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Brother Grumpy’s

Happening soon in Southland

11 December 2017 Brother Grumpy (VWBro.M.I.McGregor) at man.of.arden@gmail.com

ALL MEETINGS ARE REGULAR MEETINGS UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

300 YEARS OF FREEMASONRY 1717 - 2017

Quick Reference Calendar for Southland District No.33 and selected neighbours date time lodge event place

12 Dec 7.30 pm Research Southland 415 End of Year Meeting Invercargill 13 Dec 7.30 pm Lake Lodge of Ophir 85 Christmas Supper Queenstown 14 Dec 7.30 pm Mokoreta 63 Initiate – Bro.D.Bortolan by Remembrance 318 Wyndham 19 Dec 7.30 pm Wallace 129 Pot Luck Dinner Otautau 20 Dec 7.30 pm Manuherikia Kilwinning 109 Initiate – Mr. W.J.Kraakman Alexandra

New Knights Templar (NZ) web site:- http://www.knightstemplar.org.nz/

The Research Lodge of Southland No.415

Brethren will read short papers on Freemasonry and Christmas

Tuesday 12 December 2017 7.30 pm

Southland Masonic Centre, 80 Forth Street, Invercargill

The Lake Lodge of Ophir No.85

7.30 pm Wives, Partners, Friends

(numbers needed urgently)

Wednesday 13 December 2017 7:00 pm

Masonic Hall, 13 Marine Parade, Queenstown

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Thee Mokoreta Lodge No.63

To Initiate

Bro. Danilo Bortolan As and Entered Apprentice Freemason in the New Zealand Rite

By the Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren of the Lodge of Remembrance No.318

Thursday 14 December 2017. 7.30 pm

Masonic Hall, Redan Street, Wyndham

Following the Regular Meeting

Tuesday 19 December 2017 6-30pm

Masonic Hall, Queen St. Otautau

Lodge Manuherikia Kilwinning No.109

To Initiate

Mr. William Jonathan Kraakman As an Entered Apprentice Freemason and a member of the Lodge

Wednesday 20 December 2017 7.30 pm

Masonic Hall, Tarbert Street, Alexandra

2nd to 4th March 2018. Southern Divisional Conference. National Remits will be voted on at

these Conferences.

Deadline for Lodge Commission / Proxy form for the appointment of a Lodge Representative at the Divisional Conferences must be returned to reach this Grand Secretary’s Office no later than Friday 2nd February 2018 National Office closed end of day Friday 22 December 2017 – reopen on Wednesday 3 January 2018. National Office closed for Wellington Anniversary Day – Monday 22 January 2018

Heartland Bank closed 25 & 26 December 2017 and 1 & 2 January 2018.

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Lodge Secretaries – please click on the following link to watch a video on how to enter information on the Southern Division web site:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-bAxxtiUNA

Ctrl + click to follow link

SOUTHLAND MASONIC CENTRE

Contact details

Building Ph: 03 2183392 Maree’s Cell Ph: +64 20 41448263

E-Mail:- info@masoniccentre.org.nz Postal address

Invercargill Masonic Heritage Building Charitable Trust 80 Forth St. P.O.Box 86

Invercargill 9810

Once you have your Master Mason’s apron on, this should only be the start of your adventure into

discovering the teachings of the three degrees of Craft Freemasonry and how you can make use of

them in your daily life.

You are never too old or too long in the Craft to learn

HERITAGE – EDUCATION – PHILOSOPHY and much more

Join a Lodge that is dedicated to Masonic Education in Southland

Receive our Bi-monthly Transactions – gain access to our extensive library

DUES ARE REASONABLE

PLUS

NEW MASTER MASONS – ENTRY LEVEL MEMBERSHIP

A Brother who has been a Master Mason for less than 5 years from the date of his Initiation can join the Research Lodge of Southland (no entry fee) and enjoy the privileges of membership (except for holding office) for 5 years at a fixed rate of dues of $20 per year.

VWBro.Martin McGregor. man.of.arden@gmail.com Phone: 03 217 9038

Masonic Education Builds > Masonic Retention > Masonic Understanding

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Freemasonry employs the tools and instruments of stonemasonry to teach a system of morality, friendship, and brotherly love, hence, the standard emblem of Freemasonry is the square and compasses.

The First Degree Catechism is almost complete. It will be issued to Southland lodges soon.

Truly – working on the final touches

A new paper on ‘The Point within a Circle’ Copies of the paper is available via email. Contact V.W.Bro.McGregor

V.W.Bro.M.I.McGregor. Southland District Education Advisor. man.of.arden@gmail.com – gets you to the Southland Masonic Education HUB.

