South Australian Lodge of Friendship No. 613
Encyclopedia
The Province of South Australia
was established by an Act of the British Parliament and was assented to by King William IV on 15 August 1834. Freemasonry
became included in the plans for the proposed new settlement with the establishment of a new Lodge in England. On 22 October 1834, the South Australian Lodge of Friendship, No 613 E.C. was warranted and met in London
for the first time on November 27.
South Australia became a legal and political entity on 19 February 1836 when letters patent
proclaiming its boundaries were officially sealed. The first ships carrying colonists for the new settlement left England that same month, arriving in July. The establishment of the province was proclaimed at Glenelg in South Australia on 28 December 1836. On one of those ships was Brother GS Kingston
who carried The Lodge Warrant or charter and later presented it at the first meeting of the lodge in the new colony of South Australia. Each year since the proclamation of South Australia at the old Gum tree in Glenelg, a re-enactment of the ceremony has been held with the current Master of The Lodge of Friendship invariably being in attendance.
Those first colonists arriving in South Australia in 1836 lived in scattered tents or portable dwellings until permanent structures could be erected and it was because of this lack of facilities that the lodge did not hold its first meeting in the colony until 1838.
, London on 27 November 1834. Those present were Bros. WH White and Edward Harper, Grand Secretaries, Bro. Francis Crew, WM No. 1 Lodge, Bro. Richard H Giran, WM of a Lodge not given, Bros. Geo. Aaron, Chas. Mawley, Arthur Hardy, JF Taylor, GS Kingston
, Col. Leslie Walker, B Breakfit, and R Doig.
After the Lodge had been opened by Bro WH White, VW Grand Secretary (acting as WM), the usual petition for forming a new Lodge was read, to which the seven following brethren promised obedience:
Joseph Francis Taylor - Old King's Arms Lodge No.30, G.Master's Lodge No.1 and Hereford Lodge No. 578
GS Kingston, Irish Lodge No 81
Capt. Walter Meriton - Phoenix Lodge, Portsmouth, No.375, & Lodge 227 of the 46th Regiment, RA and KM
Col. Leslie Walker, CA CB and KH, of Bombay Lodge
EG Hancock - Lodge 259 Romford
Lieut. Jackson - Renford Lodge, Sutta, also of the 94th Regiment Lodge, and
R Doig - Lodge 24, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Bro. Joseph Francis Taylor was installed as first Master, and he appointed and invested Bro. GS Kingston
as first Senior Warden, and Bro. Col. Leslie Walker as first Junior Warden.
The following five men were then elected to become members of Free Masonry: John Morphett
, Richard Hanson
, Thomas Gilbert
, Robert Gouger
, and Daniel Wakefield
with John Morphett, Richard Hanson and Thomas Gilbert being initiated into the craft later in the same meeting.
The second meeting of the Lodge was held at the same place in London on 2 March 1835. Bro. A Hardy was appointed Inner Guard and Bros. Morphett
, Hanson and Gilbert were passed to the Second Degree.
, who presented the Warrant at the first meeting held in South Australia, the third meeting of the Lodge. This meeting took place in Adelaide on 11 August 1838 at the Assembly Rooms, Black's Hotel, Franklin Street
(later the site of Rosetta Terrace). Bro H Mildred PM presided, and the nine other brethren present were PMs EB Gleeson, Gordon, Allen and J Gleeson, the SW Bro. GS Kingston
, and Bros. Beare, Morphett
, Gilbert and Solomon
. Bro. Morphett
was raised to the degree of MM and Bro GS Kingston
was nominated for the office of Master. Three days later a Lodge of Emergency was called on 14 August, when Bro. Kingston
was installed as Master.
The fifth meeting of the Lodge was in November 1838. It seems this meeting was held at the Turf Hotel in Waymouth Street
. Mr Chas. Mann
(lawyer) and Mr Chas. Berkeley (gentleman) were elected and initiated. Capt. Finnis
was elected and initiated at the following meeting.
For the first few years Bros. Kingston
and Mildred alternated as Master of the Lodge.
Several notable events occurred in 1841. First, a notice appeared in the newspaper the South Australian Register
of 31 March 1841 as follows:
The evening of entertainment took place on Tuesday 13 April 1841. There was a crowded house. The handsome sum of £30/3/0 was raised for the benefit of the Adelaide Hospital.
The second notable event of 1841 occurred in August. His Excellency the Governor of South Australia, Bro. George Grey
, a member of Irish Military Lodge No.83, was elected a joining member of The Lodge of Friendship.
St John's
Day, 27 December, was celebrated in 1842 by a dinner held at the Shakespeare Tavern from 5 o'clock. All Freemasons were invited to attend, tickets priced at 7s. 6d. each, including half a bottle of wine.
