Temperance Of Brisbane History

A Retrospect of our First Century

This document has been reproduced here from the centenary booklet which was produced to commemorate the re-enactment of the consecration of the lodge in 1999.

Here is the Retrospect of the First Fifty Years as written in our Golden Jubilee for the Brethren of today and tomorrow.

Brethren, This marks an epoch in the history of the Temperance of Brisbane Lodge - the completion of fifty years of service to the Order to which we are all proud to belong, and the installation of our fifty-first Worshipful Master.

Naturally ,over the period of the past half century the road we have traveled has not always been smooth, the Lodge has had its times of prosperity and it's times of depression, but always the Brethren have endeavored to live up to the highest tenets of Freemasonry and certain of our members have made their mark on the history of the craft in Queensland.

It will be appreciated that it is not possible to give a complete history of the lodge. That would entail a large volume. The most we can do is pay tribute to those eminent brethren whose enthusiasm for the Masonic craft and their appreciation of the first of the cardinal virtues of our order - led to the erection of the first Masonic temperance launch in this state. Only a very sketchy outline of the outstanding events in our career is possible here, and even to do that is difficult, for the lodge has been unfortunate in that the records of our early years have been lost. Fortunately we still have with us brethren who are able from their personal knowledge to give facts and incidents covering the early years of the lodge.

During the year 1898, 11 brethren who subsequently became foundation members of the lodge, presented a petition to the District Grand Lodge of Scottish Freemasonry in Queensland requesting the erection of a Temperance Lodge in Brisbane. This petition was refused by the district Grand Lodge, who considered that a Masonic Lodge with a membership restricted to total abstainers had little chance of success. Undeterred by this refusal, the brethren submitted a further petition which was forwarded to the Grand Lodge of Scotland. They finally issued a provisional warrant for the erection of a Lodge "Temperance of Brisbane" number 897 (S. C.), the first of a number of temperance lodges owing allegiance to one or other of the Constitutions that have had a Masonic jurisdiction in this state.

The lodge was consecrated on the ninth of June 1899, by the then district Grand Master, Rt. Wor. Brother Thomas Mylne, assisted by the District Grand Lodge officers (S. C.). At this time 3 constitutions held sway here - the English, Irish and Scottish, each of which had representatives at the consecration. The formation of the lodge was due chiefly to the activities of V. Wor. Bro. G. Page-Hanify, a brother who held strong temperance opinions, who together with the other ten brethren who formed the foundation members. He considered that a Masonic temperance lodge would have a strong influence among Freemasons. Their opinion proved to be correct, when later there were other temperance lodges erected. Quite a number of lodges in this jurisdiction have proved that it is possible for a lodge to be successful without the use of alcohol at its festive board.

During the years immediately after its erection, the lodge became noted for its ritual work and was eagerly called on to go outside the metropolitan area to conduct installation and degree work.

The lodge has never been numerically strong. The fact that up to recent years our members were drawn from the ranks of total abstainers has precluded a strong membership, but the quality of the members has more than compensated for our lack of numbers. Many of our members have held important positions in Grand Lodge as will be noted from the list of past masters.

It is regretted that none of the foundation members are alive today. All have passed to the Grand Lodge above, but we rejoice that two of our members who were initiated during the early years after the erection of the lodge, are still active workers for Freemasonry. Rt. Wor. Bro. F.W. Buckham, PDGM, a member of the Board of General Purposes, was initiated in the lodge in December 1899. Rt. Wor. Bro. J.W. Wood, PGW, a member of the Board of Benevolence, was initiated in April 1901. Rt. Wor. Bro. Buckham will celebrate his jubilee in Freemasonry this year and Rt. Wor. Bro. Wood in 1951. It is a matter of satisfaction to our members and a source of inspiration that these two eminent brethren have continued their active work in the craft for such a long period.

