Fernberg Lodge 209 History

The history of Fernberg Lodge has been reproduced here as faithfully as possible from a variety of old documents. Fernberg Lodge No 209 history began in 1910, with a letter to interested brethren. The letter is dated 29.11.1910. The address is given as Rockbourne Terrace, Upper Paddington. It reads;

Dear sir and a brother,

The desire has long existed to inaugurate in this district a new lodge of Scottish freemasonry, and the feeling has become so intense that it has been decided to proceed at once with the necessary preliminaries to carry out the object to a successful issue. A meeting of brethren willing in any way to assist by becoming foundation members or otherwise will be held at "Wyralla" corner of Upper Fernberg Rd and Rockbourne Terrace, the residence of Wor. Bro. Morris D.G.D.of C. on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m.

Your attendance is earnestly requested

I remain yours fraternally

(Convenor) Arthur Kaye.

The Fernberg lodge history is then taken up from a document prepared by our late brother Bob Edds.

Prior to any formal move being made to constitute a new lodge, there must of necessity be a lot of informal discussion. Such, obviously, was the case with “Fernberg” as on 29th November, 1910 a Letter was sent to a number of interested brethren by Wor. Bro. Arthur Kaye, inviting them to attend a meeting at the residence of Wor. Bro. F.T. Morris, at the corner of upper Fernberg Rd (now Macgregor Ter) and Rockbourne Ter., Upper Paddington.

At the meeting which was attended by R. Wor. Bro. R.N. Quinn, Wor. Bros. F.T. Morris, Arthur Kaye and Bros. W.J. Wasley, G.G. Bythe, A.J. Snellman, D.S. Gibson and J.L. Watts, it was resolved “To form in Upper Paddington, a Masonic Lodge under the Jurisdiction of the DISTRICT GRAND LODGE OF SCOTTISH FREEMASONS IN QUEENSLAND”. It was also resolved to name the lodge “FERNBERG”; that the meeting night would be the second Saturday of each month and that it would be a TEMPERANCE Lodge.

The second meeting of interested brethren was held on the 25th March, 1911 and attended by the previously mentioned brethren plus Wor. Bros. S. Bradshaw, F.W. Buckham, J.J. Wood and J.S. Shaw and Bros. W.E. Wilson, J. Greenway and C.C. Reid. Some of the motions carried were – TEMPERANCE BEVERAGES· only; FOUNDATION MEMBERS FEE 21/- up to the end of June 1912; INITIATION FEE £7/7/0 to include cost of apron; COLOUR to be light blue and QUARTERLY SUBSCRIPTIONS to be 7/6.

At this meeting the following officers were elected :

Worshipful Master	Wor. Bro. Arthur Kaye
Deputy Master	Wor. Bro. F.T. Morris
Sub. Master	Wor. Bro. J.W. Wood
Senior Warden	Bro. Arthur Exley
Junior Warden	Bro. W.J. Wasley
Secretary Wor.	Bro. J.S. Shaw
Treasurer	Bro. J.A.S. Greenway
Chaplain	Bro. G.G. Bythe
Director of Ceremonies	Wor. Bro. F.W. Buckham
Senior Deacon	Bro. D.S. Gibson
Junior Deacon	Bro. J.F. Bourne
Inner Guard	Bro. C.C. Reid
Tyler	Bro. W.C. Wilson (by consent)
President of stewards	Bro. I. Ward
Senior steward	Bro. W.C. Wilson

On Saturday afternoon 29th April 1911, at Carmel Presbyterian Church, Fernberg Lodge was consecrated and a dispensation granted to hold meetings until a CHARTER was granted by the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Refreshments were then provided at the residence of Wor. Bro. F.T. Morris and at 7.30 pm on that day, the first regular meeting of FERNBERG LODGE was held, at which the Wor. Master was installed and the officers invested. They were quick off the mark in those days because at the second regu1ar meeting, four(4) candidates were initiated.

