A Brief History of

Australia Lodge No. 6505

Prepared by W.Bro. H.A.W. Pettinger M.C., T.D., P.P.G.Swd.B.

Delivered in Open Lodge by W.Bro. D.W. Shirlaw, P.M.

As Host Lodge for the 6^th Biennial Festival Meeting of the Combined Commonwealth Lodge Association on the 26^th May 1982 the Master and Brethren of Australia Lodge consider it to be appropriate to present a brief history of the lodge.

The Freemasons’ Chronicle of the 2^nd August 1947 contained a very full record of the proceedings at the Consecration of the Lodge on the 3^rd July 1947 extracts from which read:

Consecration of Australia Lodge No. 6505. First to be Consecrated by R.W.Bro. His Grace The Duke of Devonshire, K.G., as Acting Grand Master.

Momentous an event in Masonic history must be regarded, both now and in the future, the coming into being, at the present phase of world’s affairs, of yet another Lodge to knit closer the ties of kinship and loyalties between the Mother Country and its daughter Dominion overseas, for such is the purpose of the Australia Lodge No. 6506, consecrated at Freemasons’ Hall, London on Thursday, 3^rd July last, in circumstances of unique auspiciousness and historical features probably without precedent.

Warranted, under date of 7^th May last by our late M.W. Grand Master, the Earl of Harewood, K.G., who had evinced much interest in its formation, it was at his personal command, now posthumously carried out, that the Ceremony was conducted by the new Deputy he had but recently invested, R.W.Bro. His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, K.G. now through his lamented demise, as Acting Grand Master, and for the very first time performing in such a connection.

Thus, apart from all other consideration and the far-reaching possibilities opened by the birth of the new Lodge, was a new page in Masonic history being written, as could sense all privileged to witness the event, as also in Australia itself where considerable interest has been aroused by its formation, as testified many messages received and read in the course of the proceedings. The Lodge may be likened, in fact, to a new bridge thrown across the seas, linking anew the past with the present, and the old with new, as a ready means of communication and closer contact, with the Jurisdictions in the Dominions, which have sprung from our own, and bringing closer to their English Brethren, their members either resident there, or in temporary sojourn on these shores. There is, as may be known, an autonomous Grand Lodge in each of the six States of the Australian Commonwealth, formed at different dates, mainly by the fusion of then existing Lodges from the English, Scottish and Irish Constitutions, all being recognised and in close amity with our own Grand Lodge, as are similar Sovereign Grand Lodges formed in other Dominions.

Among those assisting, as Consecrating Officers, the Acting Grand Master, there was significance in the choice made in the position of Senior Warden, of V.W.Bro. Sir Ernest Cooper, D.L. President Board General Purposes, for Canadian born, he was the earliest initiate of Canada Lodge No 3527 formed in London in 1911, as a pioneer of the idea and identical purpose for which the new Lodge was now being formed. Now its Secretary, he has for long been the fountspring of its activities, which have proved of such invaluable advantage to the Craft, in laying lasting foundations of goodwill with our Brethren and Grand Lodges in the Dominion. Another link, he represented was the sponsoring by Canada Lodge of the petition of its new sister Lodge, and thus virtually its godfather.

Acting in the position of Junior Warden, was another noted personality, even though in other directions, W.Bro. Major-General Ian Hay Beith, C.BE., M.C., P.G.D., the famous novelist and playwright, more popularly known under his pen-name of Ian Hay, while as Chaplain, was V.W.Bro the Rev. Joseph Moffett, B.A., P.G.Chaplain, perhaps one of the most forceful and eloquent speakers the Craft has ever known, others composing the team being the Grand Secretary, V.W.Bro. Sydney A. White, M.V.O., the Grand Director of Ceremonies, V.W.Bro. Philip C. Bull, D.S.O., T.D., ensuring the perfection of the ceremonial procedure, and in the role of I.G. W.Bro. A.T. Penman, F.J.I., President Institute Journalists, P.G.D. who apart from the presence among the Founders of representatives of the Dominion Press, had the claim of being a Past District Gd. Warden of South Africa (Western Division). At the organ and in charge of the ceremonial music was W.Bro Sydney Scott, Mus. Doc. F.R.C.O., P.G.Org., whilst deputising in the absence of the Grand Tyler, W.Bro. Major J.E. Peel, was W.Bro. R.H. Hughes, who already some days previously, had been similarly in attendance on the Acting Grand Master, on his visit to Jersey, for the installation of the new ruler of the Province.

