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October
2007
Brethren,
I greet you.
This month we celebrate 149 years since the Grand Lodge of Ireland
issued the original charter (8 October 1858) for Scinde Lodge No
419.
This followed a meeting on 2 February 1858 held in Daniel Munn's
Royal Hotel, Carlyle Street, concerning a proposed Masonic Lodge.
Five days later the barque Eastfield arrived in port with the 65th
Regiment, which included many Irishmen in it's ranks.
An application was made to the Grand Lodge of Ireland for a charter
for a lodge to be called Scinde Lodge, named after Scinde Island,
the hill behind the port, which name had been gazetted three years
earlier to acknowledge Napier's successful Indian battle. The charter
was sent to Lodge Ara No 348 Irish Constitution in Auckland.
The first meeting of Scinde Lodge was held in February 1859 in the
school house on the corner of Hastings and Tennyson Streets. Surveyor
Michael Fitzgerald was in the chair, store keeper John Smith Senior
Warden, District Commissioner George Cooper Junior Warden and also
present were Land Commissioner Donald McLean, local trader and first
settler Alexander Alexander and Daniel Munn.
It's interesting to dwell on the beginnings of our beloved Lodge
but our task must always be to plan and prepare for the future,
so that generations yet to come will enjoy a life in Freemasonry
as members of Scinde Lodge.
A 150th Jubilee Committee is being formed under the chairmanship
of Steve Shuker to plan the many and varied aspects of the celebrations
which will occur next year. The Grand Master has been invited to
attend next October and if just half the ideas washing around at
the moment come to fruition we can look forward to a great year
of celebrations.
Congratulations to Terry Gosset on his Initiation into Freemasonry.
I trust this will be the start of many enjoyable years for you as
a member of the Craft. Next month we plan a double 1st Degree. Now,
that will be a test of our ritual skills as we welcome two more
men into Freemasonry.
I have recently moved house and you can now find me at:
11 Dunn Place, Pirimai Napier 4112; Phone / fax 842 0918; Email
master@scinde.freemasons.co.nz (for the next 8 months)
Interestingly Don Redman was the architect for the house when it
was built 37 years ago.
Brethren, I look forward to seeing you all at Scinde Lodge Meetings.
Fraternally,
Ian Hunt WM
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