All meetings are held in the Collingwood Masonic Centre
141 Gipps Street, Abbotsford, VIC, 3067
unless stated otherwise.
Visitors always most welcome.

The program is subject to change.
Visitors should contact the Secretary prior to attending a meeting.

PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR 2011

PLEASE NOTE:

*Dress for ceremonies and demonstrations:   Dinner suit, apron and gloves
Dress for Comparities:  Smart casual

WORK TABLE FOR APRIL 2011 Dear Brother, This month's regular meeting will be held on Thursday 28 April 2011 The work table and timings for the evening are:  7.30 pm Members convene informally. 8.00 pm French Murat 1st Degree Ritual 9.00 pm A Brother meal                        with some small business matters 10.00 pm Meeting closed       Dress:   Dinner suit, apron and gloves Visiting brethren are always most welcome.  Brethren are kindly asked to make a special effort to be present. However, should you be unable to attend, an apology would be appreciated.       Report of the meeting held on Thursday 24th March 2011   The Brethren arrived well in time to enjoy the refreshments in the Seventh degree in fraternal harmony. Apologies were received and recorded from Brethren who were unable to attend for various reasons. As our Presiding Master, bro Bert Siersema was unable to make this meeting. The Secretary at 8.00 pm, welcomed the brethren present on his behalf and invite Bro Graeme Love to hold his talk over 17 years Kring Nieuw Holland. You will find a copy of this bouwstuk (lecture) in the news letter. Afterwards the Brethren enjoy in the South a Brother Meal, for which we would like to thank the ladies, Francis, Kit & Patricia who furnished the tables and produced a very nice meal.  At 10.00pm the brethren left for their homes contented. Brethren, in the April meeting we are having the French Murat, 1st degree ritual. This particular Ritual was issued by the Grand Orient of France’s Grand Master, Prince Lucien Murat, by decree in February 1858. This Ritual was prepared, originally, in order to maintain the old traditions and to show more clearly the various allegories as well as the high principles of philosophy taught by the institution.  Accordingly three copies were sent to each lodge with the instruction that it was the only one to be used within the obedience of the Grand Orient of France on and after the 1st March 1858. KRING NIEUW HOLLAND (Circle New Holland) BEGAN MAY 1993 17½ Years Ago Founded 16 August 1993 By Brother Hank van Tongeren. (Reviewed over 17 years since its Beginnings By Bro. Graeme Love, Dir. of Ceremonies.)             Prior to 1992 the masonic fraternity in Melbourne, Victoria, in general, knew nothing about Freemasonry in the Netherlands.             During his holiday in September 1992, Wor. Bro. Hank van Tongeren visited Lodge La Vertu in Leiden (Netherhands), being the Lodge he joined.  There he witnessed the impressive and meaningful ritual of “Opening the Work Year”. This was the same ritual which he conducted six months later, in May 1993, in Open Lodge, as Master of Halcyon-Pythagoras Lodge No. 344, then meeting at the Davies Street Masonic Centre, Preston (Warrant returned sadly in 1994).  Over 100 brethren were present, among which was the representative of the Grand East of the Netherlands near the UGLV, RWBro. G. Ince, PSGW, and a number of brethren of Dutch descent.  The hight was a great success and the presentation of this ritual was well received by all brethren present.             A well written article in The Victorian Mason brought this event to the attention of freemasons in Victoria.  It was reported also in the Dutch Grand East’s Algemeen Maconiek Tijdschrift (General Masonic Journal).             Inspired and encouraged by the success of this venture a number of meetings were held by interested brethren and on, 16 August 1993 at the Glenferrie Masonic Centre, KRING Nieuw Holland             (Circle New Holland) was officially constituted as an independent body with the approval and good wishes of the Grand Lodge of Victoria along with the Grand East of the Netherlands.                         Reason For KRING            The intention was to conduct the meetings in the form of a traditional Dutch Conparitie (Non-Dinner Suited) (Def: a formal non-ritualistic meeting held in the Forecourt / Ante-Chamber / in Victoria - “South”, where the Secretarial & Financial business is held plus such business as “Brother Behind the Badge; Talks; Reports; etc.  In the Lodge Room is to be held such formal (Dinner Suited) Ceremonials such as;             1. Opening the Work Year (Dutch version)             2. Opening the Work Year (for Use in a UGLV Lodge Room)             3. Installation & Investiture of Master (Dutch version is not held Yearly)             4. Opening & Closing Grand Lodge (Dutch version)             5. Consecration of a New Lodge (Dutch version)             6. Opening & Closing the Lodge with the Tableau drawn in sand             6a. Opening & Closing the Lodge with the full Lighting of the Candles.             7. Tableau drawn in Sand (used for Demonstration in UGLV Lodges)             8. 1st Degree ceremony (Dutch)             9. 2nd Degree ceremony (Dutch)             10. 3rd Degree ceremony (Dutch)             11. Sylvester Celebration                  An old New Years Eve celebration with Ladies Present, including Canon manoeuvres.             Four Festival Rituals; (Northern Hemisphere)             12. Winter St. John’s Lodge (21st December start) Grain frozen/sleep – Man comes to his senses.             13. Spring Equinox (20th March start) Grain germinates – Man filled with new energy.             14. Summer St. John’s (21st June start) Grain ripens – Man reaches maturity.             15. Harvest Festival (Autumn equinox) Grain harvested – Man’s end of life.             16. Zimbabwean (local Dutch version) Craft Degrees.             17. Lodge of Mourning adapted for use with profane present.                   (Applied when a significant KRING Member passes away.)             18. Table Lodge Full Ritual.             