|
Lodge Rotorua Centennial - Come on in and shake our hands! |
|
|
|
Saturday, 22 September 2007 |
|
By ALISON BROWN
COMMUNICATING with an old fashioned secret handshake or password at Freemason Lodge No 153 may be no problem. But modern cellphones ... no way. The modern invention is banned from the Rotorua Masonic Lodge which tomorrow celebrates 100 years of Freemasonry in the city.
Lodge Master Allan Birtwistle is keen to make sure the special ceremony goes without a hitch and has one simple request for brothers and invited guests - leave your phones at home.
Mr Birtwistle is quick to dispel the myths associated with Freemasons.
"We're not a secret society but a society of secrets. While we're still a fraternity, women are more involved these days. Our rituals, while secret, are all about being a good human being and having good character.
"Everything you need to know about Freemasonry is on the internet these days anyway."
Dozens of freemasons from around the North Island are expected to attend tomorrow's centenary celebrations at the lodge, at the lake end of Fenton St.
It will be an unusually packed house with the lodge like most around the country suffering from low membership. Just 45 men belong to the Rotorua lodge these days, with the average age of about 66, although the youngest is 22.
Freemason Kay Taylor, 88, would love to see more young men join but understands the pressures of modern life.
"People are too busy to come along these days. People are working longer hours and they have less time."
http://www.dailypost.co.nz/storyprint.cfm?storyID=3749355
|
