of 235 out of a potential 300.

Once again, our thanks must be given to James Martin Past District Grand Director of Ceremonies for the use of his range facilities along with the marshals and caterers who made this all possible by donating their time.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne on 6th February 1952 (Waitangi Day in New Zealand) and celebrates her 70th Year as Queen of New Zealand and her other realms and territories.

The emblem was designed by 19-yearold graphic design student Edward Roberts in the UK. New Zealand version designed the New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary Philip O’Shea CNZM, CVO As Freemasons in New Zealand, our first Toast in Refectory after a Lodge Meeting is always to ‘The Queen and the Craft’.

Social versus Ceremonial Freemasonry is not all about Lodge Meetings. It is also about getting together socially from time to time.

A bunch of Freemasons and friends got together in Rangiora recently, with the Grand Master Graham Wrigley popping in for a social cup of coffee and a chat.

Every week they get together and support the local RSA.

Grand Master’s Tonga 2022 Disaster Appeal Has your Lodge or members donated to Appeal closes 31st March 2022 and the Grand Master’s Tonga 2022 Disaster the Account to credit with your name Appeal to help the people of Tonga after (personal) or lodge number (for a the Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami.

Lodge) in the reference is Heartland Bank 03 1783 0450087 004

A facelift for Freemasonry in Ngapara The Ngapara Lodge No 68 in Ngapara, members of the Lodge. A lovely country Ngapara is making us more appealing which is west of Oamaru, got a makeover lodge and an important community and visible. during the summer holidays from asset. So, a facelift for Freemasonry in

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Freemasons in action Lodge of Endeavour No 504 Biennial Installation This 500 series lodge being a fine dining the new Master at the Canterbury Club and Refectory. Our Grand Master lodge had its biennial installation in Christchurch. Note the same room Graham Wrigley was able to attend the recently with Alan McGill going in as at the club used for Lodge meeting Installation Dinner afterward.

Guests including partners and friends, Top Table, Grand Master Speaking in Reply to his Toast on Friday evening, and those who attend the Friday afternoon Installation.

Grand Master in Whanganui Our Grand Master Graham Wrigley made an official visit to The United Lodge of Wanganui No 468 to present a 50 Year Service Badge to Darol Pointon Past Grand Lecturer and a 60 Year Bar to Neil Alger Past Grand Inner Guard in the presence of family, friends and freemasons. Our Grand Master also invested Darren Shadbolt as the new Grand Superintendent of Works (Architect). Two of the ladies who help the lodge with their social activities also received Certificates of Appreciation from the District Grand Master Ash Williamson.

Long Service Award recipients with Grand Master and Lodge Master and new Grand Superintendent with Grand Master.

Good morning Freemasons!

The Wellington Masonic Club recently gave $50,000 to the new Wellington Children’s Hospital The Wellington Masonic Club is 50 years old this year, so it was fitting that the club gave away $50,000. Each year the Wellington Masonic Club gives away between $20-30,000 to a range of mostly Wellington-based charities.

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A ritual worth sharing …

ANZAC Day Lest we forget

A

NZAC day is commemorated on 25th April every year (in New Zealand and Australia) and this year ceremonies may a little subdued.

Do you know when the first Poppy Day happened in New Zealand?

It was 24 April 1922 A total of 245,059 small poppies and 15,157 larger versions were sold, earning £13,166 (equivalent to $1.34 million in 2020). Of that amount, £3695 ($376,000) was sent to help war-ravaged areas of northern France; the remainder went to unemployed New Zealand returned soldiers and their families.

Poppy Day celebrates 100 Freemasons New Zealand years this year in 2022. has a Memorandum of Under­ Freemasons and Lodges either stan­ding with the Royal New Zealand commemorate it personally or as Returned and Services Association Lodge with attending services, buying (RSA) and both are committed to poppies, and laying wreaths on behalf of working together to find ways to support Freemasons in New Zealand. each other.

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Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics

National Summer Games 2022 T

hey are on again this year from 8–12 December 2022 in Hamilton after being postponed by Covid-19 late last year.

As you will remember Freemasons New Zealand through The Freemasons Charity provided $100,000 in sponsorship initially and Lodges, Districts and Division have raised a further $69,000 with subsidies from The Freemasons Charity so far to assist Special Olympic Clubs and Athletes the chance to participate in the Special Olympics.

Opportunities abound for Lodges to continue to be involved in this great event!

See the Special Olympics link on the Freemasons New Zealand website freemasonsnz.org/special-olympics-2 which has lots of information and resources.

See what the Freemasons in Marlborough did at the beginning of this in the article below.

Marlborough Freemasons and Special Olympics going for gold

Funding for Athletes and Clubs to get them to the National Summer Games.

Local support to Clubs – accom­ modation of clubs, involvement with their committees, assistance with athletes e.g., getting them to practices, etc.

Helping with local training events.

Involvement in the Games themselves in Hamilton from 8–12 December 2022 as a volunteer.

Hamilton 2022

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On Friday the 25th February the Marlborough Freemasons hosted a BBQ for the local Special Olympics team at the Marlborough Kennel Club grounds, this was to meet and get to know the people associated with the Special Olympics in our area.

Great evening had by all and many thanks to the Freemasons who attended! We all look forward to doing this again and also seeing some of our local competitors coming back from the games with medals!

What has or is your Lodge doing to help the Special Olympics?

The Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics National Summer Games are on in Hamilton from 8-12 December 2022.

Marlborough BBQ day for Special Olympics.

Special Olympics athlete turns disability into super-power

J

ayden Van Dyk is counting down the 300 days until his Special Olympics football team will line up for the Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics National Summer Games.

Like his Waikato team-mates and the 1600 other athletes across New Zealand, Jayden was bitterly disappointed when the 2021 National Games had to be postponed for a year, after running thousands of kilometres to raise funds for himself and his team-mates.

Jayden has the rare genetic disorder KBG syndrome, which only 300 people in the world have, and caused him to develop autism and ADHD. Sports provided Jayden with a productive outlet for his ADHD, but he soon realised sports gave him so much more than just fitness.

"When I’m playing sport, I feel like a normal 15-year-old boy, I don’t stand out as different or always needing more help."

Early last year, Jayden entered the Run NZ Run 2021km in a Year Challenge which gave him the idea to start a fundraising campaign to raise money to compete in sporting events.

The long list included the Special Olympics National Summer Games, the Halberg Games, cross country competitions, Tough Guy mud runs and Ultimate Frisbee tournaments.

Jayden created a Facebook page for his friends and family to follow his progress and donate cash, and started running towards his goal of clocking up 2021km.

By running 5km to school each day, as well as cross country and frisbee events, the dial was ticking over fast and by October 1, he had completed his running target.

"He ran over 200km in September alone," says his Mum Tina, "and we went through seven pairs of shoes last year."

In the process, Jayden won two gold medals at the Halberg Games in the 50m and 1500m, placed 7th in the Tough Guy Tough Girl competition for his age-group and was player of the tournament when he helped his Special Olympics football team qualify for the National Games.

Jayden’s successful fundraising efforts in 2021 helped his Special Olympics football team raise enough money to bring everyone to the Games, starting on December 8 across Hamilton.

They now looking forward to competing in upcoming tournaments and are looking for new members to form a second team.

Tina Van Dyk explains why sports and Special Olympics have come a blessing for her son.

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"When you have ADHD, you have to find an outlet or it becomes destructive."

Running 2021km was the perfect extra-curricular activity "because he’s doing something productive and it took most of the year to do which was great as most of the things he does are over in a day."

The pandemic lockdown caused the postponement of the games but were particularly hard for athletes like Jayden.

"My son lives for football and he really missed his friends, but at least he could still run and train at home" says Tina who adds that her son even got into virtual marathons to get through lockdowns.

"Even Level 4 lockdown couldn’t stop him."

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Masonic Knowledge Three Masonic Columns in a Lodge The noble orders of Greek architecture represent the three columns or pillars found in a Masonic Lodge, namely the Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. They can usually be found near the Master, Senior and Junior Warden’s seats within the lodge; they represent Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.

Can you name any others?

Why are gavels used in a Lodge?

This Gavel was presented to Bro Commander (later Admiral) Byrd by Renown Lodge No 218, Wellington, New Zealand on his expedition to the Antarctic in 1928 and was flown over the South Pole by him and represented back the Lodge. It was retaken to the South Pole in 1973, so a very travelled gavel not frozen in time.

