The Lodge Apollo was the last lodge to be
consecrated in the Transvaal before that province
became part of the Union of South Africa on I July
1910. 'Lodge' preceded 'Apollo' in the name to
distinguish the Lodge from many others called
Apollo.
The Lodge was established largely for educationists
but the scope of recruitment was gradually widened
and over the years came to include members of
distinction inside and outside Freemasonry. Of the
former, pride of place must be accorded to Bro
Vernon Fairbrass, who became District Grand Master
in 1942. Of the latter, Professor R A Dart, world
famed as an anthropologist, went through the chair
of Apollo in 1934/5, and in a different sphere, the
W M for 1944/5 was Alec Mcphail, the founder of what
was to become the largest coal distribution business
in South Africa and the subject of the slogan: 'Mac
won't fail you'. The Witwatersrand Technical College
was a substantial source of members, including John
Off, 0 B E, (WM 1918/9), and Joe Ettershank (WM
1951/2) whose gravelly whispers in the East could be
distinctly heard in the West. Tom Downing (WM
1961/2) achieved Grand rank and was Third District
Grand Principal in the Royal Arch from 1975 to 1976.
Altogether six members of Apollo have attained Grand
rank, a sure indication that the lodge has played an
active and worthy part in Transvaal Freemasonry.
Shortly after arriving at Oxford, Rhodes was initiated into Freemasonry at the Apollo University lodge No. 357. On April 17, 1877, he was raised a Master Mason in the same lodge. Rhodes also joined a Scottish Rite Lodge at Oxford called Prince Rose Croix Lodge No. 30.
Exsequi Lodge meets at Park
Lane in Johannesburg, South Africa on the fourth Monday of
February (Election Meeting), April (Installation Meeting),
June, August, October and November. Exsequi is a Freemasons
Dining Lodge and masonic guests are most welcome.
Freemasonry a web site for and about Freemasons - South African
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