The New Zealand Freemason Vol. 11, No. 1, March, 1974

MAUNGAKIEKIE LODGE, No. 373
21st ANNIVERSARY

As the oak tree owes its origin to the acorn, so Maungakiekie Lodge owes its origin to the idea of a single
man—and in order to set our priorities right in this review of our early history, this must be mentioned. He
was W. Bro. Alexander Davie, our fifth Master, who conceived the idea of forming a lodge in the One Tree
Hill district. It was necessary for him to find the right man to set the lodge on a firm footing, and to stimulate
the necessary enthusiasm in the founders, by good example good leadership and good advice, and with
careful search he found him — W. Bro Harold Watts — a fairly recent P.M. of Lodge Morningside No. 228.

After many preliminary discussions, the first official meeting of members of the craft who had expressed
interest in the formation of a lodge in the One Tree Hill area, was held on 10 June, 1952, when it was
unanimously resolved to form a Lodge and decided that its name be Maungakiekie Lodge.

The late W. Bro. (then Bro.) E. J. (Monty) Price was appointed Acting Secretary. On the 19 August the
business of the meeting was to receive a report on a proposed meeting place, and to discuss various matters
relating to the dedication of the lodge. From here on events really took shape, and were ultimately to prove
the foundation on which the lodge now rests.

At a meeting held in the St. Oswald's Church Hall on 24 September, 1952, it was decided to use that hall as
the meeting ,place of the lodge. Details of the furniture and fittings were prepared, and a report on donations,
which seemed to pour in, was also received. Further arrangements for the Dedication Meeting which had
been finalised with Grand Lodge for Friday, 31 October, 1952, in the Masonic Hall, St, Benedicts Street,
Auckland, were discussed.

The Lodge had received permission to make additions and alterations to the St. Oswald's Hall, (in lieu of rent
for a certain period), and working bees were organised. As an indication of the enthusiastic spirit which
prevailed among the founders, it is interesting to record that 33 bretheren assisted in these working bees — a
virtual hive of industry. This brought the foundation members together in no uncertain manner, and the
whole undertaking was most successfully completed, both to the joy of the church and the lodge. It was to
remain the home of Maungakiekie Lodge for 14 years.

CONSTITUTION AND DEDICATION
The constitution and dedication ceremony was performed by the Grand Master, M. W. Bro. John C. Barclay,
and Officers of Grand Lodge. Of the 60 Foundation Members, 47 were present at the meeting.

INSTALLATION
The installation ceremony which followed was conducted by the late R.W. Bro. Edgar O. Faber, Prov. G.M.
W. Bro. H. E. Watts, P.M. Lodge Morningside, No. 228, was installed as master and his officers were
invested.

The Presenting Officers were the late W. Bro. E. J. (Monty) Price, who had in the meanwhile been installed
as Master of Lodge Morningside, No. 228, and W. Bro. D. Wallace, Master of Lodge Wairoa, No. 55, the
lodge which had sponsored the formation of Maungakiekie Lodge.

THE FIRST MEETING
The first meeting was held on 3rd December, 1952, when 6 candidates for membership by initiation were
proposed. The first two of these to be initiated were sons of foundation members —the sons of W. Bro. T.
W. M. Ashby, Chaplain, and Bro. R. H. McIsaac. Of the two, one, Bro. John Edward McIsaac, carried on to
become in 1962 the eleventh master and since that time ten out of the eleven masters to have been installed
have been initiated in the lodge.

CHANGE OF MEETING PLACE
The 151st. meeting on the 24th August, 1966, was the last to be held in the St Oswald's Church Hall. The
lodge had joined forces with the Epsom Lodge, No. 324, in the building of new lodge-rooms, so that the

152nd. meeting, which was held on 28 September, 1966, was conducted in the Masonic Hall, 131 Market
Road, Auckland, where the Maungakiekie Lodge, No. 373, is now permanently domiciled.

GRAND LODGE HONOURS
Of the Masters who have occupied the chair Grand Honours have been granted to the following:

1955 W. Bro. H. E. Watts, G.Swd.B
1967 W. Bro. B. H. Siddle, G.S.
1971 W. Bro. N. D. Sergeant, G.S.
1972 W. Bro. E. F. Winch, G.S.
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