The District Grand Lodge of Western Australia 

THE HISTORY OF SCOTTISH CRAFT FREEMASONRY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Early in 1895, several brethren met in the Bohemia Hotel in Perth and resolved to apply to the Grand Lodge of Scotland for a charter to establish a Scottish Lodge in the colony. Their approach was made through the District Grand Lodge of Queensland, by then the only remaining Scottish District Grand Lodge in Australia. As the only means of communication was by sea, progress was slow, so it wasn’t until May 7^th 1896 that Western Australia’s first Scottish Lodge, St. Andrew No. 829, was granted its charter.

On January 6^th, 1897, with Right Worshipful Bro. R.L. Bryce, Depute District Grand Master (Queensland) in the chair, the first combined meeting of Scottish Lodges took place in Perth, with Lodges St. Andrew (829), Caledonian (830), Bonnie Doon (839), Golden Thistle (840) and Guildford (843) attending. At a meeting in Fremantle on the following evening, Bro. Bryce appointed Bro. The Rev. George Edward Rowe as Acting District Grand Master Depute for W.A. and appointed District Grand Office Bearers. Officially District Grand Lodge was formed in July 1897 with the commissioning of Bro. The Rev. Rowe as the first Right Worshipful District Grand Master.

Since 1897, there have only been fourteen Grand Masters of the District, due to some extent to the 25 year term served by Bro. James McFarlane Lapsley, who held the Office from 1906 to 1931, and Brothers W.W. Raad and P.M. Cameron who each served for 15 years.

In the late 1890’s there were 35 Scottish Lodges in Western Australia, and several of these transferred their allegiance to the new Grand Lodge of Western Australia after it was formed in 1900. The 1908 Articles of Recognition from the Grand Lodge of Scotland recognized the Grand Lodge of W. A. as an independent and sovereign masonic body and agreed not to erect any further Lodges here, therefore no new Scottish Lodges have been formed in Western Australia since 1904. Agreement however, between the two Constitutions could not be reached in forming a United Grand Lodge of Western Australia, although several endeavours to do so had been attempted between 1900 and 1942.

During World War, members "on active service" were granted dispensation from paying dues, and in 1942, over 21% of the 1,002 Lodge members were excused. Obviously we enjoyed a far lower average age of membership in those days. Membership peaked in the mid to late 1940’s. In 1947, our largest Lodge was Midland Junction (972) with 177 members, with all Lodges having over 100 members with the exception of Lodge Menzies Doric (890) which had 39 on its roll.

In 1937, a splendid casket, inlaid with various Western Australian timbers and enclosing a gavel, was crafted by Bro. Hunt and sent as a presentation to the Grand Master Mason, H.M. King George VI , who acknowledged the gift by letter, praising the beauty of the design. The casket is now on display in the Grand Lodge Museum, Edinburgh.

The Grand Master Mason of Scotland is the only Grand Master Mason in the world, and it was not until 1908 that we were honoured with a visit. Since then we have been favoured with visits from seven Grand Master Masons, and two others as Past Grand Master Masons.

Considering the small number of Lodges in the District, a major task culminated in the opening of the first of four stages of the Scottish Masonic Homes for the Aged, in Menora, in 1968. The complex now has 79 self contained units with a total replacement value of $6m. The Scottish Masonic Homes is now called The Scottish Masonic Charitable Foundation of Western Australia (Inc).

In 1973, Lodge Menzies Doric relocated from the Goldfields to the Perth Metropolitan area, and in the 1990’s, Lodges Breadalbane (905), Balmoral (896), Broonhill (983) and Ivanhoe (879) did likewise due to falling membership. In November 2002, Lodge Broonhill (983) was relocated to Esperance under the jurisdiction of the District Grand Lodge of the Goldfields, further emphasising the revival of interest in Scottish Freemasonry in this region. As a result there are now eleven daughter Lodges in the District Grand Lodge of WA, whilst Lodges Golden Thistle (840), Golden Feather (855), Sir William Wallace (868) and Broonhill (983) remain under the jurisdiction of the District Grand Lodge of the Goldfields which was established in 1906. These two District Grand Lodges remain the only two in Australia.

A good rapport exists between our Lodges and those under the Grand Lodge of Western Australia, and the Scottish ritual provides enough variation to encourage visitors. Departures from the original ritual produced by our District Grand Lodge many years ago are defended as "traditions" by our Daughter Lodges. This has no doubt become a blessing we can enjoy, and at least throughout Western Australia, our Third Degree Ceremony is considered something special.

Music has always been a significant factor in our festive boards. In 1923, when James McFarlane Lapsley was proclaimed Right Worshipful District Grand Master for the fourth term, the District Grand Organist was accompanied by the Lodge Midland Junction Orchestra whilst the brethren sang the odes. Lodge Robbie Burns (860) had its own band playing in the "South" for many years and Lodge Pipers add to our ceremonies.

The District Grand Lodge and all daughter Lodges have achieved their centenaries, and all look forward to the challenges of the new century.

In Western Australia, Freemasons owing allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Scotland have a continuing record of service to the community.  At Freedman Road, Menora, "The Scottish Masonic Homes of Western Australia Society (lnc)" have for over 30 years conducted an aged care facility. On this site there are 79 self contained units providing much sought after accommodation.

In recent times the District Grand Lodge of Western Australia under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, through the Scottish Masonic Homes, have become involved in an outreach program being conducted by senior students of the Morley Senior High School. Under this program residents of aged care facilities within a close proximity to the School share recollections of their childhood with the students. This project has been so successful that the Scottish Masonic Homes now provides Scholarships to a total value of $250 to three Year Nine students of the School. In recognition of the resident of the Homes who initiated and promoted this project, the scholarships are now designated "The Mary Morrissey Annual Scholarship Awards".

Following the successes of this programme, the District Grand Lodge has embarked on an exciting project in providing financial support to the Greenwood High School, which has assisted in enabling an office of Chaplain to be established at the School. The District Grand Lodge has committed $24,000  to the office of Chaplain over the next 3 years, thereby providing much needed pastoral services to the students.

For over twenty years the District Grand Master of the day has conducted an Annual Debutante Ball to assist in raising funds to further the work of the Society. Over two hundred young ladies have made their Debut and approximately $70,000 to $80,000 has been raised from this worthwhile project.