Issue 5 - themasons.org.nz

Issue 5
May 2013
VWBro Jim Watt – District Grand Master
Greetings Brethren - It is getting very close to May already, and with the nights starting to close
in the thought of staying home and settling in becomes all that more attractive, but it is also
the beginning of the Installation run with United Horowhenua, Mana, Ngatiawa Russell and
Windsor all coming up in the next two months and more to follow in July and I encourage all
Brethren to get out and attend these Installations, this includes Fellowcrafts and Entered
Apprentices. I know the incoming Masters and their Lodges would welcome your support.
Lodge Accommodation continues to be a major focus within the District, with the Year 2022
Steering Committee having met and discussions continuing on possible properties which would
suit our needs. I know WBro Peter Benstead who is chairing this committee would welcome
any comments and feedback you might have. The Kapiti Masonic Centre is progressing and work should be underway
shortly on the conversion to a new Lodge Rooms for Lodge Tawera O Kapiti and Lodge Waikanae.
By the time this goes to print we will have conducted the ceremony of Installation at Lodge Waitohi in Picton. I am being
accompanied by 32 Brethren and partners and we are looking forward to an enjoyable weekend. Photos and a report to
follow in the next Gavel.
Raffles: Brethren are reminded at as per Rule 222f(20)no Lodge may conduct a raffle without the prior approval of the
District Grand Master and that the proceeds of such a raffle, once approved, should not be used to supplement the
income of the Lodge. It is also expected that the raffle will be drawn after the Tyler’s Toast. I presently have only one
Lodge in the District that has sort approval to hold a raffle. Lodges wishing to do so are asked to apply for Dispensation.
Canvassing Membership: I was recently present when a newly raised Brother was canvassed immediately after leaving
the Lodge Room to join another Masonic entity. This is not acceptable. Whilst it is acknowledged that a Master Mason is
eligible to join other Orders, or in fact a Research Lodge, it would be expected that he be given time to settle into his
own Lodge before being approached.
Nominations for District Grand Master: The voting papers have been sent to the Lodges for these and are due back in
June. Please give this your full attention and make careful consideration.
Finally a plea to all Brethren to take some time and give thought to what you can each do to better support your Lodge,
your Master and your fellow Brethren. Our numbers are diminishing and it is up to each of us to take responsibility for
ensuring that Freemasonry continues in the Kapiti Wellington District and in fact the whole of New Zealand.
VWBro Jim Watt
Notices
Grand Installation
Wellington November 15/17 2013. Put this in your diary now.
Voting for District Grand Master
Ballots are due from Lodges by June 10th , 2013
Kapiti-Wellington District Meeting Friday 24th May at 7.00pm
Kapiti Wellington District Contacts
District Grand Master District Grand
Director Of Ceremonies
District Grand Steward
District Grand Steward
Education & Communications Officer
Development Officer
Property Officer
Benevolence Officer
Jim Watt
Graham Redman
Clive Lloyd
Glen Houlihan
Hadyn Nicholls
Hugh Marshall
Barry Millage
Wilhelmus van Waas
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Education
Education Talks
There are talks available for Lodges should you wish to do something different at
your Lodge - Please let WBro Hadyn Nicholls know if you need this or a lecturer, there
are a number of people who can give presentations or lectures and we have a list of
these people and their availability
[email protected]
Homewood and Empire Fergusson join forces to mark ANZAC
More than 70 freemasons braved the elements to attend the joint working
between Lodge Homewood and Empire Fergusson Lodge on the evening of ANZAC
Day (25 April). “Address to the Empty Chair” was the key business for the evening.
The assembled brethren enjoyed drinks and nibbles on the first floor of the
Wellesley Boutique Hotel ahead of the Lodge tyling at 6.30pm.
After tyling, Homewood Lodge briefly completed their domestic business after
which the Worshipful Master, WBro Charles Smith announced the principal
business of the evening. He then went on to explain that in battles past soldiers
had enjoyed “gunpowder” prior to marching into battle. Gunpowder is a potent
but pleasant mix of strong coffee and dark rum. He proceeded to “call off” the
Lodge and the brethren retired to enjoy the “gunpowder”.
Upon returning to the Lodge the ceremony commenced. The “Address to the
Empty Chair” was originally developed by an American Military Lodge and much of
the content made reference to battles and events fought by the Americans. Prior to the evening’s ceremony senior
members of Homewood Lodge, including WBros Peter Fraser, Hadyn Nicholls, and Charles Smith, had virtually rewritten the ‘ritual’ to reflect a more ANZAC-oriented ceremony.
