The 150 years of the Albert Edward Lodge was celebrated on Thrusday, August 15, at the Alexnadra Masonic Centre.

All past and present Freemasons werenvited to a presentation by Allan Layton, assisted by the members of the Lodge.

A public notice to form a Masonic Lodge in Alexandra was published in the first issue of the Times on June 2, 1868.

“All free and accepted Masons in and round Alexandra are requested to meet at the office of Br. M. Raphael, Grant-street, on Friday evening next, 5th June, at 7 o’clock, to consider the practicability of forming a lodge in this place,” said the advertisement.

In the same issue were advertisements of M. Raphael’s own business, in which he described himself as an ‘Auctioneer, Land and Hotel Broker’.
Alexandra was in its earliest days as a township, and Mr Raphael was offering various vacant Grant Street allotments.

“The brethren of the Masonic Order, it will be seen by advertisement, intend taking preliminary steps for establishing a lodge here,” commented John and Norman Whitelaw of The Times. “No doubt the meeting tonight will be well attended.”

Progress was slow. Almost a year later, a second advertisement appeared on May 8, 1869 (150 years ago):

“A meeting of Masons favour able to establishing a Lodge at Alexandra, will be held at Brother Raphael’s Office on Monday next. at half-past 8 p.m.”

The meeting of the Alexandra Road Board (forerunner to the Shire Council) on May 17, 1869, received a letter from J. P. Bainbridge requesting the use of the Board room for Masonic purposes.

In the lead-up to the creation of the Lodge in 1869, Times editor John Whitelaw had some fun with his readers, having a gentle dip at some of the peculiarities of Freemasonry.

“On Monday evening last a grand concert and ball were given at the Corner Hotel, under the patronage of M.U.I.O.O.F. (Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows) in aid of the Incidental Fund.

“Mr Whitelaw, who delivered the opening address, stated that although he did not belong to the order of Odd Fellows still he knew a little about secret societies.

“In Masonry he was a P.M. (Past Master), which meant top sawyer. Masons and Odd Fellows used a great many letters of the ‘alphabet’ in a mysterious way, such as G.M. (Grand Master), P.G M. (Past Grand Master), &c.

“This was all for the purpose of keeping their wives and sisters in the dark, He would reveal a few secrets of these societies for the information of those wives who were kept up ate at night waiting for their husbands who would come home looking very innocent, as if they had been doing something of great importance.

“There were three degrees in masonry. When a man was made a mason he had an apron put on him and then he was told to shut his eyes and open his mouth, whereupon he had a large spoonful of brimstone and treacle put into his mouth and was told that was to purify the blood and prepare him for the next and more important degree.

“In the second degree the apron was placed behind, and then he had to swallow a mixture of salt, senna, and castor oil. It was very amusing to see the faces they made on such occasions, but the third degree was the trying event.

“The apron (masons can do nothing without an apron) in this degree was placed on the head and then the brand is applied,

“It made ones blood run cold to think of the cruelty they practiced on each other on such occasions.

“He had heard of unfortunate masons catching their death of cold in consequence of the curiosity of their wives about that branding.

“The Odd Fellows, he supposed, were not much better than the Masons, but it was his duty to briefly allude to their good points.

“Amongst other emblems of the order might be seen the open hand with a heart in it. This meant that Odd Fellows had an open hand for each other, and a heart to feel and sympathise for a brother in distress. “If an Odd Fellow becomes sick he is supported and provided with medical attendance.

“When he dies all funeral expenses are paid for by the lodge, and the widow and orphan children have a certain allowance given them.

“Such an institution as this commends itself to he support and best wishes of all.

“The Mount Pleasant Lodge was progressing favourably, and he trusted that the funds would be considerably enlarged by that evening’s entertainment.

“As to those ladies and gentlemen who had kindly consented to take part in the concert, most of them had already established for themselves a high reputation as amateurs. He trusted that the audience would

” Be to their virtues very kind,
And to their faults a little blind.”

“The Chairman then introduced Mr J. B. Morris who sung with much feeling Brother’s fainting at the door, assisted in the chorus by Mrs Morris, Mr Kay, and Master Walter.

“A ballad, No one to love, was given by Miss Raeuber and elicited a round of applause.

“Master Walter followed with Far, far upon the sea, which he rendered with good taste, receiving the applause of the audience on its conclusion.

“A comic song by Mr H. M. Taylor was well received. What are the wild waves saving. by Mrs Morris and Mr Branch was rendered very smoothly.

“Mr Kannegiesser followed with a song, The red, white, and blue.
“The home I’ve made for thee, given by Miss Briggs, was a decided
improvement on any of that lady’s previous performances, and the audience showed their appreciation of her efforts by awarding a due mead of praise.

“A comic reading by Mr Downing, and a selection from Shakes-peare, by Mr Franks, brought the first part of the programme to a close.

“After a short interval a second series of songs, duets, readings, &c., were given but it would be useless to particularise, as all succeeded in pleasing the assembled audience.

“Great praise is due to the stewards for the agreeable manner in which the arrangements were carried out, nor must we over look the services of Mrs Morris, who by her finished style of accompanying the several singers contributed in no small degree to the success of the entertainment.