From its inception down to the present, Temperance has been fortunate in its choice of Masters. All have had the interests of Freemasonry at heart. Under their leadership the Lodge has flourished and Freemasonry in general benefited. In an outline such as this, it would not be proper to select any member for special comment, all have given their best.

In September 1920, when Wor. Bro. O. Williams was Master, it was decided to endow a cot in St. Martins Hospital, in memory of Bro. A. M. McIntyre, who had been killed in action during World War 1. At this time the majority of the officers of the lodge were returned soldiers.

In September 1928, the lodge became a member of the Hall Stone Jewell Fund. At this time, the lodge had a fair membership but during the following years of depression we lost a large percentage of members. However, the lodge was able to meet its obligations. It is a matter of pride to this, and all other Hall Stone Jewell lodges, that less than seventeen years after its inception, the final payment of this magnificent Memorial Temple was made.

Since its inception, the lodge has had four homes; the old Temperance Hall in Ann Street, the U.G.L.Q. chambers in Albert Street, then the Temple in Ann Street, probably the finest in the Southern Hemisphere and at present Petrie Terrace.

In April 1947, a worshipful brother, who preferred to remain anonymous, presented the lodge with a handsome Director of Ceremonies Baton in memory of Wor. Bro. E.T. Holdaway, PGS. This baton was made from timber from a New Guinea native temple that had been destroyed during the Japanese invasion. During the past 50 years the lodge has had many experiences which perhaps should have been mentioned, but space does not permit. Despite many adversities, the lodge has endeavored to do its fair share in the field of Masonic charity and benevolence and we are confidant that it will continue to bear that characteristic in the future.

We trust that this brief outline of the history of Temperance of Brisbane Lodge will serve to stimulate the brethren to even greater efforts for Freemasonry, thus paying a deserved tribute to those founder members who have now passed to the Grand Lodge above.

Proceeding onwards, 1899 to 1949, adverse times were encountered through the years and the lodge was often in dire financial straits. The tradition of the lodge as commenced by our Honourable Brethren was again upheld when financial appeals were satisfied. We are again on our feet, but how we remain standing in today's changing world will no doubt be shown in our Centenary celebrations.

THE THIRD QUARTER 1949 - 1974

The lodge has been depleted over the years by the passing to the Grand Lodge above of talented and promising brethren and we the poorer for their passing, but are more mature for having known them.

Over the years, we have seen some of our members rise to varying heights in civil life, and some have been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen with civil decorations. Likewise in Masonry, some of our Grand Masters have seen fit to honour the lodge by conferring grand rank on a number of brethren.

For period of thirteen years, this lodge was very fortunate in being associated with Rt. Wor. Bro. J.S. Taylor. Johns acted as Tyler and with his ready wit and good humour, took us under his wing, caring for and anticipating our every need. Apart from his valuable time and guidance, he presented us with an ink stand, a nest of drawers for our working tools and a regalia case to house all our regalia and movable equipment.

For a number of years our brethren have been physically active in the beautification scheme at the Freemasons Homes, Sandgate. We have also been financially active towards the homes and the A.M.W.O.F. We can proudly state that Temperance of Brisbane Lodge brethren have made donations to the two new buildings to have three foundation stones and are well on the way to a fourth. We have also supplied the finance for the furnishings of Room 123 in the residential block. Additionally, it will be seen in this booklet that we have a good number of L.V.P. & L.G. of the A.M.W.O. Institution.

During 1973, a very pleasant and pleasing event took place in the Norman Park Masonic Temple when this lodge, together with our daughter, Woolloongabba Lodge, their daughter, Morningside Lodge and their daughter, Thynne Lodge met.

Our Master, Wor. Bro. George R. Taylor, occupied the Worshipful Master's chair and some of our officers their respective chairs of office. Other members delivered various charges in carrying out a third degree ceremony. Each lodge had officers and members participating.

Finally, we wish to record our thanks and appreciation to our women folk. They have for many years been responsible for the banquets at the Installations and the ones behind the scenes in social gatherings, etc. Bless them, one and all.

