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Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Wednesday <strong>January</strong> <strong>31</strong> <strong>2024</strong> <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News NEWS 7 The Freemasons’ living history Unanimity Sumner No 3 member Dr John Richardson looks back on the lodge’s history TRADITION CONTINUES: The Sumner lodge building was constructed in 1922 (below) and moved to Ferrymead Heritage Park in early 2000s. The interior of the building, as it is today, at the heritage park. THE LODGE of Unanimity Sumner No 3 is a part of Christchurch’s history. It dates back to some of the earliest European settlements in Canterbury, the initial Lodge of Unanimity having been formed in Lyttelton in 1851. However, this society isn’t just a preserved piece of history, but a living part of the city. The history of the lodge is an important feature. Some observant readers may have noticed the difference when I referred to the Lodge of Unanimity and the Lodge of Unanimity Sumner. This was not just lazy writing on my part. The Lodge of Unanimity Sumner is the end result of the members of two lodges, both with significant individual history, coming together to become a single group. I mentioned that Unanimity was formed in 1851, and the Sumner lodge, which was initially sponsored by the Lodge of Unanimity, was formed in 1921. The early days of Unanimity show a number of particularly active and interesting people among its membership. These include the first surgeon in Canterbury, Dr William Donald, the famed Christchurch architect Benjamin Mountfort, the less well known but equally impressive John Marshman, and Augustus Alport, who ran the Canterbury society store. Also the surveyor Thomas Cass, for whom Cass <strong>Bay</strong> is named, and the youngest-ever New Zealand member of Parliament, James Stuart-Wortley, who became an MP at aged 20, before he was technically allowed to vote. The lodge itself was a visible part of Lyttelton society for years, as can only be expected from the South Island’s first formally established masonic lodge. The first lodge met in the rooms above Augustus Alport’s store, which hosted everything from church services to committee meetings. The establishment of the first dedicated Unanimity lodge building in Lyttelton was a matter of great public spectacle and the details of everything from the ceremony and the Masonic procession, which marched through the streets of Lyttelton in full fancy masonic attire, to the social event that followed, was well reported in The Lyttelton Times. The Sumner lodge was similarly a significant part of its local community and was largely built by the volunteer labour of its membership. In the earliest minutes of the Sumner lodge there is a list of those members who were donating either their time, resources, expertise or other contributions. This document noted “often during the week the brethren were found to be working, some would be found on the job after their day’s work, and would stay as long as daylight permitted. There was not a single Saturday afternoon without some enthusiastic members being there.” The construction was truly a community project in the full spirit of freemasonry. The current lodge building at Ferrymead Heritage Park is in fact the original Sumner lodge, moved out of its old Sumner location before the earthquakes. This was a particularly lucky move as the old site of the building did not fare well in the earthquake and if this move had not been made the building would likely have been lost. The Unanimity building did not fare as well, and while an original Mountfort building, the cost of earthquake repairs were more than the lodge could bear. After the earthquakes the members moved in with Sumner in Ferrymead before the two lodges eventually combined their membership under the name of the Lodge of Unanimity Sumner. Freemasonry is a profoundly social organisation and one in which members are encouraged to be the best people they can be. To learn more come along to our open day. OPEN DAY The Canterbury Masonic Charitable Trust will be hosting an information desk at the Freemasons Open Day, at Ferrymead Heritage Park on Sunday (10am–4pm). Local groups, charities and community organisations are encouraged to attend to discuss how to apply for funding. IN CELEBRATION of its 60th year, The Canterbury Masonic Charitable Trust committed $60,000 to the Air Rescue Trust to support annual training costs for helicopter rescue pilots on Instrument Flight Rules. IFR allows pilots to fly in low visibility, such as in fog or low light. The ability to perform in challenging terrain and conditions is central to the crew’s effectiveness in responding to emergency situations. All rescue pilots must undergo annual training and checks, and the significant donation helps to support this service. Over the past nine years, the trust has funded the Freemasons Christchurch nursing scholarship, for applicants undertaking the Bachelor of Nursing at Ara Te Pūkenga. Other recent recipients of charitable grants from CMCT include NZ Spinal Trust, Gilberthorpe School, Seabrook MacKenzie, Christchurch Land Search and Rescue, and Graeme Dingle Foundation. By raising funds from car parking near the Hagley Netball Courts during winter, plus donations, CMCT raised enough to purchase all the netball goal posts for the new indoor Canterbury Netball Centre at Ngā Puna Wai. UNNY HIPPER THE COFFEE’S ON AND WE’VE ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES. HAPPY NEW YEAR, FRIENDS. LET’S GET YOUR <strong>2024</strong> STARTED. 03 940 2435 | FERRYMEAD.LAWYER@SAUNDERS.CO.NZ | CITY, WIGRAM, PAPANUI, FERRYMEAD | SAUNDERS.CO.NZ
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