Lodge Memberships in the Upper Murray

The title of lodges comes from the Stone masons building the early cathedrals in Europe. The first thing they built was a room where they could eat and sleep or lodge while they were building. The freemasons lodge of today is a direct descendant of those stone masons. In the early part of the 19th century benefits lodges or friendly societies were formed which consisted of groups of people usually with common backgrounds or interests with the object of helping one another in times of troubles, providing sick pay, funeral benefits, loans etc. really the forerunners of todays credit unions and Medicare.

 

Rechabite Lodge

In 1884 Rechabite Lodges, called Tents, were formed in Corryong. Meeting in the hall at Cudgewa. The principal families were Blair, Carkeek, Anderson, Eade, Murrell, Nankervis, Simpson, Land, McOrist, Jarvis, Skoan. A part of the objects of the Rechabites were discouraging the use of alcohol and tobacco.

MUIOOF Lodge

In 1884 the Loyal Corryong Lodge of the Manchester Unity Independant Order of Odd Fellows (M.U.I.O.O.F.) was formed. This lodge is still meeting and is the 2nd oldest continuing organisation in the Upper Murray, the Towong Turf Club being older.
Original 13 members MUIFOOF were

Bro Jim H. Nankervis received the Manchester Unity Meritorious Service Jewel in 2008, the only member to receive this jewel.

There was also a M.U.I.O.O.F. lodge in Walwa.
Bro Andy Harris of the Corryong Lodge was Grand Master of the order in Victoria when the Manchester Unity building on the corner of Collins Street and Swanson Street Melbourne was built and dedicated in 1931.

 

Masonic Lodge

The Corryong Masonic Lodge was dedicated on 17-10-1899. The Lodge was held in the Presbyterian Church until the temple was built and dedicated on 21-4-1922.
The original Lodge members were

• W.M. W. Campbell Lahore
• S.W. H. Lennox
• J.W. A.C. Morgan
• Tres. Hugh. Harris
• S.D. W. Farrell
• J.D. J.S. Patterson
• I.G. R.E. McKenzie
• Tryler P. Wind

Members Chas. Lebner, Jas. Ferris, W. Denby, W. Ordish, B. Wheeler

Tetoma Masonic Association was formed on 27-11-1959 at the home of Bro Ryan at Sue City. This association was not a lodge but an association of Masonic Brethren working on the Snowy Mountains Region. It had a roving charter. So it could move to other locations as required. The name ‘Tetoma’ was derived from T2 Power Station and Tooma S.M.A. Masonic Association meetings were often held in members homes and the ladies joined for supper. Members organised visits to lodges in Cooma, Tumut, Batlow, Tumbarumba, Corryong.
The last meeting recorded was held at Khancoban Golf Club on 22-8-1973.

 

Buffaloes Lodge

 

In the period between the 1950’s – 1970’s there was a Buffaloes lodge (Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (R.A.O.B.) meeting in Corryong, then at the Towong Memorial Hall. Members included Stan Arthur, Osah Zimmer, Harry Brown, John Kennedy, Bob Jarvis, Murray Whitehead, Norm Dugan and Jim Tyron.

Antediluvian = existing or happening before the biblical flood; resembling things before the flood; very old fashioned primitive – chambers twentieth century dictionary.

 

Other Lodges

 

There were also branches of the Masonic Lodge which local members joined by had to travel to other towns to attend: Red Cross of Constantine; Royal Order of Scotland; Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite; Royal Arch Chapter; Royal Ark Mariner; The Holy Royal Arch Templer; Holy Royal Arch Templer Priests; and Order of Eastern Star (Ladies Lodge).