November, 1929 THE BUILDER

Freemasonry in South Africa

By BRO. WILLIAM MOISTER Transvaal

Bro. Moister, to whom we are indebted for this most interesting
account of the Craft in South Africa, is the Editor of the South
African Masonic World. He is also, if we have it correctly, Grand
Organist of the District Grand lodge of the Transvaal.

The situation in South Africa will seem very strange to American
Masons, and will be very instructive. It is a striking proof that
the doctrine of exclusive territorial jurisdiction is not a
Landmark, as so many believe it to be, nor is it even a necessary
regulation for the good government of the Fraternity and the
preservation of peace and harmony among the Craft

THIS brief survey of freemasonry in South Africa makes no pretense
whatever to be a History of the Craft in this sub-continent, but is
written, primarily, with the view to correcting some erroneous
impressions which prevail in other countries, and also in the hope
that the information may be of use to such American brethren as may
visit these shores, and who would like to enjoy fraternal
intercourse with their South African brethren.

I have had the pleasure of meeting a number of brethren from
different American jurisdictions, and most of them have been under
the impression that there is a Grand Lodge of South Africa. Let me
say at once that we have no Grand jurisdiction at all in South
Africa. The nearest approach to it is the case of the Grand East of
the Netherlands, which body has a Deputy Grand Master for South
Africa in the person of Right Wor. Bro. C. C. Silberbauer, 33d, to
whom the two Provincial grand Masters are subject, he being the
direct representative of the Grand Lodge at the Hague.

Just a word as to the order in which the four Constitutions were
founded in South Africa. The Netherlands started with Lodge de
Goede Hoop (Anglice - Good Hope) in 1772 and this Constitution was
also the pioneer of Freemasonry in the Transvaal. The English,
after some military Lodges which functioned in the latter part of
the eighteenth and early in the 19th century, founded the British
Lodge No. 334 in 1811. Scotland followed (also at Capetown) in 1860
with the Southern Cross Lodge 398, but it was not until 1895 that
the Irish Grand Lodge Chartered a Lodge in South Africa, this being
Abercorn, No. 159.

There are now about three hundred and fifty Lodges under all four
Constitutions, English, Irish, Scottish and Netherlandic, in the
Union of South Africa and Rhodesia. At present Rhodesia has no
local government in the shape of District or Provincial Grand
Lodges, although there is a movement to establish a District Grand
Lodge under the Scottish Constitution. All Lodges in these regions
work directly under their respective Grand Lodges. This was the
case with many Scottish Lodges in the Union of South Africa until
a few years ago, when the District Grand Lodge of the Eastern
Province was established. The same remark applies to the Irish
lodges at the Cape (Peninsular) which did not come under the regime
of the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Africa. But a couple of
years ago the Provincial Grand Lodge of South Africa, Southern, was
established at Capetown, with the Rev. Dr. Watters as Prov. Grand
Master.

The territorial divisions in South Africa, would, I imagine, appear
somewhat chaotic to the American brother who is used to clearly
defined geographical distinctions with supreme jurisdiction in each
state. Constitutionally, the boundaries overlap to a confusing
extent, and as each Constitution has its own ruling with regard to
"higher" degrees, the Royal Arch, Mark Masonry, and so on, it
requires some study to grasp the position. Let me say one thing
here; in English, Irish, Scottish or Netherlandic Lodges any
brother visiting Lodges in South Africa from America will be sure
of the same brotherly welcome and hospitality. All work together
for the common cause and with the utmost harmony, and in many
districts, have joint Funds of Benevolence, and Education, and the
like, no constitutional distinction being made either with regard
to maintenance or benefits.

THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION.

There are five District Grand Lodges District Grand Lodge of South
Africa, Western Division, D.G.L. of S.A. Eastern Division, D.G.L.
of S.A., Central Division, D.G.L. of Natal and D.G.L. of Transvaal,
under Right Wor. Bros. Thos. N. Cranstoun-Day, J.C. Duff, Joseph
Van Praagh, Daniel Saunders and G.S. Burt Andrews respectively. The
first District Grand Lodges covers the western portion of Cape
Province (formerly Cape Colony), the second has a very wide range,
extending to Matatiele in East Griqualand in the East, and as far
as Heilbron in the Orange Free State. Formerly the Lodge at De Aar
came under this District but has recently been transferred to the
Central Division. The Headquarters of the Western Division are at
Capetown, of the Eastern at Port Elizabeth and the Central at
Kimberley. The D.G. Lodge of Natal has its seat at
Pietermaritzburg, while that of the Transvaal is at Freemasons'
Hall, Johannesburg. This last, by the way, is the only District
Grand Lodge which owns its own building, in which most of the
English Lodges in Johannesburg also hold their meetings. The
Central Division takes in one Lodge in the Western Free State (at
Koffiefontein) while several Lodges in the Eastern portion of this
Province are subject to the D. G. Lodge of Natal. I must here
remark that the term " Province " used Masonically does not
necessarily bear any relation to the word in a geographical sense.
The Central Division is the smallest of the District Grand Lodges
and governs Lodges in the Diamond Fields area and North as far as
Mafeking.

