NEWS ARCHIVE



PLEASE NOTE: THESE ARTICLES ARE NOT IN DATE ORDER

29th September 2008

Temperance of Brisbane and Fernberg Lodge held its 109th annual installation on Saturday, 27th September, 2008. W.B. Antonio Vecchio went into the chair of King Solomon for the first time. As Tony says we are now entering our 110th year. He believes it will be a year of growth for this lodge and if his enthusiasm is anything to go by, who could doubt it?

Tony’s enthusiasm though was matched by equal measures of nervousness and apprehension in the lead up to the ceremony. All of the senior members of the lodge have been bombarded with emails and phone calls on just about every aspect of the festive board or ceremony. We had to endure (in a nice way) at least 42 configurations for the seating arrangements for the top table at the festive board. The whole affair came to a remarkable climax after several weeks’ phone calls, emails, being bailed up in corners and generally accosted by Tony at every turn.

The installation was attended by Grand Lodge, somewhat of a rarity for this lodge over a number of years. There is little doubt there was a degree of antipathy between Scottish Freemasonry in Queensland and Grand Lodge in the past. There is also little doubt that the Assistant Grand Master, R.W.B. Col Manders did a lot to dispel those doubts that linger in the minds of some of our brethren. Their attendance lent a degree of pageantry to the ceremony which this writer feels has been missing for a long time. I hope that as a Lodge we will continue to invite Grand Lodge to our ceremonies.

The Grand Lodge team clearly enjoyed what they saw, even though most of them weren’t sure if it was correctly performed or not. One of our own members, V.W.B. Ross Stewart, was on the team.

A number of photographs will be displayed on the Photos page. There were about eighty brethren in the lodge hall for the installation. Brethren were there from all over Brisbane, one from New South Wales and another from Yorkshire, England. This is clear evidence that Tony not only visits other lodges but when he does, he impresses many of those he meets with his enthusiasm and humanity.

Kerry LeBoutillier

22nd September 2008

Some members of this lodge paid a fraternal visit to the Caboolture Lodge installation on Saturday 20th September. Visiting is one of the great cornerstones of fraternal involvement. It gives Masons from different lodges a chance to engage with one another on many subjects, not all of them Masonic.

Caboolture Lodge like our own is a Scottish Lodge. It was interesting to see the differences as well as the similarities in the ritual. Clearly some of the brethren delivering the various charges were experienced and passionate in their approach to the craft.

I noticed also that all but one of the office holders (apart from the Master) are Master Masons. It is a pleasure to see a lodge in such a healthy position. The recycling of Past Masters is usually a sign of decline and this is obviously not the case with this lodge.

Conviviality was the keynote at the festive board. No doubt this was assisted by the single malt being sent round. Anyone who did not enjoy the night was obviously at home watching the Broncos being beaten in a last gasp effort by the Melbourne Storm.

Kerry LeBoutillier

14 September 2008

Here is the first news article for the Temperance of Brisbane and Fernberg Lodge. It concerns the posting of this site. There are many members who, while they did not actually do anything in regard to the building of the site, provided me with the encouragement I needed to forge ahead.

I cannot take the credit for the look and feel of the site. That belongs to my son, Jay. At the bottom of every page anyone who is interested can follow the link to the Website Design Centre which he operates. But I can take credit for the words you read. While I take pride in them, I must not forget those who inspired me.

I would like to acknowledge just a few of those here.

Tony Vecchio. Here is a man who burns with a passion for Freemasonry which many should try to emulate. Tony is always looking for ways to improve our standing. He understands the greatness that is the craft.

Stuart Nobbs. To me, he is the quiet achiever. He is always the voice of reason. He manages to help me make less of a fool of myself when others would allow me to sink into the holes that I manage to keep on digging.

Ross Stewart. It was Ross who showed me, and still does, how to deliver those words in our rituals with meaning. It was he who made me realise that the words that we learn have power and meaning. It was he who inspired me to study Freemasonry in the way that every initiate is urged to, but rarely achieves.

And to all those brethren, past and present who have pushed, cajoled, prodded and berated me. You have made me a better person and I thank you for that. Truly you are all my brothers.

Kerry LeBoutillier.

6th June 2009

We paid a fraternal visit to Scotia lodge on Friday evening the 5th June. The lodge was passing Br. Daniel Philip to the second degree. The ceremony itself is not really what is important, of course. It is the cementing of the relationship between the lodges. Every one says it is the great cornerstone of freemasonry. These fraternal visits reinforce the relationships between all freemasons. Other lodges, as is often the case, were represented as well. Bon Accord lodge was there as was Ionic Prudence.
There is a wonderful blend of Scottish and Queensland Constitution lodges in these visits. It demonstrates the artificiality of the differences. Indeed it celebrates them. Ritual always looks good to me when it is performed well. It does not matter what book it comes from.
All this is not to say the evening was not important for Daniel. It marks for him what is a milestone in a Masonic journey which for many lasts a lifetime. We all have to start somewhere. Confucius said, “The longest journey starts with a single step.” Who would doubt his wisdom?
The ceremony like all degrees performed by Scottish lodges in Queensland was unique. This writer was impressed by what he saw. I could only hope that the Daniel was also impressed.
So let us extend our congratulations to Daniel and our best wishes for the future. Click here for photos.

