150 years - the Sesquicentenary

Proudly led by members of the combined pipe bands of Bendigo (with Masonic bandsmen in regalia), the Grand Parade of Freemasons in full dress regalia wends its way up historic View Street to the Capital Arts Centre for a public demonstration of the ceremony of consecration of a new lodge.

The Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother John Evans, with his full Grand Lodge team performed the ceremony on Sunday October 3rd 2004 to mark exactly 150 years since Golden Lodge held its first official meeting on October 3rd 1854. Led by the pipes and drums and with the Victorian Masonic Motorcycle Association revving them up from behind, more than a hundred Bendigo Freemasons marched proudly back to the building that had been their home for 110 years.

Nearly 200 people packed the old lodge room (now the Bendigo Bank Theatre) to watch the ceremony and to bring to culmination the days of celebration.

The previous night, a formal banquet was held at the Capital Arts Centre, hosted by Golden & Corinthian Lodge, for the host of visiting Grand Officers, Freemasons and their wives and partners. Fine food and wines, congenial conviviality, brilliant music from Shelley Risstrom at the grand piano, and mercifully few speeches, all made for a memorable evening and added to a memorable weekend.

The planning began several years earlier, and the celebrations were not limited to the major weekend. As 2004 also marked the centenary of Sandhurst Lodge, the program of events stretched over months. Here are the highlights:

November 2003 - the original minutes of the committees that organized the first lodge are read (and continue as monthly instalments) at Golden & Corinthian's regular meetings throughout 2003-2004. These original hand written minutes are still kept as part of G&C's archives.

July 2004 - Sandhurst Lodge centenary installation and reconsecration. Worshipful Brother Michael Stageman is installed by the Grand Master who also performs the reconsecration ceremony, and attends the Installation banquet. A commemorative book and medal were available for attendees and Sandhurst members.

September 2004 - Worshipful Brother David Beagley is installed as Master of Golden & Corinthian Lodge by Right Worshipful Ernest Bell PSGW, District Co-ordinator.

October 2004 - publication of Gold And Blue: Freemasonry and Community in Bendigo 1854-2004. Supported by a cultural grant from the City of Greater Bendigo, this book looks at how highlights, lowlights and other intriguing aspects of the development of the city and community of Bendigo can be traced through the evolution of the Masonic lodges. Some copies are still available for sale - check here.

October 2-3, 2004 - Celebration weekend, with Banquet, street march and Public consecration ceremony. Street marches in regalia were once common but, as far as can be ascertained, this was the first such march in Bendigo since the First World War. The opening of the Consecration ceremony to the public certainly was the first time this had happened in Victoria!

October 12, 2004 - An Open Night meeting is held by G&C, supported by Sandhurst. This is an explanatory meeting for anyone interested in learning more about Freemasonry, perhaps (not not necessarily) with a view to joining. Right Worshipful Brother Merv Hallam SGW talked to a crowd of nearly a hundred about the lodge room, meeting procedures, history of Freemasonry, common misconceptions and why anyone might want to join. 4 new members did in G&C!

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These pages are designed by David Beagley for the Hall Board of the Bendigo Masonic Centre.
Responsibility for, and copyright of, content (unless otherwise noted) are his and his alone.

Last updated November 2005