Rongotea Lodge was established by a group of enthusiasts who believed that a Lodge of Freemasons in Rongotea, the town being noted for the number and variety of religious congregations, would provide a centre from which would radiate a spiritual influence beneficial to the community. Around 1905, there were quite a number of Brethren living in the town, and a meeting was called to discuss forming a lodge. At the meeting it was resolved by W. Bro Sutton and seconded by Charles Bowater, that steps be taken to form a lodge in Rongotea. Charles Bowater was requested to ascertain if the Temperance Hall, adjacent to the "Good Templer" church could be purchased and at what price. Whether the purchase took place is unknown but some agreement must have concurred, as the lodge occupied these premises until these lodge rooms were built in 1907.

Rangitikei No. 38 and Feilding No. 41, being the two closest lodges to Rongotea, gave their assent to the formation of a lodge in Rongotea, and on the 15th of February 1906, Rongotea Lodge no. 146 was constituted and dedicated. There were 11 foundation members; four from The Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge No. 47, 4 from The Rangitikei Lodge No. 38 and one from each of Pacific 2, Tararua 67 and Amberley 2007 EC.

The first year of this fledgling Lodge is rather interesting: 10 emergency meetings, 17 initiations, double degrees were common and on one occasion four brethren were raised to the 3rd degree. On April 10 in 1907, two candidates received their 3rd degree prior to the installation ceremony!

Now some interesting facts emerge about the 1st Master of this Lodge - Tom Sutton. A carpenter by trade, he also farmed a property in the area. He was initiated, aged 27, in The Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge (then known as The Manawatu Kilwinning No. 690 S.C.) in April 1883 and was Master in 1887 - 4 years later! Rapid promotion!

Tom Sutton's connections with The Manawatu Kilwinning Lodge have had a permanent effect on some of the ‘traditions' of Rongotea Lodge. Much of the ceremonial work in the early days of the lodge was carried out by Manawatu Kilwinning Brethren, with the result that some portions of that lodge's ritual have become part of Rongotea's. This is in itself interesting, remembering that Rangitikei 38 and Feilding 41 were the two ‘assenting' lodges to the formation of Rongotea.

Over the years, Rongotea Lodge has evolved, revolved ... and very nearly dissolved. It's sister lodge relationship with Lodge Whanganui No. 219 began in 1923 on October 24th. This was the first visit Lodge Whanganui had made outside their own city, and the visit was reciprocated on April 25th 1924. A suitably inscribed gavel to be exchanged on regular visits was presented after WWII - the World Wars the only time the visits were suspended.

The hub of the lodge rooms was a rectangular building with central door and on each side a window. The right wing additions were added in 1951. It must have been after the completion of these additions that the late W. Bro Bernie Carroll was subcontracted to paint the aluminum roof - galvanized iron being unobtainable at that time.

Bernie described this job as one of his memorable tasks, and his recollection of the summer heat of Rongotea. He had removed his shoes to allow grip on the roof - aluminum being slippery when new and offering no footing. When he got home that night, his feet were blistering from the intense heat he had subjected them to. I don't know if the roof has been repainted since, but Bernie offered the opinion that the paint ‘baked' on and would last 50 years! The roof has been replaced recently but Bernie's paint job definitely lasted the fifty years he claimed it would

But Rongotea can stand proud. Having passed its centenary in 2006  the present members have recently completely renovated the building  and are looking forward to a prosperous future for the Lodge. What the future holds is anyone's guess, but it is important that the history behind a lodge is remembered and preserved. This lodge is distinctive in that it was founded in a town noted for the number and variety of its religious groups which were dominated by people fervent in beliefs and ideals and managed to coexist amicably with all of them.