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Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
Freemason
                              NEW ZEALAND

                        Issue 3 (Vol. 49), September 2021

National Summer Games
HAMILTON 2021
8–12 DECEMBER

www.freemasonsnz.org
Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
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Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
In this issue
From the Editor 2                                          September is Alzheimers
                                                           Awareness Month 22
Hot Off the Press 3
                                                           COVID-19 alert levels Lodge
Grand Master’s Visits 3
                                                           operating guide 24
From the Grand Master 4
                                                           ‘Monkey Bikes’ for cancer
Here we go again                                           and hospice 27
News clips 6
From the Executive Director 8                              Freemasons Foundation 28
                                                           Auckland Freemasons team up
OPINION                                                    with Tamaki Primary School to
Back to basics 10                                          plan 800 native trees

                       Freemasons New Zealand                                         Debunking the Myths 30
                       Special Olympics 11                                            The Otago Masonic Charitable
                                                                                      Trust 2021 annual grants
                                                                                      presentation 31

FREEMASONS IN ACTION
Two schools benefited from the now closed Lodge            THE FREEMASONS CHARITY
Arowhenua No. 473 15                                       The Benevolence of the Brush 32
New Zealander interning at Masonic Medical Research        From the flames 32
Institute in USA 15
                                                           Hospital help 33
Freemasons Charity Dinner in Auckland 16
                                                           The parable out at sea –
Freemasons CAR-T Cell Research Programme 16                soulful sailing 33
A combined working in Christchurch 17
Visit the Virtual Masonic Library 17                       Health and Wellbeing 35
Mini Lodge 18                                              Masonic Villages Trust 36
Progress update of Freemasons University Scholarship
recipient 18                                               Potter Masonic Trust 40
Havelock Lodge No 104 celebrates 125 years and helps a     Keeping an eye on KC
number of Charities 19
Partners in Freemasonry: Ladies Lunch –                    Royal Arch 42
                                                           Freemasons Foundation 44
                                                           West Coast 70 Year Freemason 46
                                                           Another 70 Year Freemason 46
                                                           Two Triple Degrees and a Double Degree 46
                                                           Welcome to our newest Freemasons 47
                                                           From Entered Apprentice to 50 years a Freemason 47
Marlborough Masonry 19
Research Lodge of Taranaki Province celebrates
                                                           The Last Word! 48
75 Years 19
                                                           Service Awards 49
Grand Master visits Napier 20
Grand Stewards do a grand working in Auckland 21
Masonic Genealogy 21                                       COVER Freemasons New Zealand Special Olympics.

                                                 www.freemasonsnz.org                                                1
Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
FREEMASONS NEW ZEALAND
National Office
                                                                                     From the Editor
Unit 2, 22 Tacy Street
Kilbirnie, Wellington 6022                                            COVID-19 has challenged us all again but especially Auckland
PO Box 6439, Marion Square                                            and we are thinking of them at this time and thank them for
Wellington 6141                                                       their efforts in containing the community spread generally
New Zealand                                                           from the rest of the country.
Ph: +64 4 385 6622                                                       As with the last major lockdown we need to stay in touch
Fax +64 4 385 5749                                                    with members, family, widows and friends. Caring for others is
Email: membership@freemasonsnz.org                                    one of the important tenets of Freemasonry.
communications@freemasonsnz.org                                          Just a quick reminder of why we are Freemasons:
www.freemasonsnz.org
                                                                       ‘When is a man a Freemason?’ by Joseph Fort Newton
The New Zealand Freemason is the official journal of the
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand.                When he can look out over the rivers, the hills, and the far
Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed and the             horizon with a profound sense of his own littleness in the
advertising content are those of the authors and do not                vast scheme of things, and yet have faith, hope, and courage
necessarily reflect the policy of Grand Lodge.                         which is the root of every virtue.
  Articles appearing in this journal may be reproduced
                                                                          When he knows that down in his heart every man is as
without permission provided acknowledgement of the
source is made and a copy of the publication is forwarded
                                                                       noble, as vile, as divine, as diabolic, and as lonely as himself,
to the Grand Secretary (secretary@freemasonsnz.org).                   and seeks to know, to forgive, and to love his fellow man.
  Queries or comments regarding subscription or distribution              When he knows how to sympathize with men in their
should be addressed to membership@freemasonsnz.org                     sorrows, yea, even in their sins knowing that each man
or the Executive Director, PO Box 6439, Marion Square,                 fights a hard fight against many odds.
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communications@freemasonsnz.org                                           When no voice of distress reaches his ears in vain, and no
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                                                                       lay hold of divine things and sees majestic meanings in life,
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                                                                       whatever the name of that faith may be.
gsn@royalarch.org.nz
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                                                                          When he knows how to pray, how to love, how to hope.
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                                                                       and with his God; in his hand a sword for evil, in his heart a
Copyright © 2021 Freemasons NZ
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                                                                          Such a man has found the only real secret of Masonry,
                                                                       and the one which it is trying to give to all the world.
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2
Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
Hot Off the Press

                               Auckland we are
                               thinking of you
        Community transmission and community clusters can happen anywhere
           and again Auckland you are doing the hard yards in containing and
         eliminating the current one – so as to protect the rest of New Zealand.

        We are thankful and thinking of you during these trying COVID-19 times.

                                          Thank you Auckland

GRAND MASTER’S VISITS
A number of Grand Master visits have been or may be postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19.
11 Sep The Avon Shirley Lodge No 185,       14 Oct The Woburn Lodge No 25, Unique         9 Nov   Lodge Mana No 352, 50 Year
       125th Anniversary, Installation             3rd Degree, Freemasons Centre,                 Service Badge MW Bro John Litton
       and 50 Year Badge Presentation,             Waipukurau.                                    Past Grand Master, Freemasons
       Canterbury Freemasons Centre,        23 Oct The Caledonian Lodge No 16, 150th              Centre, Porirua.
       Christchurch.                               Anniversary, Freemasons Centre,        11 Nov Centre for Brain Research,
17 Sep Hawke’s Bay Young Musician of the           Timaru.                                       Freemasons Neurosurgery Unit
       Year, Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay.   30 Oct Lodge Whitianga No 443,                       Launch, Auckland.
5 Oct   Harmony Lodge No 325, 75th                 Installation, Freemasons Centre,       16 Nov The United Lodge of Wanganui
        Anniversary, Freemasons Centre,            Whitianga.                                    No 468, 60 and 50 Year Service
        Ashburton.                          6 Nov    Lodge Manuherikia Kilwinning No             Awards, Freemasons Centre
13 Oct The Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge                 109, 125th Anniversary, Freemasons          Whanganui.
       No 47, Final Meeting at Church                Centre, Alexandra.
       Street Freemasons Centre,
       Palmerston North.