There does not appear to be any mention in the minutes of the receipt of a charter but in the minutes dated 14-10-1911 “Lodge Fernberg” is shown as being No 1091 Scottish Constitution. (FURTHER RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THE ORIGINAL WARRANT WAS DATED 3rd AUGUST, 1911) By-Laws of the Lodge were finally adopted at the regular meeting on the 28th September 1912.

Briefly, some of the happenings over the first few years were :
8-10-1912 Notice of Motion by Bro. B.P. Harding re consideration of our own lodge building. Motion put 11-11-1912 and adjourned. Committee appointed 14-12-1912. 4-4-1914 Wor. Bro. Arthur Kaye resigned. (Presumably to become involved in the formation of Hope Lodge) 15-11-1914 Lodge advised by District Grand Lodge that new rituals were now available at 3/6 each. 12-12-1914 a motion was carried that a collection be taken up at every first Degree for the Benevolent Fund. 8-6-1918 Due to the increased cost of aprons the initiation fee would remain at £7/7/0 but the candidate would purchase his own apron.

These days we all take our various obligations but never hear of violations or penalties being invoked. On Saturday 31st May 1919 a special meeting was called to hear a charge of violation of his obligation against a brother. The charge was brought by a brother of another lodge, charging the Fernberg brother with misconduct with his wife. The Fernberg brother pleaded guilty, but under extenuating circumstances and hoped that the lodge would deal leniently with him. It was moved, seconded and carried that the Fernberg brother be expelled from this lodge.

As a result of a communication dated 14-3-1919 from the District Grand Lodge of Queensland holding under the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland, and under laid down conditions, a special meeting of the lodge was held 30-7-1919 to vote on the question “THAT THIS LODGE IS IN FAVOUR OF THE FORMATION OF A SOVEREIGN GRAND LODGE OF QUEENSLAND”. The result of the vote, both in the lodge and postal, was 33 FOR, 1 AGAINST and 2 INFORMAL.

At the regular meeting 13-3-1920 a further communication was received from the District Grand Secretary asking the lodge to appoint a delegate, with power to act, to attend a meeting on the 30th April 1920 at the Masonic Hall, Alice Street, Brisbane, to deal with the formation of the Queensland Grand Lodge. The Worshipful Master Wor. Bro. W.S. Michael was appointed. At that meeting the Queensland Grand Lodge was formed and Fernberg was to become part of that Grand Lodge.

There existed at this time “The Grand Lodge of Queensland” to which the lodges comprising the Q.G.L. would not belong because of some disagreement. Rt. Wor. Bro. Corrie, who was to become Grand Master of the Q.G.L. made this comment “I hope that before the end of the year the new Grand Lodge will be established and then the differences which exist, and which have attracted the attention of the whole Masonic world will be happily settled”. The aim was, of course, for a United Grand Lodge.

November 9th 1920 was the date on which the Grand Lodge of Scotland was to cease its jurisdiction over Scottish lodges in Queensland. However the last Fernberg meeting held under the Scottish Constitution was on 21st December 1920 at which 8 brethren received their MARK DEGREE. Eight brethren receiving a degree at one meeting seems a lot, but on Saturday 15th December 1920 “five(5) brethren were raised to the 3rd degree. The lodge went from labour to refreshment and refreshment to labour again and a further five(5) brethren were passed to the second degree. The Lodge closed at lO:45pm. During the foregoing period the lodge was kept very busy, frequently working degrees on two to three candidates at a time. Special meetings for degree work were quite common and at least on one occasion a degree was worked after an installation.

Our meeting on Saturday 12th 1921 was the first meeting as NO. 152 Queensland Grand Lodge and it was at this meeting that War. Bro. W.S. Michael, in the a absence of the Worshipful master , received our foundation warrant. As was hoped, it did not take long to overcome the differences of the two Grand Lodges and on the 2lst April 1921 both Grand Lodges united to become the united Grand Lodge of Queensland. There does not appear to be any reference in the minutes regarding the unit y but the minutes of the June 1921 meeting are headed “Lodge Fernberg” – holding under the united Grand Lodge of Queensland – NO NUMBER. No. 152 reappeared on the minutes in August and in December 1921 the familiar No.209 appeared. The foundation Charter was presented on the lodge on the 13th May 1922.

