On Saturday 28^th April Five Lodges joined together to Pass Bro Ethan Van Dartel to the Fellow Craft Degree.

The miracle was not only that it turned out to be very enjoyable and a perfect Ceremony but achieving a near impossibility. That is to get all of the Brethren from the five different Scottish Lodges to work together and work as a Team.

 I don’t have to remind you each Scottish working Lodge does the ritual in their own way and often do the same Ceremony different each time. The Strong guidance of the W. Master of the Host Lodge Scotia, W. Brother Greg Hovey and the iron control of the Director of Ceremonies WB Joe Fillipone, who carried a baton to deter any who dared to question the way we have always done it, together with the best of the best from Lodge Scotia No 263, Lodges Celtic of Ithaca No 84, Ionic Prudence No 77, Lord Saltoun No 98, and Lodge Kaye No 234 produced a great and memorable epic.

The matter of concern for us oldies was that they bribed us with food and drinks in the festive room before the ceremony and we had no alternative but to mingle and talk and get to know each other. Definitely not the way we have always done it.

When we were eventually ushered upstairs to conduct the ceremony they again bribed us. If you hurry and deliver a perfect ceremony you can come down and have a sumptuous surprise desert.

THE UNIVERSAL TAKEAWAY IS THE FIVE LODGES ACHIEVED A MAJOR CULTURAL SHIFT. EVEN THE DIEHARD MASONS HAVE DECLARED WE MUST DO THIS MORE OFTEN. THANK YOU BRO DARREL VECCHIO FOR INITIATING AND ORCHESTRATING THIS MEMORABLE AND UNFORGETTABLE EVENT.

Lodge Scotia realised that a very young Brother’s Birthday fell on the same day, and despite the fact that he had been part of Lodge Scotia for only a short time (just 72 years), commissioned their resident master chef and confectioner, Brother Doug Bates to bake and decorate a cake.  Sadly he made it too small to carry the necessary 97 candles, but he assured us that it contained 1,000 and 97 pieces of fruit. Suffice to say, WB Edward (Ted) Dawson was caught by surprise and has not stopped talking about this. WB Ted Dawson is an icon and an example of what I would call, a Masons Mason. He still lives alone and with a little help from Bro Ron LeBoutillier (Lebo) attends Lodge regularly.  I suspect that the Most High is rewarding him for what he has done for our beloved craft and Lodge Scotia in particular.

Antonio Vecchio

Last week I travelled to Launceston for work and as in the past I had arranged to visit a Lodge meeting .
On my travels , I was in transit awaiting in the Qantas club in Melbourne- Where I noticed a Gentleman dressed with a suit and two gold pins , The freemasons Square & compass and a musical staff.
My first thought- he was a member of a side order - Freemason Symphony Orchestra.
I eventually approached him and pointed to my pin- Square & Compass with Kangaroo ( I was  incognito ), after a rigorous testing ( I believe we are in the same fraternity).
After some discussion, His name in Peter Stokes Lodge Sincerity WA and a Past Grand Master - Grand Lodge WA in Perth , and was in Melbourne for a meeting with other Grand lodge masters including our own Grand Master .
Again , he thought I was a Master or a grand master ? ( It must be my aurora ), I said no, I am just part of a Scottish Lodge !
I hope to see him again at the Grand Installation in July .

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3rd November 2012
On Friday the 2nd November we initiated Tom Wayne into the craft. This initiation has capped off a successful year for this lodge. It has also been a busy one with initiations, passings and raisings. Read More→