In the course of preliminary remarks to the gathering, after the opening of the proceedings, the Acting Grand Master, His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, who himself by his long connection ministerially with Colonial affairs in the past, had a welcome claim to take a leading part in the constitution of a new Lodge of such auspicious association, aptly described it as one more link being formed between the Mother Grand Lodge in the World and its far-flung Masonic outposts, expressed the gratification he felt at the privilege of bringing into being a Lodge with such associations, for he had always has a warm feeling for Australia ever since he was the guest of the Commonwealth in an official capacity, years ago. He had enjoyed the occasion of visiting many parts of the sub-continent, even though his main purpose was to attend the 150^th Anniversary of South Australia, and perhaps could he claim to have a wider knowledge of it than most Australians themselves, while everywhere he had been received in the kindest manner by truly ideal hosts. He had since retained links with the Dominion, and in fact, had just attended that same day a meeting as a Director of the Bank of Australasia. Today a step further had been taken, for, by coincidence, had the official announcement been made of the substitution of the name of Commonwealth to that of Dominion in connection with the Secretary of State, hitherto, for the Dominions.

He felt very moved and proud to have had it in special command from the late Grand Master, the Earl of Harewood, K.G. to perform the consecration of this new Lodge which was to play in the future a most useful part, and would prove a comfort and solace to Australian Brethren in London.

In an Oration delivered afterwards in a manner made the more arresting for its eloquence and forthrightness, V.W.Bro. the Rev. Joseph Moffatt, B.A., touched at many points upon the actualities of life and its perplexities regarding the future, but drawing the inspiration of fresh hopes in the ties existing between the mother country and the sons of the British Commonwealth made stronger by Masonic principles.

The ceremonial rites proceeded, and having concluded, the R.W. Acting Grand Master, inviting the Grand Secretary, the R.W.Bro. Sydney A. White, to occupy the Chair in order to install the Master-designate, R.W.Bro. The Hon. Sir Claude James, P.G.W., M.W., Past Gd. Master, Tasmania, High Commissioner for Tasmania, who afterwards appointed as acting I.P.M. M.W.Bro. Sir Ernest Clark, K.C.B., C.B.E., as a Past Gd. Master of Tasmania, and former Governor of the Dominion.

As a measure of the importance of the role they play in the world of affairs must be taken the fact, rarely to be witnessed at a Consecration of both the Wardens-designate being unable to be present, it being announced in each case that they were attending vital trade talks in Sweden. The Senior Warden-designate, W.Bro. Sir Clive Baillieu, K.B.E., P.G.D., P.G.W. (Victoria) and an appointed member of the Board of Gen. Purposes, is, of course, well known in public life, as a great planner of industry, while the Junior Warden-designate, W.Bro. R.S. Brittain, Past Junior Gd. Deacon, New South Wales, is Manager in London of the Bank of New South Wales. The remaining Officers are: W.Bros. E.F. Trundle, Treasurer; Aylmer Buesst, Secretary; Roy Mellish, D.C.; Bros. R.I. Douglas, S.D.; A.R. Moon, J.D.; W.Bro. F.H. Weiss, P.P.G.D., Surrey, A.D.C.; Bros. R.B. McAllister, I.G.; A.W.V. King and V.N. Davis, Stewards; with Bro. Albert E. Bowels, Prov. Gd. Tyler, Middlesex as Tyler. All the 13 Founders are holding office, and it is significant that among them every State of Australia is represented. Their numbers would have been greater but for the fact of the qualification needed from a Founder of an English Lodge of being a member of our Constitution. No fewer than 16, it was announced later in the proceedings, however, were overcoming such a disability by becoming joining members, and among the names read were found many notable ones, such as M.W.Bro. Lord Gowrie, former Governor-General of Australia, and Past Gd. Master, New South Wales; Bro. Lord Bruce, former Prime Minister and High Commissioner in London; W.Bros. Sir Ernest Fisk (New South Wales); A.H. Pike, Agent-General Queensland; N.A. Martin, P.G.D. Victoria and Agent-General Victoria, and others.

The dinner held, later in the afternoon, at the Connaught Rooms provided an exhilarating experience in the happy contact it brought between Brethren hailing from many and distant parts of the Empire. Behind the Chair were draped the flags of Australia and of Tasmania, the latter, out of compliment to the Master, R.W.Bro. Sir Claude James, who presided.