                                                     www.freemasonsnz.org                                                            3
Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
FROM THE GRAND MASTER
Here we go again
J  ust when we were becoming com- re-engage in Freemasonry back in the
   fortable with the impact of COVID-19 Lodge room. In doing so, a Lodge Risk
from our 2020 experiences, we were Mitigation Plan is important to ensure
struck again by the deadly Delta variant. both compliance with the rules and with
Like me, many of our Brethren will have the brotherly love that we all profess
watch the nightly news reports that re- to admire. I also see our Brethren and
corded the devastation in other countries families engaging in a reasonably ‘new
around the world followed by the reality normal’ in their hometowns. Whilst
that it was now in Australia which meant there are limitations on numbers in pub-
that it was only a matter of time before lic places, cinemas, restaurants, libraries,
New Zealand became exposed.                     shops, and workplaces that are all open-
   As Freemasons New Zealand, we ing in Alert Levels 1 and 2. But we must
reacted well and developed plans and continue to be cautious. We have done
procedures that served us well last year, this before and we can do it again.
so I am sure that we will get through this           I remain positive that all Lodges will
current outbreak in the same manner. I follow the rules and will consider the
don’t need to keep repeating the messag- impact on families and elderly Brethren.
es that are announced on a daily basis as But please don’t forget the younger and
it has become almost a ritual in its own newer Freemasons that are adapting
right, but I do want to emphasise that we and changing behaviours in this new distinguish our future. We are One Team,
have been here before, and we can do it environment. We are going to have this so by working together we will make a
again.                                          with us for quite some time, so it will difference.
   As I prepare this article, we have just be how we start to live with it that will
completed a review of
                                                                                                              Maintaining
                                         Protect yourself
our COVID-19 Operating
Guidelines for Lodges and                                                                                     momentum
the Alert Levels as they

                                         and others from
                                                                                                              I am acutely aware of the
start to change once again.
                                                                                                              impact that has fallen upon
As much as this virus has
                                                                                                              our Auckland Brethren
evolved, then so must we.
I don’t have a crystal ball
or have any knowledge
                                         COVID-19                                                             who have suffered more
                                                                                                              lockdowns than any other
                                                                                                              part of the country. My
greater that everyday
                                                                                                              heart goes out to you all
Kiwis, but I do understand
                                                                                                              and you have the support
that we must adapt to a
                                                                                                              of us all.
new way of living and
                                                                                                                 Looking back at the last
socialising in our personal
                                                                                                              year, I thought that we may
and working life, so it is
                                                                                                              have stalled in our objec-
important that we change               Wash your hands              Cough or sneeze      Clean and disinfect  tive of operationalising
and try and normalise                with soap and water         into your elbow or by   frequently touched
                                     often (for at least 20      covering your mouth    surfaces and objects, the Strategic Direction to
living with the impact of             seconds). Then dry.        and nose with tissues.  such as doorknobs.   achieve thriving Lodges
the virus. I have no view
                                                                                                              with a growing and en-
on how long we will be in
                                                                                                              gaged membership. This
this position, but there are
                                                                                                              does not appear to have
some expert views that we
                                                                                                              been the case as I have
may stay in Alert Level 2
                                                                                                              heard first-hand of Lodges
for a long time, or that we
                                                                                                              that now have a backlog
could return to Alert Level
                                    Don’t touch your eyes,
                                                                                                              of new Candidates. This
1 but perhaps with modifi-                                          Put used tissues       Stay home if you
                                     nose or mouth if your         in the bin or a bag       feel unwell.     is great news, but with it
cations. We may also have            hands are not clean.             immediately.
                                                                                                              there are new challenges as
different alert levels and
                                                                                                              Lodges may move in and
some regional boundaries.
                                   For updates and more information on                                        out of lockdowns or endure
   Therefore, I see it as          keeping yourself safe, visit Covid19.govt.nz                               meeting restrictions. My
being important for us to
                                                                                                              request is that we all look
move safely and quickly to      PROTECT_A4_20/03                                                              to the future and identify
4                                                      www.freemasonsnz.org
Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
a pathway forward to ensure that new          and relief. We also charge our Brethren to   and travel has been severely restricted
Candidates are supported and engage as        ‘practice out of the Lodge what we have      and limited thus far.
they start their Masonic journey.             been taught in it’. We are also charged         This has also had an impact on several
   Our Lodges may need to consider            to ensure that we pass on principles and     Lodges that were desirous of celebrating
some options such as Emergency                tenets of Freemasonry ‘pure and unsul-       their anniversaries or recognising long
Meetings, Double Degrees or seeking           lied from generation to generation’.         services and I am sorry that these have
the support of other Lodges to progress           In these unusual times, I ask that we    not been able to proceed. Hopefully,
our new members. We cannot afford to          all reflect on our Obligations and the im-   these can be rescheduled, and we can
stall our growth and our vision. I want       portance of what Freemasonry teaches.        quickly resume the events and honour
to honour all of my obligations as Grand      Brotherly love stands out as something       them as they deserve.
Master and attend meetings and celebra-       that we treasure and respect, but above         I have had to ‘hold my breath’ with
tions as best I can within our meeting        all make sure that we practice it with a     the commitments that I had with our
limitations. I am comfortable wearing a       passion.                                     Australian Grand Lodges. I have not been
face mask in a Lodge room, as I do that           This forms the basis of our thrust to    able to attend the Grand Installation for
now when I go shopping or when I fly.         have a ‘one team’ approach. As I said at     NSW and ACT, Western Australia, and
   Lodges may also need to consider           my Installation, we can achieve much         the centenary celebrations for the United
working together and sharing the load.        more by working together than each           Grand Lodge of Queensland. I have re-
District Ceremonial Teams could be            trying to do their own thing. Let us re-     signed myself to this but looking forward
formed to assist Lodges that may be           commit to this and make it happen.           to 2022 for at least one opportunity to
light on members and those with limited                                                    travel to Australia, but more importantly,
available Brethren to deliver charges etc.                                                 getting out and about in New Zealand to
                                              Out and about                                support you and your Lodges.
                                              I am quickly approaching the two-third
Brotherly love                                mark of my term as Grand Master and
In tough times we start to see each other     we will soon be commencing the process
                                                                                           In closing
slightly differently. We all have different   of selecting my successor and other          May the wisdom of our fraternity guide
views and one of our strengths is that        Grand Lodge officers. As I have trav-        us with determination to achieve our vi-
matters of politics and religion are not      elled around New Zealand, I have been        sion and goal so that we may all be better
a topic of discussion in a Lodge room.        encouraged with the quality and skills of    people that support each other and those
However, with this must come respect          many Brethren. Most of the Masters that      in our communities. May you all enjoy
and an understanding that we all have         I have met had enthused me with their        good health, and also remember that if
different views and that we don’t always      commitment to the growth and engage-         you need any support, then talk to your
need to agree. The Charges that we de-        ment of their Brethren, Lodge and with       Lodge Almoner.
liver in the Lodge room have very strong      other Lodges in the District. My only                                 Graham Wrigley
messages of tolerance, brotherly love,        regret is that my opportunities to visit                                Grand Master

                                                      www.freemasonsnz.org                                                         5
Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
News clips
Freemasons in the Hawke’s Bay support young musicians
With the support of The Freemasons        This is part of a three-year pro-  The event has a couple of held over
Charity, masonic Lodges in the Hawke’s gramme of support and helps promote dates to cover COVID-19 Alert Levels.
Bay, are again supporting the Young Freemasonry in the community as a
Musician of Year 2021.                 principal sponsor.