The foregoing is the story of the evolution of the lodge until it became Fernberg Lodge No. 209 U.G.L.Q. and probably the best way to deal with the remaining years is generally by chronological tabulation.

December 1922 saw the formation of a committee which resulted in the purchase of property on Enoggera Terrace Red Hill at the end of 1923 and which was eventually paid for by 1932. Masonic Bibles in their present form were first offered to the lodge in 1923 and in 1924 the old by-laws were replaced and new ones adopted.

In 1925 we acquired two daughter lodges. Ashgrove Lodge was consecrated on 6th February and Samford Lodge on 28th February.

In 1926 a communication was received from Grand Lodge banning the “McDuff” and the singing of “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow”. We don’t sing the latter.

July 1927 minutes record that a Wireless message was received from Wor. Bro. Theo Comino on board the S.S. Baradine enroute to Greece, conveying greetings and best wishes to the newly installed Worshipful Master and his officers.

In December 1929, a communication was received from Grand Lodge stating that all lodge names must be as shown on the Warrant. From that time “Lodge Fernberg” became “Fernberg Lodge”.

At our meeting in October 1931, the Most Wor.Grand Master, His Excellency Sir John Goodwin, Governor of Queensland, accompanied by Grand Lodge officers visited Fernberg Lodge and witnessed his first Scottish Third Degree. At this meeting, at the request of the Worshipful Master, the Most Wor. Grand Master presented to Wor. Bro. M. Patrick, IPM of Gympie Lodge and a member of Fernberg, an enlarged photograph of the brethren who paid an official visit to Gympie Lodge on 1st November 1930. Incidentally, the name of Government House is “FERNBERG”.

It probably should have been mentioned earlier but at this stage and until 1962 our practice was held on the Friday night preceding the Second Saturday. On that night the church was converted into a Masonic Lodge room and was normally restored at the close of our regular meeting. However, if the church was required for a wedding or another purpose on the Saturday the conversion job had to be done twice. Another very interesting meeting was held on Saturday 8th July 1933. Wor. Bro. J.J.G. Cane opened the lodge in due form 6:12pm. The lodge was opened in the second degree. Wor. Bro. W. S. Michael retired and was readmitted. He informed the Worshipful Master that “His Excellency Rt. Wor. Bro. Sir Leslie Wilson, Governor of Queensland was outside the lodge desiring to be admitted. His Excellency was admitted complete with fanfare. The assembly sang the National Anthem and His Excellency was introduced to the Worshipful Master, the Deputy Grand Master Rt. Wor. Bro. Eustace Jones, accompanied by Grand officers was admitted.

The Worshipful Master stated that Grand Lodge had conferred the rank of past Grand Warden on Rt. Wor. Bro. J. Shaw and invited the Deputy Grand Master to do the lodge the honour by investing Rt. Wor. Bro. Shaw. Bro. Reginald George Wise was installed into the chair by Rt. Wor. Bro. Shaw. The lodge closed in love and harmony at 10pm .

A special meeting was held on Saturday 30th A special meeting was held on Saturday 30th April 1932 to deliberate the 21st Anniversary of the lodge. Quite a long retrospect was given by J. S. Shaw, generally covering the information continued in this history. It is interesting to note that to this date the lodge had held 237 regular meetings and many special meetings. 177 members had been initiated and 27 raised by clearance, totaling 204. During this period there had been many resignations but many of the brethren eventually returned to the lodge.

