Freemasonry turns 300, invites new members

Freemasonry is the oldest, largest and most widely recognised fraternal organisation in the world.

It was founded in London, England in 1717 and its current worldwide membership totals 3.6-million.

As a fraternal organisation, they “unite men of good character who share a belief in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of mankind,” although members are of different religious, ethnic or social backgrounds.

The traditions of the organisation are founded upon the building of King Solomon’s temple.

Its fraternal ceremonies use the working tools of stonemasons to symbolise moral lessons and truths.

Membership is not meant to interfere with an individual’s commitment to his faith, family or occupation.

It is a positive environment that reminds every Mason of his duty to God, community, family and himself.

Springs

Andrew White explains that Springs Masonic Centre is the home of two English Masonic Craft Lodges.

Coalfields Lodge, which was consecrated in June 1897, is 120 years old and was established on a farm called ‘The Springs’.

Early residents included enough masons to start a lodge.

A petition went to Grand Lodge, with a reservation about calling the lodge ‘Coalfields’ as the District Grand Master thought it would be confused with ‘Gold Fields’.

Despite the reservation, the chosen name was accepted.

Springs Lodge was consecrated on August 30, 1937 and is 80 years old.

With the growing importance of Springs as a mining and manufacturing centre, the need for a second lodge became apparent and so Springs Lodge came alongside Coalfields Lodge.

Springs Lodge has made steady progress over the years and until recently, it was a tenant of the Springs Masonic Centre owned by Coalfields Lodge.

In 1993 a scheme was developed for the acquisition by each of five tenant lodges of a 10 per cent interest in the centre, the proceeds used for further building improvements.

Springs Lodge, with the assistance of the Heritage Fund, is a participant in the scheme.

“Both lodges are governed by the District Grand Lodge of South Africa North,” says White.

“We all report into the United Grand Lodge of England.”

Famous Freemasons

The following famous people were members of the Freemasons:

• Benjamin Franklin was one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, a hero of the revolutionary war and an inventor.

As a scientist, he was a major figure in the American Enlightenment and the history of physics for his discoveries and theories regarding electricity.

As an inventor, he is known for the lightning rod and bifocals.

He was inducted in 1730.

• George Washington was the first President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

He presided over the convention that drafted the United States Constitution.

He was inducted on November 4, 1752 and was given the rank of Master Mason within a year.

Washington performed Masonic rites at the laying of the USA Capitol’s cornerstone on September 18, 1793.

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era.

Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood.

Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty.

He was a part of the Zur Wohltätigkeit (Charity) Lodge, Austria and was initiated on December 14, 1784.

• Simón Bolívar was a South American liberator and political leader, making him is one of the great heroes of the struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire.

His lodge, the Masonic Lodge “Lauraro” out of Cadiz in Spain, was also home to many other South American founding fathers.

He was inducted in 1803 and in April 1824, Simón Bolívar was given the 33rd degree of Inspector General Honorary.

• Literary giant Mark Twain was a member of the Polar Star Lodge No. 79, A.F.&A.M. in St. Louis, and became a Master Mason within a few months of joining.

At one stage he was suspended for not paying his dues but was reinstated shortly thereafter.

He was initiated on May 22, 1861 and resigned in 1867.

• Winston Churchill contributed to Freemasonry his entire life.

Along with being a two time British Prime Minister and honorary citizen of the United States, Churchill was a member of the Studholme Mason Lodge No. 1591 in England.

He was inducted on May 24, 1901 and resigned in 1912 but continued to contribute to Freemasonry throughout his life.

• J. Edgar Hoover may have created the FBI, but he is said to have received more accolades for his time spent as a Mason.

He was inducted in 1920 and became a Master Mason at age 25.

In 1855 he became a Thirty-Third Degree Inspector General Honorary and was given the Grand Cross of Honor — the highest recognition by the Scottish Rite — in 1965.

There is a room in the Mason’s House of the Temple dedicated to him.

• Thurgood Marshall was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court, serving from October 1967 until October 1991.

Marshall was the Court’s 96th justice and its first African-American justice.

Before becoming a judge, Marshall was a lawyer who was best known for his high success rate in arguing before the Supreme Court and for the victory in Brown v. Board of Education, a decision that desegregated public schools.

New members

The members of Freemasonry are looking to attract new and prospective members to join their fraternity.

The Springs Freemasonry is inviting all men older than 21 years of age who are interested, to join them at their open day.

Partners and wives are welcome to join their husbands or partners to learn the meaning of being a Freemason’s wife.

The event will take place on July 29 at the Springs Masonic Centre on the corner of First Avenue and Seventh Street, Springs CBD at 1pm to 5pm.

For more information about the event contact Andrew White on 082 865 3858 or email him at andrew@techglobal.cn.com

Information sourced from www.freemason.com, www.dglsanorth.org.za and www.businessinsider.com

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