Speerin Masons in Australia
The document provided by the Georgia clan
has reminded us that our ancestors were also involved in Masonry.
Ref: A brief history of the United Grand Lodge
of New South Wales.
by W.Bro. Juan Carlos Alvarez, PJGW
"The earliest
record of Freemasonry in Australia
appears in an early minute book of the Grand Lodge of Ireland when
three Privates from the NSW Corps petitioned that Body for a warrant. Discussed
on 6th July, 1797, the record says simply "Deferred", it was never
raised again. (R.E.Parkinson, History of the G.L. of Ireland, 2, 1957, p.306,
and Cramp and Mackaness, History of the United G.L.of NSW, 1938, 1, p.1.)
The oldest
record of an Australian masonic incident in our possession is dated in 1802,
when Captain Anthony Fenn Kemp (1773-1868) was raised to the Master Mason
Degree on board the French ship "La Naturaliste" anchored at Port Jackson, N.S.W.
This is in
opposition to statements made in the majority of the history books or
publications describing this event as Bro Kemp being "Perfected" in
the 18§Degree of the Rose Croix. A full description of this interpretation is
to be found in "Australia's
Oldest Extant Masonic Document, a factual interpretation", by WBro. Allan
McL.Sharp, The Research Lodge of N.S.W. No 971 proceedings, Vol. 13 No 3 June,
1993, and Ars Quatour Coronatorum, Vol. 104,1991, pp.150-165.
The first
permanent Masonic Lodge in Australia
was established in NSW. According to RWBro. Grahame H. Cumming PAGM, in his
book "The Foundations of Freemasonry in Australia"(1992) the warrant,
No 260 from the Grand Lodge of Ireland, arrived in Port Jackson on Saturday 5th
August, 1820, in the care of Brother Surgeon Price of the ship
"Hadlow", sailing from Cork. This Lodge was named Australian Social
Lodge and the ceremony of dedication and installation was performed by the
members of Lodge No 218 Irish Constitution attached to His Majesty's
48thRegiment of Foot.
As more Lodges
were established, and communications with Dublin
were difficult, approaches were made for a Provincial Grand Lodge in the Colony
in the years 1839, 1842, and 1847, but they were denied. In 1848 a request was
made for the establishment of a Grand Lodge of Australia, but this was also
unsuccessful.
Chartered under
the Jurisdictions of England
and Scotland
more Lodges were formed. Eventually unhappy disagreements between the Irish and
Scottish Lodges, and their respective Grand Lodges led to the formation of the
original Grand Lodge for New South Wales, into which were merged all the lodges
of Irish origin, with the addition of six Scottish Lodges; another Scottish
Lodge joining soon after, and one English Lodge.
What followed
was a bitter and protracted dispute between the English, and Scottish Lodges on
one side, and the Grand Lodge of New South Wales on the other, until
negotiations supported by the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of
England, the Prince of Wales, later King Edward Vll, brought about masonic
union with the formation of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales in 1888.
According to VWBro. T.K. Taylor PDGIW, in his paper presented at the Research
Lodge of N.S.W. No 971 (Vol.10 No 9 August,1988) "A short history of 100
years of Freemasonry in New South Wales", "no institution of
comparable worth and reputation was founded under brighter auspices than the
United Grand Lodge of New South Wales, whose inaugural meeting took place in
the Great Hall, University of Sydney, on 16th August, 1888, and included the
election of Lord Carrington, Governor of the Colony, as the first Grand Master."
The Grand Installation following this event was held in the Exhibition Building
on 18th September, 1888, and was attended by over four thousand Brethren , more
than half the total membership of the Lodges holding meetings at the time."
It is not clear whether our founding father in Australia, John Speerin (1820-1882)
was connected to any Lodge. However, his son, our great grandfather Ernest
Speerin (1865 - 1941) was a member of The United Grand Lodge of New South
Wales.
Our grand uncle, Alfred Speerin (1895-1969) was a member of the same Lodge
and also a member of The Supreme Royal Grand Arch of Scotland (NSW Chapter).
Our parent's generation eschewed Masonry as have their children. Masonry
perhaps could be considered an early form of "networking" (clothed in
ritual) which appears outmoded to the modern generation.
It would be interesting to establish if Masonry was practised by any of the
Limerick or Dublin
families.
Here is the wording from the membership
certificates for Ernest and Alfred.
THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF NEW SOUTH
WALES
OF ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS
(Established 1888 in NSW, Australia)
Certificate
Number 47730 ERNEST SPEERIN
Know all men by these presents that our brother
Ernest Speerin who hath signed his name in the margin hereof was regularly
received into Free Masonry on the 3rd day of April A.L. 5918 and has been
admitted to the Third Degree on the 2nd day of October A.L. 5918 in the TUSCAN
LODGE No. 18, Sydney and that his name has been duly Registered in the Books
of this Grand Lodge accordingly.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my
name and affixed the Seal of the United Grand lodge of New south Wales at
Sydney the twenty fifth day of November A.L. 5918 A.D. 1918
This certificate shall not entitle to Admission
into any Lodge without due Examination.
Signed: Arthur Bray William Thompson
Grand Secretary Grand Master
THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF NEW SOUTH
WALES
OF ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS (Established
1888 in NSW, Australia)
Certificate
Number 123213 ALFRED SPEERIN
Know all men by these presents that our brother
Alfred Speerin who hath signed his name in the margin hereof was regularly
received into Free Masonry on the 3rd day of May A.L. 5934 and has been
admitted to the Third Degree on the 29th day of November A.L. 5934 in the
FIDELITY LODGE No. 101, Sydney and that his name has been duly Registered in
the Books of this Grand Lodge accordingly.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my
name and affixed the Seal of the United Grand lodge of New south Wales at
Sydney the sixth day of December A.L. 5934 A.D. 1934
This certificate shall not entitle to Admission
into any Lodge without due Examination.
Signed: David Cunningham H. Maguire
Grand Secretary Grand Master
THE MOST EXCELLENT PRINCIPALS AND SCRIBES OF THE
COSMOPOLITAN ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER No. 554 held in SYDNEY having certified and
declared unto us the Grand Principals, Office Bearers and Members of
THE SUPREME GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF SCOTLAND
that our truly and well beloved companion Brother ALFRED SPEERIN
Having been duly admitted to the Degrees of MARK
and EXCELLENT MASTER and properly recommended , was by them in full Chapter
assembled upon the 22nd day of June 1940 exalted to and instructed in THE
MYSTERIES of the ROYAL ARCH DEGREE OF FREE MASONRY.
We therefore hereby rectify and confirm to him all
the privileges of a REGULAR ROYAL ARCH MASON and recommend him to the attention
and care of all the Companions of that degree over the Globe.
In testimony whereof we have delivered unto him
this OUR DIPLOMA having for better security caused him sign his name on the
first Pillar thereof.
Given under the hand of our Grand Scribe and
sealed with our seal at Royal Arch Masons Hall, Edinburgh, this 26th day of
June A.D. 1940 A.L. 5944 A.J. 2470 Signed: Geo.A.Howell Supreme Grand Royal
Arch Chapter of Scotland
