PORT Macquarie people will be given an opportunity to find out more about the world’s oldest fraternal society when two Masonic lodges open their doors on Wednesday.
The Port Macquarie Daylight Lodge No 991 and the Lodge Hastings No 69 will hold Masonic information sessions.
The sessions will be at 10am and 7pm at the Masonic Centre located on the corner of Grant and Burrawan streets.
Freemasonry is the oldest fraternal society in the world and attracts men of good standing who have the welfare of mankind at heart.
In years gone by, Masonry was very secretive, but times are changing for this very old fraternal group.
While sharing a concern for human values and moral standards, the sanctity of the family and respect for the laws of society, Freemasonry is prominent in contributing to a wide range of community charities.
“We see ourselves as an important part of the community and we do a lot in community such as charity work,” Port Macquarie Daylight Lodge master Mr Neville Roth said
“Masonry is much more open these days.
“While we are a not a secret society we still have certain ways that we can identify each other.”
Mr Roth said Masonry had gone into decline over the past 50 years but pointed out that other societies and clubs had battled similar problems in attracting members.
“But what I can tell you is that Masonry will be around in the next 50 years. It will be around as long there are men of good character.”
Freemasonry, a non-profit organisation, is a society to join together in happy unity men of high ideals, regardless of colour, creed or worldly status.
Many famous people have been Masons including Sir Donald Bradman, Lachlan Macquarie, John Oxley, Mozart, Prince Philip, Winston Churchill, Weary Dunlop, Rudyard Kipling and Bert Oldfield.
Many Australian prime ministers have also been Masons.
The object of Freemasonry in NSW is to provide a community service. In practice this is translated into a variety of charitable works ranging from building homes for the aged to post-secondary and post-graduate education scholarships anda benevolent fund to help Masons and non-masons.