The Lodge changed meeting place in 1843, to Lambert's auction room, Hindley Street
.
. Bro. E Solomon generously offered the Lodge a quarter of an acre of land for Masonic purposes and 10,000 bricks with which to build a Lodge room (it is not known whether a room was built or not). At this meeting it was reported that seven Scottish Masons had attempted to form a Lodge (to be called the Adelaide St John's Lodge) in a manner which it was stated was contrary to the usages of the Craft, and had initiated twenty new members. The Lodge of Friendship proposed a way out of a difficult situation by accepting a petition from the seven members of the new Lodge, and the following day, 1 February 1844, met again, this time at the Port Lincoln Hotel in Adelaide, to consecrate the new Lodge which later obtained a Warrant from the Grand Lodge of Scotland
. On 3 February the two Lodges together laid the foundation stone of a Scottish Church in Grenfell Street
. Several days later, on 6 February 1844, several brethren petitioned The Lodge of Friendship for a Dispensation to form a new Lodge under the English Constitution, to be called the Lodge of Harmony. The new Lodge was consecrated on 9 February, eight days after the Adelaide St John's Lodge. The final major happening was on 20 November 1844 when a Memorial was sent to the MW Grand Master
of the United Grand Lodge of England
, requesting the appointment of a Provincial Grand Lodge in South Australia and recommending Bro. Mildred as first Provincial Grand Master
.
In the first ten years of its existence The South Australian Lodge of Friendship No. 613 had some notable achievements. After its foundation in London, the Lodge had removed to a small fledgling settlement on the opposite side of the globe, attracted new members, and contributed to the new society by promoting charity and assisting in the formation of two new Lodges.
In 1884 The Lodge of Friendship, along with other Lodges that had become warranted in South Australia, co-operated to form the Grand Lodge of South Australia, with The Lodge of Friendship returning its original warrant and becoming The Lodge of Friendship No. 1 under the new Grand Lodge.
The Lodge of Friendship No. 1 still exists in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and has operated continuously since those early days.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
was established by an Act of the British Parliament and was assented to by King William IV on 15 August 1834. Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
became included in the plans for the proposed new settlement with the establishment of a new Lodge in England. On 22 October 1834, the South Australian Lodge of Friendship, No 613 E.C. was warranted and met in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for the first time on November 27.
South Australia became a legal and political entity on 19 February 1836 when letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
proclaiming its boundaries were officially sealed. The first ships carrying colonists for the new settlement left England that same month, arriving in July. The establishment of the province was proclaimed at Glenelg in South Australia on 28 December 1836. On one of those ships was Brother GS Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
who carried The Lodge Warrant or charter and later presented it at the first meeting of the lodge in the new colony of South Australia. Each year since the proclamation of South Australia at the old Gum tree in Glenelg, a re-enactment of the ceremony has been held with the current Master of The Lodge of Friendship invariably being in attendance.
Those first colonists arriving in South Australia in 1836 lived in scattered tents or portable dwellings until permanent structures could be erected and it was because of this lack of facilities that the lodge did not hold its first meeting in the colony until 1838.
Meetings in London
As authorized the Lodge held its first meeting at the rooms of the South Australian Association, 7 John Street, AdelphiAdelphi, London
Adelphi is a district of London, England in the City of Westminster. The small district includes the streets of Adelphi Terrace, Robert Street and John Adam Street.-Adelphi Buildings:...
, London on 27 November 1834. Those present were Bros. WH White and Edward Harper, Grand Secretaries, Bro. Francis Crew, WM No. 1 Lodge, Bro. Richard H Giran, WM of a Lodge not given, Bros. Geo. Aaron, Chas. Mawley, Arthur Hardy, JF Taylor, GS Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
, Col. Leslie Walker, B Breakfit, and R Doig.
After the Lodge had been opened by Bro WH White, VW Grand Secretary (acting as WM), the usual petition for forming a new Lodge was read, to which the seven following brethren promised obedience:
Joseph Francis Taylor - Old King's Arms Lodge No.30, G.Master's Lodge No.1 and Hereford Lodge No. 578
GS Kingston, Irish Lodge No 81
Capt. Walter Meriton - Phoenix Lodge, Portsmouth, No.375, & Lodge 227 of the 46th Regiment, RA and KM
Col. Leslie Walker, CA CB and KH, of Bombay Lodge
EG Hancock - Lodge 259 Romford
Lieut. Jackson - Renford Lodge, Sutta, also of the 94th Regiment Lodge, and
R Doig - Lodge 24, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Bro. Joseph Francis Taylor was installed as first Master, and he appointed and invested Bro. GS Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
as first Senior Warden, and Bro. Col. Leslie Walker as first Junior Warden.
