The lodge took its name from the first 'swagger
suburb' of Johannesburg and its founders included
brethren already prominent on the Transvaal masonic
scene, including the Acting IPM, Solomon Hershfield,
the Collector of Customs, who had helped to overcome
Grand Lodge resistance to forming new lodges in the
Transvaal while it was not under British rule and
subsequently became the Charter Master of the Gold
Fields Lodge; the Charter Master, J W S (later Sir
Jan) Langerman, managing director of the Robinson
Deep Group, who was to give generous assistance to
Royal George Lodge after the South African War; and
the Charter Senior Warden Rev Mark Harris, the first
District Grand Chaplain: a leading if somewhat
controversial figure in the Hebrew Congregation. And
there was an interesting father and son combination
in G R and G S Burt Andrews. They were respectively
the first Treasurer and the first Senior Deacon of
the Lodge and while the latter 'stepped off the
ladder' in Doornfontein to go through the chair of
Johannesburg Lodge he continued his masonic career
to become District Grand Master in 1924.
Doomfontein Lodge got off to a good start and its
first candidate, Bro Fritz Krause, the State
Prosecutor, was to 'make history' in 1900 when, as
Special Commandant of the Boer forces on the
Witwatersrand, he met Lord Roberts to negotiate the
important “cease fire” agreement.
The lodge attracted very strong support from the
Jewish community and so, as the war clouds gathered,
it held a remarkable blend of brethren in Government
positions, of Uitlanders and of the professional and
trading communities, and perhaps it was as well that
the lodge went into recess in September 1899, so
avoiding any possible strain on feelings of
brotherhood.
Even so, when the lodge resumed activity after the
war, only a small hardcore of brethren remained and
a virtually fresh start was necessary. However, with
vigorous support from Johannesburg and Gold Fields
Lodges, Doornfontein was back to full strength by
the end of 1903.
The loss of most of the early lodge records leaves a
long gap in its history which can only be covered by
saying that all seems to have gone well. But from
the 1930s it can be seen that the lodge attracted a
wide admixture of brethren and continues to do so.
These have included some outstanding contributors to
Transvaal Freemasonry, including Maurice Mendelsohn
(Worshipful Master 1936/37), a brother of all-round
prominence; Tommy Coleman (Worshipful Master
1938/9), Treasurer for over forty years and a
distinguished District Organist; Harold Cohen
(Worshipful Master 1956/57), of Plate Glass fame, a
most useful member of the District Board of General
Purposes; and Manfred Hermer (Worshipful Master
1968/69). Manfred Hermer combined being an
oustanding architect with a range of cultural
talents, including a gift for painting. As District
Grand Superintendent of Works, he placed his
professional skills at the disposal of the District
for ten years, prior to becoming an Assistant
District Grand Master from 1979 to 1987. And he was
the Charter Master and a valued member of the Lyceum
Lodge of Research No 8682, which also enjoys the
active support of Doornfontein members Neil
Mankowitz and Rod Grosskopff, another Assistant
District Grand Master.
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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