Lodge Layout The three principal officers use gavels What you’re looking at is the typical layout of a Masonic lodge. Internally, they are in a masonic lodge to bring the members’ attention to procedure and ceremonial. situated due east to west. The key below outlines officer positions and furniture: 1/ Master 2/ Deputy Master 3/ Senior Warden 4/ Junior Warden 5/ Chaplain 6/ Treasurer 7/ Secretary

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8/ Director of Ceremonies 15/ Immediate Past Master 9/ Senior Deacon 16/ Entrance 10/ Junior Deacon 17/ Outer Guard or Tyler 11/ Organist 18/ Tessellated Pavement 12/ Inner Guard 19/ Volume of the Sacred 13/ Senior Steward Law (Holy Book/s) on Pedestal 14/ Junior Steward

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7 7

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Equality and support for all – the Freemason’s way T

he 50th issue of the Freemasons New Zealand coincides with 50 years of pride taking place in Aotearoa. With this, we will take a closer look at how the craft can help support and better understand our LGBTQIA+ members, family, and friends alike.

There has been significant progress with societal stances towards the LGBTQIA+ community, but advocacy and support are still essential. Recent studies collected by Otago and Canterbury Universities show that Gay, Lesbian, and bisexual New Zealanders are on average more than twice as likely to experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts as heterosexuals.

As brethren, we are taught to see and treat people with the same equality no matter status or creed. While focusing on health and wellbeing this issue, we need to make sure we are doing everything we can to support our fellow brethren and the community around us.

This is core to our constitution and represented through our regalia.

Our white gloves denote purity and are mentioned several times in our ceremonial. In addition, they also represent the equality shared by all Freemasons. Gloved hands cannot show your status in life. Freemasons treat each

other as equals regardless of title, rank, work, race, creed, or financial situation.

So how do we know if we are allies and doing our best? The significant points are:

everyone is created equally and should be treated equally.

As we want to support members from the rainbow community, it is also essential to look at how we can show our Allies want to learn. Allies are people allyship and strength as a team. Here are who recognise they don’t know all some ways you can try. that can be known on LGBTQIA+ issues or about all the experiences of Talk Openly people who are LGBTQIA+, but they Read up on LGBTQIA+ issues and debates, laws, rights, celebrations. want to understand more.

Allies address their barriers. They Whatever theme is of interest, the more may have to grapple with some you know, and the more conversations roadblocks to being openly and are, the more understanding and visibility actively supportive of people who around LGBTQIA+ communities and the are LGBTQIA+, and they’re willing to issues that still exist. take on the challenge.

Don’t hold back from difficult Allies are people who know that conversations support comes in many forms. It It often seems difficult when someone can mean something super-public needs to be called out for saying (think covering yourself in rainbow something prejudiced, and the correct glitter and heading to a Pride way of doing so takes many forms. Some celebration with a sign reading, approaches need to be direct, and some “PROUD ALLY”* ). But it can also need to be softer. The important thing mean expressing support in more is not to shy away from an essential personal ways through the language conversation to preserve your comfort. we use, conversations we choose to If you feel awkward, remember that have, and signals that we send. True this isn’t about you – it’s about creating allies know that all aspects of allyship shared acceptance for those who have are essential, effective, and should be long been perceived as others. valued equally.

Allies are Take the fear out of the equation diverse.

Allies are The LGBTQIA+ community instead people who know that needs people to show up; as discussed there’s no one way to earlier; an ally can be anywhere along be an ally and that the journey; the most important thing everyone gets to adopt is that you show up than not show up at the term differently… all. When it comes to an incredibly fluid and that’s ok. subject, it’s impossible to know the best Allies are seen on a spectrum – from people just starting the journey and working to understand to people who fully advocate already, and every ally is valid and welcome.

An ally believes that

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or most eloquent way of getting your words across – but the point is to make a start and share what you know.

Knowing the past opens the door to the future

Learn about the events and people that trailblazed and defined the movement.

Turn your support into action

Only when we understand the past can we best support the community. For example, in June globally we have Gay Pride month. Gay Pride started as an annual event following the infamous Stonewall Riots in 1969. The riots began after police once again raided a gay bar in New York, but the patrons took a stand this time. Three day-long protests and riots began, and ultimately the gay rights liberation movement began directly after that. A pride parade is held each year in June to commemorate the events. Gay Pride celebrates freedom of choice and often celebrates release from persecution for simply being. Gay pride origins are an important and continued avenue for activism.

Understand that coming out should be empowering and supported

Many gay and queer people reckon with a feeling of otherness and ‘being different’ for many years leading up to the understanding of their identity.

The eventual ‘coming out’ can be a very significant moment. While a celebration or marked commendation is not needed, responses to someone’s

‘coming out as though it is expected, unusual, or irrelevant can diminish the importance of something which should be empowering.

Support LGBTQIA+ businesses and charities

Smaller LGBTQIA+ charities receive most of their fundraising income leading up to Pride and during June. This year, with many parades and events being cancelled, funding cuts severely affect these charities that are in serious need of continued support. See smaller, local charities as well as the well-known NZ names.

In New Zealand, we have pride events throughout the year, for events that are still running it’s a great opportunity to participate and help fundraise for excellent charities such as The Rainbow Youth or New Zealand AIDs Foundation.

www.freemasonsnz.org

Allyship is about working to develop a proper understanding of what it means to be LGBTQIA+ in a world where simply being can have serious repercussions, legal and otherwise. Do your part in helping to break down the stigma and discrimination which continues to oppress the LGBTQIA+ community – ask questions, read books, watch movies on the history of Pride, the stonewall riots, the drag community, download episodes of Queer Eye! We’re living through an age where sexuality is no longer one fixed definition, and neither is gender. While many societies embrace changes and welcome diversity, others are constrained by archaic laws or cultural norms, thus prompting the continued fight towards equal rights for everyone.

The gains won can be easily lost by the policies and interests of those in power. The Rainbow movement needs help, collaboration, and collective understanding around its significance for marginalised individuals. Being an ally supports those who deserve a sureness in being their whole selves and being proud.

Rosalind Smith

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Are you worried someone is Are you worried someone is thinking of suicide? thinking of suicide?

Many people may be experiencing increased feelings of worry, anxiety or sadness as Aotearoa Many experiencing increased and thepeople world may tries be to respond to COVID-19. feelings of worry, or sadness Aotearoa Some people you anxiety know may be havingasthoughts and the world tries to respond to COVID-19. or feelings about suicide.

They might be feeling Some people you be (or having anxious, worried forknow theirmay health the thoughts health of or feelings about suicide. They might betofeeling their whānau and friends), or struggling cope anxious, worriedabout for their health (or will thego health with uncertainty when things backof their whānau and friends), or struggling to cope to ‘normal.’ with uncertainty about when things will go back People who feel suicidal often feel they are to ‘normal.’ alone and their family, whānau and friends would People who suicidal often feel they be better off feel without them.

Support fromare people alone andabout their family, whānau and friends who care them, and connection with would their signs to look forthem. be better off without Support from people own sense of culture, identity and purpose, can who care about them, and connection with help them to find a way through.

While it can be tough to check in on someone their own sense ofwe culture, identity and purpose, can someone while are under Covid-19 Ifhelp you’re worried about someone, reach out to them to find a way through. restrictions, there signs might them. Trust yourare gutsome and get in you touch if you’re notice.

These include: If you’re worried about reach out to concerned.

Pick up the someone, phone, send a text, them.

Trust gut and get touch if out you’re  contact Changes toyour the they talkinand (either over the them viaway social media find if concerned.

Pick up theable phone, send a text, phone,okay. in person ifare they’re in mirumiru/ they’re If you toyour within the alert contact viaways socialtomedia andwith findthem. out if bubble, ortoonline). levels, trythem find connect they’re okay.

If you are able to within the Let them know you’re there and always will be.  Changes to how often they communicatealert levels, try to find ways to connect with them. with you or post on social media.

Let them know you’re there and always will be.  Talking or writing about suicide, or wanting to die.

ried someone is of suicide?



Accessing things they could use to harm themselves.

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need to Free call or might text 1737 A person whotAlk? is thinking about suicide notto askchAt for help, but that doesn’t mean that with A trAined counsellor. to tAlk? or text helpneed isn’t wanted.

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It can feel impossible to may have hope that things availAble atbe Any time.

If you’re worried they thinking about willsuicide get better. don’t be afraid to ask them directly. you’re worried theyare mayhaving be thinking someone saysabout they thoughts or AskIfIfthem directly their thoughts of about suicide suicide don’t be afraidit’s toIfask them directly. feelings about suicide, important toa take and what they are planning. they have If someone saysneed they help are having thoughts or them seriously. specific plan, they right away. feelings about suicide, it’s important to take them seriously. iF you’re worried About their immediate sAfety, cAll your locAl mental heAlth crisis Assessment team. iF they are an immediAte physical danger to themselves or others, cAll 111.

You can support some 

Asking them if they about what’s going you or someone el want to open up st letting them know them is a big help.

