On the evening of 9th August 1843, nine Freemasons met at the George and Dragon Inn, George Street, Sydney. This was the foundation meeting of the Australian Masonic Lodge of Fidelity of Free and Accepted Masons, one of the earliest... more
On the evening of 9th August 1843, nine Freemasons met at the George and Dragon Inn, George Street, Sydney. This was the foundation meeting of the Australian Masonic Lodge of Fidelity of Free and Accepted Masons, one of the earliest Lodges in the colony and founded through dispensation under the Grand Lodge of Ireland. Still continuing today and in 2018 celebrating its 175th anniversary, the Australian Lodge of Fidelity is now number 101 on the register of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. The story of the members of this Lodge takes the reader from 1840s Sydney, through the Gold Rush, two World Wars, the Great Depression and relatively stable times of this millennium. It is an insight into the Freemasonry in Sydney from colonial times to the present day.
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- Follow the URL link above for further information and preview - In the lead up to the celebrations of the 175th Anniversary of the Australian Lodge of Fidelity, No. 101 of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian... more
- Follow the URL link above for further information and preview -
In the lead up to the celebrations of the 175th Anniversary of the Australian Lodge of Fidelity, No. 101 of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, McPhee and Wharton, both members of this lodge, presented a talk on its foundation in 1843 as the Australian Masonic Lodge of Fidelity, No. 267 of the Irish Constitution. This is the illustrated transcript of the talk which explores how this early colonial Sydney Lodge came in to being, centered on the arrival, and the life of its Foundation Master, Brother Richard Godson. "He has been referred to in the past as having been the ‘constant Guardian of the Lodge,’ . . . as having been Foundation Master of two lodges, restoring the Warrant of Australian Social Lodge No. 260, holding office in Provincial Grand Lodge of Ireland, and was First Principal in Fidelity’s Royal Arch Chapter, our Brother Richard Godson can be remembered as having been a valuable contributor to establishing and maintaining Freemasonry in New South Wales."
In the lead up to the celebrations of the 175th Anniversary of the Australian Lodge of Fidelity, No. 101 of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, McPhee and Wharton, both members of this lodge, presented a talk on its foundation in 1843 as the Australian Masonic Lodge of Fidelity, No. 267 of the Irish Constitution. This is the illustrated transcript of the talk which explores how this early colonial Sydney Lodge came in to being, centered on the arrival, and the life of its Foundation Master, Brother Richard Godson. "He has been referred to in the past as having been the ‘constant Guardian of the Lodge,’ . . . as having been Foundation Master of two lodges, restoring the Warrant of Australian Social Lodge No. 260, holding office in Provincial Grand Lodge of Ireland, and was First Principal in Fidelity’s Royal Arch Chapter, our Brother Richard Godson can be remembered as having been a valuable contributor to establishing and maintaining Freemasonry in New South Wales."