At the 238th regular meeting two candidates were initiated, Mr. John Robert Braithwaite and Mr. George Henry Kirby. The Junior Deacon, Bro. A.R. Bradley pointed out to the Master that Mr. Braithwaite’s father was present and asked permission to stand down to allow the father to take his off ice. Bro. J. E. Braithwaite took the Junior Deacon’s office and carried out the work “in a very able and efficient manner”. A letter written to the lodge from New Zealand by the son of Bro. J.A. Weldon, a Fernberg Member, stating that his father who was in New Zealand also was slowly failing and his father’s wish was to have a Masonic Funeral. The lodge was able to contact Lodge Montoa, New Zealand and they responded by fulfilling Bro. Weldon’s wish.

The lodge received an invitation to visit Gympie Lodge and work a 3rd degree. Wor. Bro. M. Patrick of Gympie Lodge made all the arrangements, such as trains and accommodation. The visit was made on 5th March 1932. Wor. Bro. C. Patrick (a member of Fernberg) was in the chair. Thirty-one (31) Fernberg members attended and 240 people attended the Gympie Lodge Meeting. The lodge had an official visit from the Master, officers and brethren of Kyogle Lodge, N.S.W. on Saturday 12the October 1935. A reciprocal visit was arranged with General Glasgow Lodge and Fernberg Lodge to visit Kyogle Lodge together. A bus was hired and 20 Glasgow and 9 Fernberg members made the trip. 16/0 return and 9 shillings board, breakfast and dinner.

At 286th Regular and Installation Meeting of the Lodge on 11th July 1936 with Wor. Bro. A.R. Bradley in the chair, the lodge was favoured by a visit of the Most Wor. Grand Master, His Excellency, The Governor, Sir Leslie Orme Wilson and his Grand Lodge Officers. The master elect was Bro. Hubert Charles Fenn who was the Sergeant at Arms at Government House and the Grand Master accepted the Invitation to witness his Staff Sergeant being installed. The Installing master was Wor. Bro. Hugh Clark. The minutes of the 255th regular meeting on 11th November 1933 yielded some interesting information. The Worshipful, Master stated that the large Bible which the lodge had been using for years belonged to the Carmel Church. The Ithaca Presbyterian Church had just received a new Bible and from the efforts of Wor. Bro. W. Young, father of Bro. J. S. Young, a member of this lodge, the Ithaca Presbyterian Church had presented their old Bible to this lodge. The Master said he felt sure every member would appreciate the gift and highly value it. Wor. Bro. Cane moved that the best thanks of the lodge be placed on record in the minutes, to the Session of Ithaca Presbyterian Church, Wor. Bro. W. Young and Bro. J.S. Young for their valuable gift and that the Secretary forward them a letter of thanks. At last our members will know the history surrounding our Volume of Sacred Law and realise just how old it is. Over the last 8-10 years the country was in the grip of the “Depression” and whilst our members continued to increase, necessitating emergent meetings and multiple degrees being worked, many brethren resigned because they were unable to pay their dues. There are records of outstanding dues being waived to enable brethren to obtain their demits and of collections taken up for brethren in dire financial trouble. There are also records of brethren returning to the lodge when they were again in employment. Unfortunately we are unable to record any history between 1937 and 1942 as the minute book for that period was lost many years ago.

The next minute book 1942-1948 obviously covers the period of the Pacific War and one of the first entries records in October 1942, a visit from our first American Brother and in December 1942 Bro. A.W. Young, after having been raised to the third degree received his traveling card, presented to servicemen who could be posted overseas. It would seem that Bro. A.W. Young who was obligated by his father Wor. Bro. Jim Young probably was one of the earlier members of our, now not uncommon, father and son combinations.

In April 1943 Bro. Kessels phoned to say he would not be able to be present to take his second degree, due to an unexpected posting. In August 1944 wore Bro. S.G. Phillips, who was installed as Worshipful Master in July, advised the lodge he was leaving for New Guinea immediately and would not be able to complete his year of office. Fortunately Wor. Bro. Phillips returned and was invested as IPM in September 1945.

