Freemason NEW ZEALAND
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Issue 3 (Vol. 46), September 2018
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In this issue From the Editor 2
Freemasons and RSA sign MOU 18
Hot Off the Press 3
Taekwon-Do can do! 18
Grand Master’s visits 3
Le Quesnoy 19
Grand Master 4
A special New Zealand place
Why am I a Freemason?
President of the Board 4 Measurable success
Executive Director 5 Actions not words News clips 6 Some non-contentious thoughts from a Freemason 8 Have Your Say 9 Do you need a ‘Masonic Passport’? 9
The call to serve others 22
Reconnecting with Masonic Elder Care 24
Speak Up for Freemasonry 10
Opportunities for Freemasons
Twelve thoughts before Christmas
Supporting Vincents Art Workshop 26
2019 Grand Installation 12
Remembering BJ599 28
FREEMASONS IN ACTION
Secrets, privileges and mysteries 31
Supporting helicopter rescues by day and night: Westland Lodges raise funds for helmets 13
The Masonic Villages Trust 32 Gender reassignment 34 The Royal Order of Scotland 35
THE FREEMASONS CHARITY Questions of support 36 Letter to Freemasons – Picking winners 37
Lodge Calliope No 252: A Samoan Installation 13 Concord and the Filipino community 14
Mythbusters 38 The Freemasons Foundation 40
Musical Third Degree – the sound of sweet music 15
Royal Arch 44
Otago Masonic Charitable Trust – generous in the South 15
Some of our newest Freemasons 46
ANZAC 2018 16
New initiates 47
Queen celebrates 60th Wedding Anniversary with the Mathers in Rotorua 16
The Last Word! 48 Service awards 49
Waikato: Fred Hollows donation 17
COVER Credit to The Northern Light, February 2018 for the social media snapshots concept.
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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
Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative!
The New Zealand Freemason is the official journal of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand. Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed and the advertising content are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy of Grand Lodge. Articles appearing in this journal may be reproduced without permission provided acknowledgement of the source is made and a copy of the publication is forwarded to the Grand Secretary (secretary@freemasonsnz.org). Queries or comments regarding subscription or distribution should be addressed to membership@freemasonsnz.org or the Executive Director, PO Box 6439, Marion Square, Wellington 6141. Queries and comments regarding content and advertising should be addressed to the Editor. Contributions to the magazine, preferably in electronic form (e.g. MS Word documents) are greatly appreciated and should be of interest to a wide audience. Photographs should be high quality, preferably in jpg or tif format. Contributions may be edited in order to fit space available and to achieve overall balance. Letters to the Editor should not exceed 300 words. A guidance sheet for preparation of publishable material is available on request from the Editor. Contributions should be forwarded to communications@freemasonsnz.org Freemasons NZ contributions to Duane Williams, Editor communications@freemasonsnz.org Royal Arch contributions to Geoff Davies, merlin81@xtra.co.nz Magazines are distributed in March, June, September and December. The deadlines for contributions are the first day of February, May, August and November Layout by Bartlett Projects, Wellington Printed by Fisher Print Ltd, Palmerston North Copyright © 2018 Freemasons NZ
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Every time you are having a conversation with the public about Freemasonry you are literally accentuating the positive and eliminating any perceived negatives. That is because they are hearing the story from the source – from you as a Freemason about Freemasonry. The more often we do this, the more likely that those misconceptions will change. In my thirty-eight years as a Banker many a wrong perception of Freemasonry was turned on its head by my continuous conversations in the staff room with those wanting to know the truth about Freemasonry. I had nothing but good stories to tell of the benefits of Freemasonry to men and their families, to local communities and New Zealand as a whole, which helped change minds. The public will ask all sorts of weird and wonderful questions (some designed to bait you) but in the end you can only talk from your own personal experience. You simply answer, ‘well I don’t know about that – but this is what Freemasonry means to me, this is what I know about of our activities and what I have experienced as a Freemason’. If we are to ‘retain and/or return’ men to Freemasonry we also need to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. We are all different and we all have different needs which we hope that Freemasonry will meet. Therefore, as Freemasons we need to listen to and be mindful of what our fellow Freemasons are saying about their experience of Freemasonry. Exit interviews for ‘resigned clear’ have indicated that members who leave were not listened to, did not have their needs meet and found elements of disharmony disruptive. So the possible solution is – to stay in constant contact with all your members (divide the task if necessary) and really talk to them especially before and after meetings and also when they are not coming along, meet their needs with social, charitable and ceremonial events (and get them working in the area they most enjoy – do not force them into things they do not what to do and respect their decisions) and have the intestinal fortitude to eliminate things that bring disharmony to the Lodge be that internal lodge customs (unchanged since time immemorial – ‘we have always done it that way’), ‘unwitting’ actions by members to fellow members, and lack of support when they take on new tasks like ceremonial (instead of positive encouragement) and at least sometimes trying new things or ideas to breathe life into a Lodge or its members. I hope that you find something in this issue that catches your attention, brings a smile to your face, a warm feeling in your heart, informs, educates or enlightens you and that you take the opportunity to share it with others, so we can continue to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. VWBro Duane Williams MBE, JP, KLJ, GSec
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Two Freemasons (Gareth and Duane) in discussion with a non-Freemason (Henry).
Hot Off the Press Survey: Tell us what you think about Freemasonry There are likely many answers to this question, and a lot of different reasons why. National Office has made a series of surveys intended for three specific groups. Freemasons, non-freemasons with masonic connections, and the public. The point of these surveys is to gain insight into what Freemasonry in New Zealand is in the eyes of its members, affiliates, and the public. The link below will take you to a web page that will allow you to open a survey intended for anyone aware of Freemasonry and what it does. The
questions allow open text responses, so you will be able to say as much or little as you would like. Rest assured all answers will be anonymised, unless specifically stated otherwise. There are only a few questions and it is estimated no more than 10 minutes are needed to answer the survey comprehensively. Any perspective you can share with us is much appreciated. Here is the link: www.freemmasonsnz.org/survey
National Office Spotlight We have several staff working at National Office – some of which you may have interacted with, others you may not have. This week we cast the spotlight on our new “special projects coordinator” Henry Boyle. Henry joined our team at the start of this year, he has spent the last several months working behind the scenes on our social media and communications side of things. Not only this he helps out with the many odd jobs that pop up at national office, anything from IT to proofreading and writing. Henry was born in Australia and has been in New Zealand since 2010 – he studied psychology at the University of Canterbury and finished up with a Masters in Innovation and Commercialisation from Victoria University of Wellington. Working for Freemasons New Zealand is his first job outside of study and we are happy with the many skills he brings to
our team. “Working for Freemasons New Zealand is a unique experience, there are few organisations as nearly as old and there is such a rich archive and history.” “I look forward to seeing how Freemasons New Zealand can grow in the rapidly changing modern day.” Outside of work Henry is a keen skier, mountain biker, and musician – he plays the trumpet, keyboard, and guitar – what a combo!
GRAND MASTER’S VISITS 11 Sep 60 Year Bar WBro Jack Dryden PGD, Te Awahou Lodge No 133, Foxton 14 Sep Cheque presentation, Akaroa Community Health Trust, The Phoenix Lodge No 43, Akaroa
13 Oct 60 Year Bar VWBro Warren Howard PGC, Lodge of the Liberals Arts No 500, Auckland 20 Oct 160th Anniversary Celebrations, Scinde Lodge No 5, Napier
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25–28 Oct Grand Lodge of Western Australia, Grand Installation, Perth, WA 3 Nov ‘Freemason’ Kapiti Coastguard boat launch, Paraparaumu
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GRAND MASTER
PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD
Why am I a Freemason?
W
ell, it may not be sexy, but sometimes you do need just to quietly sit down and think. Think about what you are doing. Think about why you are doing it. Think about how it might be done better. Think about the future. This quarter is such a time – a time to ponder and plan for the future. As Grand Master, I am looking to plan for 2040 – and it makes sense to involve all Constitutions in that dialogue. I am inviting our sister Constitutions to a forum later this year, which is aimed at getting us all thinking about New Zealand in 2040 – what would we like Freemasonry to look like then? What do we need to do now in order to achieve that vision. For the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, we need a plan for what we are striving to accomplish – our existing 5 year strategic plan is ending in December 2018, and hence the desire to reflect on our future direction. I have asked the Divisional Grand Masters to gather your thoughts, aspirations, perceptions, understandings, and views for what you would like Freemasons New Zealand to be, and what change might be desirable. Change is always on the horizon, and as 2019 brings a Grand Installation, there will be new leadership. However, our planning needs to transcend any intermediate changes of personnel, so the organisation continues on its strategic direction notwithstanding new people assuming different roles. A discussion about a new strategic direction needs to be developed from knowing not supposing – we should focus on gaining a better understanding of ourselves as individuals and as Freemasons, and then use that knowledge to plan. Ask yourself “Why do I enjoy being a Freemason?”. What comes to mind? Do
words like charity, personal improvement, fraternal camaraderie, and integrity spring up? Then ask yourself why that is. Why does ‘camaraderie’ make you enjoy Freemasonry? You might say, for example, ‘I enjoy the company of other similarly minded men in a social context to share views and ideas’. Ask again ‘why?’ If you keep peeling back on your perceptions about something with the simple word, why, you can quickly find yourself treading a territory of new understanding. With a deeper understanding of yourself and what drives and motivates you, you are better equipped to do what it is you do. We need to better understand Freemasonry New Zealand. To peel back our collective layers, to understand who we are as a community, and, armed with that information we are better equipped to not only create goals, but also to achieve them. We have prepared a survey that gives you an opportunity to let us know what Freemasonry is to you, and where you would like to see it go. Each and every response is an important piece of information. The more we collect, the better the picture that will form. Please take the time to fill out the survey – play a role in planning how Freemasonry New Zealand will develop in years to come so we remain a force up to and beyond 2040. Mark Winger
Mark at his ‘Lodge’ on his plot of land in County Leitrim in Ireland during his recent holiday.
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www.freemasonsnz.org
Measureable
T
he time has come to prepare for a new strategic plan for Freemasons New Zealand. This is a process that takes place once every five or so years, so it’s important to get it right. This is all well and good, but a key question to answer is why? What’s so important about a strategic plan anyway? I see a strategic plan as a map, in some sense it is a living document in that it can change as needed. It is well and good to look forward to the future and suppose where we would like to be in years to come, but this is meaningless without a clear pathway from where we are. You can’t navigate a map without knowing your position. It is this sentiment I want to discuss, how we will gain insight into where we are, and through this, how we will set the goal posts for years to come. We can consider where Freemasons New Zealand sits in an array of ways, we could look at our membership numbers, charitable efforts, or finances. These are all important areas to understand, but I don’t feel they are fundamental in understanding where we are. The most important place to look is towards each other, towards each and every Freemason in New Zealand. In other words, the best way to find out where we are is simply to ask. I implore you to ask yourself, where do you see Freemasonry now? Why is that? How could it change for the better?
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
success It is these answers, these perspectives, that we will be asking of you in the weeks to come. From what you tell us, through surveys and other resources, we will analyse and understand where Freemasons New Zealand is. I like to see this as a ‘ground up’ process to decision making. Instead of supposing what is and acting on it, we are going to ask, listen, then respond accordingly. Once we complete this process, which I believe our Executive Director will elaborate on, we can piece together a new strategic plan. Outside of the variables we are yet to discover (what you and other members and Freemasonry think) you can expect the new strategic plan to have these characteristics. Easy to understand – Simple English, no business lingo and to the point. This is important so anyone can pick it up and gain an understanding. Metric based goals – Avoiding broad statements, we will focus on measurable outcome. It is one thing to say “increase membership numbers” it is another to say “increase by 10% each year” Peter Benstead
Actions not words
C
hange has been a recurring theme during my time at National Office. This is far from a surprise, in fact it is why I was driven to take this role. With the need for a new strategic direction fast approaching I am doing all I can to facilitate positive change with our leadership team. As Peter (President of the Board) mentions, our focus is on a ground up perspective when it comes to our important strategic decisions. The means to gathering your understanding and perspective of Freemasonry will through a survey. I want to elaborate how we are going to go about making the most of these forthcoming surveys. The first step is distribution. Expect to receive communications from your District Grand Masters in the coming weeks, these will contain basic information about the survey and the survey itself. The questions in the survey will be open text in response, this means you will be able to answer via typing, giving as much information as you would like. From this it is important to highlight the importance of detail in response. Answers that are well thought out, that are justified and well-reasoned, will be of much more use to us then generic responses. To clarify, there are words associated with Freemasonry like “charity, brotherhood, and fraternity.” What do these words actually mean to you? Maybe your perspective of what brotherhood is might be different to others within your Lodge. It is these differences in perception of Freemasonry that are essential to understand. Once we have the survey distributed and completed we can focus on analyses. This is where some of the marvels of the modern age come into play. We are currently trailing artificial intelligence-based programs to analyse survey results.
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These relatively new technologies allow us to get a sophisticated level of understanding on all written survey responses. We can then drill down on consistent points and gain valuable insights into what Freemasons New Zealand thinks about itself as it is, and as it could be. All responses will be analysed anonymously, if for whatever reason you want an issue brought up in person, there will be the option to do this in the survey process. Once we have completed distributing and analysing the survey the next step is creating a well-informed strategic plan. This process will lean on the multidisciplinary expertise of our leadership, the specific characteristics of the plan already mentioned in Peter’s column. For those that are interested we will also create a summary of the survey results, so everyone can get an understanding of how we view Freemasonry as a collective here in New Zealand. This will all be getting underway this month, so be sure to stay up to date with communications from your Lodge and from National Office. On this note we have an issue and could use your help. This being contact information. A number of Brethren in our membership database have out of date contact information. We have created a simple process to update your contact information in our database, means to accessing this process will be distributed with the survey. To make this a success we need to make communications an active topic of conversation in your Lodge. Ask yourself and those around you if you have received any updates from National Office recently, if not we might not have accurate contact information. If this is the case you can go to the web page freemasonsnz.org/update to get access to the update form. Gareth Turner
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News clips Freemasons New Zealand International Freemasonry – National Office Freemasonry being a world-wide organisation and ties closer to home being Who can help you? important, The Grand Lodge of New Barbara Pickering – Membership membership@freemasonsnz.org Shelley Newson – The Freemasons Charity tfcadmin@freemasonsnz.org Irene George – Finance accounts@freemasonsnz.org Henry Boyle – Special Projects specialprojects@freemasonsnz.org Duane Williams – Grand Secretary and Communications/Media/ Administration (including NZ Freemason magazine) secretary@freemasonsnz.org or communications@freemasonsnz.org Gareth Turner – Executive Director executivedirector@freemasonsnz.org
Zealand sends a New Zealand delegation to accompany the Grand Master for all Australian Grand Installations. Twenty-Six Freemasons and partners accompanied MWBro Mark Winger to Sydney 3-5th August 2018 for the United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT Grand Installation for MWBro Derek Robson AM. The next Australian Grand Instal lation is for The Grand Lodge of Western
Australia from 25–28 October 2018 in Perth, Western Australia. See the Invitation on next page and any enquiries to communications@freemasonsnz.org Our Grand Master would enjoy the company of you and your partner.
