Ash Williamson (left) and Laurie Hunt invited the public in to the freemasonry world this week.
Photo Bevan Conley.
Ash Williamson (left) and Laurie Hunt invited the public in to the freemasonry world this week.
Photo Bevan Conley.
Rangitikei Freemasons Ash Williamson and Laurie Hunt have heard all the jesting about masons and goats.
"Some of the jokes date back to the 1930s, and there were even postcards being produced back then," said Mr Williamson.
Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest charitable organisations, and many of theircustoms and rituals have been shrouded in mystery.
For their 300th anniversary year, the fraternity have launched a "Speak up for Freemasonry" campaign to help debunk some of the myths that surround them.
The Rangitikei Lodge in Marton opened its doors to the general public for a rare insight into the "mysterious masonic world after 137 years of the fraternity in Marton and Bulls Rangitikei".
"We had about 20 people here and they enjoyed learning about the history of this lodge and looking at all the photos and records," said Mr Williamson.
He has been extensively researching the early lodge members, even locating and restoring the grave of one of the founding members.
The heavily bearded first Lodge master, Charles Richard Alder Lendrick MacLean, gazes down from the wall in the foyer, and there are hundreds of photos of lodge members from previous decades.
Mr Williamson has come to know them all well through his research.
"Some of them were not named in the photos, so I have been able to look back over the minutes from meetings of the times and match the names to faces," he says.
Irish teacher Charles MacLean, a founder of freemasonry in the Rangitikei.
There are many photos of lodge members dressed in their regalia and Mr Williamson and Mr Hunt put on their aprons, gloves and neckwear, which is not very different from what the founding members wore.
"The gloves are worn to symbolise equality," says Mr Hunt.
"The Freemasons have always had lawyers and doctors as well as butchers and bricklayers in the fraternity.
"The gloves mean that everyone's hands look the same and everyone is equal."
The regalia and symbols of Freemasonry have barely changed in 300 years, and everything in number 38 Lodge Rangitikei is beautifully crafted and cared for.
The building and many of the things inside originally belonged to the Ruapehu Lodge no 128.
In 2003 the Lodge Rangitikei sold their original rooms in Bulls and moved to Marton, where the two lodges were amalgamated.
Unlike many similar fraternities that originated at the same time, Freemasonry upholds its old traditions, including its male exclusivity.
"I think my wife would die of boredom if she came to a meeting," says Mr Williamson.
There are some ladies' lodges in New Zealand, and when a member of the fraternity dies, other members will visit his widow to make sure she is all right and help her if she needs it.
The Freemasons also support a number of charities and they fund the work through investment made and maintained over many years.
So, how did those rumours about goats get started?
Neither of the Rangitikei members are sure but Mr Hunt has a theory.
"I think that goats were often grazed in lodge grounds to help keep weeds down, so perhaps that is where it started," says Mr Hunt.
To learn more about the Rangitikei Freemasons, visit the Lodge Rangitikei website