Masonic Knowledge

THE DIGITAL MENTOR - A SOUTHLAND DISTRICT MASONIC EDUCATION HUB PUBLICATION

Available now:- VEDA 1 – The Point within a Circle VEDA 2 - TEMPLE

MASONIC WEB SITES

To seek for that which can be found

Left click anywhere on link address, then Ctrl + click to follow link Masonic web sites with useful information, papers, and further web links

ONLY REALLY USEFUL SITES ARE LISTED (If you reach a site using your default browser or link, you can place a shortcut on your home wallpaper if you

wish. Right click on page – select ‘Create Shortcut’ – left click and confirm.) This is a directory in progress – keep looking for additions

Many thanks to those Brethren who have emailed suggestions

Freemasons New Zealand http://freemasonsnz.org/ Grand Lodge NZ Education Pillar http://www.themasons.org.nz/div/educationpillar.php Southern Division website http://www.themasons.org.nz/sdiv Freemasons New Zealand Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nzfreemasons/ Partners in Freemasonry (GLNZ) Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/partnersinfreemasonry/ GLNZ on Twitter https://twitter.com/freemasons_nz?lang=en NEW GLNZ on Linkedin https://nz.linkedin.com/company/freemasons-new-zealand NEW GLNZ on Instagram https://instagram.com/freemasonsnewzealand/ NEW Southland Freemasons on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/man.of.arden/ NEW Australian and New Zealand Masonic Research Council -ANZMRC http://www.anzmrc.org/ Knights Templar NZ http://www.knightstemplar.org.nz/ NEW Masonic Digital Library (GLNZ) http://www.anzmrc.org/ NEW Grand Lodge of Ireland http://www.freemason.ie Grand Lodge of Scotland: http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/ Unfortunately, the United Grand Lodge of England web site is not fruitful Masonic Info http://www.masonicinfo.com/ (Excellent Masonic site with much about anti-masonry) Freemasonry 101 http://freemasonry-101.com/ Masonic Dictionary http://www.masonicdictionary.com/ Masonic Lodge of Education http://www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com/ Freemasons-Freemasonry http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/ (This is the famous Pietre-Stones web site – arguably the world’s best Masonic web site) Freemasonry.fm http://www.freemasonry.fm/

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Masonic Awareness at the Speed of Light- MATSOL http://www.matsol.info/ Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon http://www.freemasonry.bcy.ca/symbolism/ Lewis Masonic (publishers) Videos http://www.lewismasonic.co.uk/ Masonic Lodge Info http://www.masonic-lodge.info/ The Masonic Trowel http://www.themasonictrowel.com/ University of Bradford – Web of Hiram http://www.bradford.ac.uk/webofhiram/ Superb Phoenix Masonry http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/

Linford Lodge of Research http://www.linfordresearch.info/ York Rite http://www.yorkrite.com/ Mason Smart http://www.masonsmart.com/ Freemasonry Today magazine http://www.freemasonrytoday.com/ (UGLE: view back issues) MQ Magazine http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/ (back issues) Centro Ibérico de Estudios Masónicos http://www.cienmas.org/ Spanish site in English Masonic Source Book http://www.masonicsourcebook.com/ DMOZ https://www.dmoz.org/ Links Southern California Lodge of Research http://www.theresearchlodge.org/ The Masons http://www.themasons.org.nz Lodge Devotion No.723 (GVic) http://www.lodgedevotion.net (excellent ANZAC site) Lodge St.Patrick No.468 (IC) http://www.lodgestpatrick.co.nz Paul M Bessel’s Homepage http://bessel.org/homepage.htm Famous site Masonic Encyclopedia http://masonicencyclopedia.com/ Masonic Library and Museum Association http://www.masoniclibraries.org/ Freemasonry Matters http://www.thefraternity.info Stitching Argus http://www.stichtingargus.nl Treasure trove of – fraternities –rituals The Skirret https://skirret.com/index.html NEW Excellent papers Bonisteel Masonic Library http://www.bonisteelml.org/ NEW Many leads to other sites. Lane’s Masonic Records https://www.hrionline.ac.uk/lane/ NEW The Library and Museum of Freemasonry http://freemasonry.london.museum/ NEW UGLE London. Masonic Service Association of North America http://www.msana.com/ NEW Online shop and much more MoF Masonic Library http://www.masoniclibrary.org.au/ NEW GLNSW Sydney. Masonic World http://www.masonicworld.com/ NEW Excellent site MQ Magazine (UGLE) http://www.mqmagazine.co.uk/ NEW Back issues. Very interesting GENERAL REFERENCE AND RESEARCH Internet Sacred Text Archive http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm Huge collection Jerusalem 101 http://www.generationword.com/jerusalem101.html Jewish Encyclopaedia http://jewishencyclopedia.com/ Pinterest pics of 356 best masonic lodges – leads to many more pics of Freemasonry, Knights Templar, etc. https://nz.pinterest.com/thepumpmann/masonic-lodges-temples-monuments/?lp=true Fordham University https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/Halsall/index.asp Amazing, HUGE collection

