UNITED MASTERS LODGE No. 167
On Thursday, 4th August, 2005 Bro. Robert Cooper, the Curator
of the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum and Library, will be
speaking at St. Benedict St. at 7.30 p.m. on the Operative Legacy in
Scottish Freemasonry.
Bro. Cooper is the guest speaker at the biennial tour arranged by the Australian and New
Zealand Masonic Research Council. He is an acknowledged expert on Scottish Freemasonry, the
Knights Templar and many other subjects and our lodge is very anxious to have as many people as
possible to hear him.
Scottish Freemasonry had a major influence in the establishment of Freemasonry as we
know it and this lecture should be of interest to all Constitutions. Would you please make this
occasion known to as many people as possible.
For catering purposes we would like to know in due course how many are likely to attend.
We will be providing a light supper and tea and coffee and will be asking for a gold coin donation
to assist in defraying the cost.
Dress is lounge suit. Regalia is not needed.
I can be contacted at 09 524-5111 or fax 09 524-8386 or email um.167@xtra.co.nz
Alaric Wood,
Secretary
THE LODGE OF PEACE No. 322
The April meeting of the lodge will be held on 2nd May as our regular night would have
been on Anzac Day. At that meeting we will be starting a series of forums on the first degree. The
format is to open the lodge, work part of the ceremony, and ask for questions and discussion. The
manner of opening may also be discussed.
We believe that many masons do not ever fully understand what we are doing and why. In a
continental lodge a brother would not advance to the next degree without a good deal of education.
He would also be required to prove that he understood the first degree before being passed to the
second. This requires in depth knowledge, not simply the ability to answer half a dozen test
questions. One of the reasons many masons resign within a short time of joining is that they have
never received any instruction on the meaning and purpose of the Craft.
At the May meeting on 30th May, as part of this educational process, we will be working an
exemplification of the Emulation Lectures of the first degree. Nowadays the Lectures contain ritual
material but they also contain questions and answers. This is the source from which our test
questions are drawn, but there is a great deal more information which all masons should have and
most don’t.
The Lectures represent all that remains to us of the 18th century working, when the actual
ceremony was very short and the main part of the evening’s work was the asking and answering of
the questions. This was done round a table and each brother was expected to take part.
We will be very happy to receive visits from brethren who wish to further their masonic
education but, as we are a dining lodge, we need to know in advance if you wish to come.
I can be contacted at 09 524-5111 or fax 09 524-8386 or email um.167@xtra.co.nz
Alaric Wood,
Secretary
Freemasons University Schorlarships
Victoria University Scholarship Recipients are being presented with their awards this Saturday (30
April) at 12:00 in the Udy Street Lodge Room, Petone, Wellington.
It would be great if we could have an enthusiastic bunch of Freemasons there to support them.