Mason,
Your involvement is fairly recent. I am also a Mason and honourary archivist
of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales. My interest is in 19th cenury
mining communities. To what extent were there Lodges in these fairly
isolated settlements? I have been unable to locate any records at Grand
Lodge although still hopeful. However I have references to membership of
"The Loyal Cadia Lodge" which may refer to the Manchester Unity Independent
Order of Odd Fellows" and hopefully the records have been preserved. To what
extent did "benefit" Lodges play an important part in maintaining the health
of workers?
Pax et bonum,
Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
[log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 3:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: lodges
I have Masons on both sides of my family for generations and that is why I
petitioned the lodge as soon as I was in a position to "ride the goat." I
also joined the Elks, the Country Club and was expected to participate in
several other groups both from my family and my fellow mining engineers and
geologist but it was never indicated that my membership in anything was a
condition of employment or that it would help me advance my career. I
think
all of the lodges and civic organizations that I joined including Westerners
International and AIME supported professional development and these
connections have lasted me a life time. My membership in the Masonic Lodge,
the Elks and other groups required that I leave my rank, political views and
religious views outside and participate on equal foot with the other
members.
In most of these groups I worked shoulder to shoulder with miners, muckers
and company officials. It is no accident that people who participate in
organizations outside of work do better at work. The skills they learn
while working members of any group are essential to working relationships in
other organizations including the highly complex structure of Mining
Company.
Wonder why my parents named me Mason.
Mason
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