Wednesday, 25 August 1858 - the Provincial Grand Lodge of English Freemasons met at the Lodge room of the Lodge of Truth No.933 EC, the Queen's Head Hotel, Kermode Street, North Adelaide. Bro. John Lazar presided over a large attendance. The Lodge then proceeded, accompanied by His Excellency Bro. Sir R.G. MacDonnell, Governor-in-Chief of South Australia, to lay the foundation stone of the Masonic Hall in Brougham Place, North Adelaide, in the garden adjoining the residenceof Mr J.B. Neales, MP. The ceremony was performed in accordance with ancient Masonic rites.
For a detailed report see The Register of 26 August 1858. The report mentions that the building was designed by Mr Edmund W. Wright, Architect, in January 1856, in Roman Doric design, surmounted by a handsome cornice which rises over a pediment in the centre. The front portion of the structure to consist of an entrance 27 ft long by 8 ft wide, supper room 27 ft x 14 ft, two waiting rooms and stairs on the ground floor, and a lecture room over all 40 ft x 27 ft and 15 ft high; builders Messrs English and Brown. A hall was proposed to be erected at the rear at a later date, intended to be 80 ft x 40 ft, 24 ft high, lighted by windows considerably elevated above the ground and ornamented by pilasters and cornices in keeping with the exterior.
The hall was erected by a company of shareholders, called 'The North Adelaide Masonic and Public Hall Association'. The Trustees were John Bentham Neales MP, John Tuthill Bagot MP and Samuel Wright. The Directors were Frederic Wicksteed (Chairman), Ulysses North Bagot, William Thomas Sabben, John Richardson and Edward M Bagot, with William Alexander Hughes as Secretary.
20 August 1858 - first meeting of Percy Encampment of Knights Templar. Percy Encampment was founded by CS Poole, William Fiveash, Henry Stodart, FT Percy Wells and Francis Haire, with CS Poole as first Preceptor.
22 September 1858 - Bro. Percy Wells admitted a member of the Lodge of Friendship No.613 EC. Percy Wells was involved in the foundation of Percy Rose Croix Chapter, Percy Encampment of Knights Templar and the Adelaide Mark Lodge No.41 EC. Later in 1860 he advocated the use of the "Somerset Ritual" by the Lodge of Friendship. Percy Wells had previously been Master in 1854 of Royal Cumberland Lodge No.41 EC in Bath, England.
St John's Day, Monday 27 December 1858 - the Provincial Grand Lodge of English Freemasons met at the Lodge room of the Lodge of Truth No.933 EC, the Queen's Head Hotel, Kermode Street, North Adelaide. Bro. John Lazar presided together with the Grand Wardens, Brothers Haire and Fiveash. The brethren then proceeded in procession to Brougham Place where the new Masonic Hall was dedicated according to ancient Masonic usage, following a presentation by Bro. Edmund W Wright, the architect. The building, now known as Belmont House, was sold in 1863 when it became a private residence.
Later the following were installed as Masters: Bro. HE Downer, United Tradesmen Lodge; and Bro. H Duncan, Lodge of Unity. In the evening a number of Craftsmen celebrated St John's Day by a dinner in the new Masonic Hall, Bro. WA Hughes, Master of the Lodge of Truth presiding.
A detailed report is given in The Register of 28 December 1858.
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