Lodge St Andrew No 608 SC was born on 6 August 1877, in Queenstown, South Africa. It was not the first Masonic Lodge in this town, as Lodge Star of the East dates back to 1862 – some 15 years earlier.

Although the Charter is dated 6 August 1877, the first Meeting place until 14 March 1878 – this might well be the reason that the Annual Installation was held in march every year.

The first Minutes of the Lodge, for the Meeting held on 14 March 1878, read as follows : “Minutes of the Opening of St Andrew Lodge No 608 SC held on 14th day of March 1878 (which incidentally was a Thursday), RWM Bro G. Smyth in the Chair. Dispensation & Constitution forming said St Andrew Lodge No 608 SC having been read, the Lodge was regularly opened and dedicated. The RWM thereafter obligated and installed the Office Bearers in their respective Offices. “

So, the first Meeting was without and pomp or ceremony. The first RWM was Bro George Smyth, WSW was Bro Charles Howse, and WJW was JG Brimner.

Once the RWM Installed the Office Bearers at that first Meeting on 14 March 1878, he then proceeded to read the Bye-Laws of the Lodge. Following that, the Secretary readout 5 names of Brethren desirous of joining the Lodge.

Amongst these names, were JA Bremner and AW Bremner. It is interesting to note that Bro JG Bremner was already Installed as WJW, and Bro WA Bremner was Installed as the Secretary.

There was also a sixth name Proposed and Seconded for a Mr R Preston, to become a “Serving Member”. It is unknown why the former 5 were proposed as “members”, and the latter was propsed as a “serving member”.

After there was a brief respite for refreshments, a Mr J. Gammie was Initiated in due and antient form to become the first Initiate of the Lodge.

Immediately after the conclusion of the Initiation, the RWM called for the second candidate to be Initiated – Mr AW Brimner.

Not content with having two Initiates for the evening of the first Meeting, the RWM then called for Mr. R Preston to be “Introduced and Initiated as a Serving Brother, in due and antient form”. The term “serving Brother does not appear next to the names of the others Initiated.

The evening was not yet over, as the RWM proceeded to call the Deacons to prepare Mr A Newman to be the fourth Initiation for the evening.

Astonishingly, after this, the RWM called for Mr JA Brimner to be “prepared for Initiation in due and antient form” by the Deacons – the fifth Initiate for the evening!!!

Each Initiation was completed separately, as each one had its own paragraph in the Minutes for the evening. To add to this marathon evening, when the RWM asked the Secretary if there was any further business, he was informed that there were applications from two more gentlemen to join the Lodge and Freemasonry – Mr Crosby and Mr Trennery.

Each were Proposed, Seconded and Balloted for SEPERATELY.

The time (now estimated to be around 2AM in the morning), the entry in the Minutes stated, “There being no further business to transact, the Lodge was closed in due and antient form, the Brethren separating in Love, Peace and Harmony”. (unfortunately, no exact time was given for this).

It is interesting to note that of the 5 Initiates of the first evening of Lodge St Andrew’s existence, 3 went on to become RWM’s of this Lodge.

The next Meeting of the Lodge took place a mere 8 days later, on Wednesday 22 March 1878. Not being content with just 2 Meetings in March 1878, an Emergency Meeting was held on 28 March 1878, and another Emergency Meeting was held on 4 April 1878. This, over and above the Regular Meeting, which was held on 11 April 1878.
A further Emergency Meeting was held between the Regular Meetings of April and May 1878.

After this, something very exciting happened – In June 1878, the Regular Meeting was on 13 June 1878, and this was followed by an Emergency Meeting on 22 June 1878. On 26, 27 & 28 June 1878, Emergency Meetings took place.

The Lodge was Consecrated at the Dugmore Street Lodge rooms in Queenstown, and on 10 October 1883, moved to the Temple , in Porter Street.

The ground was sold by Mr George Hay to Lodge St Andrew by deed of transfer, dated 22 February 1882. A building was erected and Consecration and Dedication took place in October 1883. The total cost of the grounds and building amounted to £600 – wholly defrayed by the Brethren.

In 1903, according to municipal records, the Masonic Hall was expanded, and in 1955 a further upgrade, in the form of new toilets were added.

There is a plaque in the Lodge, that reads “In remembrance of Bro Walter Baines” – a stonemason by trade, and an active member of Lodge St Andrew No 608 for over 50 years. The 2 stone pillars at the entrance of the grounds were erected in his memory by his son, Bro Oliver Baines, RWM in 1936.

From information received, it transpires that the same person, Bro Walter Baines, as stonemason, was responsible for most of the old stonework of Queens College. It is on record that he never missed a Meeting of our Lodge in 50 years.

There are records of the existence of a Royal Arch Chapter in Queenstown, 9 years before the existence of Lodge St Andrew, in 1869, known as Amity Royal Arch Chapter No 133. This RA Chapter is still in existence today, some 153 years later, in the same district.

Bank books record on 11 September 1922, that authorisation was granted for an overdraft to the amount of £100.

Composer, Organist, Choral Conductor and Freemason Organist of Bristol Cathedral, William Coulson Tregarthen, studied at Trinity College of Music in 1878, and in the same year departed for South Africa. After moving to Port Elizabeth, he left in 1881 and settled ion Queenstown where he spent a major portion of his life. As a Freemason, he conducted an anthem written by himself when Rev S.P. Naude dedicated St Andrew’s Lodge in October 1883. While in Johannesburg for a short period, he held the post of first District Grand Organist.

The Hall was often used for dances in the 1920’s. It was also used in the early 20’s for the writing of the JC and Matric Examinations, and used in the late 30’s for a modern ballroom dancing school, run by Mr Buddy Harrington.

In 2018 it was decided to move Lodge St Andrew No 608 SC to Port Elizabeth. Subsequently, its 2019 Installation was held in the Bon Accord Masonic Complex in Leylands Road, Port Elizabeth, on 19 October 2019. The RWM Installed in the Chair of King Solomon on that day, was Bro Errol Corney, brother of the then DGM, Bro Wayne Gregory Corney.

Lodge St Andrew No 608 SC has made a name for itself as a Lodge that stands at the forefront of Charitable work and currently holds several Charity Initiatives, fund raisers and soup kitchens every year, for the needy in the area.

“Age shall not weary them” – Lodge St Andrew No 608 SC is the oldest Scottish Constitution Lodge in the
District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Province of the Cape of Good Hope. It also holds the title of being the 5th oldest in Africa.

Records show that it has NEVER been a dormant Lodge over its 145 year existence and there has never been a dormant period in the succession of its masters since 1877, through tempest of several Border Wars, World Wars and even financial depressions of the 1920’s and the 2000’s.

This Lodge truly holds a pure legacy for Scottish Freemasonry, and will continue to do so for many years to come.