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(taken
from the Centenary Rededication Programme, November 1999)
The
first one hundred years……..
Lodge
Royal Stuart was consecrated on 7th July 1899 under a
dispensation issued by the District Grand Lodge of Scotland, the
Consecration Ceremony being conducted by Bro. J.M.Y. Stewart, Depute
District Grand Master. The Foundation Right Worshipful Master was Bro.
James S. Battye. The dispensation issued was confirmed by the issue of
the Lodge Charter of Constitution dated 2nd November 1899,
and bearing the Lodge Number 893. This original Charter of 1899 is still
used in Lodge Royal Stuart today.
The
meetings of the Lodge were held in the Masonic Temple, Hay St., Perth
from 1899 to 1906, when on the 6th April that year, a
considerable proportion of the members decided to transfer their
allegiance to the newly formed Grand Lodge of Western Australia. The
Royal Stuart Charter was retained by the minority group, and although no
regular meetings were held between April 1906 and February 1907, the
Lodge was still fully registered, and in recess. On 18th Feb
1907, Lodge Royal Stuart resumed meetings at St. Lukes Hall, Maylands.
In
1923, a site at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Carrington St. was
purchased for the sum of £150, and the plans to build a dedicated
Temple for Lodge Royal Stuart were implemented. On 17th Jan
1925, the District Grand Master, Bro. J.M. Lapsley, laid the Chief
Corner Stone according to ancient custom. The building was completed and
consecrated on 11th May 1925, at a total cost of £1276. The
building was further developed in 1958 to accommodate the expansion of
the Lodge Membership, and was overseen by Bro. R.J.D. Croft, a Past
Master of the Lodge. The dedication and consecration of the Temple was
carried out at the Installation on 19th July 1958, by the
Right Worshipful District Grand Master, Bro. Peter Cameron.
The
building still stands today, and is now owned by Lodge Sir Walter Scott
No 859 (SC). The building still proudly displays the original Foundation
Stone, dated 17th July, 1925.
Lodge
Royal Stuart moved to the Curnow Knuckey Masonic Centre Kingsley in
1994, and commenced meetings in February 1995 with Bro. Terry Griffen as
the Right Worshipful Master. Bro. Harry Draper was the first Right
Worshipful Master to be installed at Kingsley (and possibly the first
RWM of a Scottish Lodge installed in a Lodge Room directly owned by the
Grand Lodge of Western Australia.) Bro. Jack Mead and Bro. Harry Draper
have held the position of Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Royal Stuart
no less than three times each. The Centenary Master, Bro. George Buchan,
was the 93rd RWM of Lodge Royal Stuart.
Since
the dedication of Lodge Royal Stuart in 1899, we have welcomed 753
members into our Lodge. A number of these brethren have served the
District with pride, and special mention goes to Bro. George Critchley,
who served as Right Worshipful District Grand Master between 1974 and
1979.
The
following brethren have received Grand Honours from The Grand Lodge of
Scotland: -
Bro.
George Critchley, RWDGM, Hon. Grand Junior Warden
Bro.
Jack Prosser, DG Secretary, Hon. Grand Almoner
Bro.
Jack Mead, Sub, DGM, Hon Junior Grand Deacon
Bro.
Jack Lyon, DG Chaplain, Hon. Grand Bible Bearer
Bro.
W.S. Spargo, Hon Junior Grand Deacon
Bro.
Ray Beaman, Hon. Grand Architect
To
the next one hundred years……..
The
legacy handed down from the first one hundred years of our existence
should be regarded as a challenge for the next Century. We must continue
to emulate the high standards set for us by our predecessors, strengthen
our ties of brotherly love, and by doing so, we can ensure that the
brethren of old will look down from the Grand Lodge above with a great
sense of pride, assured in the knowledge that Lodge Royal Stuart is in
safe hands.
2001
is a very important year in the history of our Lodge and we should use
the analogy of this year being the foundation stone placed in the North
East Corner of the building, to be the building block in formulating a
strategy to ensure Lodge Royal Stuart is at the forefront of Masonry in
the next Millennium
With
the fine history behind us, and the commitment of today’s brethren,
Lodge Royal Stuart No. 893 can only go from strength to strength.
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