History
No. 31 G.L.Q.
Established in 1896, Lamington Lodge is a Masonic Lodge, No. 31 holding under The Grand Lodge of Queensland (G.L.Q.), based in the City of Brisbane, Queensland.
Lamington Lodge was originally consecrated by The Grand Lodge of Scotland (G.L.S.), otherwise known as the Scottish Constitution (S.C.), in the Masonic Hall, Alice-street, City of Brisbane, Queensland, on Friday, August 21st, 1896. Lodge Lamington was numbered No. 842 on the register of The Grand Lodge of Scotland. The Lodge was name after Lord Lamington, otherwise known as Charles Wallace Alexander Napier Cochrane-Baillie, 2nd Baron Lamington, G.C.M.G., G.C.I.E., who was sworn in as the 8th Governor of Queensland, on Thursday, April 9th, 1896, four months prior to the establishment of Lodge Lamington.
On its establishment, the fraternity of Lamington Lodge consisted predominately of captains of industry, directors of major public utilities, politicians, and prominent community leaders. Professions represented included academics, accountants, architects, bankers, clergy, doctors, dentists, engineers, lawyers, mariners, military, and underwriters. Over the coming years, the membership would include presidents of the Board of Benevolence, Queensland Club, Tattersall’s Club, The Brisbane Club, and United Service Club Queensland.
The Brethren of Lodge Lamington, No. 842 S.C., played a major role in the establishment of The Grand Lodge of Queensland in 1904. On its establishment, Worshipful Brothers A. M. Hertzberg, Esq., and E. Denny Day, Esq., of Lodge Lamington, filled the Offices of Pro Grand Master, and Grand Treasurer, respectively. On the establishment of The Grand Lodge of Queensland, otherwise known as the Queensland Constitution (Q.C.), Lodge Lamington was listed No. 31 Q.C. on the register of The Grand Lodge of Queensland. Amongst the first Grand Lodges to grant recognition was The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and The Grand Lodge of Illinois, granting recognition in 1904, and 1905, respectively. Most Worshipful Brother A. M. Hertzberg, Esq., remained Pro Grand Master until his installation as Grand Master in 1909.
By 1916, The Grand Lodge of Queensland was in fraternal intercourse with 62 Grand Lodges around the world, representing over 1,750,000 (nearly 90%) of the world’s Free-Masons. M.W. Wor. Bro. A. M. Hertzberg, Esq., remained Grand Master until his passing in 1917. By the time of his passing, the vast majority of Grand Lodges around the world had granted recognition to The Grand Lodge of Queensland, with The Grand Lodge of Ireland and The Grand Lodge of New York granting recognition in 1912, and 1914, respectively.
Following the end of the Great War of 1914–1918, during which three gallant Brethren of Lodge Lamington made the supreme sacrifice, a reconciliation took place between the various Masonic Constitutions of Queensland, and The United Grand Lodge of Queensland (U.G.L.Q.) was established in 1921. M.W. Bro. David Benjamin of Lodge Lamington, No. 31 Q.C., was invested as the Deputy Grand Master. Lodge Lamington was listedNo. 110 holding under The United Grand Lodge of Queensland.
Notwithstanding the issuing of new ‘standard’ Masonic ritual by the U.G.L.Q., Lamington Lodge took, and continued to take, particular pride in preserving its revered unique traditional rituals that reflected its heritage under the Scottish and Queensland Constitutions, whilst adhering to the Antient Landmarks of the Order.
Shortly after the establishment of the U.G.L.Q., a proposal was put that a Masonic temple be erected as the new headquarters of the U.G.L.Q. and as a lasting memorial and tribute to the Brethren who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. A Temple Committee was accordingly appointed in 1922 to devise ways and means of financing and building the temple. Included on the Committee was M.W. Bro. Abraham Hertzberg of Lamington Lodge, No. 110 U.G.L.Q., who was the brother of M.W. Bro. A. M. Hertzberg, Esq. In 1926, Lamington Lodge, No. 110 U.G.L.Q., was presented with ‘Hall Stone Jewel No. 5’ in recognition of having voluntarily contributed funds to the temple project. The magnificent Masonic Memorial Temple, at 311 Ann-street, City of Brisbane, Queensland, was officially opened in 1930. M.W. Bro. Abraham Hertzberg officiated the dedication and consecration of Lodge Room No. 3 in the Temple.
