New Beginnings
On March 26, 2022 Clydesdale Lodge Number 29 on the register of the Grand Lodge of Queensland was reconsecrated and RWor. Bro. Barry Minster OAM, PDGM was installed as the Master.
Clydesdale Lodge is unique in Victoria in that it can work both the Mark and Ark Mariner degrees within its portfolio of rituals. This means a lodge member can proceed further beyond the first 3 degrees without having to join another Lodge.
The Lodge meets on the third Wednesday of the Month, tyling at 7.00pm. Visitors are always welcome, irrespective of the jurisdiction of their own lodge. As the lodge operates under a travelling warrant, visitors wanting to attend should contact the Secretary.
Our Vision
The Lodge is committed to education, through the exploration of different rituals, their meaning and promoting brotherly love, relief and truth which is typical of true freemasonry.
Our Mission
To provide a pathway for each member’s self-development, understanding of their place within the craft, society in general and the opportunity to find a closer relationship with the Great Architect of the Universe.
2. To widen a member’s network of like-minded men within Victoria and beyond while enjoying the harmony and companionship that is inherent in freemasonry in general and the Clydesdale Lodge in particular.
Lodge History
The Lodge was formed under a warrant or charter from the Grand Lodge of Scotland (GLoS) in 1896; number 821 on the register of the GLoS. Members came from around the Caboolture area in Queensland. They worked a Scottish ritual, most likely similar to what we know today as the McBride ritual. It was not the only Queensland Lodge that had an allegiance to Scotland as it would appear that by 1904 there were 18 others. The Lodge was also involved with Lodges working under the Irish Grand Lodge to form a local Grand Lodge although the lodges with allegiance to the United Grand Lodge of England were against such departure from the norm.
Whilst the discussions to form a grand lodge started prior to Clydesdale Lodge being formed, it was not until April 25, 1904 that the Grand Lodge of Queensland was consecrated. At that time the majority of Lodges working under the English constitutions did not join. Each lodge surrendered its warrant over to the Grand Lodge of Queensland (GLoQ), with Clydesdale Lodge becoming number 29 on its register.
A movement by the Grand Lodge of Queensland in 1908, and with the support of the Pro Grand Master, M.W. Bro. A. M. Hertzberg of Lodge Lamington, No. 31 Q.C., formed the Widows, Orphans & Aged Masons’ Institution (W.O.A.M.I.) to raise funds for Masonic benevolence. The committee first met on Thursday, August 6th, 1908.
This fund remained in existence even after the United Grand Lodge of Queensland was formed under a Treaty between the Grand Lodges of England, Ireland and Scotland with the GLoQ
Over the past 5-10 years the United Grand Lodge of Queensland (UGLQ) so formed by a Treaty or Alliance in April 1921, moved the Benevolent Fund from the control of lodges into a public trust thus breaking the terms of the original treaty. They also tried to consolidate some of the real estate, built and maintained by local lodges, claiming they had control over the premises. The administration acted more like a corporation rather than a supportive organisation for the craft in general.
Six Lodges elected to leave the UGLQ and reconstitute the GLoQ. In doing this the objective was to return freemasonry to its roots where each lodge was managed by its own Committee of General Purposes with the central organisation being purely there to support them. In addition, the aim was to have a more democratic structure where every member was able to vote on all major issues including the election of senior officers and the Grand Master.
In Victoria many masons were in disagreement with similar initiatives undertaken by senior members of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria (UGLV). Those who opposed what they perceived to be an injustice against the very nature of freemasonry resigned or were removed by the UGLV.
Many of these members were very senior with strong leadership ability. Rather than abandon freemasonry, they sought to find a way to resurrect a belief in what freemasonry is about for them, thus the Clydesdale Lodge was reconsecrated.