HARMONY LODGE
No 325
FORMED IN 1946
– A MEMBER OF FREEMASONS NEW ZEALAND –
LOCATION
Masonic Centre
Havelock Street
Ashburton
New Zealand
Both on and off-street parking is available.
REGULAR MEETINGS
These are held on the first Tuesday of each month except January.
Meetings commence at 7.30pm.
INSTALLATION MEETING
First Tuesday in November. Visiting Brethren are received at 6.45pm.
VISITING BRETHREN
Visiting Brethren are always welcome and are received at 8.00pm following General Business.
Dress code is dress suit or lounge suit, and appropriate regalia.
REFECTORY
Supper and a time of social harmony follow the formal meetings.
CONTACTS
C R (Ralph) Askin
Worshipful Master
Phone (03) 303 7146
Email: <craskin@farmside.co.nz>
A.W. (Alex) Thomson
Secretary
101 Belt Road
Ashburton 7700
Phone/Fax: (03) 308 1450
Email: alexthomson@clear.net.nz
R.G. (Robin) Gourdie
Membership Committee
Phone (03) 302-7037
Email: robin@thecomputershop.co.nz
CHARITY
The Lodge gives full support to "Freemasons Charity". The Lodge also has its own Charitable Fund which is used to assist those in need and to support our Lodge Widows and elderly Brethren. The Brethren do not commit to 'working bees', etc as money-raising activities but our individual giving is budgeted to enable our financial commitments to be fully met. The members are also participants in the manning of a Timaru car park and the donations received are deposited in our Charity funds.
SCHOLARSHIP
The Lodge provides an Annual Scholarship for Ashburton College's Special Trades' Course in Year 12. The top student receives a trophy in the form of the Square & Compasses and the top student who undertakes an apprenticeship receives $1,000.00 that must be spent on his/her training and tools of trade.
SOCIAL
The Brethren and their ladies meet at a local restaurant on a monthly basis to enjoy each other's company and to have a meal. A mid-winter luncheon is held in the Lodge Refectory, and an informal dinner is held towards the end of the year and before our Installation. It is commonly known as The Master's Last Supper. Other diverse functions are held during the year. These functions are for brethren, ladies, families, widows and friends.
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE: 18 NOVEMBER 2011
We now have 50 members including three Fellowcrafts, two Entered Apprentice Freemasons and one candidate awaiting his Initiation. Another four prospective members will go to the ballot in December.
We have recently raised two Master Masons.
Our Worshipful Master came up through the ranks. Apart from two past masters, the Brethren progressing through the chairs are Master Masons. Our membership is very cosmopolitan. In addition to our locally born and bred Brethren, we have members from Southland, Otago, Auckland and Wellington, plus three Scots and a number of Filipinos. The members are from all walks of life: farmers, meat workers, various professionals, tradesmen and retirees.
NEW MEMBERS
Harmony Lodge is always encouraging new members: Brethren who have transferred to Ashburton; unattached Brethren; or men who are interested in becoming members of our fraternity. Please get in touch with any of the officers listed above and you will be contacted immediately. There is also a Freemasons’ Website, and brochures about Freemasonry. Regular attendance is desirable but not compulsory.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
The Installation of Brother Ralph Askin SW was held on Tuesday 1 November 2011 and the event was very successful. The ceremony was conducted by RW Bro Alex Thomson, P Prov GM and Officers of Grand Lodge in Districts 25 and 26. This was by invitation of VW Bro Allen Glasson, Dist GM of District 28. The Director of Ceremonies was VW Bro John Lindores, PGDC. Alex and John are both members of Harmony Lodge. There was an attendance of 104 Brethren including 39 Grand Lodge Officers.
On Saturday 15 October the Lodge held its annual dinner in the private lounge at the Ashburton R.S.A. Our Divisional GM, RW Bro Brian Goodman and his wife Gay, and our District GM, VW Bro Allen Glasson and his wife Susan, were in attendance.
Our December meeting will be a double Second Degree on two Filipino Brethren who were initiated together and it will be a fitting climax to a busy year.
Links
http://www.freemasons.co.nz/cms/