FVNews Daily  
No. 147. Friday, November 27, 2020

• From the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team

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What’s On (23 listings)
UPDATED DAILY.

Please notify us about your event. 
Please include date, time, talk details, attire, and a link.
Email: editor@FVNews.com.au

Friday, November 27

• 7.30pm. Victorian Lodge of Research, with Old Scotch Collegians Lodge and Earl of Dunmore Lodge. Talk: Joseph Morrow, ‘Illustrated by Symbols – Masonic Heraldry in Scotland.’ Register enquiries prior to the event. Attire: Smart Casual. LINK

Monday, November 30
• 7pm. Oakleigh Council, Royal and Select Masters. Talk: David Yole. All members past and present of the Order, in addition members of other Orders. Attire: Casual. LINK
• 7.30pm. Citizens Marine Royal Ark Mariners. Talk: W. Jones. RAM Masons only. LINK
• 7.30pm. Great Debate. Teams led by ‘That we should be able to read the ritual’.  Teams led by Kent Henderson and Harry Pitaro. LINK Meeting ID: 822 1742 2503. Passcode: 892911.
Tuesday, December 1
• 7pm. Old Melburnians Lodge. Questions from candidates about Freemasonry and the Lodge. Video: Vacant Chair Ceremony. LINK Meeting ID: 827 8769 1733. Passcode: 179886  
• 7.30pm. Williamstown Lodge. Attire: Dinner jacket, white shirt, black bow-tie. LINK Meeting ID: 612 821 4334. Passcode: 105105
Wednesday, December 2
• 7.30pm. Edward Coulson Mark. Talk: David Barrett, Historical Origins of the Mark Degree. LINK Meeting ID: 856 9266 3168 Passcode: 17
• 7.30pm. Powlett Lodge. Talk: Senior members of the Lodge on their Masonic Journeys. LINK Meeting ID: 919 0673 6003. Passcode: 642537 

Thursday, December 3

• 7pm. 7.30pm: Visitors. Killara Lodge. Talk: Bill Jones, Ararat Power Station. LINK Meeting  ID: 740 6248 2640. Password: 403265 
• 7.30pm. Ivanhoe Grammarians Lodge. LINK to come
Saturday, December 5
• 5pm. Concord Mark Lodge. Talk: Craig Spendlove, ‘A Grand Mark is Born’. LINK Meeting ID: 926 1367 7906. Passcode: 333746
Thursday, December 8
• 7pm. Peace and Loyalty Lodge. Talk: Bill Jones, ‘Freemasonry. Some common images explored’.
Wednesday, December 9
• TBA. Williamstown Lodge. Christmas Dinner.
• 5.30pm. Traralgon Lodge. At Traralgon Bowls Club.
• 7.15pm. 7.30pm: Visitors. Northern United Chapter. Talk: ‘Brewing Beer’. LINK Meeting ID: 880 0425 1707. Passcode: 079118
Saturday, December 12
• 12 Noon.  Sale of Myrtleford Masonic Centre to Scouts Victoria. Media Event.
Sunday, December 13
• 6.30pm.  Mildura Lodge. Christmas Dinner. At Mildura Golf Resort. (Preceded by 1pm-5pm barbecue at Nowingi Place).
Sunday, December 13
• 6.30pm.  Wimmera Lodge. Christmas Dinner. Face-to-face at Horsham Sports and Community Club.
Tuesday, December 15
• 7.30pm.  Hamilton Grange Lodge. Talk: Scott Loxley, Major Fundraising Walk. LINK Meeting ID: 889 1992 2824
Wednesday, December 16
• TBA. Freemasons Victoria Quarterly Communication or Business Meeting.

Sunday, December 20
• All Day. Ivanhoe Grammarians Lodge. Bunnings Mernda Sausage Sizzle.
Saturday, December 26
• All Day. Union Lodge of North Gippsland. Bunnings Bairnsdale Sausage Sizzle.

Sunday, December 27
• 7.30pm. Masonic Festival of St John. Speakers: Neil Morse, John Molnar, Richard Elkington, Ari Indra. LINK Meeting ID: 858 0585 9809. Passcode: 466048

Videos

• The Meaning of Freemasonry. (30:11) WATCH
• Jews in English Freemasonry. (44:32) WATCH
• Why I Became A Mason. (05:17) WATCH
• Hank’s Gift: A Masonic Play. (23:47) WATCH

Vale Alma Thorne

• Alan Tyndall, Grand Pursuivant, writes: “It is with regret that I advise of the passing of Allison Thorne’s mother, Alma, in Geraldton, WA.”

How The Lodge of Commerce Was Born (1)

• Laurie Jacons writes: “Last week I came across a magazine The Victorian Mason, vol 13, no 4, Autumn 1996, and it was this article: ‘How the Lodge of Commerce was born‘. Researching the origins of a lodge often reveals a fascinating behind-the scenes story, one such example being the Lodge of Commerce No. 837. In the 1950]s young men pledged to self-development and community service often became members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, which became known as the Jaycees, where membership was restricted to those under 40 years of age.

• “Throughout the years, members served on state committees (one year) realised during their term of office there were others present whose interests extended to Freemasonry. On conclusion of the year of service the comment heard regularly was “if only we had a lodge where we could continue the fellowship and maintain the friendships we have made”. The idea slowly gained momentum until 1963 when a group of enthusiastic Freemasons, who were present or past members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, met and decided to form a lodge.”

