There are three active Masonic Lodges in Bairnsdale, and all meet at the Bairnsdale Masonic Centre in Francis Street.
The site was gazetted in 1860 and purchased in 1870; the foundation stone laid on September 9, 1870. The first meeting was held exactly three months later.
There were four further building progressions until it was completed and opened in 1925.
The oldest is Union Lodge of North Gippsland No. 62, consecrated in 1870, who celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2022, delayed due to COVID.
In the early 1800s the area gazetted as “North Gippsland” was in southern New South Wales, long before the Colony of Victoria was founded in 1851.
There were seven founding members.
Mitchell River Lodge No. 742, consecrated in 1953, had 11 original petitioners and 32 foundation members.
Both Union Lodge of North Gippsland No. 62 and Mitchell River Lodge No. 742 meet once a month in evenings.
Bairnsdale Daylight Lodge No. 877, consecrated in 1984, that as its name implies, meets once a month in daylight (mornings).
It was formed because of the difficulty experienced by Brethren living on Raymond Island in attending evening meetings when the Island ferry ceased running at 6.30pm.
There were 41 foundation members; only one remains and is due to receive his 60 Years Service Jewel and another is the son of another founding member.
These three Lodges are part of East Gippsland District 105, in which the nearest neighbours, each with their own Lodge buildings are Gippsland Lakes Lodge No. 715 at Lakes Entrance, Orbost Lodge No. 402 at Orbost and Star of the East Lodge No. 116 at Omeo.
The District extends beyond Sale for a total of 14 Lodges.
Lodges are structured like businesses or sporting clubs with positions similar to a president or chairman, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, company secretary and so on; other officers form the team, all of whom, with the members are like shareholders.
And everyone is striving to kick the winning goal.
You would think there would be keen competition between Lodges.
But not so: Lodges conduct formal visits between each other and exchange cups or gavels of friendship; all Lodges have their own membership and there is reciprocal membership between each other.
Each Worshipful Master has a team of 13-15 officers and there is often good-hearted competition to obtain a job in his team.
There is always competition to fill team positions for special ceremonies such as initiating new Brethren as they start on their Masonic careers.
Indeed, at the moment a few Lodges have recently held initiations of new members and are preparing further ceremonies to further promote their Masonic careers.
Each Lodge annually changes its Worshipful Master and team.
A few Lodges held their elections and Installations towards the end of last year.
A couple more will be held in the next four months.
Significantly it will be busy months at Bairnsdale Daylight, where April is their 40th Consecration anniversary.
They will hold a regular meeting in February to elect a Worshipful Master for 2024-2025, after which, in April, it has recently become a custom to gather for a Sunday luncheon at a special restaurant for the imminent past master to welcome the elected new master, among a grand show of fraternal bonhomie, shared with members’ wives.
The date this year is the actual fortieth anniversary date of the Consecration and it is hoped visitors from far and wide will attend to help celebrate their anniversary.
There are long-serving members in all Lodges, several with 50 and 60 years Service Awards.
In some cases members of Lodges are also members of Grand Lodge teams that perform ceremonials on special occasions, and in recognition of their work many receive conferrals with Grand Rank.
It all contributes to colourful, respectful grand ritual.
Any man over 18 years of age who is interested in becoming a Freemason and has missed the recent information inserts in the Bairnsdale Advertiser, will be welcome to socially visit members of the Bairnsdale Daylight Lodge at 10am at Aroma Coffee, Eastwood, each first Friday of the month.