During this wartime period emergent meetings were held to confer degrees on brethren before being sent overseas. We worked degrees for other lodges with which we had reciprocal arrangements. Fenwick, Bardon and Celtic of Ithaca were those lodges most mentioned.

On 12th August 1944, War. Bro. Peter Gordon Reedman of Ashton Lodge was obligated as an affiliate by Wor. Bro. Shaw. Rt. Wor. Bro. Reedman is at this time our oldest Past Master who is still willing to do a job when called upon. Incidentally Peter will be 88 on 10th June and received his 60 year jewel in 1985. This particular minute book was researched by our Worshipful Master Wor. Bro. R.A. Chapman who believes that the 14th July 1945 has considerable significance. We are not sure if it is because the late Rt. Wor. Bro. Bill Farmer was installed as Worshipful Master on that day or that baby Ray Chapman was born.

Of the property on Enoggerra Terrace, that portion facing Glamorgan Street on which there was a house, caused numerous problems. There seemed to be a continuing problem with the rent. Fences had to be replaced. Repairs were needed and painting required. All of these caused a lot of discussion and disagreement. Several attempts were made to sell, so there were no tears shed when it was finally sold in 1950 to Mr Dennis O’Brien for £750/0/0 which, after expenses, was paid into the Building Fund. Over the next few years candidates continued to roll in as evidence by the 20 degrees worked 1951/52 with Wor. Bro. George Bodenham in the chair. Earlier mention was made of our father/son tradition. Surely the ultimate happened on 14the December 1947 when Mr W.R. Muir (51) and his son Mr R.W. Muir were initiated together into this lodge.

At this point it would surely be appropriate to list those father and san teams who are now or who have been in the lodge together at some time. Our original memory list started at 13 but after our Wor. Bro. Secretary started delving into records we are now able to list 21 teams dating back to 1920. Should we have missed anybody, we apologize and would like our omission pointed out.

Number on Lodge Roll	Surname	Initials	Date on which father/ son membership of Fernberg Lodge Commenced	Name
286	Bodenhan	GD		George
316	Bodenham	DP	11-10-1947	Peter
437	Chapman	RA		Ray
466	Chapman	SD	14-7-1990	Scott
452	Davies	BSE		Brian
452	Davies	BSE	10-11-1994	Brian
356	Denmark	WCH		Bill
439	Denmark	WJ	12-1-1974	Bill
302	Duncanson	AH		Alf
380	Duncanson	AN	10-11-1956	Alf
177	Farmer	WR		Bill
418	Farmer	RF	8-3-1969	Rob
458	Fleming	MP		Mick
461	Fleming	KE	14-3-1987	Keith
400	Griffiths	TW		Tom
374	Griffiths	THJ	13-1-1962	Jack
364	Hoffman	KJ		Kev
438	Hoffman	WA	19-2-1974	Warren
102	Hutchison	W (senior)		William
105	Hutchison	W (junior)	14-8-1920	William
228/312	Kirkman	H		Harold
412	Kirkman	AJ	13-6-1964	Arthur
263	Littleford	CE		Clive
398	Littleford	BR	12-8-1961	Brian
396	Lockran	AP		Alan
447	Lockran	IM	10-2-1979	Ian
192	Martin	TR		Tom
432	Martin	CR	13-3-1971	Col
387	Muir	WR		Roy
388	Muir	RWH	14-12-1957	Bob
391	Nichol	D		Dan
423	Nichol	BF	14-1-1967	Bruce
318	Nobbs	James		Jim
422	Nobbs	CS	14-2-1967	Stewart
407	Peel	GA		Graham
433	Peel	JAF	7-4-1971	Jim
133	Rattray	RH		Bob
280	Rattray	RH	8-8-1942	Bob
321	Stewart	GA		Graham
416	Stewart	DG	13-3-1965	David
421	Stewart	RK		Ross
233	Young	JS		Jim
281	Young	AW	17-8-1942	Alex

Over the years this lodge would have presented over 100 Aged Masons, Widows and Orphans Fund jewels. Why, then, should mention be made that in July 1959, Bro T.R. (Tom) Martin was presented with a life Governors jewel. The answer is simple. In terms of membership Tom is the oldest member of this lodge, having been initiated into Fernberg on 13th November 1926. He received his 50 year jewel on 12th February 1977 and his 60 year jewel in 1987. He turned 91 on 4th January this year. In terms of age, Tom has been pipped at the post by Bro Alf Duncanson who was initiated into the lodge in January 1946 but turned 92 on 10th February.

