Lodge Menzies Doric No 890 SC

Home ] Information ] History ] Office-bearers ] Past Masters ] Charity ]
[What's on in the Scottish Lodges?]

A Brief History of Lodge Menzies Doric No 890 S.C.

 

The Lodge was founded in 1899 in the town of Menzies, North of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields. Among the 21 founder Members were the Worshipful Senior Warden, Worshipful Junior Warden and the Tyler of the English Lodge "Menzies" No 2639 E.C. which had been previously established there in April 1897. The first meeting of the Lodge was held in the Grand Hotel in Menzies on the 24/6/1899 at which 12 Founder Members and 11 visitors were present. The two Lodges shared the cost { 850 pounds } of building a Temple in the town which was consecrated at the same time as the Installation in June 1900 with 39 members and sixteen visitors present, 25 Brethren receiving their mark on the same day.

During the period between June 1899 and July 1902 , 61 Brethren were initiated , passed and raised , also at this time many English Lodges were changing over to the W.A. Constitution and one of these was the English Lodge "Menzies" which became No 21 W.A.C. in 1900 In 1905 a District Grand Lodge of the Goldfields was established but Menzies Doric refused to become a part of it, preferring to remain with the coastal districts - A decision which was possibly to prove important in the years to come.

With the advent of the depression both Lodges suffered due to falling membership and in 1927 Menzies Lodge W.A.C. finally closed Lodge Menzies Doric managed to survive by changing its meeting night to a Saturday night and encouraged visitors to travel from other towns in the district. In the 50`s and 60`s with the mining industry revival the Lodge continued operating but in 1967 due to mine closures, resulting in members leaving the area, discussions took place to transfer the Charter to Kambalda. This however was not allowed to take place due to an agreement made between the two constitutions in the early 1900`s concerning Scottish Lodges.

In November 1972 after a storm had severely damaged the Temple attempts were again made by several of the Brethren to transfer the Charter within the Goldfields, but once more this was denied and with finally no other other alternative the Brethren reluctantly agreed to transfer the Charter to the Rockingham area. The first meeting held in Rockingham was in September 1973 with the Charter and authority of the Lodge being entrusted to Worshipful Bro.T. Halse, a member who had a long association with the Lodge since his initiation there in 1935. In November 1973 Bro. D. Smart was installed as the Right Worshipful Master and for the term of his office until installing his successor W. Bro. H. Wrigley in June 1974 commuted between Kalgoorlie and Rockingham for the meetings.

In the period between September 1973 and April 1984 there has been 47 Brethren initiated and 38 Brethren affiliated to the Lodge, and in 1982 after 8 affiliates Bro. J. Donaldson became the first initiate of the Rockingham area to attain the chair of King Solomon.

 

Back to Top