Kerry LeBoutillier

26th May 2009

Walking the talk to build Freemasonry
We have witnessed exponential changes in our world. The way we live, interact in society, and with each other. The boundaries as we know and perceive them are constantly changing and expanding. Survival and growth depends on adapting to and embracing change, whether it is our country our business, our society, our family, or our Craft.
Yet we must accept that we are not an Island. We cannot live alone. There are principles and tenets which do not/can not change- our values, our beliefs, our faith and our humanity. These indeed are the threads that bind us. Let me share this simple mnemonic. T.A.L.K. Talk, Action, Listen, Knowledge. It shows us the way by educating us, showing the best pathway, creating a catalyst for growth. It promotes dialogue as the vehicle to assist us to find understanding, learning, compassion, relief and truth. Dialogue leads us to the concepts of universalism, brotherhood and friendship upon which Freemasonry is founded.
How do we apply this to achieve growth in our craft? Ritual leads and teaches all the elements required to achieve greatness but it is locked away in the esoteric language of yesteryear. Gaining an understanding of ritual will help us to understand. What better way to achieve this than in a round table discussion?
To build a better Lodge we should consider concentrating on working more on the Craft than in the craft. We need to understand that living in our comfort zone, impervious to the world around us, and thinking “she’s right mate” does not build a Lodge.
You have all heard of the three “There’s” :-
There are those who make things happen,
There are those who see things when they happen and
There are those who do not know that anything has happened.
Freemasonry gives us a great advantage to create and build a base for tomorrow to make things happen. I believe that there is nothing that is not achievable. Together as a team, we can identify and remove the barriers. We can embrace the ways of Dialogue and together we can build our Great Lodge. Life is but a short journey, with little time to make our mark on this earth. As builders of our Craft we need to understand there is an imbalance between winning and failure. That is, you inevitably fail a hundred times before achieving that stroke of greatness. Fear of change, and inevitably of failure, prevents us achieving our dreams, yet failure is an integral part of progression.

A Vecchio

9th March 2009

Well here we are again, with a new year under way. The lodge is holding a first degree for a new initiate in our May meeting and are we all madly practicing. At least that is the current plan. Let’s hope all goes well.

February was our first meeting for the year and a few initiatives for our long term existence were voted and agreed upon. These included taking out an advertisement in 3 local papers to see what sort of a response we get. We will also issue members with business cards which we feel will enhance the ability to spread the word, especially in conjunction with the Grand Lodge initiative of the lapel pins.

We have also held two Saturday morning meetings to discuss matters related to our extracurricular activities. These have been a fruitful tool in providing a forum for members to air their views in an open and friendly atmosphere.

We are also about to welcome W.B. Bill Brien into the lodge as an affiliate. Bill comes from Sydney where he attended Alpha Lodge, among a few others. He and his wife Fran have settled at Lawnton, and we look forward to many years of friendship both inside and outside the lodge.

30th November 2008

There we were. In true Christmas style in Brisbane. The skies were overcast. Storms were predicted. The temperature was about 1000 deg Celsius and the humidity was at least 100%.  But the weather held and the lodge gathered at Raven Street reserve on Saturday last. Raven Street was chosen after the violent storms of a few weeks ago destroyed our original venue.
Our intrepid leader Tony, and his equally intrepid wife, Paula, at great personal risk presented themselves at 7:30 am, almost the bewitching hour, to stake our claim at the electric barbecues. In gratitude for this selfless task, the members present allowed Tony to assume control of proceedings. Paula promised that such devotion to duty should not go unrewarded at home either. She promised faithfully that she would allow him to do the washing up when they returned.
The rest of us presented ourselves around 8:15 and it was a case of, “Brethren, start your barbecues.” I have to admit I did notice a few yoghurt eaters but most of us tucked into good old fashioned bacon, eggs, sausages, tomatoes and such things. Generally these are the foods which make most of us happy but hasten our steps to the grave.
Whatever may be their culinary peculiarities, those who were there generally reported that the morning was a great success. On that note may I take this opportunity to extend to each of the members as well as their families and all brethren who happen to read this, a happy and safe Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

Kerry LeBoutillier

24th October 2008

The lodge is holding a breakfast/picnic day on the 29th November 08 at the Ironbark Gully picnic area on Sandford Rd Ferny Grove. It is intended that we will have the barbecues fired up and everyone can bring their own sausages, eggs, steak etc. What we would really like is for members of other lodges to join us. You can bring a non mason friend. We are looking at this as a way of promoting our non masonic activities. It starts at 8:30 am. All welcome.

Kerry LeBoutillier