Some of our brethren certainly won’t forget our practice night on 3rd December 1971 as several of them were injured when two vehicles collided whilst they were gathered in Cricket Street opposite the temple waiting for the practice room to be opened. Rt. Wor. Bro. Littleford had both legs injured. Wor. Bro R Beacon had his leg badly injured and was unable to work for 8 weeks and Rt. Wor. Bro. J. Nobbs demonstrated how solid he was by bending a parking meter out of plumb and it remains that way today. Bro. David Stewart and Wor. Bro. Dan Nicol both sustained minor injuries. Over the last fifteen years or so, Masonry in general, including Fernberg, has seen a tapering off of candidates. Some masters have been fortunate enough to have enough work for the whole year, while others have found it necessary to work practice degrees and organise lectures to maintain interest. Let us hope that we will soon see a renewed interest in Masonry so that there will be sufficient floor members to instill a competitive spirit in the brethren.

This lodge has been fortunate enough to generally have long serving dedicated secretaries. Rt. Wor. Bro. Shaw was the foundation secretary and remained in that office until 1946. In the latter years, due to his failing health, most of his duties were performed by the Assistant Secretary, then, Bro. Clive Littleford. For the next 3 years the Secretary’s office was filled by Wor. Bros. V.E. Bateman, A. Bradley and R. Rattray. In 1949, Rt. Wor. Bro. Clive Littleford (then Bro. Littleford) took over as secretary and remained in that office until 1977 except for four years to enable him to go through the chair. For that 4 years, the office was ably filled by Rt. Wor. Bro. Peter Reedman. In 1977 Rt. Wor. Bro. Ken Barker was elected as secretary and filled that office until 1990 when our present secretary Wor. Bro. Jack Griffiths accepted the office. We hope that both Jack and the lodge survive long enough to put him into the long serving category.

Installation ceremonies have not yet been covered. These remain pretty much the same but festive boards change. In the early days of the lodge, Installation Festive Boards were held in various city cafes to which the brethren were transported by special tram. This practice continued until 1929 when they were held in the Sunday school under the Carmel church, which continued until 1955. During this period, the ladies would cook various cakes, scones etc., come up on the Saturday afternoon and set up the festive board. They would then go home, not to be seen again until the next installation. Fortunately in 1956 we hired St. Bartholomew’s hall for the installation festive board which gave us room to invite the ladies along. The best thing that ever happened. For the first four or five years the ladies occupied a separate table but then common sense prevailed and we seated them next to their husbands which is a continuing thing and now common in most lodges.

Whilst on the subject of ladies, and this will be the final paragraph, one lady must surely deserve special mention. She is MABEL LITTLEFORD, the late wife of Rt. Wor. Bro. Clive Littleford who was in all ways the secretary’s assistant. She would accept the dues of the brethren, do the physical banking, assist brethren with information in Clive’s absence and during the time Clive was secretary, most installation committee and other similar meetings were held at the Littleford’s and Mabel always provided a great supper. She was a most affable person and if all our brethren were as dedicated to Fernberg Lodge as was Mabel Littleford, then we would have a truly fantastic lodge.

Written by V. Wor. Bro. R Edds

Assisted in research by

Rt. Wor. Bro J Nobbs
Wor. Bro. RA Chapman
Wor. Bro. THJ Griffiths
Wor. Bro. R Beacom
Wor. Bro. J. Kelly