“After the room had been cleared dancing was kept up with great spirit for several hours, and all departed well pleased with their evening’s enjoyment.”

The opening of the Lodge was conducted on Friday night, July 23, 1869, and reported in The Alexandra Times of July 30:

“On Friday night last the important ceremony of opening a Masons’ Lodge in Alexandra took place.

“In addition to the brethren of the immediate district, there were visitors from Melbourne, Jamieson, and Doon.

“The Lodge was held in the Council Chambers, and was opened by Past Master Goulding, who, with the assistance of Past Masters Rapiport, Motherwell, Morris, and Whitelaw, duly installed the Worshipful Master elect, Brother Downing, according to ancient custom.

“After the ceremony of installation had been completed, six new members were proposed.

“The ordinary and special busi-ness having been disposed of, the Lodge was closed in due form and with solemn prayer.

THE BANQUET
“After the duties of the Lodge, the brethren assembled at Brother Morris’s, and sat down about 11 o’clock p.m. to the installation banquet. “To say that the table groaned with luxuries, would convey but a faint idea of the artistic taste of the decorations and the excellent quality of the good things provided in such profusion.

“Mr Morris evidently was determined to place himself A1 in the matter of getting up a supper.

“Twenty-two Masons took their seats at the table, and as the order is very exclusive, no strangers were admitted. After supper followed the
usual masonic toasts, accompanied with masonic honors.”

The August 6, 1869 issue of The Times added: “The Masonic Lodge of Alexandra has now been fully established, and promises to become an important institution.

“The furni ture and regalia have been provided. Amongst other matters, we notice that Brother M. Raphael has presented the Lodge with a handsomely bound illustrated Bible, with the following golden inscription on the cover :—
“Presented to the Albert Alfred (sic) Lodge of Alexandra by Brother Maurice Raphael.”

The Oddfellows’ Ball and Supper was held at the Corner Hall on November 19, and a Toast to “Kindred Institutions was responded to by Mr. Downing, on behalf of the Masonic body, and by Mr. Whitelaw, on behalf of the Ancient Order of Druids.

“Numerous other toasts followed, and a very pleasant evening was spent,” said The Times.

The Alexandra Shire Council, meeting on December 27, 1870, agreed with correspondence from Crs Peterkin, Perkins, and Whiting,
that there should be no Council meeting, on account of the Masonic Ball.

A local newspaper clipping from July 7, 1871, reveals some of the identities involved with the early days of Alexandra’s Lodge:

“The brethren of the Albert Edward Lodge of Freemasons held their annual meeting on Friday evening last, for the election of officers for the ensuing year, when the following gentlemen were duly installed in office :—J. P. Bainbridge, W.M. (Worshipful Master) ; G. Paxin, S.W. (Senior Warden) ; Philip Salmon, J.W. (Junior Warden) ; J. Peterkin, S.D. (Senior Deacon) ; A. East, J.D. (Junior Deacon) ; F. Kayser, I.G. Inner Guard); Thomas Hall, secretary; Maurice Raphael, Treasurer.

“After the business of the lodge was disposed of, the brethren assembled at Brother J. B. Morris’s Corner Hotel, where a sumptuous banquet was provided, a description of which we cannot better convey than by quoting the words of one of the speakers on the occasion, who said that—
” Not only had the bush and the garden been robbed of their rarest shrubs and flowers to adorn the table, but almost every kingdom in Europe

had contributed wines and fruits—port, amontillado, champagne, nuts, almonds, figs, everything in short that the heart of man could wish for was there, and in abundance.

“Even the Pyramids of Egypt were represented by two large cakes, which had a strong resemblance to the original Pyramids, but were not quite so large.

“The large porcelain vans on the table had been dug either from the ruins of Herculaneum or King Solomon’s Temple.

“Everything that nature and art could produce in Alexandra had been gathered together to do honor to the occasion.

“The evening was spent in a very jolly manner, according to the ancient custom of Masons.”

The Jamieson Chronicle (Jan. 1872) reported: “Mr John Colin Campbell who has been long and favorably known in the district, died on Saturday last at Woodspoint, and was interred on Sunday.

“The members of the Masonic Lodge, 1078, of which the late Mr Campbell was a rmember, mustered in great force to pay the last tribute of respect to the remains of their departed brother.

“The brethren followed in black with white kid gloves and crape round the arm, and walked immediately behind and at the side of the conveyance carrying the corpse.

“The Senior Dercon’s jewel was placed on the coflin, which was conveyed to St Mary’s Church where the service was read, after which the Rev. Mr Cahill preached the funeral service at the grave.

“Mr Campbell was connected- with the local press, Town Council, Road Board and many other institutions.
“The members of the masonic lodges are to put a suitable railing round the grave of their departed brother.”

The Alexandra Times (Aug. 23, 1872) noted: “The monthly meeting of the Masonic order was hold on Friday evening last at Vining’s Town Hall. Mr Battishill Parker was admitted according to ancient custom
into the privileges and mysteries of the order in the first degree.”