The 1971 Commission of Enquiry issued an interim
report in November of that year which recommended
that 'consideration should immediately be given to
the formation of a Lodge of Research', so District
had good cause to welcome the initiative taken, a
few years later, by a number of brethren, largely of
Gold Fields Lodge, who followed up the very
successful production of an 18th century working
with a series of meetings leading to a decision to
form a research lodge, sponsored by Gold Fields.
So the lodge was consecrated, with Manfred Hermer as
its Charter Master, and it has firmly pursued the
twin causes of masonic and education research ,
through the production of original papers and
education through lecturing, and the production,
every two years or so, of masonic plays or early or
unusual workings. The festive board, as originally
decided, has been 'a place of decorous yet lively
conviviality', with strong echoes of the 18th
century. A correspondence circle was formed in 1979
and the lodge's transactions are now issued
annually.
The lodge has worked conscientiously and many plays,
lectures and papers have been presented in lodges of
all constitutions. Distinguished lecturers from
overseas have included Colin Dyer, Sir James Stubbs,
Canon Tydeman, Will Read, Cyril Batham and Sir
Lionel Brett (this last being the first official
presentation of a Prestonian lecture in the
Transvaal). Of Lyceum's own members, the late George
Kendall was an outstanding researcher, and had two
papers published in Ars Quatuor Coronatorum. Then
one must refer to Douglas Vieler, who became a full
member of Quatuor Coronati Lodge in 1984, and was
Master in 1991/2; he has had four papers published
in AQC and has presented these and others in Lyceum.
If one adds Manfred Hermer and Rod Grosskopff for
special mention, this is not to deny credit to
others, including Frank Stock for his dedicated work
as play producer and lecturer.
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
Lodges