of source books – do explore this! NEW Medieval Lands http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/index.htm NEW Royal and noble dynasties Forces War Records https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/ NEW Eupedia https://www.eupedia.com/ NEW European history and genetics. Bible Search http://referencebible.org/topmenulibr.htm NEW The Peerage http://www.thepeerage.com/ NEW British and Continental peerage The Gatehouse http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/ NEW English and Welsh fortifications UK National Archives http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ NEW British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ NEW The Megalith Portal http://www.megalithic.co.uk/ NEW Jerusalem 101 http://www.generationword.com/jerusalem101.html NEW Superb UK Genealogy Archives https://ukga.org/ NEW Excellent reference World Bank Countries data https://data.worldbank.org/country NEW The History Files http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/ NEW Global history reference Luminarium http://www.luminarium.org/ NEW Great collection of old English literature NationMaster http://www.nationmaster.com/ NEW International data BBC History Trails http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ NEW Excellent collection Fab Pedigree http://fabpedigree.com/pedstart.htm NEW Vast collection of pedigrees Celtic Literature Collective http://www.maryjones.us/ NEW Excellent collection but very specialized

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Anglo-Norman Castles http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/ NEW Very comprehensive Scottish History http://www.scottishhistory.com/index.html NEW very comprehensive Scottish History Online http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/index.html NEW In Memory http://www.inmemories.com/index.htm NEW Commonwealth War Cemeteries Ancient Wales Studies http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/index.html NEW Very specialized Royal, titled and common http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/ NEW Genealogy Almanach de Saxe Gotha http://www.almanachdegotha.org/ NEW Pedigrees REGALIA Regalia Supplies NZ http://www.regaliasupplies.co.nz/ Masonic Exchange NZ http://www.masonicexchange.co.nz/ Robert Embroideries NZ http://www.robertembroideries.co.nz/masonic-regalia.html Masonic Supply Shop US http://www.masonicsupplyshop.com/ Lodgeroom Store http://www.lodgeroomuk.com/ NEW Online shopping regalia/books etc.

GET TO KNOW YOURSELF Keirsey Temperament Sorter http://www.keirsey.com/ Personality test Typology Central http://www.typologycentral.com/ Brainmetrix http://www.brainmetrix.com/ IQ Test Ihhp http://www.ihhp.com/ Emotional intelligence Help Yourself http://www.helpself.com/ Cognitive intelligence McGraw Hill education https://highered.mheducation.com/ Links, etc. Queendom tests https://www.queendom.com/tests/index.htm IQ Test. Com http://iqtest.com/ Self growth http://www.selfgrowth.com/ Links Family Tree DNA https://www.familytreedna.com/ NEW This is where you go for DNA genes

A BIT OF FUN Atlas Obscura http://www.atlasobscura.com/ Explore the unusual. Entertaining facts. NEW

―

BRO GRAHAM’S PUN OF THE WEEK

On a Plumber's truck:

"We repair what your husband fixed.”

U I

Good King Wenceslas phoned Domino's for a pizza. The salesgirl asked him:- 'Do you want your usual? Deep pan, crisp and even?' Mike walks into a bar with a newt on his shoulder. The barmaid looks at the creature and asks the man what he calls it. 'Tiny', answers Mike. 'Why's that?' enquires the barmaid. 'Because he's my newt' concludes Mike.

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According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl. We should have known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost. It was Christmas Eve in at the meat counter and a woman was anxiously picking over the last few remaining turkeys in the hope of finding a large one. In desperation she called over a shop assistant and said, 'Excuse me. Do these turkeys get any bigger?' 'No, madam, 'he replied, 'they're all dead.' I went to the Canary Islands on holiday this year, didn't see one canary. Going to the Virgin Islands next year, can't wait. Ed Byrne Jim asked his friend, Tony, whether he had bought his wife anything for Christmas. 'Yes,' came the answer from Tony who was a bit of a chauvinist, 'I've bought her a belt and a bag.' 'That was very kind of you,' Jim added, 'I hope she appreciated the thought.' Tony smiled as he replied, 'So do I, and hopefully the vacuum cleaner will work better now.' Pete bought his wife, Thelma, a beautiful diamond ring as her Christmas present. After hearing about this extravagant gift, a John, his friend, commented, 'I thought she wanted one of those sporty four-wheel-drive vehicles.' 'Oh, Thelma did, Pete replied, 'But where on earth was I going to find a fake Jeep?'

BY GREG STEWART Masonic Information Web magazine

At its surface, the Christmas holiday has no intrinsic connection to the fraternity of Freemasonry. What I mean

by that is nowhere in the degrees does it link itself to any particular holiday in its practice, in particular the

Christmas holiday season.