You can get us by phone on 04 385 6622 or visit www.freemasonsnz.org or by post at PO Box 6439, Marion Square, Wellington 6141.
The ‘Official’ Photo at Sydney Town Hall and some members of the delegation enjoying the Farewell Lunch at Doltone House, Hyde Park.
Crossword solution
2018 Queen’s Birthday Honours Freemasons New Zealand congratulates the following Brother on his Queen’s Birthday Honour, from her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand. Bro Professor Robert Matthew Love ONZM of Robina, Australia (but also Dunedin) was awarded an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Dentistry. Robert is a member of Lodge St John No 94 in Invercargill and was originally initiated into The Southern Cross Lodge No 9.
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Update on MWBro John Litton Past Grand Master
Where in the world?
Many of you will be aware that Past Grand Master MWBro John Litton suffered a heart attack last month whilst in transit to the NSW & ACT Grand Installation in Sydney. Fortunately, the plane had not taken off, so emergency services were able to get John to Middle more Hospital. He was later transferred to Auckland Hospital for an operation — spending the last few weeks in hospital. We are pleased to advise that that John and Diana are now back in Waikanae Beach on the Kapiti Coast near Wellington; and while
The New Zealand Freemason magazine is taken to the far flung reaches of the world as witnessed below.
John continues to improve daily it may be several months before he makes a full recovery. Both John and Diana have been humbled by the cards and messages and extend their sincere thanks to those who have taken time to write. Indeed, John has indicated that your messages have aided in his recovery. Updates on John’s progress will continue to be posted on the Divisional Websites. Both John and Diana have left an indelible mark on Freemasonry – it is so comforting to know that John is going to be ok.
WBro Ronald Polon outside Tokyo Masonic Centre in Japan during a recent trip. Ronald is with the Concord Lodge which has a strong Filipino membership in Christchurch.
Grand Lodge of WA Grand Installation 2018 Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th of October Perth, Western Australia VWBro George Allan PGLec in the Faroe Islands (part of Denmark) in the North Atlantic with his copy during a recent trip to Europe. Separately George has provided an article on masonic education in this issue about Secrets, Privileges and Mysteries.
Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro Peter Kirwan and Grand Master MW Bro Dr William Babe.
You are cordially invited to attend the installation of RW Bro Peter Kirwan as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Western Australia. http://bit.ly/wa-grand-installation-registration www.freemasonsnz.org
RWBro AB Ananthram P Deputy RGM and PGSW Grand Lodge of India, who last year visited New Zealand for a Conference and called into National Office, back at his Lodge in Bangalore India reading excerpts from our magazine to Brethren as an exercise in masonic education which included ‘Speak Up’ and ‘Simple Answers’.
Travelling around New Zealand or overseas please send a photo of you or your partner or family and the NZ Freemason magazine to communications@freemasonsnz.org 7
OPINION
Some non-contentious thoughts from a Freemason While researching to write a new history of early Freemasonry in New Zealand, it has been fascinating to discover how little has changed since 1837 when the first recorded Masonic meeting was held on the French whaling vessel – possibly the Cachalot – in Port Levy. The old newspapers portray something of a “Wild West” attitude prevailing in Freemasonry in those days. One is nevertheless captivated by the part that the “Mystic Tie” played in the foundation of so many of our early towns and cities. “On the spot” stories suggest that many an editor, or reporter, was a member of the local Lodge, or at least had the ear of the Secretary. Their articles enthral readers with graphic descriptions of Installations, Masonic balls, and sumptuous banquets held to celebrate religious feasts including those of St Andrew, St Patrick, and both St John’s – the Baptist in June and the Evangelist in December. All are written in the delightful English prose of the day. Brethren frequently travelled great distances by muddy track, sea, and steam train to attend functions and support other Lodges, including those from other Constitutions. These journeys could last two or more days. Even local events were subjected to some careful timing. A story in the Lyttelton Times tells of the train from Lyttelton to Christchurch being delayed for 45 minutes when the Tyler’s Toast was proposed well after midnight. The importance of visiting, the lifelong friendships, and the harmony that results is still in evidence today Not all the reported news was positive. There were Lodges like the Northern Star 1173 EC in Leithfield that was warranted but never consecrated. The town
8
slumped when the railway line by-passed it for Amberley. Many Brethren moved on to other employment opportunities in the South Island. Friction between Brethren also caused issues. One Lodge, Reunion No 1956 EC in Blenheim, is reported to have been consecrated and warranted in 1882 by Brethren not willing to put up with discord in their current Lodge – the Marlborough Lodge of Unanimity No 1236 EC. (Seems that at the time the word “Unanimity” was something of an oxymoron in this case). Number 1956 was erased by the United Grand Lodge of England two years later on 26 Sep 1884 when harmony was restored. I am pleased to report that the Marlborough Lodge of Unanimity No 106 (formerly 1236 EC) as it became is celebrating its 150th in 2019 so they have obviously followed successfully over very many years, as all freemasons should, my second closing lesson. Similarly, on the 17 December 1872, The Daily Southern Cross reported that “a meeting of the Masonic Ball Committee was held yesterday afternoon at the Insurance Buildings to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting. We are sorry to learn that some slight unpleasantness has arisen, which however, we trust, will not prevent the Masonic Ball taking place in due course.” Not good publicity at all. There are two lessons here
The first is that the survival of a Freemasons Lodge is often dependent on the prevailing demographics of the area. In our ever-changing world, we must react before small towns particularly are bypassed by new roads for example
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John MacDonald with first President President of the United States, George Washington, who was a Freemason.
to find an alternative source of future members. The second is that without accord and harmony amongst the Brethren, attendance at, and interest in, the Lodge will soon fail. Unfortunately, it is widely recognised that the moment you put two human beings in the same room you have the potential for conflict. This is a challenge every Master must face. Lodges, which plan ahead and involve all their members in this process will almost certainly still be in the news 181 years hence. Others will surely have withered for lack of support and handed in their charters. Which picture best paints your Lodge’s position right now? What are you doing about it? WBro John MacDonald WM Editor, North-Talk Newsletter
HAVE YOUR SAY Respite with ‘Kind Hands’ Dear Editor I write on behalf of “Kind Hands” Respite Care cottage in Whangarei. A few months ago I had a call from Kevin Burch in Whangarei with regards to a possible Northland wide Freemasons project that they may be able to assist with. Our respite care cottage for the 0-6 age group has been at the very heart of my ambitions for many years. With the very honest approach from Kevin and Judy Burch, they have been able through other channels been able to arrange for fund up to $5000 to allow me to purchase equipment and supplies to make this dream come true. We open on the 28 July 2018 nearly fully equipped
I therefore wish to formally thank all those involved to in allowing this grant to be awarded to “Kind Hands.” It makes me very humble to think that the Freemasons and the wives, and partners who have helped make this happen, are truly amazing. The provision you have made for the purchases to be bought have made this all so worthwhile. To date, to name a few purchases they are in no particular order:Sheets, linen, fold down bed, medication fridge, wifi tablet, patio set, gravity positioning chair, electric frying pan, soup pot, glasses, rice cooker, cutlery, sandwich maker, utensils, bath towels,
bath mats, duvet covers, and hand blender. We have been able to acknowledge the Freemasons through various ways and after Opening Day I will send through photos for you. The two small words that make the BIGGEST heartfelt thanks are “thank you” Just can you please pass this on to the Freemasons who have helped in any way to make this happen for our “Kind Hands” Respite Care Cottage. Kindest and most humble regards. Sharlene Clements Kind Hands Respite Care Cottage
HAVE YOUR SAY Write a letter to the Editor – preferably 300 words maximum. Submit an Opinion piece – 800 words plus a 100-word author biography, and a photo.
Need a ‘Masonic Passport’? W
hen New Zealand Freemasons travel overseas and want to visit masonically most Grand Lodges (and their Lodges) require a Letter of Introduction from The Grand Lodge of New Zealand. This introduces you and states that you are a member of The Grand Lodge of New Zealand and are in good standing and is given under the hand of the Grand Secretary. To apply for one get your Lodge Secre tary to send an email to membership@freemasonsnz.org re questing a Letter of Introduction in plen ty of time before your travel date. It also advisable to take your Master Masons Certificate as well when travelling (for the reasons explained at its presentation to you). Grand Lodges throughout the world usually only talk to each via their
respective Grand Secretary’s so any communication with other jurisdictions (other than personal emails with fellow freemasons in other countries) is best
sent via our Grand Secretary email to secretary@freemasonsnz.org Safe travels and enjoy the wonderful worldwide fraternal bond of Freemasonry!
Masonic Letter of Introduction may vary from photo!
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TWELVE THOUGHTS FOR FREEMASONRY
FOR FREEMASONRY 5 Horizontal open
6 Horizontal reversed
1. Who’s been speaking up then? Well the Grand Master is – all the time. He never stops. Nobody has spoken up as much as he has. All over the country – setting an example to us all. The District Grand Masters are too. They are following the example and the infectious enthusiasm of our Grand Master. Amongst all their many other duties our devoted District leaders have kept a strong focus on the Speaking Up project amongst their Lodges where all manner of speaking up activities have been invented.
2. What about you? Is every Freemason playing his part? We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again. The big idea is to have all of us – not just our Grand Master and our Senior workers – come out of our shells and tell FOR the world we are proud to be Freemasons and to answer the FREEMASONRY questions of the sceptics and conspiracy theorists. That means telling your sons and brothers and friends all about what we do. So have you? Have you tried? If not, there’s time before Christmas to do a lot of speaking up!
FOR
FREEMASONRY
8 Light blue
9 White
3. We’re not stopping anytime soon
Colour palette This is not going away. Speaking Up is not a fad. We’re not going to suddenly drop the
ball and let the project drift into a dark cupboard and die. Speak Up is going on, ad infinitum. Be prepared to see Speak Up for Freemasonry strongly reinforced again and Dark blue Gold again. Next year, and the next year, and thec10 yearm40 aftery100 that.k0So keep practising and plan c100 m68 y0 k50 ahead. r0 g49 b104 r228 g160 b37
4. Enthusiasm is definitely up Light blue
Black
Whatever agrees that a new sense of enthuc48 m0 y0is,k0or isn’t actually happening, everyone k100 r116 g209 b246 k60 siasm is in the air. A measured and cautious enthusiasm that is showing in Lodges who are willing to test the water, speak up,k30 open up and talk about Freemasonry – in public. The attitude is ‘we have a lot to sayk0 – so let’s say it’!
12 Smallest
5. The signs are appearing Last issue we talked about evidence of growing membership. Yes there are signs of increases in initiations in some areas but it’s too early to say for sure. Maybe by Christmas we might have more reliable numbers. So what’s happening in your Lodge? There’s time before Christmas to invite some likely prospects to visit the Lodge for a look around, a cup of tea and a discussion about the mysterious Freemasons! Of course there is. Ask every member to invite two appropriate men and provide a formal letter. How hard is that?
NZ Freemasons – us!
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6. Progress so far Just to make a point – here’s a cartoon about the impact we’ve made on the public so far. In fact we’ve only just started making any impression at all. But think of the potential.
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BEFORE CHRISTMAS FOR
FREEMASONRY
4 Speech bubble
7. Thinking of Christmas presents yet?
FOR FREEMASONRY 5 Horizontal open
Think ofcolour Speaking up for Freemasonry as a gift that might last a lifetime. Make a list of Master variations
those you can gift Freemasonry to this year and make sure you tell each of them something about Freemasonry – before Christmas. At least tell them you are a Freemason!
8. Answering the questions So, are you ready to answer the simple questions that the suspecting and the suspicious uninformed public might ask? Have you read the ‘Simple Answers’ booklet we prepared for you last year? Why not read it again? You got a copy last year with NZ Freemason. Find it. Get it out. Put it on your desk at work so your Office colleagues see it. If you want another copy, or several copies, we have them for you. Just jot an FOR FOR email, with your name, Lodge and address, to communications@freemasonsnz.org FREEMASONRY – and you’ll have it inFREEMASONRY a flash. (Let’s make that an NZ Post glimmer!) If you want 50 it might take a little longer.
9. Breaking7 Gold the ice
8 Light blue
It’s an old, old idea but identifying yourself as a Freemason with a ring, a badge, a hat
For small spaces or aultra T shirt can bring enquiries without you having to say a word. It gives you the
Colour pa
opportunity to speak about Freemasonry that’s bound to be heard receptively. Have you got an identifier? Has your Lodge? Should you get one? All of us should wear a lapel pin, but do you? Should we be supplying such things? Let National Office know what you think.
10. Communicate with the younger generations! Are you using social media to give your Lodge publicity? Do it. It works. It just needs a tech-wise member (the young!) to set it up for your Lodge. Find a volunteer (aren’t we all?). Grand Lodge Office can help. Contact them for advice and guidance: 10 Small 11 Smaller 12 Smallest specialprojects@freemasonsnz.org
11. Don’t forget the new boys Know the easiest way to find potential new members? Ask the new ‘young’ members of your Lodge to invite their friends to meet us. So many times it’s the new boys who have no inhibitions about telling their mates they have joined us. And their mates ask for more. No secret here!
12. Time to act 12 weeks to w Yes, you have time. So here’s a last thought. Join in your local community seasonal action. Speak Up at your local Christmas parade, shopping gala or Guy Fawkes night! Another great opportunity to Speak Up for Freemasonry and finish 2018 on a Masonic high note!
And a really special thanks to all of you who have done so much this year. Have a happy time at the beach – just keep speaking up! www.freemasonsnz.org
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2019 GRAND INSTALLATION 15–17 November 2019, Wellington Are you and your partner coming? Any Freemason can attend and enjoy this triennial ‘at least once in every freemasons life’ occasion. The great news is that Event prices remain close to the costs in 2016 and can now be booked individually and the Early Bird Special offers a 50% discount on the Registration Fee ($150 Freemason and $50 Partners reduced to $75 and $25 respectively, if paid before 1 June 2019). A Registration Form is enclosed in this issue of the New Zealand Freemason magazine. Registration will also be online after 1 November 2018 on www.freemasonsnz.org A time payment plan is available to spread the cost between now and the events.
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Grand Installation programme
Friday 15 November Freemasons Business Session Free of Charge Ladies Function $80 Welcome Cocktails $65 Saturday 16 November Grand Installation Free of Charge Grand Banquet and Ball $195 Sunday 17 November Church Service Free of Charge Farewell Brunch $60 All costs per person. It’s a fantastic programme with most events for Freemasons and their partners and the Ladies Function which is ‘World famous in New Zealand and beyond’ is not to be missed.
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Venues include Michael Fowler Centre, TSB Arena, Westpac Stadium and Old St Paul’s. Accommodation for the Grand Installation has been arranged at West Plaza Hotel 3/4 star $160 to $300 with pricing that includes breakfast and the QT Hotel 4.5 star $249 to $399 with Breakfast at $32pp per day. Accommodation needs to be arranged at the time of registration and is limited on a first come first served basis. Transport for all events leaves/returns to these hotels and the Michael Fowler Centre only. All enquiries on Registration and Accommodation to the Organiser – Jim Watt, PO Box 22401, Khandallah, Wellington 6441 or jim@nzcc.net.nz or 021 715 442.
