Lodge Merton

On October the 17th. 1921 a preliminary meeting was held in the St. Luke's Sunday School at Campbell Town between GP Whight, P Hinds, HJ Smith, Lieut. Col. Henry Foster and the Rev. F. Gordon.

Freemasonry had existed in the town prior to this date, and although records are vague, it is known that the Lodge of Faith, 992 E.C. was established there in 1881 after transferring from Launceston.  The first meeting of the Lodge of Faith in the town was held on the 2nd. March of that year at the Caledonian Hotel.  The Lodge met on the full moon.  An uphill struggle saw it lapse in 1886. For thirty five years there was no further Masonic activity in Campbell Town.

The Brethren at the October 1921 meeting asked Wor. Bro. Whight to seek information regarding the cost of furniture, regalia and mode of procedure to form a Lodge.  A further meeting took place on the first of November, 1921, with Wor. Bro. Whight in the chair.  It was there decided unanimously to proceed with the formation of a Lodge to be known as Lodge Merton, and to meet once a month in St. Luke's Hall.

Lodge Merton, 39 T.C., was consecrated on Saturday 22nd. April, 1922.  Lord Carrington Lodge, 22 T.C., of  Fingal was the sponsor Lodge.  The then Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania, Most Wor. Bro. MHL D'Emden and his Grand Lodge officers carried out the ceremony of the Installation and Investiture of the Foundation Members.

It was not until March 1929 that a credit balance was recorded at the bank.  At that time the Lodge had 21 members.

On the 14th. May 1930 Wor. Bro. RM Webster announced to the Lodge that Wor. Bro. RL Gatenby had offered a building known as 'Keens Old Brewery' erected circa 1840 for the use of the Lodge rent free for 10 years. Work of converting the rooms by voluntary labour proceeded immediately. 

The new Lodge Room was dedicated by Most Worshipful Brother FP Bowden, Grand Master, on 12th. July, 1930.  A new set of Tracing Boards was presented on that day by Rt. Wor. Bro. WA Downie on behalf of the Kingston Lodge. 

The Secretary of that time, Bro. FE Yarnall, records that the provision of the new Masonic Hall would not have been possible without the "conspicuous generosity of Wor. Bro. RL Gatenby, who has given us the Hall rent free, besides contributing largely to the furnishing of it." 

Bro. Yarnell further records that the members Lodge Merton "contributed the handsome sum" of eighty-eight pounds, eighteen shillings and four pence towards the establishment costs.  There were 24 members at the time.  In addition, sixteen pounds ten shillings was received from four Launceston Lodges (St. Johns Lodge, Lodge of Hope, St. Andrews Lodge and St. Andrew Lewis Lodge) and the Consecration collection raised a further seven pounds nine shillings.  The Lodge finished up in debt that financial year to the tune of six pounds, one shilling and eight pence.  An average weekly wage in those days would have been about one pound.

Wor. Bro. Gatenby died shortly thereafter and the Lodge records show that in 1932 the sum of two hundred pounds was borrowed from the Grand Lodge of Tasmania for the purchase of the building from the Estate.  The building was duly purchased, and ownership vested in a Board of Trustees made up of Lodge Members.

The Lodge grew in strength until it reached its meridian in 1966 with a membership of 61 Brethren.

During the period from early 1969 to August 1975 the members of the Lodge sought ways of raising the finance to make various improvements to the building, a major part of which was the construction of a new toilet block and the renovation of the kitchen facilities.  Due to the inability of raising the money through other avenues, and as the premises had a Heritage Listing, attention was turned to the possibility of obtaining a grant from the National Estate and the Federal Government.

It was found that the only way money could be obtained from this source was if the Title Deed of the property was vested in the name of a public body such as a Municipality.

The Minutes of the Board Meeting of the Lodge which was held on June 4 1975 show that a draft agreement proposing that the building be vested in the name of the Campbell Town Municipality and leased back for a period of 99 years at a 'peppercorn' rental had been prepared.  It would seem that after consultation with the Municipal Council the period was reduced to 21 years, as the procedure was, after all, only a device to enable the receipt of the grant.  The terms of the agreement stated that the Lodge paid a rental of $1 per year, plus Municipal rates, insurance and all maintenance costs.

The property was accordingly so vested by three of the then Trustees of the Lodge: Henry Foster, Robert Webster and James O'Brien, and the transfer of the Deeds vesting ownership in the Municipality of Campbell Town occurred.  A Lease Agreement between the Trustees and the Municipality was signed on August 11 1975.  The money was granted by the Federal Government and the alterations were eventually completed.

During the 21 year period the Municipality of Campbell Town, together with other areas, was absorbed into a larger entity - the Northern Midlands Council. 

Towards the end of this period (December 1995) the Lodge requested the Council to return ownership of the Title.  The Council refused, and indicated that they would be offering the property for public sale at the conclusion of the lease term.

This was a near mortal blow to the Lodge which by then was also suffering from the twin problems of ailing finances and falling membership.  Alternative accommodation was sought, and the Lodge moved it's Charter to the Dulverton Masonic Hall at Oatlands on August 31 1996, where it meets as a tenant Lodge and shares the building with the owners, Lodge Dulverton, 66 T.C.

In retrospect, this has been a rewarding, highly successful move.  The financial situation of the Lodge has improved, although membership dropped to 20 Brethren in mid-2000, and Merton found itself able to materially assist in maintaining the viability of Lodge Dulverton.

The move by Lodge Merton is a classic case for the positive effects of the rationalization of Masonic Buildings.