Through the Key Hole - RoseCroix.org.au

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A VISIT TO SCOTTISH LODGES IN 1936
An excerpt from Bro. Rev. J D MacLennon Wilson’s paper
presented to the Research Lodge of Otago in 1947
…… a few months later, in 1936, I visited rooms of Lodge No.1 Scottish
Constitution. Records were shown to me going back to 1599 - a
special privilege. King George VI joined this lodge in 1933. His
grandfather had been a member, as did Lord Rosebery, Lord-
Roberts, Lord Kitchener, Earl Haig and others.
In the ceremonial room were certain Masonic marks on the floor,
though the most interesting feature was in the entrance hall. Here
there was a small recess on one side and when social evenings were
held at which women were present, there was always a goat tethered
Munching contentedly on hay in the wooden crib before it.
This, as you can imagine, was highly intriguing to visitors. On one of
the chairs was a plaque portraying a goat butting a person, while on
another chair a plaque depicting a strong man grasping both horns,
successfully wrestling the aggressive billy.
Wally Grout, Alan Davidson, Tibby Cotter ( who was killed in the
Holy Land in WWI) Victor Trumper, Will Murdoch ( Australian Captain
in 1882), Ian Craig ( also a Captain of the Australian team) and
Bert Oldfield from Killara, were all members of the Masonic Order. I
am aware of 34 Freemasons who carried the bat for Australia.
The Plunkett Shield, the New Zealand equivalent of Australia’s
Sheffield Shield, was named after Baron William Lee Plunkett, Governor
General of New Zealand where he became Grand Master in
1906.
Amongst the Melbourne cricket clubs there is an annual competition
for the Challenge Cup presented by Bro,. George S Coppin, the first
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Victoria in 1883.
Thus, brethren you can see that the game of cricket and Freemasonry
are closely associated but whilst the former is a game, the
latter is very serious and we should all remember that as the score
in cricket is recorded, so are our lives and actions recorded on an
There was also amongst the Masonic relics a miniature apron, regularly
worn by a dog. It seems one of the brethren had a canine friend
which accompanied him to lodge. There was a complaint—that the
dog was improperly dressed! So at the next meeting the pooch appeared
with a miniature apron round its neck - and did so for years
until the dog’s death.
In Edinburgh I attended a meeting in the declared oldest lodge room
in the world...this was Kilwinning No. 2 which met in a marvelous old
cavern in the rock. It was friendly and dignified in this strange and
haunting building.
Three Fellowcrafts were put through at this meeting. Curiously the
bible used was what is known as a “tracle” bible dating back to 1568.
The organ was built in 1754 - one of Scotland’s oldest. The King
and the celebrities mentioned previously were also members of this
lodge.
The “Don”