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You don’t need to answers, or to offe thing you can do is listen.

signs to look for

While toughfor to check in on someone signsit can to be look someone while we are under Covid-19 While it can there be tough to check in you on someone restrictions, are some signs might someone while we are under Covid-19 notice.

These include: you might restrictions, Changes there to theare waysome they signs talk (either over the notice.

These include: phone, in person if they’re in your mirumiru/    

Changes the way they talk (either over the bubble, orto online). phone, in person if they’re your mirumiru/ Changes to how often they in communicate bubble, or online). with you or post on social media.

Changes how often communicate Talking or to writing about they suicide, or wanting with you or post on social media. to die.

Talking or writing about suicide, Accessing things they could use or to wanting harm to die. themselves.

Accessing things in they could use to harm Sudden changes mood. themselves.

A person who is thinking about suicide might Sudden changes in mood. not ask for help, but that doesn’t mean that A person who is thinking about suicide might help isn’t wanted.

They might feel whakamā or not ask for but thatfeeling, doesn’tlike mean ashamed of help, how they’re theythat don’t help isn’thelp, wanted.

They mightcan feelhelp whakamā or deserve or like no-one them. Lots ashamed how they’re like in they don’t of people of feel suicidal at feeling, some time their lives. or like no-one help Lots Itdeserve can feelhelp, impossible to havecan hope thatthem. things of people feel suicidal at some time in their lives. will get better.

It can feel impossible to have hope that things Ask directly about their thoughts of suicide will them get better. and what they are planning. If they have a Ask them directly theirright thoughts specific plan, they about need help away.of suicide and what they are planning. If they have a specific plan, they need help right away.



iF you’re worried About their immediate cAll yourtheir locAl iF you’resAfety, worried About mental heAlth crisis immediate sAfety, cAllAssessment your locAl team. iF they are an immediAte mental heAlth crisis Assessment physical to an themselves team. iFdanger they are immediAteor 111. physical others, danger cAll to themselves or

others, cAllor111.

Remember: āwhinatia (helping assisting) and manaakitia (showing compassion) are important Remember: āwhinatia (helping or assisting) and qualities for korero tahitia (listening and talking manaakitia (showing compassion) are important together).

Give your time, words, presence and qualities – foreven korero tahitia and talking patience if you can’t(listening do it in person, together). Give time, words, presence and connecting withyour others is really important. patience – even if you can’t do it in person, connecting with others is really important.

Remember: āwhinatia (helping or assisting) and manaakitia (showing compassion) are important qualities for korero tahitia (listening and talking together). Give your time, words, presence and patience – even if you can’t do it in person, connecting with others is really important.

28

wAys to support

www.freemasonsnz.org

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The best suicide don’t be afraid to offer ask them directly. others, cAll 111. thing you can do is be there and thing you can do is be there and If someone says they are having thoughts or māiA, kia mAnAwAnui. keep strong, māiA, kia mAnAw listen. listen. feelings about suicide, it’s important to take hAve āwhinatia courAge, commitment And hAve courAge, Remember: (helping or assisting) and them seriously. manaakitia (showing compassion) are important determination to support whānAu determination to qualities for korero tahitia (listening and talking and friends through difFicultand times. friends thro together). Give your time, words, presence and patience – even if you can’t do it in person, connecting with others is really important.

www.freemasonsnz.org

29

Lodge Te Puni organises a variety show to fund bladder scanners

HEALTH & WELLBEING

On Wednesday 5th March members of Lodge Te Puni presented two bladder scanners to the CEO of the Hutt Valley District Health Board. This was the result of a fundraising effort by the combined Lodges of the Hutt Valley.

What can YOU do about the rising anxiety around COVID-19?

T

he increasing possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak near you has caused increased anxiety for many Brethren and their families.

Val Leveson, Auckland-based Counsellor, says there are many safe and effective ways to support residents even when you are restricted from visiting them.

“If you have a family member who tests positive, or who has to isolate, the most important thing to do is let them know you are there for them, and only a phone call away. Make regular contact with them to show that you are thinking of them and you care about how they are doing. couple is especially of Lodgeimportant members’ “This if a immediate family,coincides who workwith for the period of isolation any DHB, had indicated that staff were fund important family milestones, so make raising forkeep equipment that was in what shortis sure to them updated with supply their Patients. nurses of goingfor on in your own lifeThe as well as other Mapu Unit and the family members’ .” Community Health Services cakes family and Val had says started if thereselling are older undertaking otherare fundraising effortswith to members who not conversant purchase scanner. technology moderna bladder communications The members then to brought the Units’ now’s a good time help them get to gripsto with plight theit.Lodges and a number of “If you a familythat member is in Brethren alsoorindicated they had isolation and in-person visits been hospitalised recently and had can’t to happen, thenonly keeping in touch via tech wait for the scanner to become is the best go. A screen will never available for way theirtotreatment. replace but to needs must, Lodge the Te real Punithing, decided hold a especially times, learn to Variety Showintostressful raise funds to so complete use ofoftheat technology available. themake purchase least one bladder scanner. WBro Ray Keenan approached many talented artists both within the

A

Human contact, even over a screen or a phone call, helps to reduce anxiety in stressful times.”

She says in the scenario that you can’t visit but want to connect with them as much as possible, you could deliver items that you know they’ll like, such as their favourite food, or any item that might encourage them to take up a new hobby for example, knitting supplies, books, or puzzles.

Val also stresses the need to be empathetic and be kind.

She says frayed nerves and feelings of frustration are pretty common these days. People feel their autonomy and control has been further reduced by the Craft outside, including spreadand of Omicron, so it’s important to his very own successful acknowledge how people around you are singing son and his Group, feeling and let them know that grief is ‘The okay.Auzzie Boys.’ A plethora of “And acts was assembled, encourage yourfrom friends and juggling, dancing (ballroom, family to get out and get some fresh air. rock-n-roll, traditionalto hunker I know there is a temptation Polish), musical acts and down because of Omicron, but we still even piping of a and Haggis with need the to get some in exercise do what the Audience we cantraditional to stay active,address. mentally, physically and socially.” was encouraged and, participation Oneintermission, last piece of advice: Valdrink says don’t during food and was forget to ask your friends and family how available for purchase. they are doing this time.

“Have Along with during some very sought aftera laugh with them when you can. ” prizes for raffles, the support for the In was the outstanding. event that you to isolate, show Thehave money raised Valthe believes consider on night you was, should with the help ofwhat The Freemasons Charity, able to purchase two bladder scanners valued at over $13,000.00 each.

this time is giving you rather than taking from you. day at Master a timeofand evaluate W.“Take Bro TRone McKenzie, Lodge Te Puni, W.accomplished Bro Ray Keenan during the what youwith have presenting Graham Dyer, Hutt Valley have; day that you otherwise wouldn’t DHB CEO with one of the two portable this could be as small as organising your bladder scanners, looking on is wardrobe!

Pete Chandler Hutt Valley DHB COO. “You could alsoscanner. start a new project BELOW A bladder to be shared or gifted once you are able to reconnect with family and friends again. You could knit something for a grandchild, read or even write a book, learn a language, or do anything you can that you’ve ever dreamed of doing.”

It is important to remember that you are not alone during this time. Many people are going through similar grief, although some may express it more or less than others.

“Don’t be in denial about how you are feeling, acknowledge it, and look forward to when you are able to do the things you love again. You might find that you are in a position to help someone else through similar by it sharing feelings.

As grief always was ayour tight knit team, “Also remember that your ones encompassing members of loved the Lodges are only a call way and if you need help from the Hutta Valley, wives and partners, toand contact them,from a staff would the nurses themember DHB that made bethis happy to help. occasion the success it was. Thanks If due youfor feel you need tobusinesses, talk to a are thethat support of local professional about how you are feeling, individuals and the performers along you can contact Lifeline on 0800 543 with The Freemasons Charity for354. help in providing such necessary equipment for the health and wellbeing of the wider community.

WBro Mac McKenzie

30

Seize good photo opportunities, concentrate on ‘action’ not ‘satisfaction’, get names for captions, make notes. If media comes ensure that they are looked after and opportunities set up.

www.freemasonsnz.org

Act quickly to spread the word, send press release and captioned high resolution photo, focussing on a newsworthy aspect to local media, district and divisional newsletter and NZ Freemason.

AFTER

Ensure someone is responsible for publicity, arrange for a photographer, plan photographs, involve recipients and find a hook that would interest local media.

DURING

BEFORE

Publicity for your community events – 3 steps

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31

It had to happen It had to happen. Staff at our Horowhenua Masonic care home in Levin have recently tested positive for Covid-19.

