PAST MASTER'S JEWEL 1934
CATEGORIES OF JEWELS
ST. PATRICK'S LODGE No. 468
PAST MASTER'S JEWEL 1934
CONTENTS:-
[TO JUMP DIRECTLY TO A SECTION CLICK ON NUMBER ]
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1. DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL.
2. SHORT HISTORY OF WARRANT No. 468.
3. HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK'S LODGE No. 468, 1881 - TO DATE.
4. DETAILS OF WHEN ST. PATRICK'S LODGE No. 468 MEETS.
5. GRAND LODGE NEWS ~ MAY 2006. PRESENTATION OF 50 YEAR JEWEL
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OBVERSE OF JEWEL
A very nice silver Past Master's Jewel suspended from a sky blue ribbon by silver top bar and a very ornate name plaque.
The top bar has in fret work "W.M." and "1933 - 34", separated by a single shamrock.
The ornate name plaque has in its centre a pierced disc, with the initials of the holder of the Jewel "LLL". Above this plaque is ivy which is the sign of fidelity and below the name and number of the Lodge "St. Patrick Lodge No. 468 I.C.".
The Compass and Square is a standard silver Past Master's Jewel with a fixed "G".
REVERSE OF JEWEL
The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription :
"Presented by
the Brethren of
Lodge St. Patrick No. 468 I.C.
to Bro. L.L. Little P.M.
as a mark of esteem
on his vacating the Chair
as W.M.
June 27th 1934"
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2. SHORT HISTORY OF WARRANT No. 468.
Warrant No. 468 issued to brethren in ENNISKILLEN, Co. Fermanagh, on the 4th May 1769. Warrant No. 468 was Cancelled, on the 5th July 1818.
[The above represents the barest of facts relating to Warrant No. 468 before same reissued to St. Patrick's Lodge No. 468 - the IRISH MASONIC RECORDS cd-rom gives a very full account of the Lodges who held Warrant No. 468 for the years setout above]
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3. HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK'S LODGE No. 468.
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 28th November 1881 show concerning Warrant No. 468 -
"28 November, 1881 – Read communication from the P.G. Master of New Zealand enclosing a Memorial for a new Warrant to be held at Dunedin, recommended by Lodges 348 and 421 and also by the P.G.M. who had issued a Dispensation for the opening of the Lodge [footnote].The regular Fee of £10 enclosed.The Board recommend that a Warrant be issued to the applicants and numbered 468."
Warrrant No. 468 reissued to `St. Patrick's Lodge' in DUNEDIN, New Zealand, by dispensation, on the 3rd November 1881; by Warrant dated 1st December 1881.
Series three Vol. 8 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows:-
"Warrant No. 468 to Dunedin, New Zealand as “St. Patrick’s Lodge”, under a dispensation - Warrant issued 1 December, 1881- Thomas Sherlock Graham (448); Samuel Thos. Kerr (448) and John Jesse Blanchare (931 EC) registered along with five others from various lodges and Constitutions, 1 December, 1881."
A total of 103 brethren registered up to 25th April 1900. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown.
Series four Vol. 15, marked Vol. 4, of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with 39 brethren transcribed from the previous register.
A total of 120 brethren registered up to 13th December 1911. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Series four Vol. 16 shown as Volume 4a of the extant Grand Lodge Register commence with the names of 48 brethren transcribed from the previous volume and a total of 149 brethren registered up to 25th April 1923. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Series five Vol. 19 shown as Vol. 3 of the extant Grand Lodge Register commences with the registration of George Gibson, Taxi Prop. Registered 24th October 1923.
A total of 148 brethren registered up to 28th May 1952. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
Series six Vol. 22 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers commences with the registration of Ronald E. Hanna, Bank Manager, registered 25th February 1953.
A total of 160 brethren registered up to 22nd June 1983. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.
The youngest of the four Irish Lodges in New Zealand is Lodge `St. Patrick’ No. 468.
On 21st September 1881, a meeting was held in Dunedin for the purpose of forming a lodge under the Irish Constitution. It was resolved that a lodge bearing the name “St. Patrick’s Lodge” be formed. On 3rd November 1881, the members assembled at 7.15 and were introduced to a lodge in the First Degree. The Lodge was Consecrated by the sprinkling of corn, oil, wine and salt.
Originally names `St. Patrick’s’ Lodge the minutes of 1884 are headed `Lodge of St. Patrick.’ With a change of Secretary the minutes were headed “minutes of `Lodge St. Patrick.’” There is no record to show that the name was officially altered but just appeared to be the choice of the then Secretary, and so the title of Lodge `St. Patrick’ has been used from 1885 to this day.
The early minutes show that the Brethren endeavoured to put into practice many of the tenets of the Craft. As far back as 1885 a series of lectures on Freemasonry was given. Requests for assistance from needy Brethren of any Constitution were frequent, there being no Benevolent Funds, and records show that deserving cases were always assisted either by grant from the Lodge funds, or by a special collection among the members.
On 8th February 1889, a special meeting was held and it was announced that the Grand Lodge of New Zealand was recognised by the Grand Lodge of Ireland. This meant that members of Lodge `St. Patrick’ could receive and visit Lodges of the New Zealand Constitution. On that night a vote was taken whether to remain Irish or change over and it was decided unanimously to remain under the Grand Lodge of Ireland.
Over the years Lodge `St. Patrick’ has had many keen and loyal members. Men like the late Wor. Bro. Deane Sharp who walked from Carey’s Bay (some fourteen miles) to attend his Lodge, or Wor. Bro. Alex. Clark who, when during World War 2, Lodge `St. Patrick’ found the going hard, took office and became Master in his 81st year. Men who in good times and difficult, remained loyal to all that Freemasonry stood for, so that today, after nearly one hundred years Lodge `St Patrick’ is still a force in the district.
From 1984 the registration of members of ST. PATRICK'S LODGE No. 468 is held, in alphabetical order, in a computerised register by Grand Lodge, Freemasons’ Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Registration of the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Secretary of Lodges are held in separate Registers, the first Volume covering the period 1983 to 1994 inclusive and the second Volume covering from 1995 to date.
St. Patrick’s Lodge No. 468, Dunedin was constituted by Bro. Julius Hyman on November 3rd, 1881, under dispensation of October 10th, 1881 of the Provincial Grand Master prior to the Formal Order of Grand Lodge.
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4. DETAILS OF WHEN ST. PATRICK'S LODGE No. 468 MEETS.
ST. PATRICK'S LODGE No. 560 MEETS ON THE 4th WED.(EXCEPT 1st SAT. - 7) AT 7.30p.m. (EXCEPT 1 & 12) AT DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND.
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5. GRAND LODGE NEWS ~ MAY 2006.
Celebrations in St. Patrick’s Lodge No. 468 I.C. Dunedin, New Zealand
V.W.Bro. Alex J Weir having completed 50 years of unbroken and dedicated service to The Order, was presented with his jewel by R.W.Bro.David Kirkwood (P.A.G.M. NewZealand), on 26th October 2005 in St. Patrick’s Lodge.
Three 50 year jewel members of St. Patrick’s Lodge are pictured above (L to R): R.W.Bro. David Kirkwood P.A.G.M.; V.W.Bro. Alex J Weir P.P.S.G.W. and W.Bro. Derek Earle P.M.
By way of interest, R.W.Bro.Kirkwood was initiated into City Temperance Lodge No.481 in Belfast in March 1953 and W.Bro.Earle was initiated into Lodge Tuscon No. 484, Belfast in July 1950, prior to coming to New Zealand.
[Author - R.W.Bro. David Kirkwood P.A.G.M.]
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