Freemasons in action Supporting helicopter rescues by day and night: Westland Lodges raise funds for helmets Residents and adventure seeking tourists across the vast and rugged Canterbury and West Coast regions can live their lives to the full. They can be assured that, if they have an emergency, the Rescue Helicopter will be there to look after them and their families. The Canterbury West Coast Rescue Helicopter Trust has funded the life-saving Rescue Helicopter in Canterbury and the West Coast since 1989. The service has successfully undertaken over 10,000 rescue missions.
The Trust needs to raise $4 million a year to provide this life-saving service. The government funds 50% of the operational costs. Meanwhile, the rest of this significant cost is met by the goodwill and generosity of the community. The community are the main supporters. Ultimately, the individuals and businesses who support the Trust are the ones who keep the Rescue Helicopter in the air. It is an example of the Kiwi culture
focussing on, helping and supporting those in need. The three Westland District Lodges, Advance Marwhera No.61, Robert Burns No.50 and Torea No.121 joined together to fund the replacement of outdated equipment with six new state of the art EVO 252 Dual Visor helmets, together with three interface brackets for night vision goggles. The aviation helmet is an innovative design that features a lightweight shell construction of Kevlar and Fibreglass. It is one of the lightest helmets in the world, yet it is incredibly resilient to penetration and impact. Of the $20,096 cost the three Lodges raised $10,020 through charitable collections and various enterprises. The balance came in the form of a 1:1 grant from The Freemasons Charity. Each helmet will carry a Freemasons New Zealand logo.
Lodge Calliope No 252: A Samoan Installation Talofa lava Lodge Calliope is based in Apia, Samoa and was consecrated in 1924. It has 32 members with seven based overseas. It is one of only two Lodges of The Grand Lodge of New Zealand that is situated outside New Zealand. A team of Officers of Grand Lodge from Auckland performed the Installation on WBro Colin Stringer and the Investiture of his Officers, with two Entered Apprentices present as well. Installing Master – VWBro Kevin Burch Dist GM, Dist GDC – WBro Bill Palmer Dist GDC, Presenting Officer – WBro Greg Taylor PGS, SW – VWBro Mike Abercrombie PDistGM, JW – WBro Grant Brown PGS, Board – RWBro
Murray Morrisey PGW, History – VWBro Peter Goodwin, PDistGM. The Lodge has just moved to better premises – two rooms in a home
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of one of the brethren, Bro Philip More, and Calliope Brethren are in good spirits. Tofa soifua
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Freemasons in action Concord and the Filipino community As the influx of Filipino migrants in Christchurch is rising, the Philippine born New Zealand Freemasons are out to help, participate and support the community. Recently, members of the The Concord Lodge No. 39 supported the “Eskinita”, a group of Filipino businessmen on their first-year anniversary and as part of the Lodge campaign of ‘Speak up for Freemasonry’. During the said event, the officers and brethren of the lodge headed by their Worshipful Master, Dario Quilatan made direct talks to all inquiries from the event goers. Leaflets and magazines for “Speak up for Freemasonry” were distributed to all inquiring individuals. The event was successful attended by hundreds of Filipinos living, residing and working across the Canterbury region. There were two sets of events, first was at the Cathedral Square then two weeks later at the St Theresa’s Parish Hall at Puriri Street, Riccarton of this city. Filipinos are not new to the Craft. Most of the ancestors and nation-builders
of the Philippine archipelago are Freemasons. Heroes, politicians and the like were mostly Freemasons who embraced the tenets and principles of the order. The long acquaintance and the positive image of Freemasons in the country inspires young generation from all walks of life to become one. Dario P. Quilatan (first left) Master, The Concord Lodge No. 39 and The Grand Lodge of the brethren at Cathedral Square, Christchurch, during the Filipino New Zealand gives Community Event. them this opportunity. One reason why the Concord Lodge No 39 is one of current membership is now almost 70 the active and growing lodges in South with four candidates in the queue. Island if not in the whole New Zealand. Masonic Education is also introThe declining membership of duced to the candidates and applicants. Freemasonry in New Zealand affected Applicants were given an orientation of the lodge seven years ago where the what Freemasonry is all about before brethren almost decided to pull the plug their first-degree ceremony. and hand their charter No Brother can advance in a deto the Grand Lodge. gree without completing the Masonic “We’re almost wound Education conducted by the Officers of up and hand our char- the Lodge. ter, but thanks to the Monthly fellowships, darts tournanew members coming ment, basketball tournament, mid-winin, the lodge is now ter luncheon, Christmas dinner and standing strong.” WBro summer picnic are the activities that Malcolm Yorke IPM. normally the lodge does every masonic With unrelenting year. struggle and heartily The lodge meets at Riccarton dedication to survive Freemasons Centre, 84 Totara Street, the lodge is now be- Riccarton, Christchurch every last Friday come what it is today. of the month. Dario P. Quilatan, (second from left) Master of the The Concord Lodge No. 39, the Brethren and the organizer of Filipino community Busy as bees, the in Christchurch, Ms Jean Rante.
The Concord Lodge No. 39 with the help of Canterbury Masonic Charitable Trust (CMCT) has donated two Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) to CDHB–CRISS headed by Donna Thomson & Maureen Trewin. A portable oxygen concentrator (POC) is a portable device used to provide oxygen therapy to people requiring greater oxygen concentrations than the levels of ambient air. It is similar to a home oxygen concentrator but is smaller in size and more mobile.
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Members of the Lodge with Donna Thomson (centre left) and Maureen Trewin (centre right).
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Musical Third Degree – the sound of sweet music
Serving a local need
May 26 witnessed a magnificent degree that day. Further Brother Telfords The Degree itself was a splendid raising Brother Jason Telford to the sub- Uncle RWBro Christopher Telford affair with the Choir striking some well lime degree of Master Mason. UGL NSW & ACT came across from thought out music to accompany all the Not only was the Northern Masonic Sydney to be part of the ceremony. degree, such was the effect that many of Lodge Te Puni organises a variety show to fund bladder scanners Choir and the Midland Masonic The Master Masons Apron Bro Telford those attending was in one accord that Choir present and working, but also was invested with originally belonged to this was one of the best degrees that they the Grand Master MWBro Markmembers his grandfather andTeitPuni was fitting that two had bladder ever attended. On Wednesday 5th March of Lodge presented scanners Winger the visit to Christchurch RWBro Telford in This the investiture United brethren also played tomade the CEO of the Hutt Valley District Healthassisted Board. was the result of a Forces fundraising to beeffort part by of the the combined work conducted of the apron and the case all of which their part well and the ceremony was Lodges of the Hutt Valley. belonged to the grandfather. conducted with due decorum from all MBro Winger also had a busy day aspects to ensure that Brother Telford with ceremonial work, presentation of received a degree that he would never three Master Mason certificates to Bros forget. Gaffney, Caballes and Draper and a 25Refectory was an excellent event with year service badge to VWBro LJ Morriss W. over 70 seated for a beautiful meal and Bro TR McKenzie, Master of Lodge PGDC. greatwith company allKeenan round. Te Puni, W. Bro Ray presenting Graham Dyer, HuttForces Valley Lodge No 345 United DHB CEO with one of the two portable bladder scanners, looking on is Pete Chandler Hutt Valley DHB COO. BELOW A bladder scanner.
GM and Jason Telford just before his 3rd degree. couple of Lodge
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members’ Craft and outside, including immediate family, who work for the his very own successful DHB, had indicated that staff were fund singing son and his Group, raising for equipment that was in short ‘The Auzzie Boys.’ A plethora Otago Masonic Charitable infrom the South actsgenerous was assembled, supply for their Patients. The nurses Trust of of – Mapu Unit and the Community Health juggling, dancing (ballroom, 2018 Central Otago recipients included Services had started selling cakes and rock-n-roll, traditional the following were successful in their apundertaking other fundraising efforts to Polish), musical acts and plications: Alexandra Community even the piping in of a Haggis with purchase a bladderRural scanner. Patrol, Central Otago Riding the the traditional address. Audience The members then broughtfor the Units’ Disabled, of Dunstan plightFriends to the Lodges and aHospital, number of participation was encouraged and, Omakau & Districts Playcentre, Teviot Brethren also indicated that they had during intermission, food and drink was been hospitalised recently and had Valley Rest Home, Wakatipu Yacht Club, to available for purchase. Along with some very sought after wait for the only scanner become and the Wanaka Community Toy to Library. prizes for raffles, the support for the available for their treatment. Lodge Te Puni decided to hold a show was outstanding. The money raised Variety Show to raise funds to complete on the night was, with the help of The The Otago Masonic Charitable Trust the purchase of at least one bladder Freemasons Charity, able to purchase also made extensive presentations in scanner. WBro Ray Keenan approached two bladder scanners valued at over South and North $13,000.00 each. many talented artists Otago. both within the Central Otago recipients.
As always it was a tight knit team, encompassing members of the Lodges from the Hutt Valley, wives and partners, and the nurses from the DHB that made this occasion the success it was. Thanks are due for the support of local businesses, individuals and the performers along with The Freemasons Charity for help in providing such necessary equipment for the health and wellbeing of the wider community. WBro Mac McKenzie
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.
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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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Freemasons in action ANZAC 2018 United Forces Lodge No 245 conduct the ANZAC remembrance ceremony each year for the benefit of Freemasons in Canterbury and those from further afield if they wish to attend. This year was no exception with guests from Otago through to Canterbury. The United Forces ANZAC ceremony was established before the Second World War and has been conducted in that format ever since. Over the period the ceremony has had a few small enhancements included that have made the ceremony a sought-after event each year. In recent years the decision to include non-masonic guests was made and now the families of the brethren, invited guests and the NZ Cadet Forces are regular attendees. Cadets from NZ Cadet Forces have been central to the ceremony for the past five years
and thereby the inclusion of young people in the service has made a significant impact on those attending. Their drill, personal bearing and superior aptitudes and attitudes are central to the well-deserved praise that they receive. 2018 was the commemoration of NZ Nurses in the First World War with the guest speaker (Anna Rogers) presenting several the diaries from the nurses during that conflict. A very telling experience for those attending the ceremony. With over 90 in the lodge room and refectory, the evening went very well and the brethren as well as the guests were treated to night to remember with all four constitutions being represented, the colour and splendour of different regalia’s and uniforms made for a very inclusive evening, enjoyed by all. United Forces Lodge No 245
Queen celebrates 60th Wedding Anniversary with the Mathers in Rotorua On the July 8th Patricia (Trish) and Geoff Mather celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary at the Rotorua Commercial Traveller Club. It was well attended by many local and out of town Freemason plus friends and relations. Patricia and Geoff were honoured to receive a card from Her Majesty Queen
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Elizabeth as well as from our Prime Minister and several dignitaries When Geoff was asked “how has Patricia put up with you for so long, his answer was “I was never at home”. Their son Bro Mark Mather had flown down from North-East China especially for the occasion and while in Rotorua he and another Freemason, Bro Daryl
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Brighouse who had driven up from Havelock gave two very interesting presentations to Lodge Rotorua 153 on their oilfield diving exploits. Geoff is at present Master of Lodge Rotorua 153 and his lovely wife Trish also support the Lodge with Refectory assistance.
Waikato: Fred Hollows donation Lodge Waikato No 475 with support from Lodge Pukemiro No 301, Freemasons Lodges of Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand, have now completed their annual appeal of used prescription glasses and reading glasses to be donated to the Fred Hollows Foundation in Vanuatu. We deem it very fortunate that we have been able to have the co-operation of Ms Stacey Richards, the Dispensing Managing Director of Specsavers Optometrists, in Hamilton CBD. It is with her help and advice that we have been able to donate some 60 pairs of glasses, of which Specsavers will send to Vanatu on our behalf, which we hope will enable the people of Vanuatu to enjoy better eye-sight through thisdonation. The Worshipful Master of Lodge Waikato, Mr Willy Willetts, was able to present these glasses to Ms Richards knowing full well that they are going to be received with much pleasure in Vanuatu where many people in their villages have no access to eye support of any nature. The Fred Hollows Foundation was established in Australia in 1992 by the Kiwi-born ophthalmologist (eye doctor ) to treat eye problems in poorer countries. Within six years 200,000 people had their sight restored via cataract surgery. When he moved to Australia in 1965, Fred Hollows was shocked by the number of Aboriginal people with preventable eye disorders. Reducing the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ turned into a lifelong passion that would see him become a champion of eye care in the developing world.
The task began in remote Australian communities, where the ‘intellectual with the wharfie’s manner’ soon became a local folk hero. After helping set up the first Aboriginal medical centre and a National Trachoma and Eye Health Programme, he went on to develop blindness prevention programmes in Asia, Africa and South America. The aim was always self-sufficiency – giving local communities the skills and facilities they needed to provide their own eye care. As he battled terminal cancer, Fred Hollows and his supporters set up the Fred Hollows Foundation to make sure his cause would live on. Originally launched in Australia, the Foundation
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soon spread to New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand works in the Pacific region. Its achievements include eye-health programmes in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, and a ‘Pacific Eye Institute ’ in Suva, Fiji, that trains eye doctors and nurses and supplies them with equipment to take back to their home countries. The Fred Hollows Foundation is active in more than 20 countries. Well over a million people have had their sight restored as a result of Fred Hollows’ life’s work.
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Freemasons in action Freemasons and RSA sign MOU At a recent Board Meeting, a Memo ran dum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Freemasons New Zealand (FMNZ) and the Royal New Zealand Returned & Services Association (RNZRSA) by our Grand Master Mark Winger FMNZ with the National President of RNZRSA BJ Clark. Each organisation has agreed to explore ways to cooperate with and assist
each other – for the benefit of our New Zealand communities. Opportunities abound for both organisations to assist each other with the possibilities of shared premises, mutual projects, welfare, assistance with national events, etc. Freemasons New Zealand is investigating further opportunities for partnerships in the form of MOU’s with other allied organisations.
Mark Winger and BJ Clark signing respective MOU’s and both talking about the strong connection between our two organisations and potential benefits of mutual assistance.
Taekwon-Do can do! Hastings District Masonic Trust was a part of getting 11 special needs TaekwonDo participants off to South America for ITF World Championships in Argentina. It is pleasing to know that the full Hawkes Bay Taekwon-Do Team returned with a huge haul of 43 medals with 10
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Gold Medallists and some second and third place-getters. You can tell from the photo that they were a team that was going to enjoy themselves and do well. The Hastings Masonic Trust donated $14,000 to assist in getting the special
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needs athletes away, but did you know that the Hastings District Masonic Trust is also involved in Masonic Elder Care as well with 7 Masonic Villages with 110 Units with waiting lists and is looking to expand into Waipawa.
