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Gavels from New Zealand

Presented at Audley Lodge No 7281 October 18th 2001

At the October 2001 meeting of Audley Lodge No7281, two representatives from the Lodges of Hasting, New Zealand, W.Bro Keith Bell and W.Bro A Sperring visited. The purpose of their visit was to make a presentation to the Hall Association of three gavels, made from local timbers, in a carrying case formed from the timber recovered from their 'Two Great Pillars'

They, like us, lost their Temple and all their equipment in a fire. They were made aware of our plight from an article in 'Freemasonry Today', which had been passed on to them from Masons in England, and from our own web site.

The Gavels were made by W. Bro.Bill Gray and engraved by a Maori carver named Horo Mihi.

Inside the Lid Box was an inscription which reads:-

 

Presentation Gavels

From the Lodges of Hastings New Zealand 2001

 

Lodge Haeata No 272, The Services Lodge of Hawke's Bay No 313

The Heretaunga Lodge N073

The Gavels are made from recycled N.Z. Rimu and Kauri timber

The felling of these two tree varieties is now prohibited and therefore the supply of these timbers both new and recycled is due  to run out in approximately 4 years so the timber is becoming extremely vauable.

   The Rimu used   was rescued from the demolition of a Mercantile seed dressing plant in Hastings on it's demolition 1n 1990. This building was erected pre 1934 and the trees were in excess of 150 years old when they were felled. The bush from which they were taken was in the hill country, (3,000 to 5,000 feet above sea level) between Hastings and Taupo in the centre of North Island of New Zealand.

   The Kauri was milled in the far North of New Zealand and it's age is unknown. Milling of these trees was banned many years ago This is the  timber with which the early sailor visitors replaced the masts and spars on the early viting sailing ships. A very highly sought after timber due to it's strength.

   The Gavels are purposely made in three different sizes. This is to differentiate between the Worshipful Master and the Senior and Junior Wardens. They have been finished by rubbing with only natural products such as vegetable oil and beeswax which the timber soaks up quickly. A rub with these products or a soft furniture polish will restore the brilliant shine

   The carving of the symbols for the W.M. S.W. and J.W. was done by a Maori Carver of Hastings, Called Horace Mihi, Maori name Horo Horo Mihi, Horo Horo means fast, fast

 

The Gavels were made by W. Bro Bill Gray, a past member of the Craft in Hastings, New Zealand. They are brought to the brethren of Saffron Walden area by the good grace of our W.Bro. Keith Bell LGR who is also a member of Lodge Haeata No 272 Hastings, New Zealand and Bro. A Sperring of the Services Lodge of Hawkes Bay No 313 Hastings New Zealand.

The carrying case is of Rimu made by Trevor Aithason a member of Lodge Haeata No 272 N.Z.C. This timber has been recovered from the stands of the two great pillars which adorn the Lodge room in Hastings. These stands were dismantled when the move was made to the existing Lodge room in February 1998

We also lost our Lodge room and all equipment by fire in 1932 and rebuilt in 1935. Consequently we can empathise with the brethren of the Saffron Walden District in their loss.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Address Given by W. Bro. Keith Bell

 THE  BEGINNING OF FREEMASONRY IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand being two large islands in the South Pacific, having been created by volcanic eruptions in the history of the earths formation.

It was originally inhabited by the Moriaories and subsequently invaded by the South Sea Islanders known as the Maoris from whom it was said after killing the Moriori, ate them and subsequently through to the late 19th century, one Maori tribe would raid and kill another and also eat them.

Captain Cook was the first English man to discover and circumnavigate the two islands, and it wasn’t until 1792 when the first European settlers set foot in this non hospitable land of thick forests and of course the Maori cannibals.

It wasn’t until 1840 when New Zealand became a British Colony, after some two to three thousand settlers were in place the first Masonic Lodge was formed in Auckland in 1842, and was known as Ara Lodge No 1, under the Irish constitution by dispensation from the Australian social lodge in Sydney.

 In the same year, the provincial Grand Master of Australasia E C., gave a dispensation for the New Zealand Pacific Lodge at Port Nicholson, now number two. After 1859 a series of District Grand Lodges under the English constitution were formed, Canterbury 1859, Otago and Southland 1864, Westland 1870, Auckland 1877 and Wellington 1878.

The Irish Lodges have always had only one provincial grand lodge, but the Scottish had four district grand lodges, New Zealand 1871, North Island 1878, South Island 1890, and Canterbury 1884.

The idea of a Grand Lodge of New Zealand was first muted in 1876 but nothing happened until 1889. Finally on 30th April 1890, a grand lodge of New Zealand was formed with brother Henry Thomson as first grand master. Forty English lodges out of 93 joined but the district of grand lodges continued among much bitterness, removal of warrants by brethren seceding and so on.

By 1893 the irregular grand lodge had not gained the recognition of the three British grand lodges but had 24 more lodges than the English, Irish and Scottish combined. It then had 87 lodges, 42 original English, 26 Scottish, 9 Irish and 9 new lodges warranted by itself.

In 1896 the strife ceased when first England, followed by Ireland in 1898, granted recognition to the grand lodge of New Zealand. Negotiations continued for many years with the grand lodge of Scotland and recognition was granted in 1913 when agreement was concluded with  the signing of the articles of agreement which provided for the remaining eleven Scottish lodges to continue practicing freemasonry at locations stipulated in their Charters.

By 1906 there was still forty three English lodges left working under the district grand lodges, four Irish lodges under their district grand lodge and the eleven Scottish lodges under their district grand lodges.

A ritual was adopted and a widows and orphan benevolent fund established quarterly communications were held until 1895. As the grand Masters changed every two years, the grand secretary’s office shifted around New Zealand to which ever city in which the Grand master lived. Finally in1946 the office was established in Wellington. There are three divisions within New Zealand, divided into thirteen districts, each under the control of a provincial grand master and directly responsible to the grand master.

Membership since 1975 has reduced from 41,817 members in 433 lodges, to 36,683 in 492 lodges in 1982 and to 18,768 in 329 lodges in 1998.

Lodges in New Zealand as we do here , with slight differences which have probably come from the influences of the Scottish and Irish workings, for example when a new Master is installed this ceremony is normally performed by a number of Grand Lodge Officers and not by the outgoing Master and past masters.

There are two different types of dress, winter being morning dress with tails, summer dress being white shirt, black tie, black trousers, black socks and shoes. Ceremonies are normally in the evenings and are followed by vitals which members are asked to bring a plate, (this does not mean an empty plate, but a  plate of food to be shared at the festive board).

Freemasonry appears to be more open and accepted among the populous as it continually displays its generosity to all sorts of worthy causes and publicity is given , with photographs showing Masons dressed in their Masonic regalia.

You will find freemasons in New Zealand to be extremely friendly and acceptable to visiting masons from overseas. If you are thinking about visiting lodges in New Zealand the procedures should be to go through your lodge secretary, who would make the necessary inquiries to Grand Lodge to insure that any lodges were regular.