History
The first meeting of the Duke of Rothesay Lodge was held on the 3rd May, 1894 with twenty-one brethren attending at Masonic Hall, Stanely Street, South Brisbane. The Lodge was allotted No. 807 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and the apron colour was dark green.
A letter of H.R.H. Albert Edward Prince of Wales,
later to become King Edward was sent seeking permission to use Duke of Rothesay
as our Lodge name. A letter granting permission was subsequently received from
H.R.H.
The foundation members
included prominent masons and citizens of Brisbane. Right Worshipful Brother
Thomas Myle was Acting District Grand Master of the Scottish Constitution and
the first Master of Ionic Lodge No. 802 Scottish Constitution. Right Worshipful
Brother Robert Lee-Bryce who was also a member of Ionic Lodge, was a Police
Magistrate and Civil Service Commissioner.
The original Master and His Officers were:
Right
Worshipful Master Bro John
Taylor
Depute Master Bro. J. Mathieson
Worshipful Substitute Master Bro. C. Thielmann Worshipful
Senior Warden Bro. Doctor Chas
Kebbell
Worshipful Junior Warden Bro. Doctor Raphael Joseph
Treasurer Bro. J.
McCallum
Secretary Bro. R.
Hunter
Chaplain Bro.
Reverend D. McSwaine
Senior Deacon Bro. V. Francis
Junior Deacon Bro. Geo
Robertson
Inner Guard Bro. A.
McRobertson
Senior Steward Bro. J. Moffatt
Junior Steward Bro. Geo Davis
Acting Tyler Bro. C.
Heike
John Taylor held the office of Master for two years (1894-1896), followed by Charles Kebbell who was Master for three years (1896-1899). The first candidates were initiated on the 25th May, 1894, twenty two days after the Lodge was formed. They were George Fish, Laundryman and Fredrick John Marlow, Clerk of Petty Sessions. George Fish went on to be the third Master of the Lodge (1899-1900).
Wor Bro J J Taylor
The original number of the Lodge
was No. 807 Scottish Constitution until 1905, it then became No. 28 under the
Grand Lodge of Queensland. When the United Grand Lodge of Queensland was formed
in 1921 the Lodge was allotted No. 82. A spilt in the Lodge seems to have
appeared after the formation of the United Grand Lodge of Queens[and, resulting
in some brethren leaving. The parochial Queenslanders overcame the Scots and
the Lodge no longer worked the Scottish Ritual. The dark green aprons were no
longer used in favour of the light blue. The Roll of the Lodge was rewritten in
1929.
The Jewels worn by the
Worshipful Master are the HaIlstone Jewel No. 69, a Building Fund Jewel and
Restoration Fund Jewel No.8. In 1965 the Duke of Rothesay was recorded on the
Honour Board at the Sandgate Home for furnishing the Dining Room and Hospital.
We have contributed to sixteen Foundation Stones.
In 1987 the Lodge moved from
the Masonic Temple in South Brisbane to the Stones Comer Masonic Temple (now
named Stones Comer Masonic Centre). From that time a bond was built up with
Cavendish Lodge No. 448 U.G.L.Q. who met on the same night at Stones Comer.
When Cavendish Lodge handed in their Charter in 1993 twenty members affiliated
with this Lodge. As well as their fellowship they brought with them a wealth of
experience and knowledge.
The Duke of Rothesay Tartan
is a Royal Tartan used by the Prince of Wales and was introduced into the Lodge
in 1993.