Le Quesnoy
A special New Zealand place
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lans are proceeding for the establishment of a New Zealand war memorial in France to commemorate the role of New Zealanders in Europe in the First and Second World Wars. After more than 18 years of investigation and research, the New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust has purchased a property in the small walled fortress French village of Le Quesnoy – which has special meaning and connection with New Zealand – where it is planing to establish the memorial. The Trust has purchased the former Gendarmerie headquarters within the ramparts of the town, with the objective of developing the property as a self-supporting memorial museum. A prime mover of the project has been WBro Greg Moyle, Master of Lodge
Discovery No 501 and a Past Master of United Service Lodge No 10, who is also a former Auckland councillor and retired NZ Army Major, along with Herb Farrant – a military historian and now general secretary of the New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust. The project has received enthusiastic support from the Le Quesnoy mayor and Town Council, and from the French government which offered the property to the Trust at a cost of €600,000 (just over NZ$1 million), half of its current market value. Other Brethren involved in the project have included RWBro Neil Ingram PDepGM, and VWBro Mark Hall GLec, a Past Master of The Lodge of the Liberal Arts No 500, who is a also a Trustee. The museum project and the fundraising drive have the backing of many
prominent New Zealanders, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark who is patron of the Trust, and Sir Don McKinnon who is the chair. Other trustees are Sir Lockwood Smith, Brett
Greg Moyle (left), Master of Lodge Discovery No 501 and a Past Master of United Service Lodge No 10, has been the prime mover of the project. Herb Farrant (right), military historian, First World War buff, and general secretary of the New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust, in his role as Western Front battlefield tour guide.
Despite heavy rain, a New Zealand regimental band plays in Le Quesnoy to the obvious delight of the just-liberated locals. This photo was taken by Henry Armytage Sanders on the November 5, 1918 the day after the liberation of Led Quesnoy by New Zealand troops Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand
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The basis of the museum project is the former Mayor’s residence and headquarters of the Gendarmerie in Le Quesnoy, the largest piece of land under one title within the original town ramparts. Studies by the New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust indicate that it is entirely suitable for the purpose of establishing a New Zealand presence in France, centred in Le Quesnoy
Hewson, Buddy Mikaere and Michele Whitecliffe. Peter McKinnon is Treasurer of the Trust. Others who have given the project their active backing include Sir Jerry Mateparae, Sir Anand Satyanand, Dame Jenny Gibbs and Celia Caughey, while former All Black captain Todd Blackadder and Olympic cyclist Sarah Ulmer have also added their support. Patron Helen Clark expects the museum will become a destination for young New Zealanders, in much the same way as those who travel to Europe now make trips to Gallipoli. “We want to make sure the stories of those young New Zealanders who travelled to the other side of the world a century ago, will be passed
on to future generations of New Zealanders,” she says. “The town of Le Quesnoy – which New Zealand soldiers liberated, and where there is so much support for the project – is an ideal location to create a special place to remember them.” Many nations whose soldiers participated in the Great War already have memorial museums in France and Belgium, and New Zealand at this point is the exception. Sir Don McKinnon says the project is of national significance as New Zealand’s first permanent war memorial on the Western Front. “New Zealand is one of the few Commonwealth countries that doesn’t have a permanent memorial like this on the Western Front,” he says. “Canada, South Africa and Australia all have them, and we need one too. “We have support for the museum from both the Government and the Opposition and we’re currently discussing how the Government can further support us. In the meantime, we’re rolling out our fundraising strategy so that individuals and corporates have the opportunity to support the museum. We already have significant pledges from several major corporates, including Westpac, and most recently, a significant contribution from the Waipa District Council.” The fundraising drive has been underway on a low-key basis for some years and is expected to continue for up to three years. So far more than $3 million has been raised or pledged for the purchase and development of the property. The buildings on the site comprise the Gendarmerie, described as a gentleman’s
A 1920 painting by George Edmund Butler shows the men of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade scaling the walls of Le Quesnoy on November 4, 1918. Rather than risk civilian lives and destroy the ancient town’s historical buildings and fortifications with an artillery bombardment, New Zealand soldiers used ladders to scale the outer ramparts surrounding the town. When the 4th Battalion reached the inner walls about midday, the height of the walls were such that there was only one place in which they could place a single ladder to reach the top. This painting shows Lieutenant Leslie Averill, the battalion’s intelligence officer, leading a group of men up the wall opening the way for the New Zealand 2nd Rifles to enter and seize the town
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residence originally built in the late 19th century as the Mayor’s residence, and nine residential buildings erected in 1952 comprising one detached and two sets of four semi-detached residences. The buildings are surrounded by grasslands, paved and pebbled roading and mature trees. The proposal is to develop a museum in the existing Gendarmerie and in a new annex which – at the request of the Le Quesnoy Town Council – will be in a completely different style and will also include a bookshop and café. The Museum’s collection content will focus on New Zealand’s military past in Europe and our contribution to achieving victory in two World Wars in Europe and will include resources to help Kiwis researching the location of the graves of their soldier forebears. It will also focus on the history of Le Quesnoy as a fortress town, and the harsh struggles of its townsfolk during the four year-long occupation by the German Army from August 1914 until its liberation by the New Zealanders. Le Quesnoy has a shortage of public accommodation, so the eight residential homes on the site will be upgraded and refurbished to modern standards as
self-catering tourist and possibly student accommodation, while the ninth – the standalone dwelling – will be upgraded to provide accommodation for two seconded Museum staff from New Zealand. The Trust’s proposal is that the museum, the self-catering tourist and student accommodation, and the bookshop and café will enable the whole project to be self-funding. At this stage, the Trust is planning to complete the project in stages:
Lodge No 114, Ormondville; Bro Kenneth McKenzie of Lodge Kimbolton No 123, Kimbolton; Bro Samuel Joseph Poole of Lodge Manga te Weka, Mangaweka and Bro Jack Wenham Hartland of Lodge Ngauruhoe No 205, Ohakune. Many of those who lost their lives in the action, some only in their twenties, had survived from the Somme to Passchendaele, only to be killed just seven days before An artist’s concept of how the existing Gendarmerie building the end of the war. Three of and the proposed new museum annex will look. The annex them had served in the Samoa Stage 1a is the purchase and re- is designed in a completely different style to the existing Gendarmerie and will be connected to it via a glass walkway. The Advance Force which seized furbishment of the exterior of the annex will double the existing floor area of the Gendarmerie, and German-held Samoa at the existing Gendarmerie building, provide space for reception, bookshop and café facilities, and a outbreak of the War in 1914. and external landscaping work, local tourist information centre When New Zealand folincluding a Memorial Walk lowed Great Britain’s declaramajor action by New Zealanders in the Stage 1b is the refurbishment of tion of war against Germany on August rd the interior of the Gendarmerie and Great War, the 3 New Zealand (Rifle) 5, 1914, New Zealand’s population was four of the maisonettes for accom- Brigade was given the task of capturing just over one million people, and about modation, together with the museum the village. Because of the large number of French 243,000 of those were men of military director’s accommodation age. More than 124,000 men enlisted Stage 2 is the refurbishment of the civilians held captive inside the walls, the for war service, and around 100,000 of New Zealanders knew that it would be remaining maisonettes impossible to heavily bombard the town, them served overseas – about 18,200 of Stage 3 is the construction of the new so the decision was made to storm the them died during the war, while another Annex building. walls using ladders. Livens Projectors 41,000 were wounded. About 16 New Zealand nurses who went to Europe to The investment phase for the project is placed by the Royal Engineers fired 300 tend the sick and wounded, also lost expected to take three years, while the flaming oil drums onto the ramparts of their lives. completion of all works, including the the west walls to create smoke to obscure Consider this numbing statistic: new museum annex, may take a little the approach of the Rifle Brigade from more than 16,500 of the young men the Germans. longer. In a unique New Zealand action, and who served overseas never returned Le Quesnoy is an appropriate location and more than 3700 of them were never for a New Zealand memorial, because what would become our greatest single recovered – they simply vanished. One of the role of New Zealand forces in military success of the war, our soldiers in four New Zealand men aged between liberating the village in the closing days clambered up ladders and over the outer ramparts and the inner walls, and 20 and 45 was either killed or wounded. of World War One. October 12, 1917 ranks as the greatest It had been occupied by the Germans captured the town taking 2000 Germans tragedy to ever strike our nation. In one in 1914, and in 1918 there were several prisoner, without any loss of civilian of the major offensives on the Western thousand German troops holding the lives and without destroying any of Le Front, 843 New Zealand soldiers lost town who refused to surrender. On Quesnoy’s historic architecture. Research undertaken by Herb Farrant, their lives in the battle for Bellevue Spur, November 4 that year, in the New the ridge leading to the township of Zealand Division’s most successful day of indicates that 135 New Zealanders were Ypres at Passchendaele in Belgium. its whole Western Front campaign, some killed in the attack that day. We know that Freemasons were to the fore in volunof its units bypassed the town and ad- four of them were Freemasons: they were teering for military service. More than vanced 10 kilometres eastwards towards Bro Frank Campbell Larking of The Lion 2400 of our Brethren served the German homeland, takin the Armed services in The Contributions can be made to the New Zealand War Memorial ing 2000 Germans prisoner Great War, and more than Museum at Le Quesnoy by visiting the website nzwmm.org.nz and seizing 60 field guns. 300 did not return. or by direct credit to the NZ Le Quesnoy Memorial Museum On that same day, in Tom Clarke Trust bank account: 03-159-0097188-00 what was to become the last
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The call to serve others Jemma Penelope’s story
When seeking potential recipients for Freemasons University Scholarships the selection panels look to both academic excellence and community service. It was in connection with the latter that Jemma Penelope, who is studying for a PhD at Lincoln University with a focus on New Zealand’s role in advancing sustainability internationally, was unable to to be present at the 2018 presentation ceremony.
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emma has spent much time with a grass-roots charity in Northern India, which provides educational support to girls with clear potential and educational aspirations, but who lack access to higher education. Jemma relishes the regular visits to ensure the long-term welfare of the girls she has sponsored. She believes service overseas has taught her an invaluable lesson about the challenges of poverty and issues of female welfare and empowerment. In Jemma’s own words. “My early studies at Canterbury University in biology, ecology, and conservation, through to my postgraduate studies of private-sector conservation issues and environmental economics, were driven by my desire to learn about new ways to conserve the environment. As a Cantabrian, I’m proud of what New Zealand has done for environmental conservation, but I wanted to be part of our future efforts, to do more and to do better. My time spent in Northern India
since 2009 has sharpened my understanding of poverty, cultural differences and economic development. I was taken there with a desire to learn about these ideas first hand and found a grass-roots charity that can not only teach me such amazing lessons but lets me contribute what skills and resources I have to those who might otherwise go without.” It was a flyer at Canterbury University, which first encouraged Jemma to go to Northern India. She spent three difficult and authentic months in the State of Punjab, being part of a grass-roots effort to create a charity organization based on social entrepreneurship and English teaching. She was in charge of starting their HIV/AIDS awareness program but as a result of her contacts with the India Healthcare System and the culture and society of Punjab in general, she didn’t really like the charity or the work she was doing. Jemma observes. “There are lots of people trying to be generous and you’ll
probably have to choose between them and choose for yourself. When you really start trying for yourself, you have to make quite a few moral, philosophical, and critical decisions about what your generosity will look like, and what it won’t. And that can be a hard task, turning your back on something someone else says is generous.” Luckily, she was able to meet an excellent man and his wonderful organization, Youth for You Welfare and Research Society. She has been supporting Youth for You since that first trip, and has returned to Northern India several times. “I like this part of my work because I get to see exactly what my donations get spent on. My friend who runs the charity sends me receipts and pictures, and when I visit I get to see the girls, and the schools and shops where Youth for You spends my donations, so I know 100% my money is working.” Female education is important to Youth for You because if a family doesn’t
TOP Holding donated books, Ghari Baksha village children who have migrated from poorer Central Indian states to provide agricultural labour in Punjab and attend the Youth for You evening school after working in the fields as child labourers.
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have enough money to send all their children to school, the boys get first priority. Gemma’s charity wants to change this, because it knows that educated girls can go on to do great things: her eldest sponsor girl, Garganjo, is now studying at a good Engineering College, and is really passionate about improving LED technology to bring better lighting to poor rural areas “My professional and academic background, together with my personal experiences, mean that, today, I am passionate about making economies more sustainable in the broadest sense: I now deeply understand we cannot conserve our environment without considering poverty, and we cannot reduce poverty without being responsible for our environment. I worked overseas in the USA in my 20’s and returned to New Zealand to be part of the rebuild of Christchurch after the earthquakes and spent several years building business and accounting experience within the rebuild industry. I wanted to contribute to my city, but also gain a more realistic understanding of the business that would be so critical to any sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and environmental responsibility agenda.” In her application for a Freemasons University Scholarship, Gemma said. “I have now returned to study to bring all of these parts of my life together and learn more about the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of creating sustainable nations and economies, to find a way to implement the ‘what’ of science and the environment I learned those years ago. I passionately believe that we have the solutions for a sustainable future, but bringing this knowledge into practice is complex and challenging.”
think about social issues, so they can be engaged in such issues and speak out as participating citizens when they’re older. Thus, we chose socially-conscious subjects such as the use of social media, issues around gender equality, and environmental change.” Jemma says that the idea of education in charity is a bit of a banner, a catch-all which can be a bit overused. “I was always cynical that it was a feel-good word that might be used to cover up a whole lot of detail in the messy world of poverty and developing countries. But, when I got down to it, education is actually very important. Each time I connect with a student through Youth for You and help to get into primary or high school, I can’t help but feel sad because I know that, even in school, there might not be enough teachers to teach her. Even if she gets to college and university, there might not be a job for her.” On the home front
“This year I helped Youth for You run an essay-writing competition in the district. While Kiwi kids might not find this a super fun thing to participate in, the average Punjabi student doesn’t get access to anything outside textbooks. The idea of a competition and prize is pretty cool. Youth for You wanted to give students the confidence and practice to
As evidence of how much she cares about how others live locally, Jemma has bought a small unit in a low-income area. She found tenants from potentially vulnerable groups in terms of, the elderly, and young migrants. She strives to provide the best housing she can for her tenants who do not have strong community support. She does this by approaching her role as a landlord with the intention of being caring, personally connected and responsible, and providing the kind of house she would like to live in, above and beyond the bare legal standards. Jemma is an example of how one person can make a difference in their community one life at a time. Morris Robertson
FROM TOP Donating a reverse-osmosis water filter and rubbish bin to a Government primary school in Jalandhar District, Punjab Gemma distributing summer sandals to students at the Youth for You free evening school in Ghari Baksha Village Gemma distributing end of year awards and new year supplies to primary school children in a village near Dasua, Punjab
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RECONNECTING WITH MASONIC ELDER CARE
Opportunities for Freemasons Care for our Elders is a basic principle for Freemasons who, for many years have been giving back to their communities and to their own members. Masonic senior homes and senior care is just another way that their members are taken care of in later life. And, over most of their period of existence, these homes have opened their doors to the general public.
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ew Zealand’s Charitable Masonic Elder Care Trusts look after many hundreds of our elderly citizens, most of whom have no masonic connection, in 33 Masonic Villages, with nearly 1,200 villas, units and care beds within existing facilities. The last two decades have seen the development of commercial retirement villages, Ryman and Metlifecare being examples. The outcome of this competition has seen many smaller facilities fade and caused several Masonic Villages to review their financial positions. The Masonic Villages Trust, based in Lower Hutt has progressively added other villages to its portfolio, either by absorbing them or by providing a range of management services aimed at reducing their costs. Further information on the Masonic Villages Trust portfolio can be found on their two sponsored pages in each issue of this magazine. As this article can only touch on a small number of the 33 villages, three Trusts have been singled out to show a range of what is on offer.