6
Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
Lodge Whangamomona Centennial celebrations
                                                                                                   Lodge Manuherikia
are coming                                                                                         Kilwinning No 109,
Lodge Whangamomona No234 shall be              up management of this well constructed                  Alexandra
celebrating it's Centennial on 1-3rd April     block building making alterations to suit.           Constituted 1896
2022 and we extend a very cordial invite          Functions include:
to all former Members & Families, as              Friday1st April; Registrations,& Greet
well as to those associated brethren who       & meet Nibbles served. Devon Hotel.            125th Anniversary
have assisted or received generous assis-         Saturday 2nd April; Morning bus trip          Celebrations
tance from this Lodge. You are warmly          around New Plymouth 9.00 to 11.50am.
welcome to help in making this a very          Installation at 1.30pm Inglewood                Saturday 6 November 2021
memorable celebration occasion and             Masonic Centre, Mahoe Street, Ladies
joining with us.                               entertainment, Devon Hotel. Banquet                 For information contact
   The Lodge began its fuctions in the         at Devon Hotel 6.30pm. Music Guests                  LW Brenssell, Secretary
eastern country of Taranaki in the village     Speaker etc.                                       3 Royal Terrace, Alexandra
of Whangamomona but being first ded-                                                                    03 448 5929
                                                                                                    evenles68@gmail.com
icated in Stratford Town Hall 8th March
1922, supported by Lodge Hinemoa
No786 SC and then took up residence
in the Whangamomona Hall which still
remains today.
   With the closure of public services and
businesses causing depletion of prospec-
tive members the Lodge decided moving
down towards the heart of Taranaki, in
the village of Toko, where it built it’s own   Lodge Whangamomona held its meetings in
                                               this Hall.
building until it once again faced similar
depopulation of community, a very pop-
ular happening in those days.                    Sunday 3rd April; Breakfast Devon
   Having been made offers for the de-         Hotel, Morning Tea & Farewell.
funct Lodge of Moa No 110 in Inglewood,          Descendants of former members wel-
members decided to accept the challenge        come to attend Greet & Meet, Morning
once again of moving their Lodge, that         Bus trip & Banquet.
had proved very comfortable over the             Your intended attendance must
term of usage with many memorable              be registered to RWBro Bernie:
occasions being left behind and taking         bernieblack@xtra.co.nz / 027 753 0990.

Crossword solution
                                                                                            Did you know that we
                                                                                            support the widows of
                                                                                            Freemasons?
                                                                                            Lodges throughout New Zealand sup-
                                                                                            port 3500 widows of Freemasons (only if
                                                                                            that is their wish).
                                                                                               Many widows enjoy the continued
                                                                                            connection that their partner had with
                                                                                            Freemasonry which includes social
                                                                                            events, regular contact and any help and
                                                                                            support that they may require.
                                                                                            Freemasons have a tradition of caring.

                                                       www.freemasonsnz.org                                                       7
Freemason NEW ZEALAND - National Summer Games - Freemasons New ...
FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
                                                                                         World Alzheimers Month
                                                           VISION                        Some of you may be aware that September

                                                           GOAL                          is World Alzheimers Month. As I write
                                                                                         this, the month has just started and we are

                                                           TEAM
                                                                                         in discussions with Alzheimers NZ about
                                                                                         how we can better support their online
                                                                                         Move For Dementia challenge that you
                                                                                         can find at movefordementia.org.nz.
                          BUILDING OUR FUTURE                                               By participating in the challenge you
                                                                                         can help to fund raise for Alzheimers NZ,
                                                                                         but it’s also a novel way of showing your

B     rethren who are reading this issue       And I’m sure Michael and Sam and          support for the many, many thousands
      of The NZ Freemason will see the      their colleagues aren’t the only Brethren    of New Zealanders who are affected by
article featuring District Grand Master     out there actively supporting the Special    dementia.
Canterbury, Michael Wooding, and his        Olympics clubs in their areas, and active-      Alzheimers NZ statistics show de-
Grand Steward, Sam Rowntree, talking        ly supporting a range of other worthy        mentia affects most of us in some way at
about the absolutely wonderful work         local causes for that matter.                some point in our lives. We either receive
they are doing to support a number                   And that’s very much in keep-       a diagnosis of dementia, or it affects a
of local Special Olympics                               ing with the Grand Master’s      family member or friend. Possibly we
clubs in the lead-up to the                                plea that Brethren Speak      serve as care partner for a spouse/part-
Freemasons NZ Special                                        Up, Step Up and Show        ner who develops the condition.
Olympics        National                                       Up both in their own         At the moment, nearly 70,000 of us
Summer Games.                                                   Lodges and within        have dementia and that figure is project-
   If you haven’t                                               their communities.       ed to nearly triple in coming years as our
read that piece, I                                                 And       National    population ages. So Freemasons NZ is
commend it to you.                                              Office would like to     pleased to be doing something to show
It really is a great                                            do more to facilitate    our support.
story about commu-                                             that and to showcase         And if the Move For Dementia chal-
nity-minded Brethren                                        the great community and      lenge is not for you, you could consider
getting in behind a very                                  charitable work that Lodges    becoming a Dementia Friend at www.
worthwhile cause, not just                           and Brethren do all over the        Alzheimers.org.nz
financially, although that does help, but   country because it’s wonderful for ‘Brand
with their personal time and energy.        Freemasonry’ and wonderful for attract-
   It’s one of those commitments            ing new Brethren who want to follow in
                                                                                         What’s happening
that epitomises all that is great about     your footsteps .… but we need your help.     post-Roadshows?
Freemasonry and, in my view, why so            So, if any Brethren are doing what        Picture a duck swimming serenely across
many Freemasons join the Craft.             Michael and Sam are doing, please let        the water. Everything looks peaceful on
                                            Duane at National Office know, prefera-      the surface, but underneath that duck is
                                                           bly well before you under-    paddling furiously.
                                                           take any projects or start       And that’s a decent analogy for what’s
                                                           any activities. The more      happening at National Office now that
                                                           we know and the earlier       we have completed the Roadshows and
                                                           we know, the more we          as we really gear up to support our new
                                                           can do to support you and     strategic framework.
                                                           to generate community
                                                           awareness of what you are
                                                           doing.

8                                                   www.freemasonsnz.org
ccine keeps                                                                                  Lessons from COVID-19
                                                                                             This lock down was probably harder for
                                                                                             many of us to bear than previous periods
                                                                                             of enforced isolation. And my heart does
                                                                                             go out to those in Auckland who, at the

ether
                                                                                             time of writing this, are still having to do
                                                                                             it tougher than the rest of us.
                                                                                                 But there’s no doubt we have learned
                                                                                             useful lessons from COVID-19, both at
                                                                                             National Office and within our Lodges,
                                                                                             especially around the important of stay-
                                                                                             ing connected and looking in on each
                                                                                             other.

 A number of projects                          Lodge meetings, but it does help us all
                                               stay connected and supported, which
 underway                                      is especially important as I sit here in a
 We have a number of complex and im-           Level 3 lock down and my colleagues in
 portant projects underway, all designed       Auckland endure Level 4.
 to give effect to what we discussed at the       On the Xero front, we are still working
 Roadshows and to better support Lodges.       through the challenges of implementing
    We have new people coming on               this facility across the organisation. That
 board to whom we will introduce you           we need to do so because of increased fi-
 in coming weeks and months. Our new           nancial compliance and reporting com-
 team, which we are choosing carefully         plexities and requirements is a given,
 and which the Board has approved, will        but there are some issues to over-come            There’s been quite a bit of media
 be dedicated to specific National Office      in terms of managing a national roll-out      comment this time around about the
 projects, enabling us to get things up        that meets all essential regulatory needs.    mental health and wellbeing impacts of
 and running as promptly as possible. In       But we are working on it and hope to          lock downs. It’s not just the isolation, but
 saying that, I’d like to acknowledge our      have the issues ironed out soon.              there can also be financial stress and the
 former Charity Officer, Shelley Newson,          And then there is the myriad of work       stresses that accompany a death in the
 and Memberships Officer, Barbara              updating and introducing new systems          family when not all family can be present
 Pickering. Thank you for your efforts         and processes relating to our Charity,        to pay their respects.
 over many years.                              including trialling new software that we          The mental health impacts are very
    We have a total website redevelopment      hope will streamline much of the work.        real and I would encourage anyone who
 underway which we hope to have com-           Other changes will be coming soon, too.       might be feeling these impacts to seek
 plete and ready to roll out later this year      I understand change can be uncom-          support. And I’d also encourage you all
 or early next. Our new website will have      fortable for some, especially if you are      to keep checking in with each other.
 greatly enhanced functionality, will look     well-used to the previous way of doing            It doesn’t take
 much more modern and will be a great          things, but I can assure you the benefits     much to do that, but
 ‘shop-front window’ into Freemasonry.         will become obvious early next year.          it can mean an awful
    We have also embraced the ‘digital            And last, but not least, we are putting    lot and make a sig-
 age’ and at the Divisional Grand Master       a lot of work into updating our member-       nificant difference.
 level we have provided access to Zoom         ship database and making that system                 Mark Cassidy
 teleconferencing services (the business       much more user-friendly and informa-             Executive Director
 version) which many Lodges are al-            tion-rich. We should have that complete
 ready using well. It’s not a substitute for   early next year as well.

