Latest News:

Season Greeting from the District Grand Master
"Dear Worshipful Masters and Brethren, I take this opportunity of wishing you and all the members of the Lodge, and your families, a peaceful and blessed Christmas and festive season followed by a happy and prosperous New Year, and look forward to a good 2010."

New District Grand Secretary
W Bro Louis Geen has been appointed as District Grand Secretary for the District of Kwazulu-Natal. Bro Louis replaced W Bro Michael Balkwell who served the office with great distinction for many years until he and his wife emigrated to the UK to live closer to their family. Thanks Mike, for all you did. We will miss you but we wish you every success in your new environment.

Bro Louis is well known to local Masons. It was he who started the Square Talk magazine and ran it most successfully until he had to return to Johannesburg. Now he is back in our District and we are sure he will put the same effort into his new position as he has in every other aspect of his Masonry.

W Bro Tony Swaby
Tony Swaby served as the District Grand Treasurer for the District for many years, and during that time, under his stewardship, the District's funds were always carefully looked after, wisely invested and judiciously used. Unfortunately Bro Swaby suffered a stroke early in 2009 and was left unable to live his life to the full. It is with sadness that we now report that he was called to higher service towards the end of 2009. We extend our sympathies to his wife, Greta, and his family.

W Bro Rev Joe Stevens
Father Joe Stevens was called to higher service towards the end of 2009. He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him, particularly those members of the Ancient and Accepted Rite where he served for many years as the Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33° for Natal. Father Joe was an absolute gentleman and a fine leader who set the highest standards for himself as an example to those under him.

 

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W Bro Brian Douglas
W Bro Brian Douglas was called to higher service on 19 May 2009. He had suffered a stroke. Brian was initiated into Masonry in the Umkomaas Lodge in March 1963 and was exalted in the Alexandra County Chapter in August 1964. Brian worked for Eskom, in the old days when they made electricity, and was posted to various places in Natal. For several years he was based on the North Coast and joined Empangeni Lodge, and back in Durban he joined the Stamford Hill Lodge and the Athenaeum Lodge of Research.

Brian was a particularly dedicated Mason. In the Craft he progressed through the ranks to reach DJGW in 1978, DSGW in 1991 and ADGM in 1993. He was awarded the Grand Rank of PAGDC in 1992 and promoted to PJGD in 1996 and ultimately PDepGSwdB in 2000. In the Royal Arch E.Comp Douglas served the District as DGDC, 3DGP, 2DGP, Deputy Grand Superintendent and ultimately as the Grand Superintendent from 1999 to 2003.

W Bro Douglas will be sadly missed by those Brethren who knew him well, and by the Lodges he supported for so many years. We extend our sympathies to his wife, Nico, and his family.

Masters, Wardens and Officers Meeting held at Ladysmith
On Saturday 30 May, the RW District Grand Master presided over a Masters, Wardens and Officers Meeting at Ladysmith. This was well attended by Brethren from Newcastle, Biggarsberg, Klip River, Southern Cross and Hilton Lodges. The meeting provided an opportunity for the District to communicate its current thinking, and for the Lodges to discuss any difficulties and problems they were encountering. It is planned to hold further meetings later in the year.

District Grand Lodge Communication
As everyone should know by now, the Annual Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Kwazulu-Natal will be held on Saturday 11 July 2009. What most people don't know is that planning and organising this event is a nightmare. To paraphrase the great Abraham Lincoln, "You can please all of the people some of the time, or some of the people all the time, but you can never please all the people all the time."

In recent years the Communication of the District Grand Lodge and the Convocation of the District Grand Chapter have been held on different dates, so that both meetings could be scheduled for early afternoon, and the brethren and companions could get home at a reasonable time. Everyone complained that this required two trips, and the request that they be held on the same day to lessen the cost of travelling.

Prior to splitting them, both the Communicaton and the Convocation were held on the same day - the Royal Arch Convocation in the morning, followed by a lunch, then the Craft Communication in the afternoon. Everyone complained that our many members who had to work on Saturday mornings couldn't get to the RA Convocation. Further, those who wanted to attend a banquet afterwards had to kick around for several hours between the close of the Communication and the start of the banquet.

Now we are having both in the afternoon. There will be opportunity for most of those working in the morning to still get to the Convocation, and a reduced wait between the close of the Communication and the start of the banquet. Now there are complaints that it is finishing too late for those who have to travel long distances.

The second problem is the venue. In past years the Communication has been held at Edgewood College, Pinetown. The cost of that venue increases every year and it is now becoming very expensive to hire it for the day. The cost of the Communication is a major item of expenditure for the District Grand Lodge, and has a material influence on the total dues payable by every member. To try and contain costs is no easy task, so when an appropriate alternative venue came available at the DLI Headquarters, Durban, at considerably lower cost, we jumped at the opportunity. Now brethren are complaining that they have further to drive....

