Piet Retief, named after the Voortrekker leader, was
established in 1885 in an area noted for forestry.
The Assegai river runs through the town, hence the
name 'Mkonto (or assegai) selected by the lodge
founders. As was the occasional practice in the
early years of the District, no doubt because of
travelling difficulties, the Consecrating Officer (W
Bro C A Yate) was a District officer from the
nearest lodge, Concordia at Ermelo.
The WM in 1922/3 was Bro Harry Pannall, who, having
already been through the chair of Heidelberg Lodge,
was to go on to develop an active masonic career of
over 60 years, to be celebrated at a special meeting
of Royal George Lodge in Krugersdorp in 1971. While
in the chair of 'Mkonto he proposed that a suitable
site for lodge premises be purchased in Piet Retief
and this was achieved at a total land and building
costs of some £1150. Although the lodge had £750 in
hand, the balance of borrowing was only cleared in
1969 !
The lodge premises have the deserved reputation of
being haunted, for while there is an answer to the
'phantom' itself, one half of the lodge room door
having warped, placing tension on the barrel bolts
holding the door closed, the timing of the resultant
knocks to take place only during workings has never
been explained.
The lodge has experienced increasing difficulty as a
result of so few active members being resident in or
near Piet Retief. The paired lodge Civil Service,
has been supportive, but a recent year saw 'Mkonto
barely able to open at several meetings and
unsettled times were obviously a deterrent to
travelling. A recent move has been for the lodge to
meet on Saturday mornings, while the 'lodge ladies'
do their shopping and meet socially in the town.
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