                                                        www.freemasonsnz.org                                                            9
OPINION
Back to basics
I  t will be obvious to all that Free­
   masonry in New Zealand is going
through a crisis period in respect of
                                            required to learn the traditional defini-
                                            tion which states that Freemasonry is “A
                                            peculiar system of morality, veiled in
                                                                                         materialistic activities of work and play.
                                                                                         More knowledge of the original purpose
                                                                                         of Freemasonry may arouse the interest
membership levels. Without an injec-        allegory and illustrated by symbols”.        of many such men if they knew about it.
tion of new blood our beloved order         Today we only pay lip service to that           A non-Mason, on reading our major
will be unable to afford to maintain the    definition and in fact some members          publication, NZ Freemason, would
current administration in its present       have not even taken the trouble to find      conclude that our activities are based
form for much longer and, even more         out what it means. It is also clear that     almost entirely on fellowship and phi-
seriously, lodges will be unable in some    some lodges do not explain the meaning       lanthropy, and he wouldn’t be far wrong.
cases to continue to afford the luxury of   of such statements to their candidates.      Philanthropy seems to be the main
occupying their own purpose-built lodge     When the definition was written, sev-        ‘selling point’ at present, but in my view,
rooms. The logical expectation is that if   eral hundred years ago, English usage        publicising our scholarships and char-
reductions continue as they have done       differed considerably from the way we        ity work does not attract candidates for
in recent years, Freemasonry in NZ is       might express things today. However,         membership. Little attention is focused
doomed to extinction.                       it is a concise and accurate statement,      on the basic purpose of Freemasonry,
    Why has it reached this stage? Apart    which needs interpretation in current        which is what makes our organisation
from the changes in society in recent       terms. Let us examine the four key words     different from other societies and clubs.
years, which have affected the lives of     in the statement, in the light of current       I can see that the standard definition
most men, there is another important        usage. My dictionary/thesaurus yields        of Freemasonry, which I have analysed
factor which has not been taken into        the following meanings.                      above, may be regarded by some as
consideration. Over the last hundred           Peculiar – unusual, exceptional, dis-     unsuitable to use to promote the Craft
years, Freemasonry in the English-          tinct from others.                           today. But I rather like the version giv-
speaking world has drifted away from           Morality – a system of moral prin-        en in the booklet “Simple Answers to
the original meaning and purpose of the     ciples. (The word ‘moral’ is a complex       Leading Questions” which Grand Lodge
Order. It should be borne in mind that      one. My dictionary gives 10 alternative      published in 2017.
Freemasonry was not intended to be a        meanings. I chose the one which best fits
                                                                                          “Freemasonry is a brotherhood of
charity or a philanthropic organisation,    with our statement.)
                                                                                          good men meeting and working in
dispensing such things as help to worthy       Allegory – A play, poem or picture in
                                                                                          harmony, teaching strong moral and
causes, scholarships to deserving stu-      which the apparent meaning is used to
                                                                                          ethical values in personal, family and
dents, etc. These laudable activities are   symbolise a moral or spiritual meaning.
                                                                                          community behaviour, and a code of
add-ons which can be engaged in when           Symbol – Something that represents
                                                                                          caring for others.”
the Craft is in a healthy and prosperous    or stands for something else, especially a
state and can afford to look at extending   material object used to represent some-      Giving emphasis to this new definition in
its activities.                             thing abstract.                              all our publications may help to attract
    But we are fighting for our existence      A careful study of these meanings         the men who will give Freemasonry the
and it is time that we turned inwards       will clarify the basic Masonic statement.    boost it so badly needs.
to examine exactly what Freemasonry         There are many thinking men in all walks                            Bill Hibbard, PGW
was created to achieve. Every Initiate is   of life who are looking for more than the

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10                                                  www.freemasonsnz.org
Special Olympics New Zealand (SONZ) will bring athletes, coaches, and
        volunteers from across the country to Hamilton for the Freemasons New Zealand
                     Special Olympics National Summer Games in December.

F   ollowing a four-year cycle, similar
    to the Olympics and Paralympics,
the National Summer Games is SONZ’s
                                                “Different organisations are running
                                             different events. The Lodges in the dis-
                                             trict immediately volunteered to donate
                                                                                             “The fact that we have been able to
                                                                                         assist them in so many different ways
                                                                                         apart from just financially, and really get
largest event and provides important         money to get athletes to the games who      involved so passionately has blown them
opportunities for New Zealanders with        could otherwise not afford to go.”          away. They did not expect this amount of
intellectual disabilities. Organising such      Michael says the assistance has not      support.” says Sam
a large-scale event would be impossible      only been financial. Many Brethren are         Sam also believes the partnership is a
without the support of generous spon-        volunteering their time and assisting       win-win situation that provides oppor-
sors. This year Freemasons New Zealand       local clubs in the lead up to the games.    tunities to raise awareness of both SONZ
are the naming sponsors of the games            “Brethren have really got behind it      and Freemasons New Zealand.
but this wasn’t enough for Canterbury        as far as volunteering their time and          “The biggest misconception that
Freemasons who are providing addition-       supporting different activities which is    I’ve heard is that the Special Olympics
al assistance with funding, volunteers,      fantastic to see.”                          are purely an event that will happen
and equipment.                                  “Most recently there was a swimming      only at the end of this year. This is
   Michael Wooding, District Grand           competition held in Rangiora. Ten           completely incorrect. The Summer
Master for the Canterbury District, and      Brethren turned up at 9am on a Sunday       Games happen every four years, and the
Sam Rowntree, Member of the United           morning and provided assistance by act-     Special Olympics are year round. We are
Forces Lodge No 245, tell us more about      ing as timekeepers and doing the ribbon     aligning ourselves with this worthy or-
their work to support local athletes.        presentation. After the meet everyone       ganisation now and into the future. This
   “We saw a presentation on the Special     was saying what a great cause it was, how   partnership has provided an opportunity
Olympics at the Southern Divisional          much fun they had, and how uplifting it     for us to showcase our charitable works,
Conference in Timaru and got to meet         was spending time with the participants.”   and the important part we play in local
one of the participants. After the meet-        This extra support outside of the        communities.”
ing I wondered what else we could do         sponsorship of the Summer Games has            In addition to the Summer Games
to help so we got in touch with the two      been a welcomed surprise for the local      SONZ offers a year-round programme of
Canterbury clubs via Facebook and that’s     SONZ clubs.                                 sports training and competition for chil-
how it all started.” says Michael.                                                          dren and adults with an intellectual
   “They said they could use help with       If your lodge would like to become             disability. More than 5,000 athletes
financial assistance to get athletes         involved with the Summer Games or              throughout New Zealand participate
to the games, donations of sporting          Special Olympics New Zealand event             in the 13 different sports on offer. Sam
equipment for training such as stop          throughout the year:                           hopes Canterbury Freemasons can re-
watches and basketballs, and also            1. Reach out to your local Special             main involved with SONZ to support
some manpower to help run events.               Olympics clubs through their website        their ongoing events.
We then compiled a list of what                 or Facebook page                                “I hope that our involvement with
each club needed and circulated that         2. Ask how you can provide assistance
                                                                                            this organisation will last a lot longer
around all our lodges to figure out                                                         than these Summer Games. The event
how we could meet their needs.”              3. Compile a clear list of what is needed      at the end of the year is purely ce-
   With 160 Canterbury athletes              4. Share this with the Lodges and              menting the relationship that we have
going to the games the Canterbury               Brethren in your District                   and will take our partnership into the
Lodges have answered the call for                                                           future.”
help, and a large number of Brethren         5. Enlist manpower – Organising
                                                everything can be extra work. Asking
are involved.
                                                others for help will lighten the load.