Hence the comment. We just can't please all the people all the time.....

Newcastle Lodge No 2097
The brethren from up north at Newcastle have launched their own website covering all the northern Lodges. The web address is www.newcastlefreemasons.org.za and it is worth bookmarking on your browser. There are some interesting papers of Masonic Interest (even though they have an American slant).

South Africa Lodge No 6742
South Africa Lodge is not part of our District - it meets at Freemasons' Hall, London - but several members of that Lodge are "Natal" Masons. At their next meeting, to be held on the 28 April this year, South Africa Lodge will be celebrating its 60th Birthday. Congratulations and very best wishes from all Freemasons in KZN.

If you will be visiting London then, or any time during the year, why not visit South Africa Lodge? You can get details of their meetings from their website www.southafricalodge.co.uk and you will be assured of a warm welcome and great hospitality.

Square Talk Ezine Launched
You will remember the Square Talk Magazine produced for all Freemasons in KZN by W Bro Louis Geen. When Louis went back to Johannesburg there was nobody to produce the magazine, and also the job of posting it to every member was a very costly and time-consuming task. Square Talk has now been re-launched as an ezine, distributed by email in PDF format. It is also available for viewing on this website - see the main menu.

Please submit any articles, thought, comments, ideas or whatever to squaretalk.kzn@gmail.com

Annual Communication of the District Grand Lodge
Our Annual Communication is to take place on Saturday 11 July 2009 at 15h00 (that's 3:00 PM for those who prefer). The venue has changed from Edgewood to the Durban Light Infantry Regimental Headquarters in DLI Avenue, Greyville, Durban. That's the road that runs through the Greyville Racecourse, and the DLI Headquarter is on the eastern side. There is adequate safe parking and this new venue should prove highly suitable.

The Annual Convocation of the District Grand Chapter will take place on the same day, at the same venue, at 13h00.

Compliments of the Season & Happy New Year
Our RW District Grand Master, Archie Findlay and the ME Grand Superintendent, Tony Strong, both extend their hearty good wishes to the Brethren and Companions of our District, and indeed throughout South Africa. They wish you and your families a peaceful and prosperous 2009.

Inter-Constitutional Masonic Services Committee - Christmas Hamper Project
On Saturday 13 December 2008 hundreds of Brethren, Wives and Kids turned up at Hunt Road and NMR Masonic Halls to pack Christmas Hampers with staple foodstuffs and a few luxuries, like biscuits and sweets. It was hard work for a few hours, but such a worthwhile task. Then, on Tuesday 16 December brethren again converged on the Masonic Halls with lorries, bakkies and whatever, loaded hampers and distributied them to TAFTA pensioners and aged people around the District. Time to pack and distribute hampers - minimal. Value of each Hamper - about R150. Pleasure of seeing the smile on a Pensioner's face - Priceless.

Well done to all who contributed and all who participated.

Stoves for Africa
On Christmas Eve a number of Brethren delivered paraffin gel stoves to the distressed people of Molweni, who are still living in tents and temporary shelters following the tornado that destroyed many homes and took many lives in the middle of November.

One of the ruined homes at Molweni

A local aid organisation, Khulani Simunye, has identified exactly which homes were destroyed and who is really in need of aid following this disaster. With their information to determine exactly what the needs were, Brethren Andy Stallard (DG Almoner) and Nigel Combes sprang into action to buy the paraffin gel stoves. Macro was approached and kindly agreed to sell their stock at a discounted price for this worthy cause. When Nigel and Andy could not locate sufficient quantities in Durban, they travelled to Pietermaritzburg to buy more. They then arranged for the stoves to be stored safely until the distribution could take place.

The District Grand Charity donated R10 000 towards the stoves. When this proved insufficient, Krantzkloof Lodge was approached and they donated a further R5 000.

Finally, on Christmas Eve, all was ready. With their vehicles loaded, Bro Nigel and Mrs Rosemary Combes, together with Jim Fowkes (DGCharStwd) and Andy Stallard (DGAlm), travelled into Molweni and delivered the stoves to the identified needy recipients. With their homes destroyed by the tornado, these people are sheltering in tents and experience severe problems trying to cook on open fires, particularly with the heavy rainfall recently.


A displaced family receiving a stove from Brn Nigel Combes and Andy Stallard.

 
All thats left of a home and Bro Andy with the recipient of another stove

Special thanks and gratitude to Bro Nigel Combes (and Mrs Rosemary Combes), Bro Andy Stallard, Bro Jim Fowkes, the District Grand Charity Fund and Krantzkloof Lodge No 6546. Only through their combined efforts was this project a success.