Once we were notified of that positive case, we tested all staff to assess the spread, we closed the facility to visitors, we took all appropriate public health measures to keep staff, residents and visitors safe, and we worked with officials to facilitate contact tracing and establish any locations of interest.

At the time our staff member tested positive, Covid had been circulating

in the Levin community for some days. Because of that we had been taking precautions, including surveillance testing of our staff, all of whom use appropriate PPE and are fully vaccinated.

We also want to acknowledge the excellent support we received from the Public Health Unit and the DHB as we managed our way through the identified cases.

We sincerely hope none of our other villages and care facilities has a Covid scare but we are realistic in this day and age that Omicron is highly transmissible, so we are doing everything we can to ensure best practice contamination measures are in place across of all our sites for the duration.

Anne McLean says it’s not just about the model of care, it’s how you provide it.

The Masonic Care company, part of the wider Masonic Villages Trust, has appointed Anne McLean as its new General Manager.

Masonic Care operates five aged care facilities in Levin, Lower Hutt, Palmerston North, Marton and Masterton, providing over 200 beds for those in need.

Anne says her top priority in her new role is to continue to provide top level, supportive care while managing the increasing workload that aged care facilities are struggling with and that comes with New Zealand’s ageing population.

“We are preparing for a virtual tsunami of demand with limited resources,” she says. “But we will do the very best job possible for the people who need us.”

Anne’s career experience has prepared her well for just this type of situation. Formerly the General Manager of Conectus, owned by the University of Auckland and the largest research and development company in Australasia, Anne was involved in significant pieces of work, turning research outputs into real business development strategies.

Before that, Anne’s position as Director of Health for Niue meant she was responsible for overseeing the leadership and management of Niue’s health system, as well as providing strategic direction for sustainable health services into the future. She has also worked in various health-related roles across New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including in our DHBs.

Anne McLean (left) with Edale resident Barbara Peacock.

Her expansion plans are all about ensuring supply of beds) can meet the anticipated growth in demand.

But she recognises, too, that, in time, existing facilities will also need upgrading, including bigger room sizes, new ensuites and additional amenities.

Technology is also on her radar as a strategy to keep up with the resident population increase. “We need to consider how technology can be used in everyday activities to make things easier for our residents.

“This includes, for example, having appropriate medical appointments via video call rather than in-person.

Not only can this approach save time it can avoid the need for residents, some of whom may be infirm, to have to travel.

“It’s not just about the model of care, it’s how you provide it,” says Anne. “You can’t just put gadgets in Anne understands that the expectations of existing front of the elderly and expect them to know how to and new residents are changing with time, and it is use them.

You have to take them on that journey and something she is also planning for, while also hoping to this will take time and require patient support.” expand Masonic Care.

32

1970 –1979

A brief look back In 2020, The Masonic Villages Trust celebrated its 60th anniversary. In a past issue of the NZ Freemason we shared photos and a brief history of the Trust’s founding decade, the 1960s. In this issue we feature a short piece about the Trust’s second decade, the 1970s.

The Woburn village was eventually opened on December 12, 1970, by R.W. Bro. Sir Edwin Bate CBE, Grand Warden, Australian High Commissioner.

1972 saw the then Governor-General – Sir (Edward) Denis Blundell, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QSO – visit the home to speak with residents and tour the premises.

With Woburn open, Brethren turned their attention to providing a similar facility in Levin in Horowhenua.

To cut a long story short, work quickly scaled up and it made quite an impressive showing when the foundation stone was laid by Bro. A.E. Shuttleworth, Grand Master, on October 30, 1976.

Barry Brill, M.P. for Kāpiti, Allan McCready, M.P. for Manawatū, Mr L.B. Roberts, Mayor of Levin, and a large gathering of Grand Officers and Brethren attended, all of whom lent colour to the ceremony by parading in full regalia.

Placed under the foundation stone was a casket containing the following items: • A scroll prepared by Bro. A.T. Hunter.

• A mint set of coins.

• A set of current postage stamps.

• A pictorial book of Levin.

Woburn Masonic Home Opening, 1970

Clockwise from top:

Flyer for Woburn Masonic Home Opening, 1970

The building of the Woburn Masonic Village Home began in 1969. Towards the end of the construction period, Brethren attended working bees that were held every weekend to ensure everything was spick and span for the opening.

Official Opening Woburn Home, 1970

Inside of Flyer for Woburn Masonic Home Opening, 1970

In fact, so keen was the Brethren’s interest in the project’s progress that it became necessary to impose a restriction on the number of people visiting during construction hours.

An Early View of the Site, Horowhenua Masonic Village

• A day’s issues of newspapers circulating in the district.

• The last Installation programmes of the six Horowhenua District Lodges.

11

• A copy of the rules and constitution of the Association.

• A copy of the programme of the foundation stone-laying ceremony.

The Levin site was finally opened on 4 March 4, 1978.

The Horowhenua Masonic Home Under Construction, 1976

The Masonic Villages Trust l Head office: Level 6, 15 Daly Street l Lower Hutt 5010 New Zealand l Tel +64 4 569 8512 l www.masonicvillages.co.nz warick.dunn@masonicvillages.co.nz

33

The Operatives The Worshipful Society of Free Masons, Rough Masons, Wallers, Slaters, Paviors, Plaisterers and Bricklayers About us

The object of the Society is to preserve and perpetuate the practice of Operative Free Masons by offering you a new journey through 7 degrees, reminding you as a Speculative Mason of the old operative craft.

We emphasise 3 aspects of membership – service, merit and attendance.

We differ from other Masonic Orders to which you may belong because:

There is no Chair Degree as such. The equivalent of the Master of a Craft Lodge is the Deputy Master Mason, there is no “ladder” for promotion.

Instead it is based on various forms of service you elect to undertake, The individual member’s talents are taken into account for promotion.

Qualification for membership

You must be a paid up member of a Craft What does it cost?

Lodge, be a Mark Master Mason and a There is a joining fee for the Indenture Royal Arch Companion.

Pack – which includes Society tie and all Ritual books. Annual subscriptions Meetings and assemblages vary according to each Assemblage’s cost Meetings are held quarterly and there structure. Dining which is an essential are five Assemblages in New Zealand component of membership of an (Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Nelson Assemblage and at the heart of members’ participation, is paid separately at each and Christchurch). meeting.

Dress, regalia, ritual books Dress is dark lounge suit with Society Want to know more? tie (issued on membership). Regalia is Contact: RWBro Phil Ivamy, VIIº, minimal and issued by the Assemblage. Deputy Grand Master Mason & Senior Ritual books for the ceremonies and Passed Master for New Zealand, phil@nimbus.co.nz, 021 469 614, or Degrees are issued as required.

WBro Robert Jaray, VIº, Regional Clerk NZ, robertsjaray@gmail.com, 04 293 2500, and visit the Society’s website: www.theoperatives.org.

A couple of Masonic Long Service Awards in different settings

B

rian Martin Past Grand Standard Bearer of The Belmont Albion Lodge No 45 presented with his 50 Year Service Badge in Auckland in an outdoor setting by a number of masonic friends and a 60 Year Service Bar presented to Ross Moore MNZM of Lodge Empire Fergusson No 225 with his wife Gretchen at his home in Wellington.

The attraction of Freemasonry very often creates a lifelong association.

34

www.freemasonsnz.org

tner What are the pros and cons of a reverse mortgage?

ith inflation at its highest level in Some providers, like Heartland Reverse ack to 1875, Heartland proud W three decades and interest rates Bank Mortgages, has also offer a an equity protection still relatively low by historic standards, option where you can safeguard a certain ies, small-to-medium businesses and more and more homeowners over 60sized are percentage of the equity in your home, weighing up whether a reverse mortgage and all providers should offer a cooling olutions tothemhelp them achieve prosperity. could help live a better retirement. off period if you change your mind.

The reality is, reverse mortgages aren’t right for everyone. If you’re determining You remain the owner of your home whether or not a reverse mortgage would and can live in it as long as you wish be right values, for you, hereHeartland are some of the Bank Unlike is ‘home reversion’ with schemes like on shared working pros and cons to consider. the one across the ditch in Australia, a upport the Craft in local communities, while reverse mortgage does providing not mean you sell all or part of your home to the lender.

Benefits of ainterest reverse rates You with competitive on continue their deposits. to own your home and mortgage benefit from any capital gains.

ments, contact a dedicated You’re able to access funds without representative on needing to make regular repayments Considerations before 33 62) or email freemasons@heartland.co.nz.

One significant reason Kiwis are taking out a reverse considering reverse mortgages today is because of the increasing cost of living, mortgage

ownership of the house without selling, then it could still be a viable option for you.