THE IRISH CONSTITUTION.

As I have already remarked, the Lodges in the Cape Peninsular come
within the scope of the Prov. Grand Lodge of South Africa,
Southern, while all the rest of South Africa, including Rhodesia,
is under the charge of Rt. Wor. Bro. Dr. J. G. Croghan who resides
at Johannesburg. Although starting many years later than its Sister
Constitutions, the Irish body is making splendid headway. The
enthusiasm displayed by the Irish Craft is wonderful and at the
Annual Stated Communication brethren travel many days' journey from
the uttermost parts of South Africa to attend.

THE SCOTTISH CONSTITUTION.

There are four District Grand Lodges, Western Province, Eastern
Province, Natal and Transvaal. The Transvaal D.G. Lodge includes
the Orange Free State and one Lodge in foreign Territory,
Friendship Lodge at Lourenco Marques, Portuguese East Africa. These
are governed by Rt. Wor. Bros. James Murray Wilson (Capetown), Dr.
F. A. Saunders (Eastern Province), Robert R. Peattie (Natal) and
James Thompson (Transvaal). As remarked earlier, there is a
movement afoot to establish a District Grand Lodge in Rhodesia.

THE NETHERLANDIC CONSTITUTION.

The affairs of this Grand Lodge are controlled from Capetown by Rt.
Wor. Bro. C. C. Silberbauer. The Provincial Grand Master at
Capetown is Rt. Wor. Bro. Mossir Alexander, K. C., who has the
whole of South Africa under his charge, including Rhodesia, while
the Prov. Grand Master of the Transvaal is Rt. Wor. Bro. William B.
M. Vogts. This, the oldest Constitution in South Africa, is making
good headway, although it is small, numerically, compared with the
English and Scottish Craft. Some old Lodges under this banner are
dormant, but a few have been revived of late years while new Lodges
are being formed in various parts of the country.

As I said above, the fact that we have these four Constitutions
working together, with some diversity of territorial jurisdiction,
will seem confusing to brethren who reside in a country where the
geographical boundaries are clearly defined, and where only one
Grand body holds sway in each. The confusion is, however,
intensified when we come to the "Higher," allied or side degrees,
for each Constitution has its own peculiarities in this respect.
For instance: In the English system the Royal Arch Degree, while
worked in a separate Chapter bearing the number of the Lodge with
which it is identified (although not always the same name) is
regarded as part of "Pure and Antient" Freemasonry, and a
complementary degree to that of Master Mason. The brother who holds
the rank of District Grand Master is, as a rule, the Grand
Superintendent of the Royal Arch, though this is not an invariable
rule. At Capetown the District Grand Master is Rt. Wor. Bro.
Cranstoun-Day, while the Office of Grand Superintendent is held by
the Deputy District Grand Master, M. E. Comp. W. J. Gibbons. In all
the other Districts the Grand Supt. is the District Grand Master.

In the Mark Degree the Office of District Grand Master is usually
held by another distinguished brother. This degree, although it has
the Duke of Connaught as Grand Master, is not actually recognized
as part of Craft Freemasonry, under the English Constitution, but
with the Scottish it is different. Any Craft Lodge may work the
Mark degree, and some do; but in the Transvaal the degree is
usually worked in a R. A. Chapter. In the English one may take the
R. A. without the Mark, but not in the Scottish or Irish. And a
Master Mason may proceed to the Rose Croix without any intermediate
degree under the English rule, but not with the Scottish. In the
last named Constitution there is a degree, "Excellent Master,"
which comes before the Royal Arch, and an English Companion has to
retire while this is being worked, though an Irish Companion is
only required to take a short obligation, as it is considered that
the Irish R. A. approximates to the Scottish sufficiently to permit
the Companion to remain in the Chapter while it is being worked.
There are other degrees associated with the Royal Arch in the
Scottish working, the R. A. Mariner, Knights of the Sword, Knights
of the East and Knights of the East and West, and the Installed
Degrees pertaining thereto, as well as the Cryptic degrees. The
R.A. does not appear to be worked by the Netherlandic Constitution,
although there are a few Rose Croix Chapters operating in South
Africa. They have, I believe, some other degrees of which I cannot
say anything, excepting that they are associated with the Rose
Croix system.

THE HIGHER DEGREES.

The Ancient and Accepted Rite, and the A. and A. Scottish Rite have
several Chapters Rose Crois (18d). In the case of the English,
there are under the control of two Sovereign Grand Inspectors
General, Ill. Bro. G. S. Burt Andrews, for Northern South Africa,
and Ill. Bro. J. C. Duff for the Southern portion, while Ill. Bro.
James Thompson is the Sov. Grand Inspector General of the Transvaal
for the Scottish body. As a rule the members of the Rose Croix are
all brethren who have served the Craft with distinction, and the
degree may be considered an exclusive one. After passing the Chair
of Most Wise Sovereign in a Rose Croix Chapter a brother is usually
recommended by the Chapter for the 30d, which is as high as most
brethren ever get. There are very few (probably not more than a
score) of 31d and 32d Masons in South Africa, while it is not until
a brother is appointed to the charge of a territory as Sov. Grand
Inspector General that he has the honour of the 33d conferred on
him. There are other orders such as the Knights Templar and the
Order of the Secret Monitor working here, but their numbers are
limited, and few of the rank and file of the Craft enter them.