REACHING OUR CENTENARY 1974 - 1999

Following the Golden Jubilee and Seventy Fifth Anniversary Retrospect articles, it remains to complete our record of the final quarter of the Centennial history of the lodge. Once again, it has been extraordinarily difficult to piece together any consecutive and detailed record, and indeed, space would not permit such latitude.

Without the continued dedicated efforts of the officers of the lodge over the period, it would have been considerably more difficult to continue our work during a period when Masonry generally is experiencing falling membership and low activity. The pressures of modern living, with such a multitude of demands on recreation time, the arrival of TV and home entertainment, and in our ideal climate, the attraction of outdoor pursuits, has all had some effect. It is this especially rewarding to note that in recent years there has been a resurgence of interest and an influx of new members. While our membership passed the 300 mark by our Golden Jubilee, it has now reached 428 with 28 currently active, a very creditable record for a temperance lodge by any standards.

It is a matter of record that our Golden Jubilee was necessarily deferred due to a national coal strike. Our 75th Anniversary Installation was very well attended when together with Grand Lodge and their ladies, over 100 enjoyed the piping in of the Haggis and the rendition of the appropriate address, comparable to the support at this our Centenary celebration.

Our Scottish Grand Lodge heritage is based on the evolvement of both operative and speculative masonry. It will be noted that when any definitive and comparable history of Scottish Freemasonry in Queensland is written, tradition has been followed. One of these traditions has been the "Gathering of the Clans" every second year.

On the whole, lodges under S.C. have always shown loyalty to the G.L. of Scotland until the establishment of U.G.L.Q. and continue usage of a Scottish ritual, a practice which has stimulated much interest in our heritage and has proved to be an outstanding success. By virtue of our long association with G.L. of Scotland we have provided with a copy of the original petition dated October 1889 which together with other precious items forms part of our historical record.

Combined meetings have also been held with our daughter lodge, Woolloongabba 140 and Morningside 196 during 1978 and 1989 and visits continue. We regret that Thynne 497 is now defunct.

Many worthy brethren other than those earlier mentioned have given sterling service and acquitted themselves creditably with all the honour, fortitude and bravery according to the highest tenets of the craft. It should suffice to mention in this respect, Wor. Bro. G. R. Taylor who rescued a child from drowning during 1975 and Wor. Bro. H. Fennell who died in tragic circumstances while on duty as a fire station officer during 1993. Other names of note include Wor. Bro. J. F. Graham, P.D.G.D.C. who was Vice President of the Masonic Club formed on the island of Bougainville during '44 and '45. This group (similar to MING Masons in New Guinea) is little recognised but very well supported.

Temperance brethren were represented in most war theatres ('39 - '45) and many interstate and Allied visiting brethren formed a fair proportion of attendances during those years. Indeed, Grand Lodge even gave approval to confer degrees on USA servicemen while stationed in Brisbane. Some even took temporary office for a period.

It is anticipated that we will commence our second centenary at the Kedron Masonic Centre where our collection of early membership and attendance registers, original volumes of the Sacred Law dated 1852 and 1897, and other records will be held.

Family associations have always been a feature of the membership of the lodge. This was highlighted by the recent situation reported in 'The Qld Mason' where of nine current members of the same family group, three took office in this our Centennial Year and three were PM's included in the installation team. While this is a rare occasion it is by no means an isolated event which a perusal of our complete roll would indicate.

Craft and occupational trends over the years are also readily identified. For instance, The Salvation Army was well represented in the early part of the century, tramway employees were represented during the mid years and the PMG throughout the period.

As we come to the end of our first century, a tribute must be made to the many dedicated early brethren now passed to the Grand Lodge above, who contributed in countless ways to build on the foundations established so long ago. We celebrate their vision and achievements, and trust that such an inspirational record will serve to stimulate present and future brethren to a determination to ensure the craft and Temperance of Brisbane Lodge, prosper well into its second century.