The interest rate is higher and can change

Because of the loan’s protections, flexibility and lack of repayments, the interest rate on a reverse mortgage is higher than a standard home loan but typically lower than credit cards and personal loans. In addition, reverse mortgage interest rates are variable, meaning they can fluctuate over time and impact the size of the loan. The benefit of a variable rate is that you have the flexibility to repay the loan at any time.

There are upfront costs

Like most loans, there are often valuation and arrangement fees charged as part which can be difficult to cover with New You’ll end up paying more interest the of the loan establishment process. To Zealand Super alone. Unlike a standard longer you have the loan ensure you’re making an informed mortgage, a reverse mortgage allows Interest is added to a reverse mortgage decision, you’re also required to receive you to access funds without needing to loan balance monthly, meaning the independent legal advice, the costs of worry about making regular repayments. loan balance will grow over time – and which can be added to the loan. Make Instead, the loan amount and any nd does not guarantee the obligations of Heartland Bank Limited in relation to the longer you have the loan, the more sure to do research into the fees and accrued interest are paid off when you ent Disclosure Statement, Product Fact Sheets and Account and Service General Terms interest you’ll owe. Because the loan charges you’ll need to pay when looking sell your move into long term or by calling 0508house, FREEMASONS (0508 37care 33 62). is repaid from the sale of the property, into reverse mortgage providers. or pass away – and you can choose to At Heartland Reverse Mortgages, we the interest will impact the amount of repay, in part or in full, at any time with recognise that our product isn’t right for equity you have when you sell. Keep in no penalty. mind, though, that any increases in your everyone’s situation – but for those that You can draw down the funds in a way property value may help to offset the it is right for, it can be life-changing. impact of interest charges on your equity. Since 2004, we’ve helped over 19,000 that works for you Kiwis enjoy more freedom in their Some loan providers offer flexible retirement. drawdown options, allowing you We have a team of friendly to choose whether you’d like an specialists and a process that ensures initial lump sum, a regular monthly you make an informed decision with advance to supplement your no pressure. If you think a reverse income or a ‘line of credit’ that you can mortgage could be right for you, call us If your children want to keep the draw from as and when you need. This on 0800 488 740 or send us an email at flexibility means a reverse mortgage can house, they’ll need to pay off the loan reverseinfo@heartland.co.nz.

Many people who have children that are be tailored to your individual needs.

Andrew Ford keen to keep the house after they move Heartland Bank, General Manager, out or pass away are unsure that a reverse You’re protected in numerous ways Retail & Reverse Mortgages NZ A reverse mortgage should provide you mortgage is right for them. That’s because with guaranteed lifetime occupancy of the loan needs to be repaid within 12 Applications are subject to loan approval your home. The amount you owe on the months of you no longer living there, criteria. Heartland Bank Limited’s loan will also never be more than the which is typically done using the sale responsible lending criteria, terms, sale proceeds of the house (also known proceeds of the house. If your children conditions, fees and charges apply. as a no negative equity guarantee). are able to pay off the loan and assume

www.freemasonsnz.org

35

THE

FREEMASONS

CHARITY

New Process for Awarding Charity Jewels

SONS CHARITY MISSION STATEMENT

T

d coordinatehe Freemasons Charity in New – Zealand Freemasons Charity Charity

Provided exemplary service to The Jewels – are to be awarded as Freemasons Charity at a National recognition of charitable work or for Level. This can include non-masons.

SONSservice CHARITY as an VISION Almoner, STATEMENT in accordance Served as Lodge Almoner for a with following criteria. y is an independent charitable trust which aligns itself fully continuous period of not less than f Freemasons Zealand for purpose recipient of providing support ToNew be eligible, thethe intended fifteen years. improving the lives of New Zealanders. must meet one of more of the following in the category of jewel being sort. Final Presented by the Grand Master or his approval will rest with The Freemasons representative.

Bronze Jewel

resources to:

Charity Management Each support, eemasons within New Zealand soCommittee. that they understand,

jewel will come with a certificate duly Silver Jewel signed by the Grand Master and the Chairwithin of TFCMC. Served as Grand Almoner or relationships our communities.

The Grand Master and or TFCMC, he generous delivery of financial support where needed. Divisional Almoner for not less than may award a jewel or upgrade a jewel if 3 years or as District Charity Officer onal development which will provide a long-term betterment for it is deemed appropriate even through for a period of not less than 5 years. the prescribed criteria has not been met. arch, especially that which is focused on the aged and children.

Established and managed a successful Criteria each jewel are below Divisional or District project that has rity Officers in thefor performing of their duties.(one or more of the criteria must be met). lifted the profile of Freemasons New d principles of Freemasonry and thereby demonstrate to society Zealand and The Freemasons Charity within the Division.

Gold Jewel Provided exemplary service to The

Served as Grand Almoner or Freemasons Charity at a Divisional stment of our available funds.

Divisional Almoner for a continuous s and Divisions with their charitable projects and with theirLevel. This can include non-masons. period of not less than 5 years. ies.

Served as Lodge Almoner for a and managed successful proach to allEstablished our charitable projects and afunding. continuous period of not less than national project that has lifted the ten years. profile of Freemasons New Zealand Presented by the Divisional Grand GY PROCESS FLOW DOCUMENT and The Freemasons Charity.

Master, Grand Almoner or Divisional AL BUSINESS PLAN AND BUDGET Grand Almoner.

rnal and External

lopment

National and Local Projects that Enhance Our Communities

Supporting Innovative and Quaility Medical Research

ASED CRITERIA

OUTCOME REPORTING Regulatory reporting Public relations reporting Internal masonic reporting.

ion by Freemasons.

36

www.freemasonsnz.org/charity

Established and managed a successful District or Lodge project that has lifted the profile of Freemasons New Zealand and The Freemasons Charity within the District.

Provided exemplary service to The Freemasons Charity at a District Level. This can include non-masons.

Served as Lodge Almoner for a continuous period of not less than five years.

Presented by the District Grand Master or Divisional Grand Almoner.

Application Process All applications must be on the prescribed form and forwarded to the Freemasons Charity Administrator for approval.

All applications must be approved and signed by either a District Charity Officer, a Divisional Almoner or the Grand Almoner.

Each District Grand Master shall have in his three (3) year term two (2) bronze jewels which he may award at his sole discretion.

Freemasons recently helped Graeme Dingle Foundation in Porirua with food hampers!

THE

FREEMASONS

CHARITY

THE FREEMASONS CHARITY MISSION

To promote and coordinate Freemasons Charity i

F

reemasons from the Kapiti-Wellington District helped the Graeme Dingle Founda­ tion (dinglefoundation. org.nz) using manpower and donating $10k with the assistance of The Freemasons Charity, to deliver 200 food parcels to families in Porirua just before Christmas.

THE FREEMASONS CHARITY VISION

The Freemasons Charity is an independent charitable trust with the strategic direction of Freemasons New Zealand for the and improving the lives of New Zealand

We will use our charitable resources to:

Win the hearts and minds of Freemasons within New Zealand so t and use their Charity.

Provide relief to those in need.

Actively engage with and build relationships within our communit

Demonstrate our goodwill by the generous delivery of financial su

Encourage education and personal development which will provi the whole of society.

Christchurch Freemasons again support Women’s Refuge

Support and fund medical research, especially that which is focus

Support our Almoners and Charity Officers in the performing of th

Put into practice the values and principles of Freemasonry and the Hornby Mall Gift Wrapping. the value of our organisation.

T

he Meteor Habo BBQ was sourced from Beckenham Mitre 10 who supplied a free gas bottle that Rockgas Byron Street filled at a good rate before the BBQ was assembled and tested.

It was gratefully received by the YWCA Women’s Refuge who will use it for social and instructive cooking. Funds were from Freemasons Charity Netball Car Parking/

A plaque stating who gave it is to be added when this We will do this by: is formally presented with a Prudent management and investment of our available funds. grocery voucher at the refuge Supporting our Lodges, Districts and Divisions with their charitabl Christmas function when a involvement in their communities. local Freemason will pose as Taking a long- term holistic approach to all our charitable project Santa Claus.

Thanks to all for your support PROCESS of this worthwhile STRATEGY FLOW DOC organisation that now has ANNUAL BUSINESS PLAN 3 sites assisting women andAND B families in need.

Health and Wellbeing Grants to Lodges in the Northern Division

T

he Freemasons Charity made a $500 Health and Wellbeing Grant to each Lodge in the Northern Division just before Christmas 2021 to be used for the health and wellbeing of their Lodges, Members, greater masonic family, or their local community in recognition that they had been the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic over the last two years and we all acknowledge that.

Lodges have been asked to report on the utilisation of these funds and here is one instance so far.

