Lodge St George

Interesting snippets from our Lodge's past #5

 

Another historic piece from 29 June1933: YERONGA MASONIC SOCIAL.

Streamers of light blue canopied the Yeronga Public Hall last evening, when the officers and members of the Yeronga Masonic Lodge hold an enjoyable card and dance party, to assist the temple fund the lodge. Wor. Bro. Robert M. McArthur, W.M, was assisted In receiving the guests by Wor. Bro. George E. Pegg. P.M., and Mrs. Pegg. Mrs. Pegg wore a frock of silk Marocain in Oriental tonings. Wor. Bro. Pegg and Bro. J. S. Nicol had charge of the dance programme, and Wor. Bro. Dr. J. G Avery, P.M. arranged the bridge tables.

The dance music was played by the Coorparoo Masonic Lodge Orchestra. Supper was served by the members of the social committee, Including Brothers J. N. Talbot, G. H. Cleeland, S. L Mills, G. E. Fogg, T. Hamilton. W. R. Cleeland, F. B. Stock, H. Low, T. A. Lewis. F. W. Charters, J. W. Valentine, W. G. Morrice, and J. H. Fletcher.

Interesting snippets from our Lodge's past #4

Another piece of Lodge history - two months after the stump capping ceremony. My only question is ... where's our gold key?

Monday 6 November 1933 The Courier Mail

NEW MASONIC HALL OPENED AT YERONGA.

The Deputy Grand Master (Rt. Wor. Bro. Eustace Jones), in the unavoidable absence of the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland (Most Wor. Bro. W. H. Green), officially opened the new Masonic Hall at Yeronga on Saturday afternoon.

Wor. Bro. J. N. Talbot (Master of the Yeronga Lodge) introduced the Deputy Grand Master, and welcomed Very Wor. Bro. W. Blackband, G.D. of Ceremonies.

An Inscribed gold key was handed to Rt. Wor. Bro. Jones, with which he opened the door. He congratulated the officers and brethren of the Yeronga Lodge in having achieved their ambition. "Freemasonry," the Deputy Grand Master said, "is growing stronger the whole world over, owing to its principles of tolerance, mutual respect, and brotherly love."

Rt. Wor. Bro. T. Fulton, P.G.W., and Wor. Bro. J. G. Avery, P.M., thanked the Deputy Grand Master on behalf of the Yeronga Lodge. Subsequently the official visitors were entertained at afternoon tea.

The new building, which has been erected at a cost of £550, consists of two storeys. The upper storey, measuring 52ft by 27ft, contains the lodge room and two anterooms, 9ft 6in by 13ft 6in. This storey is lined and ceiled with fibrous plaster, and has a crow's ash floor. The lower story is to be used as a banqueting hall and for social functions.

Interesting snippets from our Lodge's past #3

Given this was Brisbane Australia just emerging from the Great Depression and also given that we were a rather humble little suburban lodge, when the time canme to 'lay the cornerstone' of our new lodge building it was done the battler's way. Rather than have an elaborate sandstone block laid by the Grand Master with a silver trowel, we had that very Australian of ceremonies - a stump capping.

For those too young to understand what that means, go and find an old Queenslander (building that is) and look at the top of its supporting stumps. You'll find a metal cap at the top. Its primary purpose? To keep out termites and ants. Wish we had a photo of this!

To give some idea the picture here is of the Stump Capping of St John's Church, Thompson Estate, Brisbane, ca.1928 

Monday 4 September 1933

YERONGA CEREMONY.

MASONIC STUMP CAPPING.

The work that was being done that afternoon was the consummation o£ the proposal made in 1920, when the brethren of the lodge decided to inaugurate a building fund, said Worshipful Brother George E. Pegg, P.M. (chairman of the building committee), in extending a welcome to the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Queensland (Most Wor. Bro. W. H. Green), who capped off the stump in the NE. corner of the new temple at Yeronga on Saturday afternoon.

The new edifice is situated at the corner of Fairfield and Yeronga Roads, and has a frontage of 73ft., giving a depth of 135ft. The building will measure 52ft by 27ft, giving a lodge room of 42ft 6in by 27ft., and a dais of 7ft. by 27ft. There will be raised platforms in the east, west, and south. The total cost will be £450. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Grand Lodge officers and visitors were entertained at afternoon tea.

Interesting snippets from our Lodge's past #2

Some more classics from St George/Yeronga's past. This time an article about a special 'Lantern' presentation (which would have been called a 'slide night' when I was a kid. Not sure what the equivalent would be now. Maybe a Powerpoint presentation of your digital photos or projecting your Instagram images.

Note: This took place after the Lodge was closed.

Saturday 14 September 1929 The Courier Mail

LANTERN LECTURE AT YERONGA.

There was a good attendance of members of the Yeronga Masonic Lodge and their friends on Wednesday evening In the Yeronga Hall, when an Illustrated lantern lecture. "Round the World with Cook's," was given at the close of the lodge by Mr O. E. J. Bartlett. Mr. R. M. Addley introduced the lecturer, and in doing so emphasised the advantages of organised travel.

A comprehensive tour of the British Isles was made by means of a collection of lantern slides, which depicted many of the best-known historical places in England, Scotland, and Ireland, the tour throughout being made on the London, Midland, and Scottish Railway.

A visit was made to France and Switzerland before crossing to New York. A number of interesting pictures gave some conception of Transatlantic travel on one of the Cunard liners.

The beauties of Eastern Canada were next screened, and very fine views of the trip down the St. Lawrence were shown.

Musical Items were rendered by Messrs. J. Corbett and E. Todd. Mrs. Todd playing the accompaniments. A vote of appreciation was accorded Mr. Bartlett.

Interesting snippets from our Lodge's past #1

As we charge headlong into 2014 it's a sobering thought that in only 18 months time the lodge will celebrate 100 years. It's a great delight to know that we'll do so with the name our Founders gave it, however we shouldn't forget that the great majority of Brethren who have joined our lodge did so under the name of Yeronga. In researching our history, I chanced across an entry on the Trove website (a digitised collected of newspapers and other publications in Australia from the 19th century onwards). One particular entry for Yeronga Lodge caught my eye. This must have been a splendid social evening and I would have liked to have experienced the unsual and varied program on offer. See what you think.

Thursday 5 May 1932
YERONGA MASONIC SOCIAL.

The annual reunion social and dance of the Yeronga Masonic Lodge was held In the Public Hall, Yeronga, last evening, The hall was appropriately decorated with national flags, and bowls of dahlias beautified the front of the stage. The Worshipful Master (Wor. Bro. J. McGowan) and Mrs. McGowan received the guests. Mrs. McGowan wore a frock of black Chantilly lace allied with georgette, and she added a velvet bridge coat with fur collar and cuffs. Mr. George E. Pegg (honorary secretary) arranged the dance programme, and the Coorparoo Masonic orchestra played the dance music.

Bridge was played by a number of the guests, the tables being arranged In the annexe of the hall by Dr. J. G. Avery, P.M. A programme of music and elocution was contributed by Mrs. W. Stevenson and Messrs. B. Crabbe and C. Gray. Mr. J. Dwyer entertained with ventriloquism. Miss McNaught gave an exhibition of club swinging, and Mr. Stewart Findlay danced the sailor's hornpipe. A buffet supper was served by the committee.