The following five men were then elected to become members of Free Masonry: John Morphett
John Morphett
Sir John Morphett was a South Australian pioneer, landowner and politician.-Early life:Morphett was born in London, the second son of Nathaniel Morphett, a solicitor, and his wife Mary, née Gliddon, of Cummins, Ide, Devon, and was educated at Plymouth and Highgate Grammar Schools...
, Richard Hanson
Richard Hanson
Richard Burpee Hanson, PC was a Canadian politician who served as interim leader of the Conservative Party from May 14, 1940 until November 11, 1941....
, Thomas Gilbert
Thomas Gilbert (pioneer)
Thomas Gilbert was a pioneer of Adelaide, South Australia, having arrived with the first settlers in order to operate the first Colonial Storehouse....
, Robert Gouger
Robert Gouger
Robert Gouger was one of the founders of South Australia and colonial secretary.-Early life:Gouger was the fifth son of nine children of George Gouger , who was a prosperous city merchant, and his wife Anne, née Sibley. Robert was educated at Nottingham, England, and on leaving school he entered...
, and Daniel Wakefield
Daniel Bell Wakefield
Daniel Bell Wakefield was a notable judge in New Zealand during the mid-19th century.Wakefield was the second child of Edward Wakefield and Susanna, née Crash ....
with John Morphett, Richard Hanson and Thomas Gilbert being initiated into the craft later in the same meeting.
The second meeting of the Lodge was held at the same place in London on 2 March 1835. Bro. A Hardy was appointed Inner Guard and Bros. Morphett
John Morphett
Sir John Morphett was a South Australian pioneer, landowner and politician.-Early life:Morphett was born in London, the second son of Nathaniel Morphett, a solicitor, and his wife Mary, née Gliddon, of Cummins, Ide, Devon, and was educated at Plymouth and Highgate Grammar Schools...
, Hanson and Gilbert were passed to the Second Degree.
South Australia
The Lodge Warrant or Charter was brought to South Australia by Bro. GS KingstonGeorge Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
, who presented the Warrant at the first meeting held in South Australia, the third meeting of the Lodge. This meeting took place in Adelaide on 11 August 1838 at the Assembly Rooms, Black's Hotel, Franklin Street
Franklin Street, Adelaide
Franklin Street is a main street in the CBD of the centre of Adelaide, South Australia. It is the location of Eynesbury College, the Adelaide Post Office, and the interstate bus terminals of various companies....
(later the site of Rosetta Terrace). Bro H Mildred PM presided, and the nine other brethren present were PMs EB Gleeson, Gordon, Allen and J Gleeson, the SW Bro. GS Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
, and Bros. Beare, Morphett
John Morphett
Sir John Morphett was a South Australian pioneer, landowner and politician.-Early life:Morphett was born in London, the second son of Nathaniel Morphett, a solicitor, and his wife Mary, née Gliddon, of Cummins, Ide, Devon, and was educated at Plymouth and Highgate Grammar Schools...
, Gilbert and Solomon
Emmanuel Solomon
Emmanuel Solomon was a business man and parliamentarian, who was active and died in South Australia.Solomon was born in London. He was convicted and transported to Australia for larceny, arriving at Sydney port on 1 May 1818 aboard the Lady Castlereagh.He entered into businesses and ventures...
. Bro. Morphett
John Morphett
Sir John Morphett was a South Australian pioneer, landowner and politician.-Early life:Morphett was born in London, the second son of Nathaniel Morphett, a solicitor, and his wife Mary, née Gliddon, of Cummins, Ide, Devon, and was educated at Plymouth and Highgate Grammar Schools...
was raised to the degree of MM and Bro GS Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
was nominated for the office of Master. Three days later a Lodge of Emergency was called on 14 August, when Bro. Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
was installed as Master.
The fifth meeting of the Lodge was in November 1838. It seems this meeting was held at the Turf Hotel in Waymouth Street
Waymouth Street, Adelaide
Waymouth Street is an east-west street running between West Terrace and King William Street in the centre of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. The street is named after Henry Waymouth, a founding director of the South Australian Company...
. Mr Chas. Mann
Charles Mann (advocate-general)
Charles Mann was the first South Australian advocate-general.-Biography:Mann was born in Syleham, East Suffolk, England, son of Charles Mann and his wife Sarah, née Moxon...
(lawyer) and Mr Chas. Berkeley (gentleman) were elected and initiated. Capt. Finnis
Boyle Finniss
Boyle Travers Finniss was the first Premier of the Colony of South Australia, serving from 24 October 1856 to 20 August 1857.-Early life:...
was elected and initiated at the following meeting.
For the first few years Bros. Kingston
George Strickland Kingston
Sir George Strickland Kingston arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia.-Early life:...
and Mildred alternated as Master of the Lodge.
