En: Witwatersrand Lodge No. 3745

Witwatersrand Lodge No. 3745

Witwatersrand Lodge is a Freemasons' Lodge under the English Constitution meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was consecrated on 1 May 1915 as Transvaal Masters Lodge, a Lodge for Installed Masters. In 1949 its charter was endorsed to become Witwatersrand Lodge, an ordinary Lodge.

History of Witwatersrand Lodge

Witwatersrand Lodge was consecrated on 1 May 1915, but came into existence as the Transvaal Masters' Lodge, No. 3745 in the District Grand Lodge of Transvaal under the United Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England.

The membership of the Transvaal Masters' Lodge was, at that time, restricted to those brethren that had passed through the Master's chair and was experimentally founded on the same principles adopted by many Masonic Provinces in England and especially in London at the time.

This was the first effort to form an Installed Masters lodge in the Transvaal District and came in 1914 when a petition for such a lodge was signed by 36 Past Masters.

The primary functions of the Lodge were to deal with questions of principal importance regarding the Ritual and Regulations governing the Masonic Craft and to read papers and deliver lectures relating to Craft matters in general.

The Transvaal Masters' Lodge thrived initially and by 31 December 1915 the membership has grown to 93. By 1941 six District Grand Masters had passed through the chair of the lodge.

The experiment of forming a Lodge comprising exclusively of Past Masters was however not a success and active interest gradually waned.

In 1949 an application was made to the Grand Lodge of England for the Lodge to function as an 'ordinary' lodge. Following this application the Lodge's Charter was successfully endorsed to enable it to change its name to Witwatersrand Lodge but to retain the same lodge number and to confer the three degrees of Craft Masonry.

In 1952 W. Bro. Leslie Walter Wheal passed through the chair of Witwatersrand Lodge. In 1968 when he was installed as District Grand Master, he became the seventh to have passed through the chair of the now Witwatersrand Lodge and clearly established a District record.

In the early years the lodge met at the Masonic Hall situated at the corner of Rissik and Main Streets in Johannesburg. This was the first Masonic Hall in Johannesburg, built in 1887 and dedicated on 14 August 1988. The lodge moved to the Masonic Hall in Kerk Street shortly after construction in 1937 and then followed District to Freemasons' Hall at No. 6 Park Lane, Parktown (dedicated in 1957), where it continues to meet and hold its festive boards at present.

From its distinguished beginning with rather restrictive membership qualifications, Witwatersrand Lodge has evolved into a multicultural organisation with members from all major religious denominations. Having enjoyed various levels of membership and support through the years, the lodge experienced its leanest period during the late seventies and early eighties. This has however been followed by a period of renewed interest and enthusiasm that has resulted in a constant flow of new candidates and joining members, attracted in a measure by the diverse and special interests of the lodge.

At present, Witwatersrand Lodge has regained a position of strength and comprises of members from varied academic and business backgrounds and with equally assorted interests. These special interests include a balanced involvement in outdoor, academic, research, charitable and festive activities. The outdoor interests include hiking, hunting, fishing, birding and 4x4-ing, while support of the Masonic Library at Park Lane, the Lyceum Lodge of Research and regular contribution to and publication of the 'Masonry in Action' newsletter represents a suggestion of the involvement some of our members have in Masonic academic and research activities.

Witwatersrand Lodge is a regular supporter and contributor to numerous charities, especially children's charities, including Casa Caritas and The Salvation Army, amongst others.

The organisation of regular Wine and Whisky Tasting (and drinking), Theatre and '˜Rock 'n Roll' Pub Evenings and a Monthly Pub Lunch, reflects our cultural and culinary preferences.

The members of Witwatersrand Lodge meet on a regular basis to conduct their Masonic business; actively and enthusiastically participate in Masonic ritual and custom; and are frequent visitors to and participants in the workings of other lodges. In turn, the lodge commonly enjoys reciprocity from those lodges and by so-doing develops and strengthens Masonic bonds of friendship. The lodge is a dining lodge and congregates for its festive board at Park Lane, immediately after each meeting. These are convivial events that incorporate good company, good spirit and good fun combined with the appropriate sincerity and decorum required of these gatherings.

In essence, Witwatersrand Lodge today is a fraternal society of like-minded men who are serious in lodge and equally serious at play and at festive boards.

History of Freemasonry in South Africa

The exact origins of Freemasonry are unknown and it is likely to remain a mystery despite the multitude of theories concerning its origin and purpose.

Illustrious references are often made to the working, or 'operative', stonemasons of the Middle Ages who built castles and cathedrals throughout Europe, while symbolically, the Craft of Freemasonry as practiced today dates back to the days of biblical King Solomon and his building of the first temple in Jerusalem.

Reference is also made to The Knights Templar and to the Rosicrucian brotherhood.

The oldest documentary reference to Masons is in the Regius Poem circa 1390 and later, the documents known as the Old Charges - dating from the 14th century to after the 1600's. These documents define a set of regulations, or 'Charges', to govern the social behaviour of Masons within their Craft and in society in general. The Old Charges also describe a largely legendary history of geometry, architecture and the craft of Masonry and the Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Whatever its origin, Freemasons are the oldest and mostly widely known fraternal organisation of men in the world today.

Links

• Witwatersrand Lodge No. 3745 http://www.witslodge.org.za/index.php