                                                      www.freemasonsnz.org                                                       11
Freemasons in Northland
support Special Olympics
Freemasons in the Northland District are
supporting financially a concert in aid of
the Freemasons New Zealand Special
Olympics – National Summer Games
organised by Special Olympics New
Zealand in Whangarei. Now rescheduled
for when COVID-19 allows.

                                              Special Olympics are special to Freemasons
                                              Margaret Baker ONZM from Special               Lodges and members are providing
                                              Olympics addressing the Divisional          additional support for funding for ath-
                                              Charity Seminar held in Hastings.           letes and equipment, support to local
                                              Margaret informed and entertained           clubs and volunteering to pre-games ac-
                                              us with anecdotes of her experiences        tivities and the National Summer Games.
                                              volunteering in this area. Thanks to
                                              Adrian Douglas and Jeff Mear from
                                              Freemasons      Charity    Management
                                              Committee for giving their well-received
                                              presentation, too.
                                                 The Freemasons Charity has naming
                                              rights with it $100,000 sponsorship of
                                              the Freemasons New Zealand Special
                                              Olympics – National Summer Games
                                              being held in Hamilton from 8–12th
                                              December 2021.

High Tea in Thames for Special Olympics
The Sir Walter Scott Lodge No 15 which           It is open to the public and those in-
recently celebrated its 150th is planning a   terested in coming along to support the
High Tea fundraiser for the Freemasons        Special Olympics should contact Kerry
New Zealand Special Olympics –                at kerryandjan.doherty@gmail.com for
National Summer Games, being held             details.
from 8–12th December in Hamilton, at             What is your lodge doing or done for
their Freemasons Centre in Thames on          the Special Olympics? Share it with us.
Saturday 2nd October 2021.

Westminster Lodge hears about Special Olympics
Westminster Lodge No 308 in               Westminster Lodge has supported donation through the                      Freemasons
Wellington at its formal mid-winter the Special Olympics with a substantial Central Division project.
Dinner had Carolyn Young the CEO
of Special Olympics New Zealand as
their guest speaker talking about the
Freemasons New Zealand Special
Olympics -National Summer Games
being held in Hamilton 8-12 December
2021.
   It also just happened to be Carolyn’s
birthday with a celebratory cake as well.

12                                                   www.freemasonsnz.org
Freemasons volunteer at Special Olympics swim meet
Special Olympics NZ, North Canterbury        Alan McGill of The Avon Shirley Lodge        heart-warming and we really enjoyed
Branch and the Freemasons in the             No.185                                       our morning, we are pleased to announce
Canterbury District team up.                   Gordon Sylvester, Master of The            The Ashley Lodge will be providing some
   Freemasons from North Canterbury          Ashley Lodge, said afterwards” The           extra funding to attend the Summer
assisted with time keeping and ribbon        enthusiasm of the participants was           game for the participants”.
presentation      on
Sunday 25th July at
the Special Olympics
NZ Swim Meet
at Dudley Pool,
Rangiora. This was
a local swim event
which       included
participants from all
over Canterbury and
is part of the lead
up to the Summer
Games to be held in
Hamilton later this
year.
   Members of The                                                                            The swim event was well run by
Ashley Lodge No.                                                                          Swimming New Zealand and the lo-
28, which is based                                                                        cal North Canterbury Committee of
in Rangiora, led                                                                          Special Olympics NZ, with the North
the charge, assisted                                                                      Canterbury Freemasons providing some
by local resident                                                                         much-needed extra help.
                                                                                          www.freemasonsnz.org/special-olym-
                                                                                          pics-2 and www.specialolympics.org.
                                                                                          nz

Freemasons in Hawke’s Bay support Special Olympics
Shout out to Lodge Haeata No 272             District project that will be supported by
Charity Officer, Eve Casagranda, for or-     additional funding from The Freemasons
ganizing a screening of “Poppy” as a fund-   Charity. Thank you to all who made
raiser for helping local athletes attend     donations.
the Freemasons New Zealand Special              Tell us what your Lodge has done
Olympics - National Summer Games             or is going to do to support the Special
in Hamilton on 8-12 December. This is        Olympics?
one of several projects contributing to a

                                                    www.freemasonsnz.org                                                      13
Poppy for Special
Olympics
About 50 Freemasons, Partners, Family
and Friends supported the Freemasons
New Zealand Special Olympics -
National Summer Games by a fundraiser
with the New Zealand film ‘Poppy’ at
Pahautanui, just north of Wellington.
It was organised by The Saint Andrews
Lodge No 32.
   We would love to hear what your Lodge
is doing to support the Freemasons New
Zealand Special Olympics in Hamilton
from 8-12 December 2021.

Freemasons in Palmerston North area help at Special Olympics Swim Meet
This, of course, was before lockdown and   and Kelly joined Ainsley Watson, the        commitment of the athletes who have
is another way Lodges and Freemasons       Master of the Lodge to assist with the      daily challenges in their lives that we
are supporting Special Olympics in the     timekeeping for the races. It was a great   can never fully understand. It was a very
run up to the Freemasons New Zealand       morning, and you cannot help but being      well-run event where the athletes obvi-
Special Olympics - National Summer         positively affected by the enthusiasm and   ously knew the rhythm and routine of
Games in Hamilton later                                                                              the races so well that their
this year.                                                                                           reactions to the coordina-
   Several      members                                                                              tors and behaviour notice-
of     the     Manawatu                                                                              ably matched and enabled
Kilwinning Lodge No                                                                                  the very smooth running
47 attended the Special                                                                              of the day. The Brethren
Olympics       Manawatu                                                                              and young women felt it
Branch        swimming                                                                               very rewarding to be part
contest held in Feilding                                                                             of their preparation for the
on Sunday 15th August                                                                                Freemasons NZ Special
that also involved teams                                                                             Olympics National event
from        Horowhenua                                                                               in December.
and Wellington. John                                                                                    What is your Lodge
Livingstone, Cliff Parker,                                                                           doing or have done to
Murray Mansfield and                                                                                 support Special Olympics?
his daughters Megan

14                                                www.freemasonsnz.org
Freemasons in action
Two schools benefited from the now closed Lodge Arowhenua No. 473
In winding up its assets Lodge National anthem in Te Reo and English. will benefit by upgrading the technology
Arowhenua made a donation to The second school to benefit was Temuka in their respective libraries.
Winchester School of $5,525. The school Primary – also for $5,525. Both schools    Alex Solomon, District Grand
welcomed the Brethren by singing the                                                    Master, Midland District

                                         Children of the school look on as a cheque is   From left: VWBro Alex Solomon, District Grand
                                         presented.                                      Master; WBro John Lynch, Trustee, Lodge
                                                                                         Arowhenua No. 473; Mrs Lucy Millar, School Board
                                                                                         Chair and Mrs Tre Sylvanwood, Principal.

