First Chartered in 1881; a daughter Lodge of United Manawatu No. 1721; of the English Constitution, becoming The Feilding Lodge No. 1940 EC:

With the formation of the New Zealand Grand Lodge; The Feilding Lodge were one of the foundation supporters, for this new jurisdiction. The Feilding Lodge No. 41 held their first regular meeting, under this jurisdiction of N.Z.C. on the 29^th December, 1890:

This Lodge’s history, has close association with the history of the township of Feilding; in the Manchester Block Settlement. The planned settlement of 106,000 acres, purchased by the Emigrant Colonists Aid Corporation in 1871; appointed Mr. A.F. Halcombe as their N.Z. Agent; under whose guidance, and the toil of 2,000 Selected Settlers, the land achieved steady growth and development; resulting in the township becoming a Constituted Municipal Borough 1881:

Some early Pioneers of the area, were Freemasons. One of the founding members of The Feilding Lodge, Mr. Hector J. Booth; was the contracted carrier to transport many of the Selected Settlers (by Bullock Dray), into the new settlement, some of the first being the Men of the families, (recently arrived from England), among these were the Belk family: A grandson of this family, was initiated into the Feilding Lodge No. 41 approx. 57 years later, followed by a great grandson, the latter still an active member, at the present time.

Mr. Hector J. Booth, held various positions in The Feilding Lodge; among these as Master and Past Master; a further 3 generations of his family also followed in Bro. Booth’s tradition; a grandson a current member in 2006:

During the Past 125 years of The Feilding Lodge, the position of W.M. has been held by Prominent Citizens, Past Mayors, and civic Councillors of the town.

The Feilding Lodge held their regular meetings in four different Lodge Rooms, during their earlier years; until this Masonic Temple was Consecrated on the 04^th April, 1898; the original Temple has now reached the age of 107 years; throughout this time, care, attention, and additions have enhanced the facility:

A flourishing Feilding Lodge, enabled two daughter lodges to be formed in outlying districts to Feilding; (i.e.) The Kimbolton Lodge No. 123, in 1902, and 4 years later Rongotea Lodge No. 146, during 1906; another 21 years saw Lodge Manchester No. 287; formed within the Feilding town:

Since celebrating their Centenary in 1981; The Feilding Lodge had a steady decline in our membership, the result of some Members passing to the Grand Lodge above, has helped contribute to this situation; although this “Lodge with Purpose”, is still working, 125 years on; with the support of their daughter Lodges, and joining members, gaining new Initiates can be a slow process:

Visiting distant Lodges can prove to be a problem at times; due to personal commitments, increasing age, and poor health; of members, but we endeavour to maintain this tradition.

This past year the Lodge revived the tradition of the “Carl Hausman Travelling Gavels” with Pacific Leinster Lodge No. 2; these Gavels were first presented in 1946.

A complete history of The Feilding Lodge is in the process of being compiled, 125 years is a lot of history: