VWBro Manny Maniago, WM designate; announced a members meeting, Saturday 14 November 5 PM at WBro Rudy Romerosa's residence in Doonside.
Please bring a plate/dish or drinks to share. All welcome.
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Important Update: LJR 1045 Approved by Grand Master
Brethren,
I am pleased to announce that the Grand Master, MW Bro Greg Levenston; on the recommendation of the Board of Management has approved the granting of Charter to our Lodge Jose Rizal No 1045 in terms of Regulation 12.6.5 of the Book of Constitution [UGL NSW & ACT]. I have received this letter of confirmation from RW Bro Peter Court.
Consecration ceremony as planned on the 30th of January 2010 at Castle Hill Masonic Centre, followed by a banquet at Castle Hill RSL Club. RWBro Doug Grigg, the Grand Director of Ceremonies [GDC] will coordinate with us in regards to the ceremonial proceedings.
Please make all the efforts to attend our meeting on Saturday, 14th November at 5:00 PM at "Lodge Romerosa" at Doonside.
There is a Masonic Ceremony Course scheduled this coming Saturday, 31 October from 9:00 AM till 1:00 PM. Venue is at the Bulli Masonic Centre, 286 Princes Highway, Bulli NSW 2516.
Please bring $20 which will go towards the cost of tea & coffee, certificate, and training materials.
Lunch will be at your own cost at the Leagues Club across the road.
I have attended this course three times and this time I will be attending again.
The course is coordinated by the Regional Education Officer for R11, VWBro Brian Mackander, OAM.
The Grand Lodge Demonstration Team headed by the Chairman of the Private Lodges Committer, RWBro Bruce Munro will be the course leader.
I strongly encourage & recommend this course to all the foundation members of the new Lodge Jose Lodge 1045 so that by the time the lodge will be consecrated, we all will be well versed with our degree works.
Brethren, kindly make time to attend this very important and enjoyable training course.
Interested brethren please send your name, lodge name, & contact phone to me.
Kind regards,
Rey Porras
A group photo of both participants, course coordinators & demonstration team; after the course.
Lodge Jose Rizal No 1045 will have a Foundation Members Meeting at Castle Hill Masonic Centre, corner Old Northern and Showground Roads on Sunday, 25 October 2009 at 4:00 PM.
We also welcome new members wishing to join us. Your ladies are also welcome to attend the fellowship.
There is an optional dinner planned at Castle Hill RSL, for those wishing to join us.
Worshipful Master -elect, VWBro Manny Maniago announced that VWBro Peter Court accepted [on behalf of UGL NSW & ACT] application of Lodge Jose Rizal for consecration in this jurisdiction.
As the application as a regular constituted lodge will have to go through further discussion with The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales & Australian Capital Territory's [UGL NSW & ACT] committee on new lodges; it was issued with number 1045.
Hopefully, come 30 January 2010 Lodge Jose Rizal will be officially known as Lodge Jose Rizal No 1045, UGL NSW & ACT.
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Author Dan Brown may have outraged the Vatican in "The Da Vinci Code," but his new book, "The Lost Symbol," is being welcomed by his latest subjects, the Freemasons.
Brown's novel, released on Tuesday, again features the fictional, mystery-solving Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, with the story taking place over a 12-hour period in Washington.
But while the fictional story lines about conspiracy and the Catholic Church in "The Da Vinci Code" caused an uproar among some Catholics and drew censure from the Vatican, a senior representative of the Freemasons in Australia called "The Lost Symbol" the work of a "terrific novelist."
"We are very pleased, there is nothing in this book that will offend my organization. It does give us the opportunity to open it up a bit," said Greg Levenston, Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory for the Freemasons.
Levenston said the Freemasons were so excited about the book that they started a book club which will meet next week. "Of course the first book we are reviewing is The Lost Symbol, I think it's a wonderful start," he added.
Levenston was speaking to Reuters at a launch event in Sydney for the book, which will have a global English language first print run of 6.5 million copies -- the largest ever first print run by Random House, a unit of German media group Bertelsmann AG.
Some booksellers are hoping "The Lost Symbol," and other new releases from bestselling authors such as Michael Crichton, will help revive an industry hit by the global economic downturn. Brown's "Da Vinci Code" has more than 81 million copies in print since its 2003 release, topping international bestseller lists.
Levenston said modern Freemasons are not as secretive as their predecessors, but said secret handshakes and special words are still used to help identify members as "men of trust."
"The secret handshakes certainly do still exist, but we don't roll up one trouser leg any longer. In the old days it was seen as a symbol of humility not for anything else," Levenston said.
Levenston revealed 10 of Australia's prime ministers were Freemasons, as well as legendary cricketer Sir Donald Bradman and veteran actor Charles Tingwell, who died earlier this year.
The history of Freemasonry, a fraternal organization, dates back to around the 16th century. There are approximately four to five million members worldwide.