Knightsbridge Masonic Village.
Northland District Masonic Trust
The five villages, created by the 14 Lodges around Northland, are made up of two in Whangarei, two in Dargaville and one in Wellsford. The Trust adheres to the rules and regulations in place under the Retirement Villages Act 2003. Two types of housing are available at three of the villages – rental properties and Occupation Right units, where a person or couple can purchase the right to live at the unit, as their home for as long as they require it. The villages at Kauri Court in Dargaville and Maunu Masonic village in Whangarei have rental units only. The number of rental units and Occupational Rights Agreement units does vary from time to time as the Trust has the flexibility to change the unit use based on customer demand. 24
Masonic Court, Whanganui.
Wellsford Masonic Village.
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Napier District Masonic Trust
The Napier District Masonic Trust was incorporated in December 1961 to assist in charitable, educational and scientific purposes, to supply the needs of the sick, aged and infirm and to help the needy, as well as to assist organisations of similar mind. The immediate objective was to build 12 pensioner flats with a plan to extend the number as finance became available. Currently the Trust has eight Occupational Right Villages plus a rental site, a total of 209 units in and around Taradale and Napier. In 1986 the Trust developed a Rest Home and Continuing Care unit. The facility is a vibrant and superb service to residents cared for by a dedicated team of health care assistants and nurses. Ruapehu Masonic Association Trust
Masonic Court Village and Rest Home was established near the banks of the Whanganui River 40 years ago, and it continues to service the local community very well. It was created by the Ruapehu Masonic Association Trust and it is still managed by trust members with the aim of providing care to the highest level to those in need. Masonic Court prides itself on being a not-for-profit, community focussed facility serving the Whanganui region’s people. The complex has continued to grow over the years. Bridging the gap
When most of the Masonic Elder Care Trusts were established there was a strong presence of Freemasons in their management. As the original participants grew older, places on the Trusts became harder to fill and the proportion of outside Trustees grew with a realisation dawning that there could eventually be a situation where there were no Freemasons on a Trust. As a means of remedying this situation Senior Officers of Grand Lodge met earlier this year with representatives of the various Trusts and a course of action was
Family day at Masonic Court, Whanganui.
agreed whereby there would be a reconnection between Freemasons NZ and the Trusts. Proposed actions include District Grand Masters facilitating greater links between Lodges and Villages, investigating and promoting joint projects and identifying competent potential trustees for Masonic Elder Care Trusts. However, the drifting apart is not evident in all areas. For example, Bryce Smith, Secretary of Ruapehu Masonic Association Trust, reports that. “In relation to the matter of connection with Lodges, current or desired, we only have six constituent Lodges and the Trust has a delegate from each Lodge with a responsibility to report back to their Lodge. Additionally, we have held open days and we invite the local Masters to any function that we can, usually the Christmas party and any special function, e.g. we had a performance from the Wanganui Opera School last January to which we invited the local Masters to attend and many did so.”
The last words go to RWBro Jim Watt, Divisional Grand Master, Central Division…
“The various Masonic Eldercare Trusts were initially formed by the Lodges to meet the demands of affordable Elder Care, not only for our members and widows but also for the community at large. Over time these have evolved in very large businesses, managing million dollar turnovers and offering all levels of care to self-managed units through to full dementia care. These Trusts are an important part of the ‘face’ of Freemasonry and it is imperative that Lodges and Brethren remain connected and involved. The Trusts also offer an opportunity for suitably qualified Freemasons to become involved as Trustees or Directors and I would encourage any Brother who is interested in this side of our charitable activities to contact their local Trust, or myself.” Morris Robertson
Masonic Elder Care Trusts www.freemasonsnz.org
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Bringing out the latent talent Supporting Vincents Art Workshop Tucked away behind some shops in Upper Willis Street, Wellington is Vincents Art Workshop, a place of learning and creativity, which contributes to healthy communities. It hums with artists, activity, ideas and regular exhibitions. For some years it has received support from Empire Fergusson Lodge and, recently, Herbert TeagleTaia Lodge, together with The Freemasons Charity.
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incents Art Workshop is no ordinary training or communal space but is an essential social service set up in 1985 in response to Government policies of deinstitutionalisation from psychiatric hospitals. It is a community based initiative providing access to arts and craft facilities, skilled tuition, and materials within a supportive environment. All people are welcome and it is free. People with disabilities, those moving into the community from institutions, the unemployed, people on low incomes and anyone at all from the wider community are welcome. An average of 30 people use the workshop every day, and all work together to make Vincents an exciting and creative place to be.
Artist at work.
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Vincents provides an art space, art materials and equipment, together with a high standard of art and craft tuition, and, importantly, supportive structured studio spaces with skilled tuition in particular techniques or mediums. The workshop’s history hasn’t always been straightforward. From 2004, its home was in Press House on Willis St. When the building was sold for redevelopment a new location had to be found. With help from the Wellington City Council, the current home was found in Willis Street Village. “This was the sort of place I’d dreamed about since 1993,” Glen McDonald, long term Co-ordinator says. “The moment I walked in I could see just what each space could be used
for: a gallery, kitchen space, offices and storage areas and three art studios, right down to where the kiln would go, I had fantastic help from locals. Developer, Maurice Clark, who had bought the previous building, offered his workers’ time and efforts to help with the move and the refit. The new site, central, accessible and easily found, has boosted the numbers attending the creative space. Between the start of July 2017 and April 2018 there were more than 400 people registered with an active art plan and using the venue. As Glen McDonald says. “This is a place that models how the world should be. A place where everyone, disabled or not, can belong to a community. Anyone
Co-ordinator Glen McDonald with visitors from Empire Fergusson Lodge, Geoff Fellows, Brian Black, Bill Hudson and Russell Pratt.
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Wellington City Community Award / Arts & Culture: September 2001 and the Silver Cup for Best Overall Illumination in the Illuminated Night Parade, Cuba St Carnival: February 2009 Over the past eight years Empire Fergusson Lodge has supported Vincents Art Workshop to the tune of over $20,000, thus helping to ensure that it has the wherewithal to acquire the equipment it needs and the consumables, such as pottery clay, to continue its activities. Following the untimely death of Kapiti-Wellington District Grand
TOP Newly installed District Grand Master, Russell Pratt, auctioning a painting under the watchful eye of the District Charity officer, Bill van Waas. ABOVE Vincents donors wall. RIGHT UPPER Emptying the kiln. RIGHT LOWER Geoff Fellows with tutor Andrew Mitchell, noting a laptop purchased with a Lodge donation
wanting to express themselves creatively is welcome here. The only criteria are that you want to be here and you want to be creative.” Over the years Vincents Art Workshop has been the recipient of many awards including winner of the National Mental Health Award: Community Integration – March 2000, winner of the TrustPower
From personal experience, I can relate my sister in law’s experience. She is intellectually handicapped but is independent with support. Vincent’s have become like a family. Her art has developed really well. She has great self-esteem and it is such a positive experience for her. This is a typical experience. A supportive Freemason Master, Merv Johnston, Russell Pratt was selected in his place. His Installation took place in Empire Fergusson Lodge on 22 March 2018. Despite all else that was happening on the evening Russell concluded it with a well-supported auction, which included art works from Vincents Art Workshop. From the evening, a sum of $1,034 was raised to support much needed equipment for the workshop. With the addition of a 2:1 grant from The Freemasons Charity taking it to $3,103 a wish list of much needed items was able to be purchased to support the activities of the workshop. The support continues with a further auction of Vincents paintings in conjunction with Empire Fergusson’s annual whisky tasting evening. This raised $1,200. The benefits to the recipient are that Vincents Art Workshop is able to provide its students the equipment and materials the equipment and materials they need and to work collegially in a safe environment. Morris Robertson
Gallery of art works for sale.
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Remembering BJ599
The story of a special relationship On the evening of 28 July 1942 Wellington bomber BJ559 of 75 [NZ] Squadron took off from Feltwell airfield in Norfolk and headed for Hamburg. It was one of 256 aircraft planned to take place in the Mission. Bad weather prevented several of them from taking off and, for others, including BJ559, many did not return. This story has a New Zealand and Freemasonry connection which has endured to this day.
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he Navigator on the fateful flight was 19-year old New Zealander, Pilot Officer Murray Ellis Carncross. Murray embarked for Canada in May 1941 and was attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force the following month. He was then attached to the RAF where he was later commissioned. The flightpath took the bomber across the North Sea to a position near the mouth of the river Elbe and then direct to Hamburg where it achieved its objective before heading south towards Soltau, which was its waypoint for the aircraft to turn and head for England.
At some time during the attack BJ559 caught fire, possibly from heavy flak. Still on fire it headed towards Soltau, managing to follow its designated course. In the area of Steinbeck, some 35 km from Hamburg, there was a battery of searchlights, which coned the approaching aircraft. The pilot was probably blinded by the searchlights and, with the fire still burning, he appears to have made a steep dive in an attempt to extinguish the flames. The plane did not recover and crashed into a cornfield about 3 km from the searchlights. All members of the crew perished and were buried in the Municipal Cemetery at Stade. They
Murray Carncross.
were later reinterred and buried in the Cemetery at Becklingen, constructed under the direction of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The story took on a new and poignant twist, nearly 70 years later, when Cynthia Coomber, wife and mother respectively of NZ Pacific Lodge Freemasons and former soldiers, Brian and Martin Coomber, read an article published in the Dominion Post in November 2009. It referred to German customs officer and army reservist Hans-Heinrich Meyer who had met New Zealanders in Italy, where he had laid a wreath on behalf of his army unit at a ceremony marking the
THE WELLINGTON BOMBER: A MAJOR STEP IN AIRCRAFT DESIGN The Wellington Bomber, in which Murray Carncross and others so tragically lost their lives was designed by Sir Barnes Wallis, best known for his bouncing bombs, which destroyed the Ruhr dams. It was a major advancement
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in aircraft design. Sir Barnes drew upon his experience of designing pre-war lightweight airships. His principal breakthrough was the development of geodesic curves formed from alloy strip, creating an immensely strong helical structure. This could provide the outer shape of wings and fuselage without internal bracing, which could then be used for fuel tanks and payload. The resulting plane was superior to the Air Ministry specification, outstripping any other bomber in terms of speed, bomb load, range and ceiling. www.freemasonsnz.org
LEFT  Sir Barnes Wallis at work. ABOVE  Geodesic designed Wellingtons.
Eleven thousand were produced, becoming the mainstay of Bomber Command until 1943 and continuing in other theatres until the end of the war. The Wellington was later used as a jet engine testbed and to pioneer high altitude pressure cabins.
BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY
LEFT Brian and Cynthia with the two ‘boys’ who had witnessed the crash. RIGHT Brian and Cynthia Coomber, flanked by Hans Heinrich and Magdelene Meyer at Murray’s graveside.
60th anniversary of the Battle of Cassino. This experience strengthened his feeling for New Zealanders and had resulted in his visiting this country in 2006 and, subsequently, making several return visits. Following his initial return to Germany Hans-Heinrich located the graves of 38 New Zealand airmen buried in Becklingen War Cemetery. He chose at random to tend one of them, that of Spitfire pilot, Luke Barnes, as a token of his admiration for all of them. He began to fly the New Zealand flag and organised Anzac remembrance services at the cemetery. On at least one occasion, the New Zealand Ambassador to Germany, Rodney Harris, attended the ceremony. Herr Meyer subsequently photographed the headstones of all New Zealand graves at Becklingen and has since endeavoured to track down the families of the men buried there. He is a Member of the German War Graves Commission and, for his services to New Zealand/German relations, he was awarded an Honorary Queens Service Medal in 2014. Alerted to Hans-Heinrich’s efforts, Cynthia and Brian Coomber made contact with him as Pilot Officer Murray Ellis Carncross was Cynthia’s cousin. This opened up a new and continuing relationship between the Coomber family, Hans-Heinrich and his fellow citizens. This relationship was cemented when Cynthia and Brian embarked on a tour of Europe in 2012. Following an invitation from the Fallingbostel-Walsrode Reserve Corps, of which Herr Meyer is the President, they accepted an invitation to
take time out in the village of Dorfmark where a comprehensive programme had been prepared for them. This included a visit to the crash site near Steinbeck and a memorial service at the War Cemetery where, in a sermon, Reverend Peter Heneghen found fitting words from the Bible to give comfort to the Coombers seven decades after the tragic events. Brian Coomber expressed his thanks in the name of his family and the other New Zealand families who had relatives to mourn in the region.
The site of Becklingen War Cemetery, laid out in 1951, was chosen for its position on a hillside overlooking Luneburg Heath where, on 4 May 1945, Field-Marshal Montgomery accepted the German surrender from Admiral Doenitz. Burials were brought into the cemetery from isolated sites in the countryside, small German cemeteries and prisoner of war camp cemeteries within a radius of about 80 kilometres. Becklingen War Cemetery contains 2,374 Commonwealth burials including 38 New Zealanders. Like almost all Commonwealth War Grave cemeteries, the layout follows standard guidelines. Its architectural design stems from the British architect Philip Dalton Hepworth. Cemeteries based on his design comprise two central elements and a memorial hall, rows of gravestones and a simple lawn layout. The large Cross of Sacrifice with its crusader sword and the altar stone are aligned on the same axis and linked by a wide swathe of grass. The altar stone, with the inscription “Their Name Liveth For Evermore”, was built on circular bed created especially for it. The gravestones, set at ground level and surrounded by small beds, are made of white sandstone, are laid out in rows to the right and left of the central grass strip which runs in a straight line from the altar to the high cross.
TOP Brian Coomber, Hans-Heinrich Meyer and Martin Coomber. ABOVE Early morning gathering at the Becklingen graveside.
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TOP Brian Coomber speaking with Paul Canham waiting in the wings ABOVE Martin Coomber delivering the ode.
The local Mayor of Steinbeck, Kurt Holzer had discovered that two 12-year old boys, had witnessed the crash, even though they had been told by their parents not to go outside the house. Now in
their late 80’s they met Brian and Cynthia at the still visible depression marking the crash site and recalled what they had seen. On 29th July, this year the relationship continued with a special ceremony held at the Pukeahu National War Memorial in Wellington where, since ANZAC Day 2015, the New Zealand Defence Force, in partnership with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, has been marking the First World War centenary each evening at 5pm with a Last Post ceremony. The date was chosen to coincide with another visit by Hans-Heinrich Meyer. At 4pm on that day there was a gathering in the Hall of Memories, which included the extended Coomber and Canham families, former Ambassador to Germany Rodney Harris and a group in Germany, assembled by the Becklingen grave and linked by live iPad video. Various stories were told about the life of Murray Carncross, the circumstances of his tragic death and the relationships which had since been cemented between New Zealand and Germany.