19. Field Lodge, on the beach (Portsea)             20. Field Lodge, Full Moon, Jimmy Barnes, Rye, 1998             21. Field Lodge, Jimmy Barnes, Rye, 2002             22. Field Lodge, Jimmy Barnes, Rye, 2003             23. Field Lodge, Granite Hills Vineyard, Daytime Baynton, near Lancefield, 2007             24. Field Lodge, Daytime, @ Jimmy Barnes, Rye, 2010             25. Winter Solstice (MSRICF)             26. Summer Solstice (MSRICF) RITUAL Transations Translations of these Rituals are thanks to both Bros. van Tongeren and Fred van den Berg.             Hanks aim was conduct all meetings in the form of a traditional Dutch format where the brethren had the opportunity to practice and study in a closed community fostering strong bonds of friendship, just as occurs in a Dutch masonic circle. In time KRING was performing Dutch rituals, customs and usages previously unknown in Victoria where the UGLV works a form of the Emulation (English) ritual.             From those early beginnings, way back in 1993, KRING has grown, slowly but steadily.  For practical purposes, so as to allow Victorian brethren, who wished to, the language used was basically English rather Dutch.  This allowed for all Victorian brethren an opportunity to only travel to our “new” at the Collingwood Masonic Centre, to have the opportunity to view and in some cases participate in another jurisdictional system without needing to travel overseas.  Today however KRING’S membership is multicultural.             KRING Nieuw Holland had created new and challenging opportunities for brethren to make that “daily advancement in masonic knowledge”; that being to learn about rituals of other Constitutions which teach traditional principles and that there are different ways to express and experience the great lessons of freemasonry.             During the first years Rituals were being translated, with concentration being on the Three “Craft” Degrees.  Next were the auxiliary rituals such as; Opening the Work Year (performed in February); the Sylvester and the Winter St. Johns, both being performed near the shortest day of the year.  Due to such performances gave rise to a realisation that a Victorian Lodge Room was not suited regarding lodge furniture so KRING needed to create its own.             In April 1996 KRING prepared two bundles of the translated rituals, one of which was presented to the Library of the Grand East in The Hague (via the Grand Librarian/Curator) and one to Lodge La Vertu, both having been helpful in providing copies of all Dutch rituals, important reference books and documents, as well as giving valuable advice.             Two other milestones happened in 1996. Firstly, on 26 September we moved into our present ‘home’, the Collingwood Masonic Centre.  The door in the West was most appropriate for our Dutch workings. Secondly, KRING first appeared on the Internet.  Since KRING has had internet contact with the Grand East of the Netherlands (GEN), and several Dutch lodges through their web sites. They obviously receive our Newsletter and Work Table.             1997 at the International Night the UGLV Grand Master MWBro. Rev. Walter Rolley attended as Guest of Honour.  KRING opened a Dutch lodge which included the drawing of a Dutch Tracing Board in Sand.  Something which our Secretary (Fred van den Berg) continues the tradition to this day.  The Grand Master showed much interest in all that happened which for him as well as all brethren present was a most unusual demonstration of interesting masonic ritual and usages.             Next everyone went to the South where the usual after proceedings were replaced by a traditional Dutch Table Lodge.  This included the reading of old Table Laws, the toasts known as ‘conditions’ and fires known as ‘manoeuvres’ which were carried out in typical Dutch masonic style.  Over 200 brethren were present and all participated wholeheartedly. Over the years KRING has been called upon to perform its ceremonials from Masonic Centres in the South East (Gippsland) to the North Central (Kyneton).             KRING involvement has been present on three occasions in delivering Lectures at Victoria’s Lodge of Research – In 1998 (Hank - KRING. Its History; 2002 Hank - Netherlandic Freemasonry; and 2010 Fred - Mechanics behind a Hand Drawn Tracing Board).  It must also be mentioned that on numerous occasions KRING brethren because of their special ritualistic training have called upon to supply brethren to act out various roles during the Victorian Lodge of Research’s “Comparative Ritual Series over a period of 10 years.             Most popular with our Ladies is the Sylvester, of which recently (24th Jul 2010) it was held at Zetland Masonic Centre (Kyneton) with over 60 Brethren, Ladies and non-masons present,  A successful day was agreed by all present.  It included the traditional Table Lodge with Fires, Toasts, etc. Has KRING achieved its Aim?  We can honestly say a resounding YES. Has KRING contributed to not only Dutch Freemasonry but also to the furthering of masonic education in Victoria?  We can honestly say a resounding YES. Has KRING contributed to, in a small fashion, to the World of Freemasonry?  We can honestly say a resounding YES.  What proof have we?  On the 7th Jan 2006 KRING assisted with the Consecration of Lodge Erasmus in Bangkok, Thailand by furnishing those brethren with English Language Rituals at the request of the Grand East of the Netherlands.  As well, a number of KRING brethren were themselves present and continue to attend meetings. NB: We must never forget the tireless contributions by one KRING brother, special mention must be made of Bro. Fred van den Berg who has more than ably taken over the mantle from our late Founder Hank van Tongeren. I make this statement as; a) Past Master of the Victorian Lodge of Victorian; b) Member, Grand Superintendent of Masonic Education’s Team; c) As a Foundation Consultant Member, of KRING, as chosen by WBro. Hank van Tongeren.       .Days to remember     Bro, Fred Vandenberg and members of the Kring will perform an adapted version of the Winter St John Oration, for lodges in Victoria. This is with the drawing of the Tableau in sand, and the Master's drawing on the board. Afterwards they will give an explanation on Dutch Freemasonry. For more information email the Kring Secretary.

FOR DETAILS OF MEETINGS AND
OTHER INFORMATION:

contact the Kring Secretary
 by e-mail

 Updated:  24 April 2011