                                    The Principal of the school Mr Grant Willocks   The school entertained us by a choreographed modern
                                    receives the check.                             dance routine.

New Zealander interning at Masonic Medical Research Institute in USA
Over the past several years, as a Professor   Salt-Bernard, and he is from Auckland,          many Brothers, and shared his research
for the State University of New York at       New Zealand.                                    interests and Māori culture with us. He
Oswego, I have had the pleasure of               I have mentored Mr. Salt-Bernard and         is truly an exceptional person and a great
working with one of our international         encouraged him to pursue a summer               ambassador of New Zealand.
students pursuing his Master’s Degree in      2021 fellowship at the Masonic Medical              Mr. Salt-Bernard was recently fea-
Chemistry. The student’s name is Vaea         Research Institute in Utica, NY. He ap-         tured in a news story about his education
                                              plied, interviewed, and was accepted.           and research being conducted at the
                                                 Leading up to the fellowship, Mr.            Masonic Medical Research Institute.
                                              Salt-Bernard spoke at many Lodges, met          Here is a link to the news story:
                                                                                              https://bit.ly/salt-bernard
                                                                                                  Mr. Salt-Bernard is making a differ-
                                                                                              ence in Freemasonry in New York and in
                                                                                              the medical industry.
                                                                                                         Professor Joe Stabb of the Hiram
                                                                                                             Lodge No 136 (Fulton, NY),
                                                                                                       Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted
                                                                                                        Masons of the State of New York.

                                                       www.freemasonsnz.org                                                            15
Freemasons in action
Freemasons Charity Dinner in Auckland
The Auckland and Counties-Hauraki Dinner at the Northern Club last Buddy’, with well over 100 Freemasons
Districts organised a black-tie Charity Saturday. It was to raise funds for ‘Big (all constitutions), partners and guests in
                                                                                 attendance, including our Grand Master
                                                                                 Graham Wrigley. He spoke on the spe-
                                                                                 cial relationship Freemasons have with
                                                                                 ‘Big Buddy’ and the other large project
                                                                                 involving the Freemasons being the
                                                                                 Special Olympics.
                                                                                    Ms Lettie Bright, Partnerships
                                                                                 Manager for Big Buddy, spoke about the
                                                                                 work Big Buddy undertake, the valuable
                                                                                 contribution Freemasons NZ has pro-
                                                                                 vided to the organisation, and a personal
                                                                                 story from the mother of a Little Buddy
                                                                                 and the positive impact of the Big Buddy
                                                                                 programme. This was life changing for
                                                                                 this young fellow.
                                                                                    A grand night out by all accounts.

Freemasons CAR-T Cell Research Programme
Update from the Malaghan Institute
For the past three years, Freemasons T-cells is reserved only for clinical trial capturing some photos and videos of
New Zealand and the Malaghan Institute work. It has been technically challenging CAR T-cells attacking and destroying
have been working towards a shared but we’re making good progress, even tumour cells in a petri dish. We’re also
goal; harnessing the power                                                               peering into the internal work-
of the immune system to                                                                  ings of the cells at a sub-mi-
create better, more effective                                                            croscopic level, where we can
cancer treatments, and to                                                                detect the different proteins that
make cutting-edge immu-                                                                  are active in CAR T- cells that
notherapies more accessible                                                              are using the unique signalling
to New Zealanders.                                                                       domain versus those that don’t.
   Here is a little update                                                               We hope that this investigation
from the team:                                                                           will help us identify key pro-
   “Our hard-working team                                                                teins that positively control CAR
of students, postdoctoral re-                                                            T-cell activity and that we will
search fellows and research                                                              be able to use this knowledge to
technicians have been                                                                    programme even more potent
designing modifications to                                                               cancer therapies.”
the CAR T-cell production                                                                   We are incredibly proud to
methodology that are com-                                                                be partnered with the Malaghan
patible with working in our                                                              Institute and their CAR T-cell
regular research lab, as the                                                             programme. We are excited to
GMP suite where we have                                                                  see what the next phase of our
learnt the optimal method                                                                partnership will achieve.
of growing patient CAR

16                                               www.freemasonsnz.org
A combined working in Christchurch
The Concord Lodge No 39 in traditional
Filipino attire did a Master Masons
Degree for Bro Jeff Libre, a Filipino,
from the Lodge of Endeavour No 504 in
a combined working on the last night of
Alan Glasson Master and Past District
Grand Master. In fact, Jeff did his second
Degree at The Concord Lodge as well.
Sharing the work is great to see.
   The Concord Lodge No 39 is one of
New Zealand’s older Lodges and Lodge
of Endeavour No 504 one of our newest
in the 500 series of fine dining lodges.

Everyone on the night and Bro Jeff Libre (centre) with the Masters of Concord
Allen Glasson and of Endeavour Gareth Turner either side.

                                 Visit the Virtual Masonic Library
     Need some lockdown masonic reading? Try visiting your Divisional Websites Virtual Reading Rooms.

          Northernl Division                                Central Division                 Southern Division
    https://bit.ly/northern-reading                  https://bit.ly/central-reading   https://bit.ly/southern-reading

                                                          www.freemasonsnz.org                                          17
Serving a local need
Lodge Te Puni organises a variety show to fund bladder scanners
  Freemasons in action
On Wednesday 5th March members of Lodge Te Puni presented two bladder scanners
toMini
   the CEOLodge of the Hutt Valley District Health Board. This was the result of a fundraising
effort
  A greatby the
          shot    combined
               from            Lodges
                    The Forest Lodge No of the Hutt Valley.
  116 in Nelson.
     “In the small Willowbank Heritage
  Village at Wakefield. Freemasons are
  constructing a Tiny Lodge - almost on
  the same site as the original Forest Lodge
  building was situated.
     This building will be open to the gen-                                                         W. Bro TR McKenzie, Master of Lodge
                                                                                                    Te Puni, with W. Bro Ray Keenan
  eral public as a visitor attraction.”
                                                                                                    presenting Graham Dyer, Hutt Valley
     Fantastic work, Brethren                                                                       DHB CEO with one of the two portable
                                                                                                    bladder scanners, looking on is
  Any Lodge in New Zealand who can                                                                  Pete Chandler Hutt Valley DHB COO.
  help with some interior masonic fur-                                                              BELOW A bladder scanner.
  nishings (Deacon wands, small working
  tools, smaller VSL’s, base for a wand)
  please contact the Lodge organiser
  on Tam Hazin on 022 306 0012 /
  tamboat2@gmail.com

