In Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, there is a lodge of Freemasons that has maintained its connection with the United Grand Lodge of England for more than 165 years.
Combermere Lodge No 752 was established in 1858 and has a fascinating history. When the United Grand Lodge of Victoria was formed in 1889, the lodge retained its English constitution, preserving its connection with English Freemasonry across generations.
Named after Field Marshal Viscount Combermere, a distinguished soldier and Freemason, the lodge continues to uphold the traditions of the English constitution thousands of miles from home.
But Freemasonry is about much more than history. It is about the friendships we build, the experiences we share and the bonds that unite us, wherever we happen to be in the world.
That was certainly the experience of Andrew Hall, a member of North Meols Lodge No 5828 in the Southport Group who recently visited Combermere Lodge while in Australia.
Andrew witnessed an excellent first degree ceremony and, in the true spirit of Freemasonry, made many new friends, including brethren visiting from New Zealand.
Reflecting on his visit, Andrew said: “It was well worth bringing my regalia and I would strongly recommend visiting the lodge while in Australia.”
His experience is a wonderful reminder that, although we may live thousands of miles apart, our shared traditions in Freemasonry provide an immediate connection. A visit to a lodge on the other side of the world can quickly turn unfamiliar faces into friends.
For Andrew, a visit to Australia became an opportunity to experience English Freemasonry on the other side of the world, and to discover that the warmth of the friendship of Freemasonry travels just as far as its members.
One fraternity. Many nations. Friendships without borders.
Wherever your travels take you, you never know which lodge door might open to a new friendship.