Paul Canham, another cousin of Murray Carncross, spoke of his having met him as a 4-year old. Paul remembers his mother’s grief at the news of the crash but, to an 8-year old boy it had no real meaning. “To me at that age, you went to war, you fought, you got killed or you didn’t. It was only later that I understood the depth of the tragedy.” Shortly before 5pm, with Defence personnel now present, the participants moved outside for the Last Post Ceremony. It was symbolic that, on this occasion the Ode, normally delivered in English and te reo Maori, was also given in German by Hans-Heinrich Meyer. The story of Murray Carncross was further tinged with sadness at the ceremony by the memory of Cynthia Coomber who had passed away in June. Morris Robertson with thanks to the Coomber family
THE LAST POST The first daily public Last Post ceremony was held at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on Anzac Day 2015 and will be conducted every evening until 11 November 2018. The ceremony begins at 5pm each night in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. The service, which lasts approximately 7 minutes, incorporates the lowering of the two New Zealand flags at the Memorial, the playing of the Last Post, the observation of one minute’s silence and the recitation of the Ode of Remembrance in both te reo Māori and English. The Last Post is a bugle call with two generally accepted purposes. The first is an implied summoning of the spirits of the fallen to the Cenotaph, the second symbolically ends the day. 30
Similar daily ceremonies have been conducted at the Menin Gate in Belgium and at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris since the 1920s, and a daily ceremony is also conducted at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. The roles of the Flag Orderlies and the IC are performed by members of the New Zealand Defence Force, but the bugler and the Ode Reciter roles are open to anyone who wants to be involved. Details at https://mch.govt.nz/last-post www.freemasonsnz.org
The grave of Murray Carncross.
Secrets, privileges and mysteries At the time of writing this article I am sitting in the garden of a 500-year-old house in southern England. I was meditating on the “secrets and mysteries” of Freemasonry. The secrets are few and become well known to a freemason as he progresses through our three degrees. Likewise, the privileges are few: we are allowed to visit other lodges and observe their work, we can invite our family and friends to attend Grand Installation when we accept a new Grand Master, we are sometimes asked to give Charges and take part in our own ceremonies in our own Lodge. One of the privileges that has changed slightly is that we can now initiate any man from eighteen years of age (from 1 November 2018). But the son of a Freemason, who is called a ‘Lewis’, will still be initiated before all others. But what of the mysteries? Looking round at the flowers and shrubs in this summer garden (remember I am in England in August), I notice that leaves on different bushes have different leaf shapes and colour, but plants of the same type produce leaves of the same shape. So, I am thinking, what makes these leaves the same? What causes this to happen? What is the driving force behind a plant producing its leaves in a similar shape and colour? Then I look at my hands and observe that my fingers have the same shape and only really differ in size. What driving force in my body makes this happen? Is my whole body driven by a lifeforce? Are we all driven by the same life-force? This is a mystery we don’t understand but we do see its effects on us, and plants, and everything else. What if this life-force is from TGAOTU, well beyond our understanding? Freemasons talk of Brotherly Love, could this be driven by the life-force from TGAOTU? It is a fact that if you smile at someone and are kind they will usually
respond in a friendly manner. Is this how Brotherly Love begins to work? Is this one of the mysteries of Freemasonry? Another mysterious fact is how Freemasonry started and has lasted so long, at least 300 years. What was the driving force behind that? What was it that drove well-to-do and sometimes “titled” gentry to adopt a working-man’s practice? What is it that drives freemasons to
trust one another? We have all shared in a set of peculiar ceremonies and carry a piece of paper that says we are freemasons but what mysterious force guides us to put trust in this? This is one of the lesser known mysteries of Freemasonry. Freemasonry is spread over most countries on Earth which is in itself a
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mystery. What has driven this to happen? What mysterious force has lead the ceremonies to be very similar wherever you go in countries speaking a variety of languages? One thought is that it does come from TGAOTU which is not of this physical world, but from another dimension beyond our Earthly world. This we label the spiritual world mainly because we do not understand it, it is mysterious to us. We are using the words “mysterious” and “mystery” to indicate that which we do not understanding. Maybe one day we will understand a bit more than we do today. So, when we talk of the mysteries of Freemasonry we are really noting events and happenings that we can’t explain in the physical world. An important observation is that these events and happenings occur because of our ceremonies of making a freeason and that is the biggest mystery of them all. VWBro George Allan PGLec Masonic Education contributor
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THE MASONIC VILLAGES “Good things” at Manadon Masonic Village
Manadon Masonic Village residents enjoying some Taranaki sunshine
The grounds are immaculate and residents have moved into their comfortable new homes. Manadon Masonic Village is now complete, three years after the first resident moved in. The development was initiated five years ago by the Taranaki Masonic Trust which became part of The Masonic Villages Trust last year. Taranaki Masonic Villages manager Melanie Corbett says the eight villas in the last stage of the development “sold like hot cakes”. Like the other two Masonic Villages in New Plymouth there is now a waiting list of prospective residents. “At Manadon we provide 37 comfortable, modern, sunny homes in a great location. The Village Hall is in constant use and is often used for private family gatherings. There’s a bus stop outside, a supermarket at the end of street and a doctor, pharmacist, cafes and other services a couple of minutes away,” she says. “All these things are important, but a lot of people chose the Village because of its size. They enjoy being part of a smaller village which allows them more living space and the freedom to do what they want.” The first resident to move into the Village, Marion Walker, says the Masonic heritage of the Village was important to her. Her son-in-law is a Taranaki Freemason, so the connection is personal. But on a day-to-day basis, it’s the location.
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maintenance. All that’s done for us at Manadon. Melanie is very good; she responds really quickly if we need anything.” Marion bought her villa off the plans and moved in on 5 June 2015. “I sit in my living room on a fine day and look out to the mountain [Mt Taranaki] and when I am standing at the kitchen bench I can see the ocean,” she says. Marion says the Village is a happy place. Some residents, like her, are keen gardeners. “We don’t have a formal residents’ committee. It’s free and easy. We work together informally and try to keep everyone informed. If something’s on in town, a group of us may go together. There’s an active walking group and Happy Hour. Some play bowls and others play cards.” Retired carpenter John Kristiansen moved into his villa – the last one to be occupied – on 8 June this year. A widower, who has had some major health issues, he became part of the Village life almost as soon as he arrived.
At Manadon she’s closer to her daughter, who farms with her husband and children about half an hour away.
“I had sold my house because I was unwell and couldn’t maintain it anymore. I had a cash offer so I had to make up my mind quickly. It was a cold and miserable day when I looked at the villa. It was warm inside and nice and light,” he says.
“I used to live in a split level home on a split level section, so I’m also less of a nuisance to them when it comes to property
“So I bought it. I had seen other villages, but one was just too big and another was pretty closed in. Manadon is just right. It’s also in a
TRUST
The Masonic Villages Trust is a charity set up in 1960 by Freemasons in the southern North Island to provide care and services for older people. The Trust and its two charitable operating companies, Masonic Care Ltd and Masonic Villages Ltd, have an enviable reputation for providing great care, great homes and great communities to people from all walks of life.
neighbours. I am also very grateful for the help Melanie, the village manager, gave me when I moved it. I wouldn’t shift again for quids.” Born in Wellington and raised in Wainuiomata, where he still has a sister, John moved to New Plymouth in 1978, when he was 30. He worked as a carpenter doing house alterations and the like, and for several years he worked for the big oil companies. “When I became crook I gave away 90 per cent of my tools. But since I have been in Manadon I have really picked up, so I’ve been doing small jobs for my friends. So I keep on having to borrow my tools back!” he laughs. John has a son and grandchildren living in North America, but he doesn’t want for younger company. After his wife Lorraine died in 2006 he became close to a young couple living next door to his family home. He talks fondly of their children. John picks two of them up from preschool two days a week and keeps them occupied until Mum or Dad get back from work. He’s never been involved with Freemasonry but says, “From my point of view the Masons are doing good things.”
John Kristiansen says it was the right decision to move into Manadon. “The design of the village is great. I wouldn’t shift again for quids.”
part of town where I have lived most of my adult life.” John says it was the right decision. “The design of the Village is great. All the villas get sun all the day, which is important in winter when it’s freezing outside. All the people have been very nice and I have lovely
You can help us
The Masonic Villages Trust operates on the charitable and benevolent principles that lie at the core of Freemasonry. For those who can afford a comfortable retirement we offer modern villas, boutique apartments and care suites. For older people of limited means we provide care and (in some of our villages) rental accommodation. We also have villages located in suburbs and provincial towns where it is uneconomic for commercial providers to operate. The Trust can afford to provide these services to older New Zealanders only because of generous donations and bequests from individual Freemasons, Lodges and members of the wider community. If you would like to donate to the Trust or make a bequest in your Will, please contact our chief executive Warick Dunn, phone 04 569 8512, email warick.dunn@masonicvillages.co.nz
New director for Trust’s subsidiaries A third independent professional director has been appointed to the boards of The Masonic Villages Trust’s charitable operating companies, Masonic Villages Limited and Masonic Care Limited.
Grant McGregor is an ex-private equity investor and banker who works with Grant McGregor business owners and boards of growing businesses like the Trust. He has a particular interest and expertise in the retirement village and aged care industry, with experience as CEO, independent director, advisor and banker. There are seven directors on the Trust’s charitable operating companies. Three are independent professionals: Sean Hannan (chair), Iris Reuvecamp and Grant. The four others are Freemasons who also serve on the Trust’s board, Trust chair Steven Molotsky, Bill Arcus, Keith Mitchell and Mike Pope. The Trust itself has 10 Trustees, all of whom are either Freemasons, or have strong connections with the craft. Five of them are appointed by the Divisional Grand Master, currently Jim Watt.
The Masonic Villages Trust 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
Gender reassignment Freemasons in the United Kingdom have moved on this with a forward thinking and compassionate policy, which makes interesting reading. 1. Scope
This policy sets out UGLE’s approach to the issues raised for Freemasonry by gender reassignment. It is intended to help guide Lodges in their decision making. It does not impose binding rules and although it gives some general guidance on discrimination law it does not constitute legal advice. This Policy does not attempt to address all the issues relating to gender which may arise as gender reassignment and gender transition become more prevalent in a changing society and when they do they will need to be addressed in accordance with Masonic principles of lawfulness, kindness and tolerance. 2. General
It is important that any situation involving gender reassignment of a Freemason is treated with the utmost compassion and sensitivity and that the individual is supported throughout the process. If a Freemason who is a member of UGLE wishes to change gender and become a woman we expect that the Freemason would receive the full support of their brethren. The privacy of the individual should be respected and there will normally be no requirement to inform the applicable Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretary or the Grand Secretary about this change. 3. Applications for admission
A candidate for admission to Free masonry under the jurisdiction of UGLE
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must be a man. Should a person who has undergone gender reassignment and has become a man apply to become a Freemason then his application must be processed in the same way as for any other male candidate. Any qualified candidate for admission may be proposed for membership of a private lodge in accordance with the provisions in the Rules contained in the Book of Constitutions. No candidate should be subjected to questions about their gender which could make them feel uncomfortable. 4. Continued membership
A Freemason who after initiation ceases to be a man does not cease to be a Freemason. We expect that Freemasons will act with compassion and sensitivity towards their fellow Freemasons. We hope that no Freemason would engage in unwanted conduct relating to another Freemason’s actual or perceived gender reassignment or gender transition. Such conduct would not only be unmasonic but is also unlawful if it has the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for, the victim. 5. Resignation from the Craft
A Freemason who becomes a woman is not required to resign from the Craft.
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If a person resigns from the Craft then they and their dependants might no longer be eligible for some of the benefits provided by the Masonic charities now or in the future. 6. Exclusion from a Lodge
A Lodge may vote to exclude any member for sufficient cause. The following grounds would constitute unlawful discrimination and so could never constitute sufficient cause: a. The fact that a member has legally become a woman; b. A mistaken belief that a member has legally become a woman; c. The fact that a member is in the process of transition from male to female; or d. A mistaken belief that a member is in the process of transitioning from male to female. Similarly a Lodge must not attempt to persuade a member to resign from the Lodge or discriminate against a member based on any of these grounds. A Lodge must not at any time require a member to prove that they are legally a man. 7. Amendment
The law and what is considered best practice in this area are developing rapidly. This policy may be amended from time to time and so please ensure that you are referring to the latest version. Date adopted: 17 July 2018 Source: The United Grand Lodge of England
The Royal Order of Scotland Introduction
The Royal Order occupies a branch of the Masonic ‘family tree’ alongside the Order of the Holy Royal Arch, the Order of the Secret Monitor, and several others. Unlike most of the others there is no direct connection to a higher branch such as the Order of Knights Templar or the Red Cross of Constantine, so the Royal Order stands alone. History
Records of the Grand Lodge of England show that the Order was active in London in 1741, and in 1750 a Charter was issued to a William Mitchell to work the degree at The Hague. Mitchell moved to Edinburgh in 1752 or 1753 and used the Charter to establish a Provincial Grand Lodge of the Order there. In 1767 that body became the Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland. Thus the Order can claim seniority over every other Masonic Order except the Craft. It has existed in New Zealand since 1919. The Traditional History of the Order, which must not be mistaken for actual history, represents the First Degree as dating from the time of King David I of Scotland, and the Second Degree as instituted by King Robert the Bruce on the battlefield of Bannockburn, on the 24th of June 1314, to commemorate the valour of a band of Templar Knights who had rendered him signal aid in that great victory. These Templars were refugee survivors who had sought safety in Scotland after the downfall of the Order of the Temple and the murder in Paris of the Grand Master Jacques de Molay in March of that year. Structure
The Grand Master of the Royal Order is the hereditary King of Scots. While there is no King of Scots the head is the Deputy Grand Master and Governor of the Order, currently Sir Archibald Donald Orr-Ewing, 6th Baronet of Ballikinrain and Lennoxbank. The Order consists of the Grand Lodge in Edinburgh and 88 Provincial Grand Lodges throughout the world. The
Provincial Grand Lodges are the basic units of the Order, there are no Lodges. There are four Provincial Grand Lodges in New Zealand: NZ North in Auckland, NZ Central in Wellington, Canterbury in Christchurch, and NZ South in Dunedin. The Provincial Grand Lodges are governed directly by the Grand Lodge in Scotland. The Order in New Zealand comprises about 150 members. There are two degrees: Brother of Heredom of Kilwinning and Knight of the Rosy Cross. The former is conferred in Provincial Grand Chapter, and Brothers of Heredom are “promoted” to the Knighthood of the Rosy Cross in Provincial Grand Lodge. Terry Knight. Membership
The essential and universal qualifications for applicants are: Membership of the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry Five years or more as a Master Mason in a St John’s Lodge Profession of the Trinitarian Christian faith. The first two requirements cannot be altered by any Province, but some Provinces do not require profession of the Trinitarian faith. In addition to these fundamental requirements, Provinces are free to impose additional conditions, and many do so, the most common being the requirement of membership of the Holy Royal Arch. Some Provinces require candidates for membership to be members of the Order of Knights Templar or the Red Cross of Constantine. The Province of
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NZ Central does not require those additional qualifications. Most importantly, membership is by invitation only. Dress and regalia
Dress: Dress for meetings is dark lounge suit or Highland Dress. A number of members regularly wear traditional Scottish dress, trews or a kilt, or a tartan tie. Regalia: Brother of Heredom: An apron with a scarlet border, a scarlet cordon or baldric worn over the left shoulder, and the badge of the Order on the left breast of the jacket. Knight of the Rosy Cross. An apron with a green and scarlet border and, in addition to the scarlet baldric and breast badge, a green baldric worn over the right shoulder. Knights also wear a green and gold strap around the upper left arm with the words ‘Virtute et Silentio’ meaning power and silence. Officers’ titles in both degrees are the same or very similar, eg, Provincial Grand Guardian in the Chapter is Provincial Grand Warden in the Lodge. Officers’ collars are double sided, red for the Chapter and Green for the Lodge, and jewels are the same for both degrees. Joining
If you meet the membership requirements and wish to be considered for membership of our Provincial Grand Lodge we would be delighted to receive a petition for membership from you. Just contact the Provincial Grand Secretary whose contact details are below: Provincial Grand Secretary RWBro Jock McColl 24 Rosebank Avenue Avalon Lower Hutt 5011 jsmccoll@orcon.net.nz Alternatively talk to any member of our Order.