  Progress update of Freemasons University Scholarship recipient
A     couple
  Since
  University
DHB,
            being ofawarded
      immediate
                           Lodgea Freemason’s
                     family, who work
                   Scholarship,
        had indicated
  multiple      research that
                                       members’
                                    I have
                                staff were
                            papers
                                           for the
                                                had
                                              fund
                                       accepted
                                                      Craft
                                                       eventsand
                                                      his
                                                                andoutside,
                                                       nities very
                                                                             including opportu- all faculties interested in neuroscience.
                                                                     offer networking
                                                                     own successful
                                                               for undergraduate
                                                      singing son and his Group,
                                                                                   students from Patient advocacy is another passion that
                                                                                                    I am developing as an Ambassador for
raising   for equipment
  by national                 that was incon-
                    and international        short    ‘The Auzzie Boys.’ A plethora                 the ‘Brainbook Charity’, a UK-based
supply
  ferencesfor their
               that Patients.
                      I will be   Theattending
                                        nurses of     of acts was assembled, from                   patient resource that aims to lessen
Mapu     Unit and
  (virtually     and the   Community
                       in-person)    laterHealth
                                             this     juggling, dancing (ballroom,                  the anxiety around neurosurgical
Services    had    started   selling
  year. The Scholarship has greatly   cakes    and    rock-n-roll,          traditional             diagnoses and operations.
undertaking
  helped me pay   other  fundraising
                     registration   feesefforts
                                         for theto    Polish), musical acts and                      AsI always
                                                                                                          am a itproud
                                                                                                                     was a recipient
                                                                                                                             tight knit ofteam,
                                                                                                                                             a
purchase    a bladder
  Neurosurgical          scanner.
                      Society   of Australasia        even the piping in of a Haggis with encompassing
                                                                                                    Freemason’s members
                                                                                                                    UniversityofScholarship
                                                                                                                                   the Lodges
  Annual
   The membersScientific
                      thenMeeting
                             brought and      the
                                       the Units’     the traditional address. Audience from        andtheamHutt very
                                                                                                                  Valley,grateful
                                                                                                                          wives andto      The
                                                                                                                                      partners,
  Australasian
plight              Winterand
         to the Lodges         Conference
                                   a numberonof       participation was encouraged and, and         Freemasons     Charity   for  supporting
                                                                                                       the nurses from the DHB that made
  Brain Research.
Brethren     also indicated that they had             during intermission, food and drink was this  myoccasion
                                                                                                         success the
                                                                                                                   thissuccess
                                                                                                                         year and    into
                                                                                                                               it was.     the
                                                                                                                                        Thanks
been hospitalisedforrecently
     My     passion         neuroscience
                                    and had  hasto    available for purchase.                       future.
                                                                                                  are due for the support of local businesses,
  extended
wait   for the to helping   set up ato
                   only scanner       new   club
                                         become          Along with some very sought after individuals and the performers      William Cook
                                                                                                                                          along
  at The University
available                 of Auckland called
            for their treatment.                      prizes for raffles, the support for the with   MBChB     & BMedSc(Hons)      Candidate
                                                                                                        The Freemasons Charity for help
  the  ‘Campus
   Lodge     Te PuniNeurodecided
                             Society’.toWehold
                                             run a    show was outstanding. The money raised in providing The    suchUniversity
                                                                                                                        necessaryof equipment
                                                                                                                                    Auckland
Variety Show to raise funds to complete               on the night was, with the help of The for the health and wellbeing of the wider
the purchase of at least one bladder                  Freemasons Charity, able to purchase community.
scanner. WBro Ray Keenan approached                   two bladder scanners valued at over                                WBro Mac McKenzie
many talented artists both within the                 $13,000.00 each.

             Publicity for your community events – 3 steps
         Ensure someone is responsible                         Seize good photo                           Act quickly to spread the
BEFORE

                                                      DURING

                                                                                                  AFTER

         for publicity, arrange for                            opportunities, concentrate                 word, send press release and
         a photographer, plan                                  on ‘action’ not ‘satisfaction’,            captioned high resolution
         photographs, involve recipients                       get names for captions, make               photo, focussing on a
         and find a hook that would                            notes. If media comes ensure               newsworthy aspect to local
         interest local media.                                 that they are looked after and             media, district and divisional
                                                               opportunities set up.                      newsletter and NZ Freemason.

  18                                                             www.freemasonsnz.org
Havelock Lodge No 104 celebrates 125 years
and helps a number of Charities
During a visit from the Freemasons             Olympics – National Summer
New Zealand Grand Master Graham                Games which is being support-
Wrigley at the 125th Celebrations of the       ed by Lodges throughout New
Havelock Lodge at Braybrook Heritage           Zealand.
Park in Blenheim, the Lodge support-              This celebration and it’s support
ed a number of local charities. Also,          for the community received good
the Freemasons New Zealand Special             media coverage.                           Lodge at Braybrook Heritage Park.

125th Anniversary Cake.                                               One of many projects…

Partners in Freemasonry: Ladies Lunch – Marlborough Masonry
                                                                                               The March gathering for the monthly
                                                                                               Masonic Ladies lunch was organised by
                                                                                               the partners of the brethren from Lodge
                                                                                               Havelock. Attending in March were
                                                                                               ladies from across the region.
                                                                                                  Lunchtime dining at the Marlborough
                                                                                               Public House in central Blenheim was a
                                                                                               well-attended event. For those wishing
                                                                                               to join this friendly, fun and enjoyable
                                                                                               event in the future, contact Lodge secre-
                                                                                               taries for the next event.

Research Lodge of Taranaki Province celebrates 75 Years
Our Grand Master Graham Wrigley Heyward as Master along with a celebra-    Masonic research is important as it
officially visited on this special occasion tion dinner.                helps tell our stories and make a daily
which included the Installation of Colin                                advancement in masonic knowledge.

A good attendance, visiting Masters meeting the Grand Master and Colin and his wife Jan with Graham Wrigley Grand Master and District Grand
Master Roly Blake at Installation Dinner.

                                                        www.freemasonsnz.org                                                              19
Freemasons in action
Grand Master visits Napier
Our Grand Master Graham Wrigley             Masters and with a large number at         New Zealand in 1890. It’s name comes
visited the Scinde Lodge No 5 in Napier     Installation Dinner which included the     from a province in India and with other
(which is the Deputy Grand Master Jim       Ode to the Haggis given the new Master’s   names in the Hawke’s Bay namely Napier,
Watt’s mother lodge) for the Installation   origin.                                    Hastings and Clive also associated with
of their new Master Steven Murray.             Scinde Lodge No 5 started life as an    India.
   Over 90 in the Lodge Rooms from          Irish Constitution Lodge (No 419) in          Great seeing a Master Mason going
Wellington to Auckland, 19 Visiting         1858 before joining The Grand Lodge of     into Chair of one of our oldest Lodges.

20                                                 www.freemasonsnz.org
Grand Stewards do a grand working in Auckland
The Officers of The Ara Lodge No.1        performing the ceremony. They were            The Grand Steward team consisted;
temporarily vacated their positions for   assisted by the Worshipful Master of the   Mark Pagulayan GS – Auckland – WM
the Active and Past Grand Stewards,       Lodge, Sean Ryder and the Director of      Kevin Carroll GS – Bay of Plenty – SW
and Xavier Huck and Daniel Fernandes      Ceremonies, Stuart Eeles to ensure con-    Michael Smith GS – Auckland – JW
de Oliveira were Passed to the Second     tinuity with the Lodge and that customs    James Frost GS – Auckland – SD
Degree, with the Grand Stewards           were clearly communicated.                 Alex Bagley GS – Counties-Hauraki – JD
                                                                                     Ross Jones GS – Bay of Plenty – IG
                                                                                     Arthur Berman PGS – Chaplain
                                                                                     John Smart – PGS – Secrets
                                                                                     Michael Downey PGS – Charge in the
                                                                                        South East
                                                                                     Andrew Alexander GS – Auckland –
                                                                                        Tracing Board
                                                                                     Frank Reynolds GS – Counties-Hauraki
                                                                                        – Charge After Passing
                                                                                     The tradition of a Grand Stewards work-
                                                                                     ing continues in the Auckland Districts
                                                                                     as it does in other parts of the country.
                                                                                        Congratulations to Xavier Huck and
                                                                                     Daniel Fernandes de Oliveira.

