Dannevirke Freemasons open doors to public

FREEMASON'S ANCIENT RITUAL: At the 124th installation of a Worshipful Master of Dannevirke's Rawhiti Lodge No. 66 on Tuesday night, (from left) Graeme Evans, district grand master, Paddy Driver the new master of the Rawhiti Lodge, John Peryer, the right worshipful divisional grand master and John Henricksen, district grand director of ceremonies. PHOTO/CHRISTINE MCKAY DAN16989

There are secret handshakes, unique rituals, but no goats at Dannevirke's Rawhiti Lodge No. 66, the home of local Freemasons for 124 years.

"It's time to take the mystery out of our organisation because we're not a secret society," Paddy Driver, the new master of Rawhiti Lodge, said following his installation late last Tuesday night.

"The only thing we don't talk about are our ancient rituals."

Freemasons from Masterton, Hawke's Bay, Waipukurau and Dannevirke attended the ceremony steeped in tradition and special meaning at the Rawhiti Lodge, which like all lodges, is laid out like King Solomon's temple.

"In the old days you could wait 30 or 40 years to become a master of the lodge, but because our numbers are dwindling I've come through the ranks quicker," Mr Driver said.

"This is a good opportunity for me to bring the lodge back up again because if we don't do something now, it'll be 124 years of history gone."

The history of the masons goes back to at least the 1700s and was formed by stone masons building cathedrals.

"They were a guild and the organisation was very strong in Scotland and England, but with the advent of bricks the stone masons were gone," Mr Driver said.

'"We're now a social lodge doing good things for our fellow man and nationally we support a medical wing at Otago University."

Mr Driver conceded that over the years Freemasons have been picked on because people don't understand the organisation.

"All our members are genuine, good people who belong to the lodge for the fellowship it brings," he said.

"We're an honourable organisation, not aligned to any political party and there are no religious barriers.

"Not a lot has changed since the 1700s, especially as far as our rituals go."

The first of the three degrees of rituals covers being born and coming into the world, the second, your life and the third, moving on to the "grand lodge above."

"Some of the words we recite are unique and secret and are the only thing we don't talk about," Mr Driver said.

Dannevirke's Rawhiti Lodge was the first lodge in New Zealand to have the Scottish and English constitution as part of its ceremonies and the first lodge in the country to be consecrated into the New Zealand Freemasons lodge constitution, Mr Driver explained. "Our 125th anniversary next year coincides with the beginning of the New Zealand grand lodge history," he said. "The history of Rawhiti Lodge reflects that of our community, with the names and photos of men central to the growth of Dannevirke there for all to see. Even Sir Keith Holyoake, former Prime Minister and Governor General, was a member."

However, the men-only organisation in Dannevirke is struggling, "I'm looking to encourage younger members and to bring us into the 21st century," he said. To become a member you need to be a man of good character and over 21. An open day will be held at Rawhiti Lodge in High St on Saturday, June 21 at 10am.