Visiting the UK?
Brethren intending to visit the UK should have a look at the South Africa Lodge Website. South Africa Lodge No 6742 was consecrated in 1948 by South Africans living in London after the Second World War. The Lodge aims to provide all South African brethren with a Masonic "Home" in London - and should you be able to visit, you will be assured of a warn welcome.

New ADGM for our District
The RW District Grand Master recently received authorisation from the MW Grand Master to appoint an additional Assistant District Grand Master for the District. The RW District Grand Master has decided to appoint W Bro Tony Leeson, PAGDC, PADGM to that office. W Bro Leeson will be installed during the Installation Meeting of the Athenaeum Lodge of Research No 7455, to be held at Arthur's Restaurant, Camelot, Hillcrest on Tuesday 28 October 2008.

At the same meeting it is the RW District Grand Master's intention to formally appoint and invest W Bro Gerald Douglas-Watson to the office of DDGDC and W Bro Jim Fowkes to the office of DG Charity Steward.

MW Pro Grand Master to retire
The MW Pro Grand Master, the Most Honourable Marquess of Northampton, has announced that he is to retire in March 2009. His position will be filled by the present Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro Peter Lowndes. In turn, the Deputy Grand Master's position will be filled by RW Bro Jonathan Spence, Grand Director of Ceremonies.

The MW Pro Grand Master has filled that office since 2001, and previously served as Assistant Grand Master for five years. In his address at the last Quarterly Communication, he said, "I have decided that the time has come for me to step down in March and give someone else the chance to steer the Craft for the next few years." "I wish Bro Lowndes every success in his new important role and have every confidence that the Craft will be in very capable hands. For my part I shall continue to enjoy my masonry albeit at an easier pace and with less direct responsibility. I look forward to helping in any way I can to ensure the future good health and happiness of English Freemasonry.  It has been an honour to serve the Craft."

Annual Communication - 2009
The 234th Annual Communication of the District Grand Lodge of Kwazulu-Natal will be held on Saturday 11 July 2009 at the Regimental HQ of the Durban Light Infantry, 5 DLI Avenue, Greyville, Durban, at 15h00. Brethren to be seated by 14h45. A banquet will follow the Communication - details to follow.

Meetings Calendar
You can now view and print a meeting calendar for the next three months directly from this website.
All you need to do is select [Information for Freemasons > Meeting Calendar] from the menu on the left. Use your browsers "back button" to return to the website. If you want to print the Calendar, it is set up for A4 paper, landscape orientation.
Please report any errors or changes to Tony Leeson.

John Denver Caberet Evening
On the 8 November 2008, Stamford Hill Lodge are organising a "John Denver Caberet" at the Scottish Masonic Hall, Hunt Road, Durban. This is an informal function. Bring your own picnic baskets, eat whatever you want and enjoy the music of John Denver. Tables of 10 are available at R400 per table, and there is a cash bar. Contact Paddy Roberts for tickets.

Strategic Plan
Remember that the plan is based on three fundamental ideas:
   1.    Building Pride - in ourselves, our Lodges and our District.
   2.    Making every Lodge meeting worthwhile - so that we accomplish something useful.
   3.    Ensuring that the general public knows what we do and understands our purpose.

Make sure that you, and your Lodge, advance the plan by keeping these three simple ideas in mind when you do anything.

Freemasonry Today Magazine
MQ Magazine, our own Grand Lodge's "in-house" magazine is to merge with Freemasonry Today to create a new and more vibrant Masonic Magazine. The new magazine will retain the title Freemasonry Today. This was explained by the Grand Secretary when he said that it was simply a very good title.

The new merged magazine will begin from early 2008, but there have already been some changes. The good news for most local Freemasons is that you now have full internet access to the latest issue, as well as back-issues, of Freemasonry Today without the requirement of paying any subscription. This is wonderful for both casual readers and for serious researchers.

The link to get there is www.freemasonrytoday.com so please support your magazine.

Regalia for Charity
There is a Lodge in Johannesburg which raises money for charity by collecting regalia from Brethren who have no further use for it, and then selling it at nominal prices to those who need it. They have quite a stock of items available but naturally most of the District Grand Lodge regalia has "South Africa - North" badges. Normal Craft and Royal Arch regalia will not be a problem; neither will Grand Lodge regalia.

If you need any items which you can't get from Masonic Suppliers (W Bro Paddy Roberts - phone 031 202 1285 : business) or from W Bro Doug Kirton (phone 031 337 6424 : business) then you can try contacting Bro Norman Woolf on 011 646 2800 or email him at normanwoolf@wol.co.za