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Our History
| The Collection Plate |
The wooden collection plate which has the name of the lodge carved into the rim was presented by W.Bro. Daw to the Lodge at the regular meeting on 9 July 1908. On that occasion it was immediately put to the use for which it was intended and a collection for charity was made. One hundred years later, at the regular meeting on 10 July 2008, the members were reminded of the plate’s history and, to mark the occasion, a collection for charity was again made |
| Copyright © 2008 The Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1338 EC. All rights reserved. Masonic Hall, 131 Market Road, Epsom, Auckland, New Zealand |
| December 1869 to August 1871 Lodge Room, Masonic Hotel, Princes Street 13th September 1871 Alexandra Hotel, Parnell 28th September 1871 to April 1876 Lodge Room, Masonic Hotel, Princes Street 4th May 1876 to 20th September 1877 Star Hotel, Albert Street 18th October 1877 to 1st December 1881 Lodge Room, Masonic Hotel, Princes Street 29th December 1881 to 1975 Freemason's Hall, Princes Street 1975 to 2010 Masonic Hall Fraternity Building, 131 Market Road , Epsom, Auckland. |
| A short history of the Prince of Wales Lodge 1338 E.C. In 1840 the foundation stone of a new nation was laid when the Treaty of Waitangi was signed at Koroareka, now Russell, in the Bay of Islands. It had been a wild place, known as the Hell-Hole of the Pacific in its early years, while used by whaling ships, which had spent many months at sea. However, in 1840 the majority of Maori and British representatives signed an agreement that was to bring a formal peace between them. This helped cement the foundations on which New Zealand would be built. |
The warrant was drawn up in England and signed by the then
Grand Master, George Fredrick Samuel, Earl de Gray and Earl
of Ripon, on the 7th of December 1870. Stowed in the hold in
mailbags during its voyage, rats gnawed on it causing several
patches that needed repairing.
Grand Master, George Fredrick Samuel, Earl de Gray and Earl
of Ripon, on the 7th of December 1870. Stowed in the hold in
mailbags during its voyage, rats gnawed on it causing several
patches that needed repairing.
| Many changes have occurred during its long history but its traditions live on through the dedication and the enthusiasm of its present brethren. |
| The lodge has continued to grow in strength moving several times. |
Albert Street - 1880:
Showing the Star Hotel.
Showing the Star Hotel.
Princes Street - 1880:
Masonic Hotel (on the left).
Masonic Hotel (on the left).
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| Major Charles Heaphy 1822 - 1881 |
| The firing glasses |
For many years the lodge were the proud owners of a set of firing glasses of which there were sufficient for each member to use one in the refectory after meetings. |
Click on image to view full size
Click on image
to view full size
to view full size
| It was the custom of the members to applaud speeches with a short period of drumming on the table, followed by three bangs on the table top . |
| This practice has existed since at least 1886 when it was noted in the minutes from the opening of the Rodney Lodge rooms. Sadly, over the years, through breakage and loss, there are few examples remaining. |
The lodge purchased the two pillars, still in use today, in 1882. Some years later these were adorned with the terrestrial and celestial globes made by Bro. Ted Knowling and two other brethren. The main section of each pillar is brass and, as part of preparing the lodge for the installation of a new master each year, it is the job of the junior brethren to ensure these pillars are properly polished. |
| Pillars |
| Around 1991, one pillar was damaged when being moved. New wooden bases, to which the Prince of Wales feathers were added, were made by Bro. Ted Millar. |
Click on image to view full size
| Boaz and Jachin, two copper pillars, stood in the porch of Solomon's Temple.
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Click on image to view full size
| Shortly after the signing of the treaty, land was purchased in the Tamaki Makau Rau region known in Maori as, ‘isthmus of a thousand lovers’ a place that many wanted. It was later named Auckland after Lord Auckland, a Governor General of India, by Captain Hobson RN, the then Governor of the new colony. By 1869, Auckland had grown to 13,000 people. |
| The Masonic Peace Memorial |
At a dinner at Olympia in 1925, the Grand Master gave his thanks for the support offered and in particular for the support of brethren from outside Great Britain and the support of some other Grand Lodges. Incidentally, that dinner set a record for the number served – over 7,000 were seated for the dinner. While the funds were being raised, a competition was held to select the architects for the Memorial and H.V.Ashley and Winton Newman FFRIBA were selected. Construction started in 1927 and was completed in 1932. The Memorial was intended as a mark of remembrance for the brethren who died in World War One, but it also had a second purpose – to be the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England. Located in London, on the corner of Great Queen Street and Drury Lane, the Masonic Peace Memorial is these days better known as Freemasons’ Hall. |
| Freemasons' Hall in Great Queen Street, London |
| In 1931, the lodge allocated Five Pounds to the Masonic Peace Memorial. The Memorial was first proposed by M.W. Grand Master, The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn in 1919. |
| While there were six lodges meeting in Auckland at that time there was only one English Lodge that being the Waitemata Lodge; the six were: |
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| On the 18th of December 1869 nine Master Masons met in the Mason’s Hotel, Princes Street for the purpose of constituting a new lodge. Most of them were members of the Waitemata Lodge 689EC and one was from the Ara Lodge 348IC.The name of the lodge was to be, The Prince of Wales Lodge of Auckland. |
| Princes Street - 1901: Showing the Freemason's Hall (right) and Grand Hotel (centre) after the fire. |
The Lodges first treasurer Major Charles Heaphy VC (the first
VC to be won during the Maori wars) was a skilled
draughtsman who undertook the repair (which can still be
seen today in the lodge).
VC to be won during the Maori wars) was a skilled
draughtsman who undertook the repair (which can still be
seen today in the lodge).