At the Third Regular meeting held in May 1948 the Worshipful Master informed the Brethren that the Senior Warden Sir Clive Baillieu had declared his inability to accept the office of Master for reasons of health and business obligations. The Junior Warden then suggested it would be in the best interests of the Lodge for the Master to continue for another year. Sir Claude James was duly elected Master Elect for the year 1948-49.

Australia Lodge continues throughout the years to date to carry out its declared function of providing a meeting place for the association of Australian Masons in England and we will end this brief outline of our history by recording with detail some of the outstanding happenings from our Consecration to the present day.

Each of the Officers who held office as first Officers of the Lodge presented to the Lodge the appropriate Collar and Jewel and defrayed the cost of the Jewel being suitably inscribed so that they would indeed become as has in fact been the case an historic reminder of the Founders who were first Officers of Australia Lodge, i.e.: R.W.Bro. Sir Claude James, P.G.M. Tasmania – the Master’s Jewel and Collar; W.Bro. Sir Clive Baillieu, K.B.E., P.G.D., P.G.W. (Victoria) – the Senior Warden’s Jewel and Collar, etc., etc.

Additional to our Consecrating Honorary members the following Brethren have honoured the Lodge by accepting Honorary Membership:

M.W.Bro. Rt. Hon. Lord Gowrie of Canberra, V.C., P.C., G.C.M.G., P.G.M. Victoria

M.W.Bro. Sir Leslie Wilson, P.C., G.C.S.I., G.C.M.G., D.S.O., P.G.M. Queensland

M.W.Bro. Sir Ernest Clark, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., C.B.E., P.G.M. Tasmania

M.W.Bro. Lord Huntingfield, Bt., K.C.M.G., P.G.M. Victoria

R.W.Bro. Hon. W.J. Jordan, P.C., P.G.W.

R.W.Bro. Sir Claude James, P.G.M. Tasmania

R.W.Bro. Sir James Stubbs, K.V.C.O., T.D., P.S.G.W.

W.Bro. Sir David Muir, C.M.G., P.S.G.D., P.G.W Queensland

M.W.Bro Thomas Baillie, P.G.M. Victoria

V.W.Bro. Cdr. M.B.S. Higham, R.N., Grand Secretary

W.Bro. Sir David Muir had the honour when being designated as Senior Grand Deacon of the year to propose the re-election of H.W.Bro. The Duke of Kent as M.W.Bro. Grand Master in 1959.

During his Mastership of the Lodge 1966-67 W.Bro Harold Ellis, P.A.G.D. a Past Secretary of Cadogan Lodge No. 162 who had proposed M.W.Bro. Earl Cadogan into Freemasonry when occupying the Chair of Australia Lodge was honoured by the presence of M.W.Bro. Earl Cadogan who had acting as his Director of Ceremonies R.W.Bro. Hon. K.L. Baillieu.

The Lodge continued to enjoy since its Consecration the direct personal interest and involvement of the Grand Secretary of the day in the persons initially of R.W.Bro. Sir Sydney White, K.C.V.O., P.G.W. and then R.W.Bro. Sir James Stubbs, K.C.V.O., T.D., P.S.G.W. who installed not less than three Masters of the Lodge including our Secretary, W.Bro. S.S. Lynn, P.A.G.D.C. when for the second time he occupied the Master’s Chair in our Silver Jubilee Year 1972-73.

The Lodge enjoyed what we believe to be a unique occasion in May 1973 in electing at one meeting four Agents-General of Australia as Joining Members.

Bro. The Hon. Sir Davis Hughes

Bro. Royce Neville

Bro. The Hon. Sir Peter Delamothe

Bro. The Hon. Sir Murray Porter

The Australia Royal Arch Chapter No. 6505 was Consecrated on the 31^st January 1979 by:

E.Comp. James Stubbs, Grand Scribe E

Assisted by:

Founders and First Officers

In 1980 The Grand Secretary, V.W.Bro Cdr. M.B.S. Higham, R.N. accepted Honorary Membership of Australia Lodge.

The Lodge currently has two Past Grand Masters among it subscribing members in the persons of: M.W.Bro. Sir C. Roger Darvall, C.B.E., P.G.M. Victoria and M.W.Bro. Francis J. Carter, C.M.G., C.V.O., C.B.E, P.G.M. Tasmania. Sir Roger Darvall being also a subscribing Companion of Australia Chapter.