Benevolence and Almoning both Internal and External

Education and Personal Development

National and Local

Supporting Inno

APPROVAL OUTCOME BASED CRITERIA Provides relief of need Taupō Foodbank supported Improves the lives of individuals

by Freemasons Provides benefit to the community Will build our community profile Lodge Kaimanawa No 426 donated their Involves active voluntary participation by Freemasons.

Grant of $500 to Taupō Community Foodbank which is associated with the Taupō Women’s Refuge (Awhina Society Inc).

A great way of helping out at a challenging time of year.

www.freemasonsnz.org/charity

37

REPORT Giving Elizabeth Knox a hoist up The Elizabeth Knox Home & Hospital, of which many will have heard and know, provides care for the elderly and disabled. This Auckland facility with its clear operating philosophy aims for meaning and purpose in the lives of the residents. Here, they thank us for our recent help, but for a closer look at the historic Knox Home we suggest you browse their website www.knox.co.nz

Mrs Knox

Neil & Sofia with new hoist

Established over 110 years ago Elizabeth Knox Home and Hospital is a not-for-profit care home in Auckland providing care to over 210 elders and younger people with disabilities. Thanks to the vision and generosity of our founder Mrs Elizabeth Knox, we continue to exist today thanks to prudent management and the generous support of organisations like the Freemasons Foundation.

We were delighted to receive funding for a hoist and slings. While a hoist might look like just another piece of equipment, to the people who need it to get out of bed and live their lives, it can make an enormous impact. Having enough hoists enables residents at Knox to be helped out of bed and into their wheelchairs in a safe and timely manner enabling them to live active, meaningful lives. Residents like Claire can participate as a reading tutor at our local primary school, Peter can go to the local library where

New Trustees appointed There has been a changing of the guard at the Foundation. The Irish and the English Constitutions have recently appointed new Trustees as their representatives.

he guides conversation classes for new migrants and Michael can participate in university classes. It helps give their lives meaning and purpose.

The impact of the hoist does not stop with the residents. It has protected our dedicated care staff and partners from heavy lifting and back injury.

Elderly and disabled people meaningfully engaged in the community helps society to look past frailties, age and disability to see the rich life experience, skills and knowledge that elderly and disabled people have to contribute. This is how we build strong, healthy communities where everyone is valued. For many, a hoist is the starting point.

Thanks to the support of the Freemasons Foundation, we are making a difference, not only in the lives of our residents but also in the broader community.

Having served on the Irish Constitution Charitable Trust committee, he is looking forward to taking an active part in the charitable work of the Freemasons Foundation. ‘Being a Trustee and Custodian of the respective legacies passed down from our forebearers is a great honour and is something not to be taken lightly’ says Jon.

After six years on the Board RW Bro Andrew McGregor PGM has stepped down and appointed VW Bro Jonathan Southwick as his representative. Jon is a member of Ara Lodge No 348IC where he served as Secretary for many years, was Master in 2009 and holds Senior Warden rank in the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ireland.

After fourteen years on both the Board and the Management Committee, W Bro Clynton Hardy has also stepped down.

Having spent over 49 years in the Trustee Industry as a professional Trustee, Clynton’s advice was invaluable. “I consider that acting as a Trustee is an obligation not an honour. It is always other people’s money and the interests of the beneficiaries and the investors is always paramount.” RW Bro Warren Weir will be replacing Clynton.

Jon has an electrical contracting business specialising in all manner of electrical services, estimating and running projects, and electrical inspection services.

In recognition of their outstanding input into the Board’s activities, both Andrew and Clynton have been appointed Honorary Life Members of the Foundation.

38

Proud to support the Community ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH | COMMUNIT Y HEALTH | ARTS & CULTURE | HIGHER EDUCATION

Spreading the word about the Foundation In the September 2021 issue of NZ Freemason our Chairman spoke about the need for Freemasons to tell the world about all the good things we do.

He explained that we have a good story, a very good story, to tell.

So would we please help Freemasonry by telling our families, our friends, our colleagues and acquaintances about us. And just to remind you, he asked this of Freemasons of all Constitutions. We are multi-constitutional of course, born out of the origins of the Roskill Masonic Village when all the Constitutions in the Northern Region combined to build and run the Village.

So the plan is to tell you more about us, who we are helping, why we are helping them, and how.

A word about our name We are a charitable Trust and our official, legal and registered name under the Charities Act is now, and has always been The Northern Masonic Association Trust Board.

The Board was originally formed in 1957 to establish and administer what became known as the Roskill Masonic Village. After the sale of the Village in 2005 a new trading name was adopted, suited to our new operation, simple and clear for communication - Freemasons Foundation. The universal symbol of Freemasonry, the Square & Compasses, is part of our logo.

Financial position At the sale of the Village in 2005 the net assets of the Foundation were $27 million. Our June 2021 accounts show that has grown to $63 million. While the policy of the Board to dispersing charitable funds is to be meaningful and worthwhile, caution and security also rate highly in our judgement. We are always mindful of the efforts of our predecessors in being the source of our goodwill. In the last fourteen years we have donated $14 million back into the community - doing it in the name of all Freemasons.

$14 MILLION COMMUNITY GRANTS Our donations The amount available for giving depends on income levels but the aim is to donate between $1 - $1.5 million dollars a year.

Because of our Northern heritage the scope of our donations activity is principally, but not exclusively, in the North Island.

The range of our donations have broadened considerably over recent years. They now include categories such as education, community health, medical research and cultural activities.

ANNUAL DONATIONS $1.5 MILLION Foundation management The Foundation has ten Trustees, six from the NZ Constitution, two from the English, and one each from the Scottish and the Irish Constitutions - an example of all Constitutions working together for the greater Masonic good. MW Bro Mark Winger is the present Chairman. Judith Miller is the Chief Executive.

We will cover more of the work of the Foundation in future issues of NZ FREEMASON and hope you’ve learned something here with which you can ‘spread the word’.

In Memoriam RW Bro Reid Polkinghorne We sincerely regret the passing of the Foundation’s Honorary Life Member, Reid Polkinghorne.

Reid made an immense contribution to the Freemasons Foundation, serving a total of 17 years as a Trustee. His wisdom and guidance assisted the Board when it operated the Roskill Masonic Village and through the challenging times when the decision was made to sell the Village complex. Reid’s measured and thoughtful participation was sourced in compassion, and his love of mankind ensured the Board kept the principles of Freemasonry to the fore.

The Board express their sincere sympathy and condolences to Shirley and his family.

The Foundation can be contacted at: PO Box 28242, Remuera, Auckland 1541.

Telephone: (09) 520 6414 Email: info@freemasonsfoundation.org.nz www.freemasonsfoundation.org.nz Or by visiting 373 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland.

Charity Registration No CC27639 39

Freemasons and UpsideDowns GIVING A VOICE TO KIDS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Thanks to grant funding from the Potter Masonic Trust and the steadfast support and donations from the Howick Lodge, UpsideDowns has delivered over 1,000 speech and language therapy (SLT) sessions for Kiwi kids with Down syndrome.

These kids need regular, individualised speech therapy in order to engage with their world, and without your help, that would not be an option for most families, as this is not available through the public system.

WHAT SLT MEANS FOR KIDS SLT gives kids with Down syndrome the tools they need to learn to communicate.

Without it, many children with Down syndrome would never learn to speak, read, or write. By providing this essential early intervention therapy, the next generation of adults with Down syndrome face a much brighter future - more employment, less isolation, better health and wellbeing, and stronger connections to community and whānau.

UpsideDowns membership as at 31 March 2021

$74K

91

1,128

donated by Potter Masonic Trust and Lodge Howick since June 2020

children with Down syndrome all over NZ funded by Freemasons last year

speech and language therapy sessions attended as a result

The Potter Masonic Trust is the legacy left to us by Bro Frederick Seymour Potter (1847–1941) and the most generous individual benefactor in our history. The Trust funds 40

POTTER MASONIC TRUST • info@pottermasonic.org.nz

Freemasons and UpsideDowns GIVING A VOICE TO KIDS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

UPSIDEDOWNS IN 2022 Since our first contact with the Freemasons in 2017, UpsideDowns has tripled its charitable impact, now funding over 300 children across Aotearoa.

This represents approximately one third of the children who need our services. We have also seen success with our Outreach project, and are now funding a much more representative cross-section of families, in terms of ethnicity, socio-economic status, region, and age of children. We could never have achieved this without your support, and we are profoundly grateful.

GOING FORWARD In April 2021, we received our final grant from Potter Masonic, which has been spent on therapy for 82 children across NZ. We are fortunate to have an ongoing relationship with Lodge Howick, ensuring the nine families we currently fund in that area are well-supported in their ongoing communication journeys. We are missing the enthusiasm and friendly encouragement of Lodge Howick, during this time of reduced gatherings, but we hope we will be able to continue our work alongside this Lodge and potentially others as well.