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Questions of support Benevolence is one of the cornerstones of Freemasonry, practiced in several ways, through support for individuals, charitable projects and, especially support for Lodge widows. However, it is not just the widows who deserve the on-going care of our Lodges. Support for widows
The March 2018 issue of this magazine offered, on page 32, a number of guidelines for the role of Lodge Almoner, some of which are worth repeating. When the Almoner is invested at the Installation, his duties are stated as: to visit the sick and needy and to dispense such comforts, as in your opinion, are necessary, reporting thereon to the Lodge at the first opportunity thereafter. In some Lodges, the Almoners duties extend very much to the Lodge widows as well as to our own Brethren. There has been some assumption that the Lodge Almoner is also the Lodge Charity Officer. They are quite separate roles. The broken column
The broken column memorializes the end of our earthly life. Surrounding the broken column are acacia leaves, symbolic of our eternal life. It can be presented to the Widow at an appropriate time in a caring and compassionate way and
only to widows who are positive about Freemasonry. The Masonic Widows pin is a brooch that can be worn at any Freemasons function they may attend worldwide. It has universal recognition that any assistance required by the wearer will receive the immediate attention of any Freemason approached in moments of distressed circumstances. The columns can be sourced from Freemasons New Zealand National Office. Support for widowers too
When the wife or partner of a Brother passes away there is usually good support, at the time of the funeral, from the members of his Lodge and other Freemasonry friends. About a month later, when the family has gone home to a faraway town or country and the lasagne has been consumed, the Brother, now a widower, can often find himself in a vacuum, alone and unsure about some everyday tasks, once the province of his partner. He may also be unsure of
his own future and facing decisions as to whether he should remain in the now echoing family home or eventually plan to move to a retirement village or other elder care facility. This is when he needs a good listener to help him through the decision-making process. Elder Care
An article elsewhere in this issue traverses the subject of Masonic Villages. Given the extensive advertising by the commercial Retirement Village operators, the Masonic Village alternatives can fall under the radar. There has been a growing disconnect between some Lodges and the villages in their area. For those couples, widows or widowers contemplating a move a serious look at the Masonic option is well worthwhile. As well as reconnecting with Masonic Villages Lodges are encouraged to facilitate discussion on the subject with their members and partners, widows and widowers who are facing their future accommodation needs. If you are already fulfilling this role please tell us about it.
It can be hard to give money away: Connecting with your communities As reported in the last issue of this magazine the funds available to support Lodge community projects exceed the grant requests made to The Freemasons Charity. Why is this the case? Procedures to difficult. No – They were simplified 13 years ago, both the application requirements and the response times from the Charity. they have ensured that well planned projects can now be implemented without undue delays and lead to highly successful outcomes. Can’t find a project. How about partnering with local community groups where assistance can be provided to the benefit of both parties and provides the opportunity to create interest in enquiring about Freemasonry. 36
Why doesn’t The Freemasons Charity make contact with community groups on a nationwide basis? Communities of interest and their identifiable needs vary across the spectrum of city, suburban and rural Lodges. Thus, it is not feasible for the Charity, as a national entity, to promote local community projects on the assumption that one size fits all. When you connect with your community your Lodge is SPEAKING UP www.freemasonsnz.org/charity
MISTAKES YOU CAN BANK ON Contributions to The Freemasons Charity sometimes end up in the wrong bank account and vice versa. Even more difficult is when both are sent as one deposit. The Freemasons Charity account is 06 0501 015360 00. Enter Lodge name & no. and a reference, e.g. ‘Charity donation’. The Freemasons NZ account, for capitation fees, is 06 0501 015360 04. In either case please identify the sender.
Letter to Freemasons – Picking winners
B
ack in 2005 Mark Winger, now Grand Master, set about the task of modernising the rather cumbersome procedures of the then Grand Lodge Board of Benevolence. One of his first tasks was to recruit a leader who could lead the new body, The Freemasons Charity, into the future. He picked a winner in appointing Sheila Hicking.
Sheila as she wished to be remembered, during happier days in the office with Shelley.
Sadly, Sheila passed away in June after suffering several months from a sudden and debilitating illness. In a message to the memory of Sheila, delivered at her memorial service on 22 June, Mark Winger included. “Sheila, when we started our journey back in 2005, we had some challenges to face and some attitudes to change in Freemasonry. Now, twelve years later, you can look back with absolute pride on the bridges that have been built, the restructuring that has been accomplished, the good that has been spread throughout New Zealand
society, all with the enthusiasm and dedication you brought to the process.” With your dedication, we turned a previously slow, cumbersome process with inflexible rules upside down, rebranded with a modern name and image, restyled the type of assistance provided, and modernised the procedures so we could deliver benevolence to those in need within 24 hours. Thousands of silent recipients are grateful for your efforts in getting help to them when they needed it, not months later Community projects helping Masonic Lodges raise local profile while doing good in society. Hundreds of university scholars and their families enthused with the support they received, including our current Prime Minister. Mixing with the man and woman in the street – or with royalty, Prime Ministers, and senior community leaders – all done with your elegance and good grace. The list goes on.” Yes, Mark Winger picked a winner when he recruited Sheila. But, Sheila too could pick winners as evidenced by the 2016 Scholarships when she invited 2001 Scholar and then list MP Jacinda Ardern to present the Awards. My working relationship with Shelia began in 2010 when I first started writing for New Zealand Freemason, subsequently becoming Editor and, latterly, Contributing Writer. Right from our first conversations I realised that there were great stories out there just waiting to be told. With Sheila’s encouragement, I set about seeking out those stories with the consequence that the focus of the magazine shifted from being mostly about ourselves
to be a means of demonstrating to a wider audience what the Freemasons are contributing to our citizens, our country and, through its research fellowships and scholarships, to the world at large. Beyond the magazine, as we traded ideas, our collaboration led to developing a range of promotional material, including the Charity Herald. For the past six years Shelley Newson served part time as Administration Assistant to The Freemasons Charity. Sheila’s departure, without the ability to have a handover left Shelley in the position of having to fill the vacuum. Due to family circumstances Shelley, now Charity Administrator, still can only work part time but, nevertheless, has stepped up to the role, although restricted by the number of hours she has available in the office. During her last few months, coping as best she could, the once energetic and personable Sheila became very private. The message she conveyed to all was that she wanted to be remembered for what she was, not what she had become. We respect that wish and I recall my colleague and friend accordingly. WBro Morris Robertson QSM PG StB
Picking winners. At the 2016 Freemasons University Scholarship awards with then List MP Jacinda Ardern.
www.freemasonsnz.org/charity
37
MYTH BUSTERS Grand Installations MY TH “Grand Installations are only for Officers of Grand Lodge.”
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39
REPORT The Alcohol and Drug Treatment Courts
A better system of rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addicts
Some years ago the Foundation made
a donation towards a trial of a special type of Court which aimed to help reduce alcohol and drug use, reoffending and imprisonment. The Court format is designed to tackle the underlying causes of crime while saving lives and money. After five years the evaluation has produced some remarkable results and the trial has now been extended by a further three years. We have continued our support in a number of incidental but helpful ways over the years. The Courts are under the control of Judges Ema Aitken and Lisa Tremewan who have provided the following article.
By Judge Ema Aitken & Judge Lisa Tremewan In November 2012, under a Government approved and funded five-year pilot, two ‘Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Courts’ were established, one each in the Auckland and Waitakere District Courts. The Drug Courts (as they are colloquially known) are based on the US model which, after extensive evaluation, has proven to reduce reoffending by those who are alcohol and/or drug dependent. To be eligible for the pilot, the offenders must plead guilty and face up to three years in prison. They must also commit to a total abstinence from alcohol and/or drugs. The Judge leads a team of justice and health professionals who provide comprehensive reports as to the participants’ progress. This judicially monitored intervention mandates a comprehensive treatment programme, addressing their addiction and engaging in programmes that are both rehabilitative and enhance a pro social lifestyle. These may include gaining or improving literacy skills, obtaining driver licences, attending parenting programmes, while always developing a sound relapse prevention plan. The Court regularly acknowledges and rewards positive behaviours while sanctioning negative ones.
Judge Ema Aitken (L) and Judge Lisa Tremewan 40
These Courts recognise that addiction cannot be punished away and therefore behavioural change is the key to success.
Proud to support the Community MEDICAL RESEARCH | COMMUNIT Y HEALTH | HOSPICE | ARTS & CULTURE
Almost all of our participants are in work or study at the time they graduate, with many choosing to train and work in the recovery community as peer support workers or treatment case managers. Graduates frequently go from being supported by crime and a government funded ‘benefit’ to becoming working, tax paying members of the community. In fact, one graduate is now employed as a Peer Support for the Drug Courts! Those coming into the Court programme see him and realise that if he can turn his life around then so can they. They also experience significant improvement in their general health, and in the restoration of their familial relationships. Families also often benefit in addressing their behaviours too, with the positive ripple effect going out. We have witnessed some significant transformations in the Courts, with many of our graduates telling us that they always wanted a different, “normal” life, but did not know how to find the pathway to change. The participants express profound gratitude for the opportunity to change their lives and the support that they get from the Court to do so. The research makes it clear that even those who do not graduate from the Court benefit from their involvement.
As of May 2018, the Court has reached a milestone with more than 150 participants graduating from across the two Courts. The Courts remain under evaluation as to their cost effectiveness but early indications are promising. As the international research has already clearly demonstrated, not only do these Courts reduce the cost of imprisonment, but there are other significant savings and benefits not only to the individual and their families, but to society as a whole
| HIGHER EDUCATION
Freemasons Foundation has been part of the Drug Court initiative from the outset, seeing its potential to improve lives and create value. We are proud of the work being done in our Courts and have received positive feedback from the many visitors to the Courts, including Members of Parliament and academics from New Zealand and abroad. The Foundation’s financial as well as moral support has been greatly appreciated. Your assistance has included the cost of attending recovery camps such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous and support with sobriety tags and medals, awarded to our participants to acknowledge their abstinence and their positive progress. We thank you sincerely for the trust you have placed in us from the outset and the support you have provided to all those who have entered the AODTC.
Trustee Appointment We recently welcomed Michael Hattie as a Trustee to the Board of Freemasons Foundation filling the vacancy caused by the retirement of Neil Domigan. VW Bro Hattie has extensive business experience in a variety of fields, including strategic planning, asset management, logistics and purchasing. He was involved in the New Zealand Transport sector for many years retiring in October 2016 from his position as manager of Downer New Zealand’s National Fleet. Mike was the District Grand Master of Counties-Hauraki for the 2013–16 term, guiding the District through the many changes in that period. He has been active in Masonic benevolence, in particular with two major projects in his own area, the Freemasons Children’s Garden at The Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens in Manurewa and the BLENNZ special garden at the Homai Foundation for the Blind. Mike has also recently been appointed as the Northern Division representative on the Board of General Purposes.
He Takitini - awards for positive behaviours
The Foundation can be contacted at: PO Box 113144, Newmarket, Auckland 1149. 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 41
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Divisional Conferences
Donation to Beach Haven Scout Group
Whilst the three Divisional Conferences, held in Auckland, Palmerston North and Queenstown earlier this year, are about the work of Freemasons New Zealand with Remits and Workshops and group discussions to advance the Seven Pillar Strategic Plan; it is also about our wives and partners who support us in Freemasonry and we feature them in this issue. Here is a selection of activities that the ladies took part in as part of all three Divisional Conferences.
Help comes in all shapes and sizes. The Belmont Albion Lodge No 45, The Lodge North Harbour No 182 and with assistance from The Freemasons Charity,
helped sponsor three Scouts in 2016, by proving a donation of $920 to the Beach Haven Scout Group.
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Northern –minigolf.
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Masonic theme for new garden
T
he 2017–18 recipient of the Royal Arch Masonic Centennial Award is Dr Peter Sergel, MNZM, Director of the Hamilton Gardens. Many readers will have been among the 1.1 million annual visitors to the Gardens, and those who attended the Royal Arch Annual Convocation in New Plymouth this year will have heard Dr Sergel’s presentation about the Gardens and the plans for their future development. Dr Sergel has been involved with the Hamilton Gardens since 1978, and be-
Gardens by the Bay in Singapore
came Director in 1997. Under his leadership the Hamilton Gardens was named International Garden of the Year in 2014. During his time at the Gardens, he has designed over 20 themed gardens including paradise, productive, fantasy, and landscape gardens and is at present developing another group of gardens, including a picturesque garden which contains some Masonic symbolism, and illustrates the 18th century concept of Enlightenment through a depiction of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute. Dr Sergel’s award was for his own professional development and he has applied it to field research overseas, looking at historic gardens and exploring new trends in public garden designs and management. He was particularly interested in information and resource material for the next historical gardens to be built at the Hamilton Gardens, to ensure their authenticity.
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His tour began in Singapore, visiting the Gardens by the Bay where he was able to have a day of discussions with members of the senior management team who have visited the Hamilton Gardens and so were already aware of his work. In Egypt, Dr Sergel was able to meet experts in the relevant fields of ancient Egyptian horticulture, and form an ongoing relationship with Egyptian government officials to assist with the planning and design of an Ancient Egyptian Garden to be built in Hamilton.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall.
In the UK and Europe, Dr Sergel was able to develop ideas for the intended medieval and baroque gardens in Hamilton, and network with academics in the field of garden history as well as with garden managers and head gardeners. More and more attention is being paid to the environment around heritage buildings and historic sites. Two such examples that Dr Sergel visited were the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and the model Roman garden at the ruins of the first-century Fishbourne Roman Palace, both in the south of England. Moving on to the United States, he visited Longwood Gardens near Washington, where again staff had visited the Hamilton Gardens and were able hold discussions aware of the context and environment of the gardens in Hamilton. Before returning to New Zealand, Dr Sergel attended a Public Gardens Conference in Los Angeles attended by a
www.royalarch.org.nz
thousand delegates from the US, Canada, and elsewhere, where he not only gave a paper on the Hamilton Gardens, but also had the opportunity to have informal discussions with garden managers from around the world. Staff at the Hamilton Gardens were the first to be treated to a presentation of the fruits of this research, which was followed by other presentations to the Master Landscapers’ Conference, and to 90 members of the Friends of the Gardens. This month (September) Dr Sergel will address the New Zealand
Roman Mosaic, Fishbourne Palace, 1st century AD.
