Scotia Lodge No. 263 UGLQ in Petrie, Queensland | Non-profit organisation

Scotia Lodge No. 263 UGLQ

Locality: Petrie, Queensland

Address: 4 Whites Road 4502 Petrie, QLD, Australia

Website: https://scotialodge.org

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21.01.2022 WHICH WAY UP Brethren! Who has ever given any thought to the orientation of our square and compasses? Most centres in this country (Australia) display the logo with the compass points facing down (in what would be a working position) and the square in the opposite direction. If I stand to the west of the altar facing east and look down I see the square and compasses oriented the same way. For years I thought that this was one of those inflexible rules that abound in every so...ciety. I liken it to placing the capital on top of the column rather than the base. But I then visited another lodge. There on top of the VSL I saw the square and compasses facing the opposite way, i.e. the compasses on top as I face west. This required some research. Brethren, I don’t like being confused. So I looked to where I might find the solution, to Albert Mackey’s Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry. I found some interesting things about this symbol and I will relay some to you. The Compasses and Square are the embodiment of the rectangular and the round, just as the prophets of old were the embodiment of the due relationship between man and man. and; This is one of the most important and significant Symbols in Freemasonry. As such, it is proper that its true form should be preserved. French Freemasons have almost universally given it with one leg longer than the other, thus making it a carpenter's square. American Freemasons have, while generally preserving the equality of length in the legs, unnecessarily marked its surface with inches; thus making it an instrument for measuring length and breadth which it is not. It is simply the trying square of a stone-mason, and has a plain surface... and; In Masonic symbolism the Square and Compasses refer to the Freemason's duty to the Craft and to himself; hence it is properly a symbol of brotherhood, and thereby significantly adopted as the badge or token of the Fraternity. So where did all this get me on my quest, Brethren? The answer is nowhere. I can’t find a reference about it anywhere. So I used the only thing I have left, reason. I think it is a matter of orientation and tradition. Where do we look at the symbol from? If we as a lodge look to the east (the place of the master) then we would see them oriented with the points of the compasses to the west. If we look from the point of view of the master, then they should be reversed. We each have our own views on much of the symbolism of Freemasonry. Symbolism itself should be topic of debate in lodges, so if this topic generates some discourse, then I have been successful. Sources: http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/mackeys_encyclopedia/s.htm

20.01.2022 A Good Freemason One of my more pleasant tasks in the craft is meeting prospective candidates. One of the most asked questions is What is Freemasonry? Every Freemason has heard this before. Perhaps a more important question might be to ask is What is a Freemason? Of course prospective candidates don’t ask such a question, the uttering of which might seem rude or presumptuous. But we should ask ourselves that very question. Might I even suggest that we should ask, What ma...Continue reading

19.01.2022 Hello all. Our erstwhile WM has asked me to see if we can advertise for a permanent paid Tyler. If anyone would like to do this you can contact me or Darrel. The job will be advertised on the FM Qld pages but all are welcome to throw their hat in the ring. Kerry

18.01.2022 Today was WB Tony Vecchio's birthday. I was reminded of this by of all things, Facebook. It started to make me think about our relationships with each other generally and Tony in particular. I was saddened in one way, because I had to have a machine remind me about something which we should all know. Today, we are faced with the prospect that he will not be with us forever, though I would like it much better for him to outlive me. In all this time, when has this lodge ever ac...knowledged him. Why do we sit in the bleachers and let people walk through our lives, masonic or private, and never mention the greatness that we see. I have known Tony now for about 15 years I guess. The work that he does or has done over the years has gone largely unheralded and unsung by the lodge. Tony is a very self effacing man even though he should not be so. He alone is responsible for the forward thinking of this lodge. He pushed, nudged, cajoled and encouraged me to do many things which I would otherwise not have done. We see the impetus today, in what he started all those years ago. His son is our current WM and carries on that great tradition. We should strive to make this lodge great, make it a lodge that attracts people of every age colour or creed indeed a lodge that makes us proud to be Freemasons. If we had never listened to his advice, we may still be here but we would be as moribund as many of our contemporaries are today, still nit picking over minute parts of ritual, totally ignoring the craft collapsing around them. So to my friend Tony, I say thanks, even though such a word seems inadequate as I write it. Have a great day, mate.