Freemasons put lodge on market
You don’t need a secret handshake to own a Freemasons lodge. You just need the cash.
Although the buyers of 383 Ohiro Rd – a Freemasons lodge since it opened in 1979 – might be more interested in the 3.36 hectares of land near central Wellington that the building sits on, than the lodge itself.
But on a tour of the lodge with Freemasons Nick Best and Graham Redman, you get a rare glimpse into the secret – though not really that secret – world of the Freemasons, an order that emerged from the stonemasons of old.
Yes, there is a secret handshake. No, they won’t do it on camera. In fact, they rarely use it at all. ‘‘In times gone by, it was necessary to identify people you could talk to freely,’’ Redman says.
It was also a way for stonemasons to confirm they knew their trade.
But the pair freely discussed most other aspects of Freemasonry in the almost-windowless room, where the blue carpet is patterned with ‘‘square and compasses’’ – symbols of the basic principles of the order.
A rough cube stone, or ‘‘ashlar’’ in the room represents a man’s journey through life and Freemasonry.
And yes, it is only men who can become Freemasons. It is, after all, a ‘‘brotherhood of men who get together to make themselves better’’ through the likes of charity, public speaking, and philosophy, Best says.
The move to new premises on Old Hutt Rd was more about the opportunity of the new place, rather than dwindling numbers.
But, nationally, those numbers are dwindling. In 1990, New Zealand had about 25,000 Masons. Now there are about 6500, of which 1500-odd are in Wellington.