Martin is currently "Down Under" in New Zealand visiting family. As he's "down there" a fair bit, he's developed ties with one of the local Lodges. Here's news of his latest visit.
Visiting other Lodges is a long supported and encouraged activity within Freemasonry.
While he was down there, Martin Fifield attended a meeting in Arrowtown, New Zealand at the end of March 2026. Being a regular visitor to Arrowtown he reports that the reception he received from the Kiwi Brethren was exceptional with several new friendships created.
The Lodge Arrow Kilwinning Lodge was formed in 1888 and as you can see from the photographs has not changed at all. Except perhaps for the quality of the photographs and the attire of the Brethren.
George Brown designed the building with John McDonald completing the contract in 1888. The classical façade is restrained compared to its interior which includes rare hand-painted friezes and emblems depicting Masonic symbolism.
An important note to make about the foundation of the Lodge Arrow Kilwinning is its connection to the Mother Lodge of Scotland “Mother Kilwinning No. 0”.
Before the forming of Grand Lodge in 1736 Mother Kilwinning was a Grand Lodge in her own right and dates back to the building of Kilwinning Abbey around 1140 and has a unique history second to none in the Masonic world.
It cannot be lost on any casual observer or history of Arrowtown that the many Scottish pioneers who came in the Gold rush years helped found Arrowtown and the Masonic Lodge, and therefore the naming of Lodge Arrow Kilwinning.
Before the forming of Grand Lodge in 1736 Mother Kilwinning was a Grand Lodge in her own right and dates back to the building of Kilwinning Abbey around 1140 and has a unique history second to none in the Masonic world.
It cannot be lost on any casual observer or history of Arrowtown that the many Scottish pioneers who came in the Gold rush years helped found Arrowtown and the Masonic Lodge, leading to the naming of Lodge Arrow Kilwinning.
Unfortunately, the Lodge had to hand in its warrant in 2025 but this wonderful building has now become a popular meeting venue for Queenstown’s Lake Lodge of Ophir, within which the members of Arrow Kilwinning have merged.
The combined membership of the Lodges is about 60, and growing, with new members waiting to join providing initiation ceremonies until October 2026.
As with the growth of Lodges in the UK, membership of what’s an ancient order is growing, as people want [need] to get away from all the modern pressures of everyday life. People are constantly on their phones, being constantly connected, and the respite Freemasonry provides in an environment where you can relax and think about something else for an change and enjoy the companionship and brotherhood that goes with being involved. Learning the rituals and principles of Freemasonry, Brotherly love, Relief and Truth is like stepping back in time, but those lessons are still very relevant today.
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