THE WAY WE WERE
FREEMASONS: This article appeared in the Darling Downs Gazette, Monday, October 23, 1899. Opening Of Masonic Lodge. The ceremony and consecration of the Diamond Masonic Lodge, under the Grand Lodge of Scotland, took place in the hall (beside the Farmers Arms Hotel) Oakey, on Wednesday last. The ceremonies were performed by Mr. J. Spiers, DDGM. A banquet followed, the caterer being Mrs Desmond. The arrangement and decoration of the tables were much admired. The usual loyal and masonic toasts having been honoured, an effective and pleasing ceremony was concluded with Auld Lang Syne. Also another extract from the Darling Downs Gazette, Saturday, November, 11, 1911. The Masonic Hall which is being erected by Mr. F. Bauer is nearing completion. This hall was built in York Street on Sub 41 (1 rood 38.8 perches) of Portion 137 and is still in use to the present day. The unique heritage of Freemasonry in Oakey all started in 1899 when Diamond Lodge 901 was created under a Scottish Constitution but in 1904 it switched to a Queensland Constitution. This caused much confusion for in 1905, the Lodge was split into a Diamond Lodge No 36 (QC) and Diamond Lodge No 901 (SC). A month later Diamond Lodge (QC) became Oakey Lodge No 36 (QC) whilst Diamond Lodge No 901 adopted a Queensland Constitution in 1920. The following year, both Lodges accepted the Constitution from the newly formed UGLQ in 1921 and finally they merged and became Ashlar Lodge No 127 UGLQ on July 14, 1927 which they still are 90 years later (as seen in the photo).