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Country Freemasonry
A Unique Masonic experience in New Zealand

The rural lifestyle has been the backbone of the New Zealand way of life since colonisation. Early settlers worked hard physically in the extractive industries of sealing, whaling, flax processing, gum digging, gold and coal mining, timber felling and milling, clearing the land and farming in all its forms. They worked hard, played hard (rugby, racing and beer) and took a great pride in physical prowess and the belief that ‘Jack was as good as his master'. This ideal of physical competence, self reliance and equality become the essence of the New Zealand psyche.

At colonisation New Zealand's predominantly British settlers brought with them the dreams of a new country and an egalitarian society without the pervasive class structure of the old homeland. While building new social systems and structures, they retained parts of their cultural history, including games, pastimes and fraternal societies. Freemasonry was among the earliest fraternal organisations introduced. Freemasons Lodges were established in the main centres of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin soon after colonisation began. As the increasingly more rural areas were opened up for European settlement Lodges were started in many communities.

The country Lodge became a focal point in many rural societies. The Lodge was and is a place for building social and economic networks, a focal point for organising community work and a rallying point in times of emergency. If one looks at the honours board of the local Lodge many of the names also appear on local and regional councils, school and college boards, power boards, hospital boards and trust boards of the time.

In earlier days in many isolated rural communities the Lodge became an important venue for men to meet socially with other like minded men. Many travelled long distances, often on horseback, over rough roads and tracks to attend the monthly Lodge meeting. Some Lodges such as the Oroua Lodge No 215 at Apiti met on a Friday night so that the Brethren could stay overnight at the local hotel and travel home in the morning. Other Lodges, for example the Kimbolton Lodge no 123, even organised their meeting nights to fit in with the phases of the moon so that Brethren could have the moonlight to travel home by. Given the difficulty of getting to and from Lodge it is not surprising that a tradition of country Lodge friendship, and hospitality developed that is unsurpassed.

This tradition of friendship and hospitality still exists today in the country Lodges throughout New Zealand and never more so than in the Ruapehu district. The Ruapehu Country Lodges are committed to providing the highest standards of friendliness and hospitality both in the Lodge room and in refectory. So Brethren, why not get a group together and visit one of the country Lodges. If you come and visit us you can be assured of a reciprocal visit to your Lodge of at least twice as many Brethren as come with you.

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