I have noticed that the "Higher degrees" seem to command a large
support in America, and this is, probably, because where very large
Lodges exist, the brethren naturally seek for other channels of
advancement. With us the Lodge is a small unit, many Lodges
containing perhaps twenty to thirty active members. We consider a
Lodge of a hundred a large one. Our opportunities for advancement
in the Craft proper, therefore, are greater than seems to be the
case in the United States, five to ten years being long enough in
the ordinary way for a brother to attain the Chair of King Solomon,
while there are the further prospects of advancement in District or
Provincial Grand Lodge rank.

MASONIC BENEVOLENCE

The four Constitutions unite in supporting Masonic Charities in
most Districts and Provinces. We have only one District which can
boast of "Bricks and Mortar" in this respect, namely the Transvaal,
which has a fine Masonic Hostel for boys at Boksburg, a few miles
from Johannesburg. There is every prospect of a similar institution
for girls being established in the near future, while another
scheme which has been mooted from time to time is the foundation of
a Hostel for aged brethren and widows. The Boys' Home is under the
auspices of the Transvaal Masonic Educational Institution, while
the relief of aged and indigent brethren and their widows and
dependents is undertaken by the Transvaal Masonic Benevolent Fund.
In addition to this, most District and Prov. Grand Lodges have
their own Benevolent Fund, as has every Private Lodge.

MEETING PLACES.

The only District Grand Lodge which owns a building is that under
the English Constitution for the Transvaal. Freemasons' Hall in
Johannesburg was acquired some years ago, and the Offices of
District Grand Lodge are in this fine building. Most of the English
Lodges in the city meet there. In some other cases a building is
owned jointly by two or three Lodges under different Constitutions.
Most Lodges in the country, even the smallest towns, have their own
building; sometimes used entirely for Masonic purposes, and
sometimes let for entertainments, public meetings, school
accommodation, and so on. There is now no Lodge meeting on licensed
premises (i.e. in hotels or restaurants). Sometimes a Parish Hall
or Town Hall is used, or a Church Schoolroom.

In the larger centres, such as Capetown, Pretoria, Johannesburg,
Kimberley, Pietermaritzburg, etc., several Lodges meet in the same
building which is the property of one or more of the Lodges in
these towns.

From time to time talk of a United Grand Lodge of South Africa has
filled the air, and some abortive attempts have been made to bring
this about. Personally I much doubt if the present generation will
see this consummation. Despite the many economic advantages it
would offer, the ties of loyalty to the Mother Grand Lodges are too
strong for severance. In the meanwhile the utmost harmony prevails
between the four Constitutions, the interchange of visits being
general, while cordial cooperation in Masonic Charity is the rule
in all Provinces and Districts. There is much diversity of
"working" for, besides the natural differences between the
Constitutions, there is much latitude permitted, especially in the
Scottish Craft, and one may see in Johannesburg, the M. M. degree
worked in at least four different ways in as many Lodges. There is
a tendency in the English Constitution to eliminate a number of
"innovations" which have crept in through association with other
Constitutions, and to return to "Emulation" work, a movement which
has the strong support of the District Grand Masters, of the
Transvaal and the Eastern and Western Divisions of South Africa.

The District and Provincial Grand Masters do a tremendous amount of
travelling in visiting the Lodges under their charge. With the
advent of the motor car and increased railway facilities this is
easier than it was even so late as twenty-five to thirty years ago;
but with all these advantages the lot of the Head of a District is
a very arduous, even if a happy one.

There are now no Military Lodges, in the accepted sense of the
term, in South Africa, the last of these going away with the
British forces which were stationed at the capital cities of South
Africa prior to Union in 1910. There are, however, two lodges in
Johannesburg of which the membership is confined to those who have
served their King and Country in one or another branch of His
Majesty's forces. The older of these is the Transvaal Volunteer
Lodge, under the Scottish Constitution, where one may see a Private
in the Chair of K. S., and a Lt. Colonel in one of the subordinate
offices. The other was formed only recently, under the English
banner, and composed of Commissioned Officers.

In the English, Scottish and Irish Constitutions the new Worshipful
Master is installed by a Board of Installed Masters mid-way in the
Installation Ceremony, but the Netherlandic Constitution has no
degree of Installed Master. In view, however, of the disability
this would impose upon a Wor. Master of a Netherlandic Lodge
visiting other Constitutions, by arrangement with the three other
Constitutions this degree is worked after the Master Masons and all
other brethren have finally retired from the Lodge Room. It is not
an essential feature of his Mastership, and is only conferred as an
act of courtesy for the reason above stated.