How The Lodge of Commerce Was Born (2)

• “The result of that decision was the formation of the Lodge of Commerce, No. 837. The active young men participating in the formation committee met regularly over a period of many months in such places as the Oriental Hotel, Collins St, the Stock Exchange Club, William St, the RACV Club, Queen St and various other locations around the city, several of which have since disappeared. The names of prospective members were quickly assembled until there were an impressive number of 66 petitioners seeking formation of a new lodge.

• “The consecration of the Lodge of Commerce took place on May 11, 1964 at the Freemason’s Hall, 25 Collins St, Melbourne, now the site of the Regent Hotel. The 66 foundation members were from Chapters of the Junior Chamber of Commerce as far afield as Bendigo, Dandenong, Essendon, Footscray, Melbourne, Moorabbin, Shepparton and South Melbourne. Members of the lodge represented a wide cross section of the business community of Melbourne, each having fulfilled the Junior Chamber ideal of becoming a leader within the community.

• “The consecration ceremony was undertaken by the then Grand Master, MWBro. Eric Hughes, assisted by his Grand Lodge team under the direction of VWBro. Laurie Fraser, the Grand Director of Ceremonies. After the ceremony, 368 brethren were seated at the consecration banquet, the first and the largest meeting of the lodge.”

How The Lodge of Commerce Was Born (3)

• “Throughout the following years, in addition to taking a prominent part in the affairs of freemasonry, members of the Lodge of Commerce were to be found in many facets of the commercial and community life of Australia. The Melbourne City Council, the Council of the RACV, politics, employer associations, the legal and medical professions, prominent architects, estate agents, senior banking and insurance executives, company directors, the boy scouts associations, Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, just to mention a few of those involvements.

• “The Lodge of Commerce meets at Freemasons Melbourne, Albert St, East Melbourne, on the second Monday of the odd months, March to November, tyling at 6.30pm The activities of the evening are concluded in the SB with a three-course dinner, including wines selected by the Lodge Cellarmaster.”

Some minor changes since then, but from March 2021, we’ll be back at Freemasons Melbourne, Albert St, East Melbourne. Further information:

Bro Laurie Jacobs, secretary@lodgeofcommerce.net

Countdown to ‘Great Debate’
• Kent Henderson (affirmative) and Harry Pitaro (negative) will captain teams that will conduct a ‘Great Debate’ at 7.30pm on Monday (Nov. 30) to be conducted by the Victorian Lodge of Research in association with the Education VAT. The topic: ‘That we should be able to read the ritual.” Meeting ID: 822 1742 2503. Passcode: 892911

Comms Success Stories
• The opening of the Cobram Community Centre has been featured in the Herald Sun. LINK

Hank’s Gift: A Masonic Play

• It’s a little bit different from some of the familiar Masonic Education material. We think you might enjoy this very special 23-minute video. WATCH

New Subscribers

• We are building FVNews to be a vital daily guide to Masonry in Victoria. You can have your free copy emailed to your inbox. Use the ‘Subscribe’ option at www.FVNews.com.au We welcomeRoss Peterken, David Yole, Sam Compagnino, John Clark, Rod Lomax, Ron Aimer, Alan Jenkins, Arthur Williams

Sincere thanks

• Amongst those who assisted with contributions to this edition of FVNews Daily have been: Alan Tyndall, Russell Hicken, Laurie Jacobs, Joe Lawrence, Max Paulet, David Kent
 

Please Send Your Summons
• Lodges can assist by sending emails about every lodge meeting and event to editor@FVNews.com.au – please include us on your Lodge Summons mailing list.

Famous Freemasons
•  “Sawyer, David (1940 – ) A committed member of the Salvation Army, David Sawyer was born on February 19, 1940 in York. He later became a full-time Minister and served as a Pastoral Minister in South Wales, Kent and Berkshire. David was appointed to the headquarters of the Salvation Army Men’s Social Work Department in 1965 and served at their international headquarters before returning to the Men’s Social Services for a further period after being appointed as the Private Secretary and Personal Assistant to the Director of Social Services for Great Britain and Ireland.
• “Sawyer became Education Officer with Buckinghamshire County Council and Head of the Education Welfare Service in Milton Keynes. Taking early retirement in 1992, he worked for a period time with the Independent Counselling and Advisory Service and later set up a chain of four charity shops for the Salvation Army. Somehow David also managed to fit in joining Milton Keynes General Hospital as a Care Manager.
• “In 1981 David Sawyer was initiated into the Lodge of Integrity No. 5149 in Chelmsford, Essex, England and rose to become Provincial Grand Chaplain in 2006. He was also exalted in Oliver Chapter No. 2812.”

– Timothy Horton

Masonic Knowledge
• Odd Spot. “The Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm (simply and affectionately known as the Grotto): Over the years, the Grotto has unfairly earned the unflattering nickname “the poor man’s Shrine,” but built on the premise that men would be better Masons if the solemn teachings from the lodge could be interspersed with a little socialising and fun.” – Dummies

Masonic Wisdom
• “Humour is the truth; wit is an exaggeration of the truth.” – Bro. Stan Laurel

The Last Word
• “The human brain is an amazing organ. It functions 24 hours day from the day we are born and only stops when we are performing ritual.”

INFORMATION TO KNOW
FVNews is published by Bro. Ash Long, Chair of the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team of Freemasons Victoria. 
Phone: 0450 399 932.
Web: www.FVNews.com.au 
Email: editor@FVNews.com.au

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