In 1933, the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, joined Lamington Lodge, No. 110 U.G.L.Q. The following year, in 1934, R.W. Bro. Sir Leslie Orme Wilson was invested and installed as the Grand Master of The United Grand Lodge of Queensland. M.W. Bro. Sir Leslie Orme Wilson was proclaimed as the Grand Master for the last time in 1945, after serving a record time in the high office.
Bro. Sir Arthur Fadden joined Lamington Lodge, No. 110 U.G.L.Q., in 1937. He would go on to become the Treasurer of Australia in 1940, and Prime Minister in 1941. Sir Arthur Fadden remained a member of Lamington Lodge until a month before his passing in 1973.
Following the conclusion of the Second World War of 1939–1945, during which four gallant Brethren of Lamington Lodge, No. 110 U.G.L.Q., made the supreme sacrifice, the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency Lieutenant-General Sir John Lavarack, joined Lamington Lodge in 1947. Bro. Sir John Lavarack was later installed as the Master of Lamington Lodge in 1950.
During the period of the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, Lamington Lodge, No. 110 U.G.L.Q., became the Mother Lodge of three daughter Lodges, i.e., Viking Lodge, Sir Samuel Walker Griffith Lodge, and Baden-Powell Lodge.
In 2017, some Past Masters of Lamington Lodge, No. 110 U.G.L.Q., had serious concerns pertaining to the governance of the vast sums of monies controlled by the charity arm of the U.G.L.Q.—the Board of Benevolence. Adhering to the Masonic principles of rectitude of actions and uprightness of mind and truth, the Past Masters raised their concerns in private with the Grand Officers of the U.G.L.Q., irrespective of the risk of short-term inconvenience or disadvantage. The actions taken by Lamington Lodge, No. 110 U.G.L.Q., eventually led to its warrant being withdrawn in May 2018 and five Past Masters being excluded (without the right of appeal).
On Saturday, September 8th, 2018, Lamington Lodge was unjustly and immorally threatened with erasure by the U.G.L.Q. To preserve itself from the existential threat of erasure, the unincorporated association of Lamington Lodge held a properly constituted ‘Special General Meeting’ in October 2018 to resolve its future. By unanimous vote, the motion was carried to resign from the jurisdiction of The United Grand Lodge of Queensland and become an independent regular Lodge.
In March 2024, the members of Lamington Lodge responded to a ballot in which 100% were in favour of submitting a Petition to rejoin The Grand Lodge of Queensland (G.L.Q.). On the evening of Thursday, April 4th, 2024, a selection of nine Past Masters of Lamington Lodge came forward and signed the Petition: Wor. Bro. Jan Elliott (1980–81); Wor. Bro. Dean Prangley (1984–85); R.W. Bro. Robert Savage, A.M., (1992–93); R.W. Bro. Tony Love, O.A.M., (2004–05); Wor. Bro. Graham Mulligan (2005–06); R.W. Bro. Andrew Little (2013–14); Wor. Bro. Graeme Page (2014–15); R.W. Bro. Russell Mann (2016–19); and Wor. Bro. Scott Moller (2021–23). In an act of recognising the living heritage of Lamington Lodge, the Petition was also signed by Bro. Ross McNab, a fourth-generation member of the Lodge, whose great grandfather, R.W. Bro. Alex McNab, P.G.W., was the sixth Master of Lamington Lodge (1905–07). The following day, on Friday, April 5th, 2024, the signed Petition was submitted to the G.L.Q. On the evening Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, the Grand Master of The Grand Lodge of Queensland, M.W. Bro. Terrance Philip, granted the Petition of Lamington Lodge.
On the evening of Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, The Grand Lodge of Queensland (G.L.Q.) held an ‘Occasional Lodge’ in ‘The Glasgow Room’ at the United Service Club Queensland, 183 Wickham-terrace, Spring Hill, in the City of Brisbane, Queensland. With the Petition having been read out, M.W. Bro. Terrance Philip granted the prayer of the Petitioners and authorised the Warrant. With the Officers of Lamington Lodge, No. 31 G.L.Q. having been obligated, the Grand Master (M.W. Bro. Terrance Philip) gave unto the Master (Wor. Bro. Anthony Wehl) the Warrant, having declared Lamington Lodge, No. 31, to be Re-Formed under The Grand Lodge of Queensland.
With Lamington Lodge, No. 31 G.L.Q, having been Re-Formed, the Master (Wor. Bro. Anthony Wehl) read out the names of all the Office-Bearers of Lamington Lodge, whereupon they rose, assumed their Chairs of Office, and saluted the Worshipful Master and the Most Worshipful Grand Master.
AMEN ! SO MOTE IT BE.