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The Lodge of Unity No.54
Established 20th November 1867
Meets on the 4th Friday of each month
(3rd Friday in December)
Installation..3rd Saturday October
at
The
Masonic Centre, Hawthorn Lane, Bright, Victoria.
Officers of the Lodge 2009/10
Worshipful Master.......Wor.Bro. Bill Lowen.
Senior Warden....Wor.Bro. Henry Sztanski.
Junior Warden....Bro. Ron Lowen.
Chaplain.......Wor.Bro. L.C. (Snowy) Pack, PJGD
Immediate Past Master........Wor.Bro. Norman Bier, LGR.
Treasurer.......Bro. Barry Richardson.
Secretary........Wor.Bro. Tony Meighan, PGStdB
Director of Ceremonies........Wor.Bro. James Rogers.
Almoner........Wor.Bro. George Barber, PJGD
Senior Deacon......Wor.Bro. Nick Aloizos, PGStdB
Junior Deacon...... Bro. Ian Humphries.
Inner Guard........Wor.Bro. Barry Forster.
Stewards......... Bro. Jack Walker.
Tyler........
Bro. Bob Scott.
A little bit of the lodge history
The first meeting of Unity No .54
The Lodge was first created on Wednesday, 20th of November 1867, at that
time it was Registered as the Lodge of Unity, No.1202 in the English Constitution
.
But, prior to that date there was a lot of behind the scenes work being
carried out between Bright, Beechworth & the Grand Lodge of England
in London.
The minutes of a meeting held at the "Empire Hotel" Bright,
on Friday, 14th of June 1867 outline the activities thus;
A meeting of Masons desirous of a Lodge of Freemasons being formed in Bright
held at the Empire Hotel, those present,
Messrs; Cathcart, Gander, Gitchell, Hunter, Jones, Laing,
Martin, Murray, Wills, Wilkinson, Suply & Winter.
It was proposed and carried:-
"That
the Lodge of Unity, Bright be opened on the 20th inst.
That Messrs Gitchell, Hunter, Martin, Murray & Murton be a committee
to view the room proposed for the Lodge meetings and to ascertain its
fitness for the purpose.
That a general committee of Messrs Cathcart, Hunter, Gitchell and Murray
be appointed to fit the room with furniture suitable for the purposes
of the Lodge and make the necessary arrangements for the opening of the
Lodge.
That the fees for Initiation, Passing and Raising for thenominated
on the first day be £5/5s/0d
but afterwards £10/10s/0d."
Confirmed 20th June 1867.
J.T.Ambrose, Past Master. The Lodge of Beechworth St. John, No 728. E.C.
There can be no doubt that the Committee was very active in their endeavours as it was only six days later that the Lodge came into being, but it is evident that negotiations with the Beechworth Lodge of St. John had been proceeding for a sufficiently long time for certain Past Masters who were members of that Lodge to sponsor the formation of a lodge at Bright.
There is no record of the Lodge ever being consecrated at that time, but there is no doubt that there were enough regularly made Masons present to constitute a Lodge. Neither is there any information to be found as to why the name Unity was chosen.
It is interesting to read the early entries in the records of the diverse Mother Lodges of the members and visitors. Most had originated from the English constitution lodges, but there is representation from the Irish, Scottish and several American jurisdictions, as well from continental Europe.
The name
Unity appears to have been well chosen.
Since those early days the lodge has had many members and visitors pass through its doors, but the warmth of welcome is still the same as it would have been one hundred and thirty five years ago. Instead of Gold Miners we now have many tourists attending our meetings.
The number of members has risen and fallen over the past years, but the determination to assist the local community is still strong.......
Over 140 years and Unity in our community continues.
October 31st 2009
1867-1935
1867 -1927
A brief introduction
©UnitySec.
October 2009