Several notable events occurred in 1841. First, a notice appeared in the newspaper the South Australian Register
South Australian Register
The Register, originally the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, was the first South Australian newspaper. It was first published in London in June 1836 and folded almost a century later in February 1931....
of 31 March 1841 as follows:
- The Free and Accepted Masons of The SA Lodge of Friendship No.613 are about to bespeak an evening's entertainment at the Theatre for the benefit of the Hospital. The Masons will appear in their Masonic costumes, and the ladies of their families will wear light blue ribands and aprons, so that the house will have a very novel and imposing appearance, and it is hoped that it may prove a benefit, to enable the members to present a very handsome donation to that very valuable institution.
The evening of entertainment took place on Tuesday 13 April 1841. There was a crowded house. The handsome sum of £30/3/0 was raised for the benefit of the Adelaide Hospital.
The second notable event of 1841 occurred in August. His Excellency the Governor of South Australia, Bro. George Grey
George Edward Grey
Sir George Grey, KCB was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Cape Colony , the 11th Premier of New Zealand and a writer.-Early life and exploration:...
, a member of Irish Military Lodge No.83, was elected a joining member of The Lodge of Friendship.
St John's
John the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...
Day, 27 December, was celebrated in 1842 by a dinner held at the Shakespeare Tavern from 5 o'clock. All Freemasons were invited to attend, tickets priced at 7s. 6d. each, including half a bottle of wine.
The Lodge changed meeting place in 1843, to Lambert's auction room, Hindley Street
Hindley Street, Adelaide
Hindley Street is located in the West End of the centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs between King William Street and West Terrace. The street was named after British parliamentarian and social reformist, Charles Hindley....
.
New lodges
1844 proved a busy year for the Lodge. On 31 January the Lodge met at the rear of the Freemason's Tavern in Pirie StreetPirie Street, Adelaide
Pirie Street is a road on the east side of the centre of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. It runs east-west, between East Terrace and King William Street. After crossing King William Street, it continues as Waymouth Street...
. Bro. E Solomon generously offered the Lodge a quarter of an acre of land for Masonic purposes and 10,000 bricks with which to build a Lodge room (it is not known whether a room was built or not). At this meeting it was reported that seven Scottish Masons had attempted to form a Lodge (to be called the Adelaide St John's Lodge) in a manner which it was stated was contrary to the usages of the Craft, and had initiated twenty new members. The Lodge of Friendship proposed a way out of a difficult situation by accepting a petition from the seven members of the new Lodge, and the following day, 1 February 1844, met again, this time at the Port Lincoln Hotel in Adelaide, to consecrate the new Lodge which later obtained a Warrant from the Grand Lodge of Scotland
Grand Lodge of Scotland
The Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland was founded in 1736 – although only a third of all lodges were represented at the foundation meeting of the Grand Lodge....
. On 3 February the two Lodges together laid the foundation stone of a Scottish Church in Grenfell Street
Grenfell Street, Adelaide
Grenfell Street is a main road in the north-east quarter of the Adelaide city centre, in Adelaide, South Australia. The street runs west-east from King William Street to East Terrace. On the other side of King William Street, it continues as Currie Street...
. Several days later, on 6 February 1844, several brethren petitioned The Lodge of Friendship for a Dispensation to form a new Lodge under the English Constitution, to be called the Lodge of Harmony. The new Lodge was consecrated on 9 February, eight days after the Adelaide St John's Lodge. The final major happening was on 20 November 1844 when a Memorial was sent to the MW Grand Master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
of the United Grand Lodge of England
United Grand Lodge of England
The United Grand Lodge of England is the main governing body of freemasonry within England and Wales and in other, predominantly ex-British Empire and Commonwealth countries outside the United Kingdom. It is the oldest Grand Lodge in the world, deriving its origin from 1717...
, requesting the appointment of a Provincial Grand Lodge in South Australia and recommending Bro. Mildred as first Provincial Grand Master
Provincial Grand Master
Provincial Grand Master , sometimes called District Grand Master or Metropolitan Grand Master, is an office held by the senior Freemason in the middle management layer of masonic administration, between the national and the local levels...
.
In the first ten years of its existence The South Australian Lodge of Friendship No. 613 had some notable achievements. After its foundation in London, the Lodge had removed to a small fledgling settlement on the opposite side of the globe, attracted new members, and contributed to the new society by promoting charity and assisting in the formation of two new Lodges.
In 1884 The Lodge of Friendship, along with other Lodges that had become warranted in South Australia, co-operated to form the Grand Lodge of South Australia, with The Lodge of Friendship returning its original warrant and becoming The Lodge of Friendship No. 1 under the new Grand Lodge.
The Lodge of Friendship No. 1 still exists in Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, and has operated continuously since those early days.