George (10), Beauden Barrett and Noel Ryan at a recent UpsideDowns event

99

6

$998

more families receiving our support since January 2021

new applications received every month on average

spent by UpsideDowns on SLT per family on average

www.upsidedowns.co.nz projects in the Northern Division generally relating to Children but including community facilities, educational programmes, music, disadvantaged children and health.

POTTER MASONIC TRUST • info@pottermasonic.org.nz

41

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43

From the First Grand Principal

G

reetings Companions; I sincerely thank all those who have so thoughtfully conveyed their personal commiserations that Covid-19 has had such an adverse impact upon the first of my two years as First Grand Principal.

Your expressions of concern are both touching and deeply appreciated, but conversely I remain acutely aware that Chapters and Councils have had to face these same challenges. In fact, your own examples of perseverance and determination in maintaining contact with our members throughout the past twelve months; meeting whenever able to do so and resolutely ensuring morale is sustained whenever significant events have had to be deferred or cancelled; has been a restorative tonic which has partially offset my regret at being unable to visit and fraternize among you as I would wish. The prospect of more settled times does lie ahead, but we are not quite there yet.

As I write this message during the first week of March, Omicron is spiraling upward at an astonishing rate, hospitalizations are increasing and sadly; despite our high rate of vaccination; loss of life is occurring. The Grand Master authorized the reopening of

Lodges from 14 February 2022, yet the Royal Arch remains closed and I believe you are entitled to know on what basis Management Council made this decision.

Our demographics differ from the Craft and these render us more vulnerable in a number of areas: our average age is higher, membership is lower, the numbers required to open a Chapter are higher than for a Lodge, Councils higher again. Should 50% of usual attendees elect to exercise caution and tender an apology during these uncertain times, the vast majority of our Chapters and Councils would be unable to open. The inadvisability of working Degrees at this time, the obstacle course of Covid-19 safety measures required to be observed, and the demoralizing effect of last-minute meeting cancellations all combine to provide a strong deterrent arguing against premature resumption.

It is important for you to know that Management Council’s decision to remain closed was by a majority vote, as there was also strong advocacy for reopening Chapters to enable Advancement of the encouraging number of Master Masons who await admission. Such divergence of opinion is healthy and possibly

mirrors your own. But in the final analysis, and understanding how difficult it is to wait, it would be far harder to proceed now and regret later. We may never know with any degree of certainty whether the advance decisions we made in respect of Covid-19 were the optimum ones. What we do know is that we must acknowledge, accept and discharge our responsibilities in ensuring that any choice which is made leaves no margin for error where a Companion’s individual health is concerned.

Meanwhile Companions, we continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and stand ready to reopen as soon as the predicted Omicron peak has passed, restrictions are eased, and we can again meet harmoniously and safely. I do look forward to that time and the opportunity of meeting with you. Until then, please continue to keep yourselves and those close to you safe and well.

MEComp Ron Lane First Grand Principal Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter of NZ

The Changing of the Guard

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n 12 March 2022, REComp Alan Langley Hart completed his 5-year term as Grand Scribe Ezra, and Management Council is pleased to advise that his successor is REComp David Ryan, GSE. The Farewell: As so often happens with an administrative transition, a fond farewell is coupled to a warm welcome, and such a description is certainly appropriate on this occasion.

Alan Hart leaves behind him a record of service which marks him as one of the most diligent and capable Grand Scribes this Order has known.

His encyclopedic knowledge of our Constitution, unparalleled commitment 44

to perfecting the art of communication comment received from Alan shortly after and his constant cajoling of delinquent their Notice Paper and Minutes had been companions to ensure deadlines were distributed. Always helpful, supportive met, feature among his many notable achievements.

Alan’s service, assistance, guidance and sage advice to three successive First Grand Principals – MECompanions Brian White, Graham Redman and I will be long remembered by we three with pleasure, appreciation and sincere gratitude. But perhaps the image which most Companions will retain of Alan will be his unflagging interest in the affairs of Chapters and Councils. There would be few Scribes or Recorders who have not been recipients of a kind or helpful email www.royalarch.org.nz

and courteous, these communiqués were received and acknowledged in the same spirit with which they were intended – as a personal gesture from the Grand Scribe Ezra expressing and evidencing a genuine care and personal interest in their welfare, and that of the Royal Arch.

Alan’s impressive service; which always exceeded his brief; has ensured he retires from office with the best wishes of his Companions, many of whom consider him equally as a friend. We wish both he and Angela a long, happy, and healthy future together – I refrain from using the term ‘retirement’ because that is a word which has no place in Alan’s vocabulary.

In appreciation of REComp Alan Hart’s immense contribution to the Office of Grand Scribe Ezra, and our Order over the past 5 years, I am delighted to announce his promotion to the rank of Past Second Grand Principal. It is a Recognition well deserved, and perhaps best described in the Old Testament verse: Ezra 7:10.

The Welcome: REComp David Ryan, GSE is a proud Cantabrian who was born and raised in Christchurch, but since concluding University studies has resided in Wellington apart from an extended sojourn overseas living and

working in England, Mexico and the Netherlands. He is married to Celina from Mexico and they are the proud parents of twin 19 year-old daughters – Sofia and Victoria who are currently in their second year of study at Wellington and Auckland Universities respectively.

David joined Lodge Homewood 447 in 2006 (Master in 2016/17) and Wellington Chapter 62 in 2012 (First Principal Z in 2018/20). He is currently Treasurer of both his Lodge and Chapter.

For his services, he received an Honorius Causa rank of Past Grand Sword Bearer in March 2021. David is also a member of the Research Lodge of Wellington and joined the Russell Cryptic Council in 2021.

During his working life, David served in both the Public and Private sectors, mostly in analytical and financial roles, including a term at the Treasury. His considers his proudest achievement to have been working for the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority during the rebuild of his home town.

Now retired at a young age, David spends much of his time tending to his rental property portfolio and other investments. He is also involved in fundraising for his church, and in 2021

was elected to the national board of one of the main political parties.

David’s diverse leisure activities range from travelling overseas to the simple pleasures of walking the hills in and around Wellington.

He has always been passionate about languages and can competently converse in about ten. At home, David and his family speak Spanish. His service to the community is extensive and his academic degree qualifications equip him well for the variety of roles he has served as Chairman, Treasurer, Trustee, Fundraiser and magazine Editor for a number of voluntary organizations, charities and Body Corporates.

We warmly welcome David to the key role of Grand Scribe Ezra. I have every confidence that he will make, and leave his mark during his tenure. Companions will find David to be approachable, considerate, supportive and very capable, and I know we will all enjoy working with him.

David took Office with effect from 12 March, and will be formally invested as Grand Scribe Ezra in Wellington once a post-Covid-19 meeting can be arranged.

RJL

A Message for Master Masons From Initiation to Exaltation – the complete journey

R

oyal Arch Freemasonry is an important part of the overall Masonic fraternity. Its history is synonymous with the rise of Freemasonry in the 17th and 18th centuries; symbolically following the practices of the operative masons when building the great monuments throughout England and Europe.

And while the Royal Arch is a separate sovereign body, it is nonetheless, an integral part of the fabric of New Zealand Freemasonry. The ‘traditional Masonic History’ which takes as its allegorical basis, the Biblical accounts of

the building of King Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, is extended in the Royal Arch by incorporating the Biblical history of the Temple’s destruction and enslavement of the Hebrews. Their subsequent release and the rebuilding of the Second Temple is the Royal Arch basis for colourful parables which convey its principles and tenets to those masons who join its ranks. The Royal Arch leads the candidate from the practical to the spiritual and completes pure ancient masonry; a fascinating journey of selfknowledge and self-discovery beginning www.royalarch.org.nz

with the Entered Apprentice d e g r e e and culminating in Exaltation as a Royal Arch Companion.

From the commencement of our Masonic career, an injunction is placed upon each of us to make a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge, which we are informed is a progressive science. Freemasonry is the speculative parallel to man’s own journey through life, and metaphorically speaking, the First Degree is our Masonic authority to proceed on this journey. Each significant milestone

Continued overleaf…

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we pass is marked by the conferral of a further Degree ratifying our progress, and in due course, we receive the Degree of a Master Mason.

And here the journey ends for a surprising number of brethren, although they are merely at the cross-road which marks half-way. Their search is unrealized, the secrets of a Master Mason lost and replaced with “Substituted Secrets” until “Time or Circumstance” should restore the genuine ones. Many brethren passively accept this as an inevitable and unchangeable fact. But for the “1 in 6” brethren who elect to follow the sign-posts, the journey does continue and progresses steadily toward a far more exciting destination found in the Royal Arch Degree. So why do the majority of Master Masons proceed no further than the Third degree?

