Who Are we   What We Believe   Freemasonry Principles  In the beginning

Who Are We?     Top

The Baden Powell Lodge is a Lodge of Freemasons with a common interest in Scouting. Our members meet on the 4th Monday of each month (except December and January). Our meetings commence (Tyle) at 7.30 pm and are held at the Mount Waverley Masonic Centre, 318 Stephensons Road, Mount Waverley, in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Read below how to contact our Lodge or find out more about Freemasonry in Australia

What We Believe   Top

Freemasonry recognises the richness of the cultural beliefs of all men and excludes no individual from membership on the basis of race, religion or politics.

In this sense it is a liberal organisation recognising the value of all men who share a common goal of self-improvement, and who work towards the betterment of mankind.

A man who becomes a Freemason makes a commitment to strive for excellence in all aspects of daily life. Three great principles that are the cornerstone of the beliefs of Freemasonry are taught in Lodges throughout the world. These are traditionally described as Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

Freemasonry Principles     Top

Freemasons are expected to practice these principles by:

• Showing tolerance and respect for the opinions of others and behaving with kindness and understanding to all people.
• Practicing charity and care for their own and for the community by charitable giving and voluntary work.
• Striving for the achievement of the highest ethical and moral behaviour and spiritual truth.

"Meeting of Scouters held at H.Q., 19 Elizabeth Street, 6th June, 1929 for the purpose of forming a Masonic Lodge."
So began the minutes of a meeting of Scouters, chaired by their Chief Commissioner, "Arch" Hoadley, which had been called to discuss and plan the formation of a Scout Lodge. The idea for such a venture had been a regular topic for discussion between Lord Somers, then Grand Master, Chief Scout and Governor of Victoria, and W. D. Kennedy, C. A. Hoadley and W. F. Waters during the years 1927-30 when Lord Somers was able to devote considerable time to his Scouting interests and outdoor activities.

The 10 Scouting Brethren at the meeting agreed to hold meetings on the 4th Monday of each month, in the small Lodge Room of the South Melbourne Temple (known then as the South Suburban Hall).
United Service Lodge No. 330 was to be approached to sponsor a petition to Grand Lodge seeking permission to form a new, and as yet unnamed Lodge. Most Wor. Bro. His Excellency Lt.-Col. The Right Hon. Arthur Herbert Tennyson Baron Somers, K.C.M.G., D.S.G., M.C., Governor and Chief Scout of Victoria, and Most Wor. Grand Master of the day was appointed, in his absence, to be the first Worshipful Master of this new Lodge. Wor. Bro. Charles Archibald Hoadley was appointed as Deputy Wor. Master, for it was realised that Lord Somers would have extreme difficulty in regularly attending meetings. The other Brethren appointed to office were: S.W., Bro. George Homan Thomas, J.W., Bro. William Duncan Kennedy, and Secretary, Wor. Bro. Hugh Cannon.

Annual dues were set at £3/12/-, with an Initiation Fee of £ 10/10/-. Foundation Members' dues for the first year were £10/10/- and Joining Members' dues were to be £7/7/- for the first three years. Although not amply documented, a name for the proposed Lodge was discussed, and it was agreed to hold the matter over until after the forthcoming Jamboree.

The "Arrowe Park" Jamboree, held at Birkenhead, England, in August 1929, presented an ideal opportunity for the Leader of the Australian Jamboree Contingent, C. A. Hoadley in conjunction with W. D. Kennedy, to mention the proposed new Lodge to the newly created Baron Baden-Powell of Gilwell, and to seek his consent to the use of his name for this new Scout Lodge. Lord Baden-Powell readily consented.

It is worthy of note that the naming of the Lodge after a living person was not only unusual, but naming it after a man who himself was not a Freemason, was a break with tradition. W. D. Kennedy writes: "Things moved in earnest soon after we returned, though there was some difficulty in getting permission to use the name 'Baden Powell Lodge' because it is unusual for a Lodge to be named after a living person".

Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scout Movement, had often openly expressed his admiration for our Fraternity, and while in Melbourne in 1931 he suitably inscribed the flyleaf of our V.S.L. "With best wishes for the success of the Lodge in its good work. Baden-Powell of Gilwell, 12th May 1931".

On 22nd August, 1930 Grand Lodge granted a Charter to form a new Lodge to be named Baden Powell Lodge No. 488.  Approval was also received for the proposed Foundation Members' Jewel. Apart from the Masonic content and traditional Scouting green, a yellow diagonal arrow across the jewel was designed to perpetuate the "Arrowe Park" Jamboree discussions relating to the naming of the Lodge.