Masonic Genealogy
Wanting to know if a relative from the   Well it is not a secret … con- possible and they will do some masonic
past was a Grand Master, Lodge Master tact Freemasons New Zealand on research on your behalf.
or a Freemason in New Zealand to help communications@freemasonsnz.org             Information on Freemasons who
complete your family tree?             with as much detail on your relative as were members of The Grand Lodge of
                                                                               New Zealand are found in copperplate
                                                                               hand-written tomes dating from 1890
                                                                               (currently being put into an electronic
                                                                               format by volunteers), a Card Index
                                                                               System from the 1960s and electronically
                                                                               from 1980s. Our Grand Lodge Library
                                                                               and other resources sometimes enable us
                                                                               to extend the research even further.

                                                                                     Freemasons Desk at Wellington Genealogy
                                                                                     Open Day recently manned by Clive Lloydd
                                                                                     and Keith Knox of The Grand Lodge of New
                                                                                     Zealand – Grand Library with Tome from 1890,
                                                                                     Card Index and computers.

                                                 www.freemasonsnz.org                                                         21
September is
     Alzheimers Awareness Month
W      e are proud to be active supporters
       of Alzheimers New Zealand, who
represent people living with dementia
                                             services, and promoting research about
                                             prevention, treatment, cure and care.
                                                                                            Be sure to head to their page for
                                                                                          more ways on how you can support
                                                Here in New Zealand, 4 out of 5 of their initiatives or on their website:
at a national level by raising awareness     us know or have known someone living www.alzheimers.org.nz.
of dementia, providing information and       with dementia. Dementia is something
resources, advocating for high quality       that affects almost all of us at some point.

22                                                  www.freemasonsnz.org
You can also book over the phone by calling the
COVID Vaccination Healthline on 0800 28 29 26.

                       www.freemasonsnz.org       23
COVID-19 alert levels
                                                                                                                             Operating Guidelines for Lodge Meetings at
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Effective from: 20 September 2021
                                                                                                                             various Alert Levels (Delta Variant)
                                                                                                                                            www.covid19.govt.nz                                                                   www.freemasonsnz.org/covid-19
                                                            RISK                                                                GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS COVID-19                                                                  FREEMASONS NEW ZEALAND
                                                                                                                             • Border entry measures to minimise risk of importing COVID-19 cases.                        •       Follow any limitations or restrictions announced by the
                         COVID-19 is uncontrolled overseas. Sporadic imported cases. Isolated local transmission

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Government.
                                                                                                                             • Intensive testing for COVID-19.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          •       Lodges can open and no restrictions on meetings or
                                                                                                                             • Rapid contact tracing of any positive case.                                                        activities.
                                                                                                                             • Self-isolation and quarantine required.
           1 – PREPARE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          •       Risk Mitigation Plan approved by the District Grand
                                                                                                                             • Schools and workplaces open and must operate safely.                                               Master. Plans must include the levels at which the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Lodge will open based on their risk profile.
                                                                                                                             • No restrictions on personal movement but people are encouraged to
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          •       Maintain a Contact Tracing Register and hold for 14 days
                                                                                                                               maintain a record of where they have been.
      1 - PREPARE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  and to be completed by everyone attending meetings.
                                                                                                                             • No restrictions on gatherings but organisers encouraged to maintain records                        Buildings to have the Government approved QR code
                                                                                                                               to enable contact tracing.                                                                         displayed at all entrances. It can be found here
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  https:covid19.govt.nz/business-work-and-
                                                                                                                             • Stay home if you are sick, report flu-like symptoms.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  money/business/get-your-qr-code-poster/
  LEVEL

                                                                                                                             • Wash and dry hands, cough into elbow and do not touch your face.                           •       Brethren to download the Government Tracing App on
                                                                                                                             • No restrictions on domestic transport – avoid public transport or travel if                        a mobile device. Scanning or recording attendance
LEVEL

                                                                                                                               sick.                                                                                              is mandatory at all Lodge buildings.
                         could be occurring in New Zealand.

                                                                                                                             • No restrictions on workplace                                                               •       Brethren that are unwell must stay home and not attend
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Lodge meetings, including visiting Brethren.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          •       Ensure good hygiene in bathrooms and kitchen facilities.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          •       Ensure that hand sanitiser is freely available for use by all
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Brethren in the Lodge room and other areas.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          •       Do not travel from an area with higher Alert Level to an
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  area with lower one to attend a Lodge meeting.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          •       Follow any directives or restrictions advised by the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Grand Master.

                                                                                                                             • People instructed to stay home in their bubble other than for essential personal               •    All Lodge meetings and Masonic activities are suspended
                                                                                                                               movement – including to shop, go to work or school if they have to, local                           under the authority of the Grand Master.
                                                                                                                               recreation, or to seek medical care.
                         Multiple cases of community transmission occurring. Multiple active clusters in multiple regions.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              •    Implement welfare arrangements for Brethren and
                                                                                                                             • Physical distancing of two metres outside home or one metre in controlled                           widows.
                                                                                                                               environments like schools and workplaces.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              •    Do not travel or attend any Lodge meetings out of your
                                                                                                                             • Wearing a face covering is mandatory when you can not maintain a 2-metre                            District that are at a lower Alert Level (2, or 1)
                                                                                                                               separation and when indoors at public facilities.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              •    Use Video conferencing for social connection with
                                                                                                                             • People must stay within their immediate household bubble but can expand this to                     Brethren to create Masonic Gatherings.
                                                                                                                               connect with close family / whānau, or bring in caregivers, or support isolated
            RESTRICT

                                                                                                                                                                                                                              •    Follow any further directives advised by the Grand
                                                                                                                               people. This extended bubble must remain exclusive.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Master.
          - RESTRICT

                                                                                                                             • Early learning centres and schools are open for children whose parents have to go
                                                                                                                               to work and have no care giver arrangements, particularly essential workers.
                                                                                                                             • People must work from home unless that is not possible.
                                                                                                                             • Businesses can open premises but cannot physically interact with customers.
  LEVEL33 –

                                                                                                                             • Workers should be kept at least 1 metre apart where possible, and face coverings
                                                                                                                               are strongly recommended.
LEVEL

                                                                                                                             • All businesses must display a government issued QR code for use with the
                                                                                                                               NZ COVID Tracer App by 19 August 2020.
                                                                                                                             • Low risk local recreation activities are allowed.
                                                                                                                             • Public venues are closed (e.g. libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools,
                                                                                                                               playgrounds, markets).
                                                                                                                             • Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed but only for wedding services, funerals
                                                                                                                               and tangihanga. Physical distancing and public health measures must be maintained.
                                                                                                                             • Inter-regional travel is highly limited (e.g. for essential workers, people returning to
                                                                                                                               their primary residence, with limited exemptions for others).
                                                                                                                             • People at high risk of severe illness (older people and those with existing medical
                                                                                                                               conditions) are encouraged to stay at home where possible and seek medical advice.

24                                                                                                                                                                             www.freemasonsnz.org
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