Branch Symposium of Botanic Gardens of Australia and New Zealand. Delegates to the 2019 Royal Arch Annual Convocation in Hamilton next March will not only have the opportunity to have a tour of the gardens, including a preview of the Magic Flute garden, but also to attend an illustrated presentation by Dr Sergel about his research tour. Peter Sergel’s book on garden design, Inspiration in the Garden, is published by Penguin. Geoffrey Coker
Hamilton Gardens Director Peter Sergal at Stourhead Gardens in Wiltshire, England.
Opera in Hamilton Gardens
G
ardens have been an important part of all aspects of life as long as there has been organised civilisation with the associated philosophies and religions. For example, in the biblical account of the Creation, Adam first appears in the Garden of Eden. The name Eden is possibly derived from a Hebrew word for pleasure. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, located in Iran, previously known as Persia. It is from the ancient Persian word paridayda, meaning a walled enclosure, or garden, that we get the word paradise. These gardens were a pleasure to the senses and visions of, or gateways to, paradise. Gardens are often the setting of pivotal events in religious narratives, for example the story of Adam and Eve in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the events in the Garden of Gethsemane. Important Islamic buildings, such as the Taj Mahal, are the focal points within gardens, while Hindu temples often have gardens in or around them. At English cathedrals there are gardens known as garths, surrounded by cloisters, where
Italian Garden at Hamilton Gardens.
people associated with the cathedral are buried. In Asia gardens are an aid to reflection and meditation. As well as religious gardens, other kinds of gardens feed us, inspire us, relax us, provide medical treatment, and exercise us in both body and mind. The unique collection of themed gardens in Hamilton not only allows us to see examples of how gardens appear in different cultures, and over the centuries, but also represents the evolution of civilisations and the influences each had on the other. Among the new gardens at present being built at Hamilton is a picturesque garden, such as might have existed in a grand 18th century European estate. This type of garden symbolises the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment and often leads the visitor on a journey through an artificial, romanticised landscape. The picturesque garden uses the story of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute, often described as the Masonic Opera, as its theme. Among other things, the Enlightenment promoted respect for nature, reason or logic, and the constitutional government
epitomised by classical civilisations. The opera has overt references to these ideals, and the garden illustrates them through its paths, and the architecture of its facades. The Garden will open in the latter part of 2019, but a season of performances of The Magic Flute is planned for February next year, as part of the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival, using the garden as the set for the opera, with the audience being introduced to each feature of the garden as it appears in the opera. This promises to be a very imaginative production, giving the audience a unique experience of opera, comprising not only music, costume, and movement, but also the beautiful garden setting designed specifically around the opera’s plot. An added attraction for those attending will be the opportunity to preview the garden before its official opening. For information about the Gardens Festival and the Magic Flute performances go to hgaf.co.nz. For information about the Hamilton Gardens go to hamiltongardens.co.nz. Geoffrey Coker
Luxor Temple, Egypt.
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Some of our newest Freemasons Cementing Father-Son relationship Two brothers who initiated their father into freemasonry at a ceremony in Dunedin this week say they are thrilled to be able to bring him into their world. Recently, brothers Jonathan and Daniel Laird initiated father Chris as a freemason at a ceremony at the Dunedin Freemasons Centre. Jonathan, who is Master of Dunedin’s Hiram Lodge No 46, said the ceremony was doubly special because his father had a stroke four years ago which nearly claimed his life. He underwent high-risk surgery removing almost half of his skull, which was frozen and put back six months later, and had been given less than a 50% chance of survival.
“He was knocking on death’s door. We almost lost him,’’ Jonathan said. “To have him able to travel and to participate … for me and Daniel was a massive thing. ‘’It was nice to be able to bring him into our world.’’ Mr Laird said his sons had been the catalyst for his decision to join
Freemasonry, but it was a natural step given his interest in history and the spiritual side of life. “All of my life I’ve been interested in the unusual.’’ Daniel said Freemasonry had helped him grow personally, and learn skills such as public speaking, but had also helped him understand the world. “Once you’re in you understand parallels in business, you understand parallels in the justice system ... a lot of what governs business has its roots freemasonry. “It’s not until you step inside a lodge that you understand its connection to the world we live in.’’ Otago Daily Times
Work afoot in Cromwell with help from Roxburgh A busy period has continued for Lodge Cromwell Kilwinning 98 when its June 2018 meeting involved the initiation of Bro Noel Macalintal and at its July
meeting, Bro John Carter was initiated. In the spirit of Brotherly love and support, the Teviot Lodge 148 carried out the ceremony of raising Bro Martin
Bro Noel Macalintal EA, WBro Angus Woodhead, Bro John Carter EA, WBro Daniel Prew, Bro Martin Charleson, WBro Angus Woodhead.
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Charleson to the sublime Degree of Master Mason on behalf of the Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge.
Welcome to our newest Freemasons May – July 2018
Zane Gardiner Scinde Lodge No. 5
Jason Poszeluk Scinde Lodge No. 5
Rayner Wendelboe Madsen Lodge Waikaremoana No. 158
Ariane Latanafrancia Waikaka Lodge No. 151
Dexter Waperi The Caledonian Lodge No. 16
Richard Stein Hutt Valley Lodge No. 176
Murray Bone The Woburn Lodge No. 25
Evan Donnelly Nau Mai Lodge No. 177
Scott McCoy The Saint Andrews Lodge No. 32
Stephen Carrick Lodge Ahurewa No. 181
Craig Cock The Belmont Albion Lodge No. 45
Barry Merivale The Avon Shirley Lodge No. 185
Thuthuka Njoko The Hiram Lodge No. 46
Jackson Lindquist Lodge Titirangi Mt Albert No. 204
Christopher Laird The Hiram Lodge No. 46
Jonathan Montano Lodge Titirangi Mt Albert No. 204
Eliah von Bismarck The Ponsonby Lodge No. 54
Ronald Javier Lodge Titirangi Mt Albert No. 204
Benjamin Meadows-Bonner Papakura Lodge No. 56
Aaron Williams The Rawhiti Lodge No. 66
Clifton Bush Jr The Heretaunga Lodge No. 73
Gopal Harlow Lodge Arawhaiti No. 267
Trevor Mordaunt Westminster Lodge No. 308
Bradley Mumford Lodge Te Puni No. 315
Jaque Smit Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning No. 82
David Koefoed Lodge Manurewa No. 222 Timothy Sullivan Lodge Arawhaiti No. 267
Stephen Rooney Lake Lodge of Ophir No. 85
Noel Macalintal The Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge No. 98
Troy Elliott The United Lodge No. 340
Jonathan Carter The Cromwell Kilwinning Lodge No. 98
Dylan Thomas The United Lodge No. 340
Selwyn Aitchison-Gregory The Kaikohe Ohaeawai Lodge No. 101
Aaron Ley Browns Bay Lodge No. 346
Dion Aitchison-Gregory The Kaikohe Ohaeawai Lodge No. 101
Edward Sykes The Havelock Lodge No. 104
Stephen Sylvester Lodge Orewa No. 370
Nathan Jones The Havelock Lodge No. 104
Andrew Stoddart Lodge Orewa No. 370
Charlie Abalos Lodge Winton No. 108
Chris Stewart Lodge Mt Maunganui No. 376
Christopher Fisher Lodge Manuherikia Kilwinning No. 109 Stacey Smith The Waipa Lodge No. 119
Adair Hawtin Lodge Kerikeri No. 402
Brett Kenyon Lodge Te Atatu No. 414 Michael Saggers Lodge Homewood No. 447
Joel Burne Delos Reyes The Coronation Lodge No. 127
Rodrigo Costa The Coronation Lodge No. 127
Razvan Secareanu The Crown Lodge No. 138
Stephen Riley The Crown Lodge No. 138
Charles Walker Lodge Rangitane No. 369
David Watene The United Lodge of Wanganui No. 468 Leo Ragsag Lodge Arowhenua No. 473 Freemasons New Zealand Mohsin Chaudhry The Lodge of The Liberal Arts No. 500 ‘Speak Up for Freemasonry’ - Awareness Project
Mark Thomsen Rongotea Lodge No. 146
Commencing November 2016
Logo Variations Master logo
Being open about Freemasonry is encouraging enquiry from men of calibre and nurturing these new members will bring about a lifelong involvement in Freemasonry. FOR
FOR
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FREEMASONRY
1 Full colour
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2 Greyscale
3 Black
Alternative logo
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FOR FREEMASONRY
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4 Speech bubble
5 Horizontal open
6 Horizontal reversed
Master colour variations
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Two 50 Year Service Badges to Brothers
FREEMASONRY
8 Light blue
For ultra small spaces
10 Small
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7 Gold
9 White
Colour palette
11 Smaller
Dark blue
Gold
c100 m68 y0 k50 r0 g49 b104
c10 m40 y100 k0 r228 g160 b37
Light blue c48 m0 y0 k0 r116 g209 b246
Black k100 k60 k30 k0
12 Smallest
A double presentation to James Ross Past Master and Ian Ross Past Grand Master at Papakura Lodge No 56 on 3rd July 2018. Our Grand Master Mark Winger was assisted by two Fellowcraft Freemasons Josef Kelway and Tyrone Adams in making the presentations along with a ‘Seniority’ of Grand Masters on this very special occasion. Over 100 Freemasons from throughout the Northern Division attended the presentations and dinner.
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The Last Word! Freemasons New Zealand Crossword
Solution page 7
Across 2 Description of the border of the chequered pavement? 4 Initials of the Order of Service to Masonry (awarded to only up to 20 living Freemasons)? 6 Deacons journey around a Lodge is called what? 8 Oldest Grand Lodge in Australasia? (State) 9 Surname of our current Governor General? 10 Annual Sub or Dues payable to Freemasons New Zealand? 13 What denotes strength and is depicted as lifting heavy weights? 14 RH is the initials for what (three words)? 15 Who is 7th in order of precedence in Grand Lodge Rank? 17 How many Districts of other Constitutions in New Zealand? 18 Which column is an emblem of beauty? 19 In what city (not in NZ) is Lodge Calliope (a NZ Lodge) based?
Royal Arch Annual Convocation and Grand Installation HAMILTON  8–10 MARCH 2019 Registration forms and online registration available now at www.royalarch.org.nz
Down 1 The Grand Secretariat is now known as? (two words) 3 Current length of service in years for longest serving staff member at National Office? 5 Where does the Junior Warden sit? 7 How many degrees does the Grand Lodge of New Zealand recognise? 11 City of next Grand Installation in Australia. 12 What is the award for those Freemasons with 60 and 70 years Service? 15 The Volume of the Sacred Law is found sitting on what? 16 Programme launched by Grand Master at his Installation?
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SERVICE AWARDS May – July 2018
60 YEAR BAR Bro Colin Charles Hendry MM WBro Raymond Keith Henderson PM RWBro Neville Stanley Marquet PGW Bro Leonard Malcolm Boaz MM WBro David Howard Flavell PG Std B WBro John Murray Mercer PM Bro Ian George Jenner MM WBro Bruce Alister Jenner PM WBro Ronald Algernon Rhodes PGBB Bro Victor Edward Drayson MM WBro Robin Louis Bourdot PM VWBro Edward William Brown PGDC WBro Graeme William Matheson PM WBro William Joseph MacPherson PM WBro Geoffrey Howard Burnside PGBB WBro Morrin Thomas Cooper PGD WBro James John Laurenson PM WBro Bryan Kenneth Dean PM
United Lodge of Masterton No. 19 The Hiram Lodge No. 46 The Hiram Lodge No. 46 The Advance Mawhera Lodge No. 61 Lodge Abercorn-Tuahine No. 76 Lodge Oamaru Kilwinning No. 82 Hutt Valley Lodge No. 176 Hutt Valley Lodge No. 176 Nau Mai Lodge No. 177 Lodge Whakatane No. 198 Lodge Titirangi Mt Albert No. 204 Lodge Tuakau No. 278 Lodge Te Papa No. 316 Lodge Takahe No. 397 Lodge Tironui No. 400 The Pakuranga Lodge No. 416 The Pakuranga Lodge No. 416 The United Lodge of Wanganui No. 468
50 YEAR BADGE WBro Robert Francis McCrindle PM WBro Barry Raymond Gibson PM VWBro Trevor Alexander Squires PGC WBro Alan Spencer Garth PGS VWBro John Murray Livingstone PG Lec Bro Thomas Derec Craven Carden MM WBro Donald Francis Hathaway PGBB MWBro Ian Ruben Ross PGM WBro James Cameron Ross PM Bro Phillip John Smith MM Bro Gary Ian Laskey MM WBro Kevyn Neil Begg PM VWBro Richard Hugh Williams PG Lec WBro Brodie Stilton Goodall PM Bro Bruce Stuart Birnie MM WBro Ian Stuart Barr PG Swd B WBro Walter Frederick Ahlfeld PM WBro Murray Watson Trimmer PG Std B WBro John Robert Turner PG Swd B WBro Trevor William Black PGBB RH Bro Keith Roy Johnson MM VWBro Kenneth James Edney PG Lec
Lodge Rangitikei No. 38 The Victory-Wakatu Lodge No. 40 The Victory-Wakatu Lodge No. 40 The Hiram Lodge No. 46 The Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge No. 47 The Te Aroha Lodge No. 52 The Greytown St Marks Lodge No. 53 Papakura Lodge No. 56 Papakura Lodge No. 56 The Fortitude Lodge No. 64 The Heretaunga Lodge No. 73 Thistle Lodge No. 113 The Forest Lodge No. 116 Motueka Bays Lodge No. 117 The Waipa Lodge No. 119 Hinemoa-Kairangi Lodge No. 122 * The Crown Lodge No. 138 The Avon Shirley Lodge No. 185 Lodge Switzers No. 223 Lodge Howick No. 314 Lodge Windsor No. 377 The Hawkes Bay Daytime Lodge No. 453 * Since deceased but presented
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Invest in the Freemasons Deposit Scheme to invest in New Zealand Heartland Bank is proud to be the Freemasons Deposit Scheme partner. With roots stretching back to 1875, Heartland Bank has a proud history of providing families, small-to-medium sized businesses and farms with financial solutions to help them achieve prosperity. Through our partnership built on shared values, Heartland Bank is working with Freemasons New Zealand to support the Craft in local communities, while providing Freemasons and their families with competitive interest rates on their deposits. To discuss your specific requirements, contact a dedicated representative on 0508 FREEMASONS (0508 37 33 62) or email freemasons@heartland.co.nz.
Freemasons New Zealand is not a promoter of and does not guarantee the obligations of Heartland Bank Limited in relation to Heartland Bank deposits. Heartland Bank’s current Disclosure Statement, Product Fact Sheets and Account and Service General Terms and Conditions are available at heartland.co.nz or by calling 0508 FREEMASONS (0508 37 33 62).