There are, however, certain celebrations that have become a part of the fraternity which are linked to one of the

interesting symbols that reside at the heart of the practice. Without any specific reference, Masons are said to

come from a Lodge of the Holy Saints John, the specific why and how of this connection is lost in the sands of

metaphorical time, but some connection infers a balance to the celestial equinox (from summer to winter and

back again).

Through this link, winter is said to be represented by the Saint John the Evangelist, whose feast day falls on

December 27th. This Holy Saint John has an interesting symbolic significance, in that, as John the Baptist (who

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represents the other Holy Saint John) was the precursor to the coming Christ, John the Evangelist is said to be

the first disciple at the Lake of Genesareth who recognized the Christ and believe that he had risen. Of the Saint

it is also said that he was the only disciple of Christ to not to forsake him in the hour of His Passion at the foot of

the cross. John the Evangelist is also called the Apostle of Charity, which may be in part, his connection to

Freemasonry in addition to his unwavering resolve and purity of his love of the divine.

In creating the original construct of the two Johns, the conclusion that I came to was that they struck a balance

between zeal and knowledge, the Baptist who was the precursor of the Christ living in his zeal for the coming

son of God and the Evangelist as the representation of knowing that the Christ was the son of God. Only in

piecing the component of knowing did it become clear to me that it was not about the degree of knowledge

gained, but the degree to which the Evangelist trusted his intuition, to know what was before him. An

interesting parallel comes in the book of Matthew where this very lesson is communicated to Peter from the

Christ who says in Matthew 16:15-17

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in

heaven.”

This is somewhat out of original context, but illustrative of revealed knowledge based on experience, on

learning.

John the Evangelist came to that knowledge by his experience with the Christ. Another way of looking at this

experience is coming from darkness to light, an awakening, and if you take it further, the dawning of awareness.

This awareness sits squarely with the idea of Sol Invictis, or the conquering sun which overcomes its captivity of

night from the summer solstice and again begins to vanquish the night in its ever increasing minutes of daylight.

At some of the other symbolic connections, the Evangelist is said to relate to the alchemical symbol of the up

pointed triangle which represents fire, where again we can see a link to light and knowledge. When we combine

the alchemical sign of the Baptist with that of the Evangelist, we create the star of Solomon, and the duality of

fire and water, further, the duality of light and dark and summer and winter.

Further work attributed to John the Evangelist are the Epistles of John, and the book of Revelation, though his

connection to them in later centuries has been contentious, as much of his life from 2000 years ago is lost to

time. Within the church his feast day is first mentioned in the Sacramentary of Pope Adrian I near 772 A.D.

The message of the church, and something each of us can take away from John the Evangelist is to “Apply

thyself, therefore, to purity of heart, and thou shalt be like Saint John, a beloved disciple of Jesus, and shalt be

filled with heavenly wisdom.”

The feast of the Evangelist is little remembered today, except within Masonry where it is celebrated by a few

lodges that still practice the Table Lodge ritual where brothers gather together to celebrate it with toasts to

those brothers present and absent. in the past, it was considered a feast day of high importance for

Freemasonry because of its proximity to the holidays and the presence of lodge members being close to home.

Because of this, It gave those brothers a festival to meet under to punctuate the closing of the year. Meeting like

this though is something less convenient in this modern day as most families travels abroad to celebrate the

holiday.

Because it is celebrated less does not diminish the importance of the day, nor the symbol itself, as in the modern

ritual we are reminded that we come from the Holy Saint John’s in Jerusalem, and as such we should pause and

reflect on just what that means. John the Evangelist gives us an important lesson to pursue knowledge and

wake from the darkness and renew our commitment to the awakening light of the Victorious Sun. Even taken

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out the Christian metaphor, we can salute with Sol Invictus, as knowledge is re-awakened from its cold wintry

defeat.

Through the lens of symbolism, John the Evangelist gives us a means to find resonance with the holiday of giving

and compassion to the fraternity of brotherly love, relief, and truth.

Happy Holidays!

A new web site has been set up for the Great Priory of the Knights Templar in New Zealand.

Follow the link below to view (Ctrl+click to follow link)

http://www.knightstemplar.org.nz/

✠ A Christian Order affiliated to Freemasonry, descended from the medieval Crusading Order

For information about the

Southland Preceptory No.6 of the Masonic Knights Templar, including qualifications for joining, Contact:-

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Em.Kt.M.I.McGregor. Secretary Phone: 03 217 9038 Email: man.of.arden@gmail.com

For the

Otago Priory No.1 Rt.Em.Kt.G.R.Watson. District Grand Prior. Secretary

Phone: 03 454 2533 Email: oldsquare@xtra.co.nz