Emil Tamsen, the father of Freemasonry in Nylstroom, was undoubtedly one of the great masons of the Transvaal.. Of German birth, he came to South Africa in 1880 and soon established a successful trading business between Pretoria and Nylstroom, and he became the mayor of the latter town in 1905. Also he was a most distinguished philatelist. Initiated in Transvaal Lodge in 1887, he was Charter Senior Warden of the first lodge in Nylstroom, Pyramids No 2968, which was consecrated in 1903. Unfortunately, following a local rebellion during the First World War, the lodge was forced into recess, and in 1916 returned its warrant.

After the war, Bro Tamsen was determined to re-establish a lodge in Nylstroom. He eventually succeeded in gaining enough support to obtain a new charter and Pyramid Lodge No 5003 was consecrated in 1928. Bro Tamsen received Grand honours in 1941.

The names 'Pyramids' and 'Pyramid' are a reminder of the discovery by the Voortrekkers, in about 1840, of a river flowing northwards, which they believed to be the source of the Nile.

The lodge has always been a small one, depending for its survival on a few stalwarts, backed in more recent years by good support from Pretoria, and from its paired lodge, Bramley No 8052. A unique incident was the eating of the lodge warrant by ants, resulting in a new warrant being obtained, duly endorsed with the reason for its issue.



Meeting place: 46 Hertzog Str., Nylstroom