This is a question every brother must answer for himself, but let’s consider whether a Master Mason should continue on to recover what was lost and the incentive for him to do so? The first and most compelling reason is that the Royal Arch Degrees are recognized and included within our own New Zealand Book of Constitution where it states, in Rule 71: “Grand Lodge recognizes only the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason, Mark Master, Excellent Master, and the Royal Arch, as being pure Antient Freemasonry.”

So there can be no argument as to whether Grand Lodge supports and acknowledges the Royal Arch series of Degrees – after all, it is our leaders in the Craft who have written the Constitutional script! But it does eventually come down to education and our individual desire to acquire more. In the Entered Apprentice Degree we are INITIATED, in the Fellow Craft; PASSED; and in the Master Mason Degree RAISED. The three Degrees within the Royal Arch series are the Mark Master Mason degree, the Excellent Master degree and the degree of Holy Royal Arch, in which the candidate is respectively ADVANCED, ACKNOWLEDGED and finally EXALTED.

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Over recent years, the Grand Master or his nominee has been an invited guest at the Annual Royal Arch Communications, and this courtesy is reciprocated by the Craft to the head of the Royal Arch Grand Chapter, who is titled the First Grand Principal. This simple, public gesture, readily confirms the mutual harmony which does exist between our two New Zealand Masonic bodies. And while the Craft and Royal Arch are separate and distinct Orders, each with their own Constitution and Officers, they are inextricably bound by their mutual association with the six recognized Ancient and Accepted degrees.

The Royal Arch offers a further path of education and stimulation for enquiring brethren. Any conflict of interest is nonexistent because we are first and foremost Freemasons – and first allegiances must always be to serve the best interests of our Lodge. If Lodges are successful, Royal Arch Chapters will follow. It is now common practice for a Royal Arch display stand to be available for brethren to make enquiries, learn, discuss or receive material at our Craft Divisional Conferences.

This harmonious relationship is in plain sight for all to see.

At the Grand Master’s behest, you may see a First Grand Principal Present or Past, wearing his Royal Arch collarette at a Craft meeting.

The Royal Arch degree has long been seen as the completion of the Craft degrees, particularly in English Masonry, where a very high proportion of Master Masons proceed to it. Every candidate for membership into a Royal Arch Chapter must have been a Master Mason within a Craft Lodge recognized by Grand Lodge for a minimum period of 12 months. Under an accord with Grand Lodge established in 2017 however, the Royal Arch will not now directly initiate an approach to a Master Mason until he has been Raised for two years, though this does not preclude a Master Mason making an approach himself.

In the Craft we are known as Brethren, in the Royal Arch; Companions. This word “Companion” originally referred to soldiers who shared their bread with each other – messmates if you like. Your Companion was therefore the man with www.royalarch.org.nz

whom you ate in the barracks, and beside whom you fought in the field; the man who defended you in battle, as you would defend him. He had your back, and was the man upon whom your very life may depend, as might his on you. So to be a Companion suggests that its demands go some way beyond that required of a Brother. Perhaps this explains why many Chapters opt to have no Officer serving as the equivalent of an Almoner in the Craft, primarily because they deem it to be the individual task and responsibility of every Companion to look to the welfare of his neighbour.

In summary, the Degree of Holy Royal Arch is the climax of antient Craft Masonry, and represents the completion of the Third Degree, supplying what is missing there. The ceremony is represented as taking place when the ground is being cleared for the erection of the Second Temple by the returned Jews, under the leadership of Zerrubabel, Haggai and Jeshua, when certain important information, lost for many years, is dramatically recovered. This discovery is considered miraculous, although its full importance is initially beyond the understanding of the workmen. However, it holds the key to the whole Royal Arch Degree. For it opens the door to the ultimate secret of all Freemasonry.

Up to this point, the Candidate has received only moral lessons, and suddenly he is led to find the true spiritual meaning of the Craft. As one historian wrote with sharp insight; “It is a solemn moment, the greatest in all Freemasonry, when he first discovers the moral rules he has been taught, lead him to the spiritual truths which are the ultimate teaching of the Craft. Freemasonry has bared its final secret!”

No-one questions that our Masonic injunction of: “Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth”, are valid guides for our lives and conduct. However, there is a growing recognition that there are advantages in extending the teaching of the Craft to complete our ‘system of morality’ so that it covers the deeper meaning of Truth and provides what many feel is missing – and that is a more intimate link with spiritual belief and faith.

Welcome to our newest Freemasons November 2021 – January 2022 Joffre Senados Arie Verhey Ronald Tuliao

The Caledonian Lodge No. 16

Samuel Gregg

The Wairau Lodge No. 42

Gideon Litana

Lodge Clinton No. 183

Valiant Binarao

Lodge Clinton No. 183

The Methven Lodge No. 51

Lodge Dunstan No. 103

Bryan Solis

The Rawhiti Lodge No. 66

Charl Bartolome

The Rawhiti Lodge No. 66

Paul Burbidge

Jetro Busuego

The Rawhiti Lodge No. 66

Paul Cohen

Lodge Parahaki No. 269

Zane Kumar

Lodge Parahaki No. 269

Michael Price

Lodge Wanaka No. 277

Stephen Goddard Micah Purton

Michael Galloway The Avon Shirley Lodge No. 185

Lodge Arrow Kilwinning No. 86 The MacKenzie Lodge No. 93

Peter Caluya

St Augustine Lodge No. 99

Russel Celestial

St Augustine Lodge No. 99

Nicholas Padfield

The Avon Shirley Lodge No. 185

Lodge Hatea No. 431

Avin Panchorie The Avant-Garde Lodge No. 503

Being open about Freemasonry is encouraging enquiry from men of calibre and nurturing these new members will bring about a lifelong involvement in Freemasonry.

www.freemasonsnz.org

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The Last Word!

Freemasons New Zealand Crossword

Solution page 7

ACROSS 1 What month is the Grand Installation being held in 2022?

4 The cry of a newborn baby is called?

5 Your tiny toe or finger is called?

7 The wired cage that holds the cork on a champagne bottle is called?

8 The way it smells after rain is called?

12 What is the word for when you combine a question mark with an exclamation mark (like this ?!)?

15 The condition of finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning is called?

17 The day after tomorrow is called?

DOWN 2 What is ‘na,na.na’ and ‘la, la, la’ called when you don’t know the lyrics of a song?

3 Illegible handwriting is called?

6 East Asia eating utensils?

9 The sheen or light that you see when you close and rub your eyes is called?

10 The prongs on a fork are called?

18 How many pillars stood at the entrance to King Solomon’s Temple?

11 Capital of Namibia?

19 The rumbling of the stomach is called?

13 The dot over an ‘i’ or a ‘j’ is called?

20 Does The Grand Lodge of New Zealand recognise the Grand Lodge of Ukraine? (Yes or Nay)

16 Plastic or metal coating at end of shoelaces are called?

It’s nice to be important, but it’s even more important to be nice!

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14 The armhole in clothes, where the sleeves are sewn is called?

I am not impressed by your money, position or title. I am impressed by how you treat others.

www.freemasonsnz.org

SERVICE AWARDS November 2021 – January 2022

70 YEARS WBro Frederick Kingsley Weston PM WBro Francis Alexander Robertson PM RH

The Franklin Lodge No. 58 Lodge Torea No. 121

60 YEARS RWBro William Marshall Scott PGW

New Zealand Pacific No. 2

WBro Brian Stewart Bray Morris PG Std B

The Wairau Lodge No. 42

WBro James Stewart Hunt PM

The Wairau Lodge No. 42

RWBro Graham Bernal Morris PGW

Hikurangi Lodge No. 140

VWBro Robert McKechnie Hastie PGDC

Hutt Valley Lodge No. 176

Bro Peter Chapman Hicks MM

Lodge Whakatane No. 198

Bro Grahame William Hamblin MM WBro Neil Elgar PGIG

Lodge Howick No. 314 The United Lodge of Wanganui No. 468

50 YEARS Bro Denis Frank Cook MM Bro Keith Robinson Harrex MM

The Alpha Lodge No. 81 Lodge St John No. 84

WBro David John Bengston PG Std B

The Eketahuna Lodge No. 92

WBro Evan John Williams PM

The MacKenzie Lodge No. 93

WBro Peter William John Cain PM Bro George Sydney Wood MM VWBro Darol Rex Pointon PG Lec WBro William Alistair Low PGS

Rongotea Lodge No. 146 Lodge North Harbour No. 182 The United Lodge of Wanganui No. 468 Lodge St John No. 84

www.freemasonsnz.org

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