The ceremony commenced with a lone piper - Bro Craig Fraser playing Sgt. McKenzie by Joseph Kilna McKenzie which
was then sung as a lament by WBro Peter Fraser without accompaniment.
The pathfinder, with candle lit and accompanied by the scroll bearer proceeded to each corner of the pavement, each
being squared by a sentinel who read the name, rank, number, battle and Lodge of 6 brethren who were members of a
Wellington Lodge, and who had made the ultimate sacrifice during the first world war.
The Worshipful Master then, on an alarm, admitted the “Empty Chair” into the Lodge. The Chair, draped with the New
Zealand ensign, also carried the hat of the New Zealand Army (lemon squeezer). He announced that the Empty Chair
represented Brethren who had fallen in service of their country and who were seeking admission to the Lodge, not in
person, but through their spiritual presence. They sought our continued remembrance.
The “symbolic” brethren were then invested with the apron of an Entered Apprentice Freemason.
Brethren of both Homewood and Empire Fergusson Lodge’s then delivered further charges concluding with an
emotional rendition of the Lord’s Prayer in Maori, delivered by Bro. Andrae Peipi.
WBro Hadyn Nicholls then recited “In Flanders Fields”; followed by “We Will Remember Them” by Hugh Fraser.
After the playing of the Last Post and Reveille by WBro Clive Lloyd, the ceremony was concluded, the candle of
remembrance extinguished, and the Lodge restored to light. WBro Smith then called the Lodge “on”; and the Lodge was
then closed in Peace, Love and Harmony.
Over 70 Brethren attended a sumptuous 2-course meal which followed in the Wellesley Dining Room after the
ceremony. During which John Lowen from the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces Masonic Association gave the reply to
the visitors toast along with a short background on the
NZEFMA.
The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who attended.
The ceremony had been most respectfully crafted to honour
those who had lost their lives fighting for the freedoms we all
enjoy today. The ritual was poignant and thought provoking.
The participating brethren had worked over the previous weeks
to learn the ritual off by heart which added to the lustre of the
evening. On the strength of the fantastic turnout Homewood
and Empire Fergusson Lodges are currently discussing the
prospect of performing the ceremony again, perhaps to
coincide with other ANZAC milestones.
WBro
Russell Pratt, PM - Empire Fergusson Lodge No. 225
Should I Really Join Facebook? - Humour
When I bought my Blackberry, I thought about the 30year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a
cell phone that plays music, takes videos, pictures and
communicates with Facebook and Twitter. I signed up
under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven
kids, their spouses, my 13 grand kids and 2 great
grand kids could communicate with me in the modern
way. I figured I could handle something as simple as
Twitter with only 140 characters of space.
My phone was beeping every three minutes with the
details of everything except the bowel movements of
the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like
this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.
The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday
because they say I get lost every now and then going
over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a
box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it’s red]
phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it
once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble
talking to my wife and everyone in the nearest 50
yards was glaring at me... I had to take my hearing aid
out to use it, and I got a little loud. I mean the GPS
looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady
inside that gadget was the most annoying, rudest
person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes,
she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-u-lating." You
would think that she could be nicer. It was like she
could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a
deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the
next light. Then if I made a right turn instead. Well, it
was not a good relationship...
When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her
the name of the cross streets and while she is starting
to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at
least she loves me.
To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to
use the cordless phones in our house. We have had
them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I
lose three phones all at once and have to run around
digging under chair cushions, checking bathrooms,
and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.
The world is just getting too complex for me. They
even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store.
You would think they could settle on something
themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every
time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought
some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking
confused, but I never remember to take them with
me. Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me,
"Paper or plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I
am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me
with a blank look.
WEBS
This has been going very well and the
attendance of Freemasons and friends
has been encouraging. These are usually
held once a month or thereabouts. The
idea is a couple of quiet beers after work
at a different bar each time. If you would
like to make sure you are on the list to be notified when they
are occurring. Let Hadyn Nicholls know [email protected]
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
GRAND INSTALLATION 2013
Brethren are urged to register early for the
Grand Installation to be held in Wellington
from 15th - 17th November next year. The
information/registration
form
was
distributed with the September issue of New Zealand
Freemason and is available on line www.freemasons.co.nz.
There are reductions for early bird registration and there is an
option for monthly payments.