Charleston: Its Rise and Decline/Chapter 22
Chapter XXII.
LODGES AND FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.
MASONIC LODGE: This was Lodge Charleston Kilwinning, No. 487, S.C., established on 1st May, 1868, under dispensation granted by the District Grand Master of the Scottish Constitution for the South Island. The lodge met in a room of the European Hotel, which was also used as a meeting-place by the Oddfellows’ and Foresters’ Lodges.
The first officers were: Reuben Harris, R.W.M.; George C. Bowman, D.M.; D. Isaacs, S.M.; Richard Treadwell, S.W.; Robert P. Bain, J.W.; G. C. Bowman, Treasurer; Chas. Hugh Webb-Bowen, Secretary; Charles Weitzel, S.D.; William Sharkey, J.D.; W. J. Ferguson, I.G.; D. Cunningham, Tyler.
The officers installed in December, 1868, and December, 1869, respectively, were:
1868—Richard Treadwell, R.W.M.; C. Weitzel, D.M.; D. Isaacs, S.M.; —. Van, S.W.; R. G. Neale, J.W,; W. Sharkey, S.D.; W. Nahr, I.G.; D. Cunningham, Tyler.
1869—C. Broad, R.W.M.; Parker, D.M.; Thompson, S.M.; Isaacs, S.W.; Bowen, J.W.; Lanney, S.D.; McKerrow, J.D.; Weisheimer, I.G.; Cunningham, Tyler.
The consecration, first installation, and first initiation of candidates were on 4th September, 1868. Later Worshipful Masters were G. F. Hurburgh and Arthur King.
The last meeting at which degrees were carried out was on 27th July, 1897. A brother who visited the town in 1930 found that the only remaining signs of Masonic interest were the old pedestals of the Master and Wardens.
HIBERNIAN AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY: In Greymouth on 16th December, 1869, was established a branch of the Ballarat Hibernian Society. It did not come under the H.A.C.B.S. until 16th May, 1872.
At Addison’s Flat in 1869 was set up a branch of the Fenian Society to work to secure the release of the Irish patriot-writer, John Boyle O’Reilly, who had been transported to Western Australia. As this Society was discountenanced by the Church, it was abandoned, and its followers decided to substitute the new organisation rising in Victoria under the auspices of the Hibernian Society. They arranged with the Ballarat Society to send a representative to open a branch at Addison’s, and remitted the amount needed to cover costs. Thus Addison’s expected, reasonably, to be the pioneer branch in New Zealand but Fate decided otherwise.
In response to the application, the Ballarat Society despatched Mr. F. H. Byrne, who landed at Hokitika. Mr. Martin Kennedy, of Greymouth, persuaded Mr. Byrne to set up a branch at Greymouth; and the inaugural meeting was held in the Brian Boru Hotel there on 16th December, 1869. This was the first branch in New Zealand, St. Patrick’s No. 17, and Martin Kennedy was first President.
Mr. Byrne then proceeded to Charleston, landing at Constant Bay by sailing vessel, and was induced to open a branch there on the evening of his arrival, 5th January, 1870. He walked to Addison’s Flat on the next day, 6th January, 1870, and opened the branch there. Thus of the branches, Greymouth was the first; Charleston the second; and Addison’s Flat the third. Nevertheless, Mr. Byrne called the latter branch “No. 1, The First,” as probably he felt in duty bound to do; for although Addison’s had not the privilege of opening the first branch, to its members is due the credit of having introduced the H.A.C.B.S. to New Zealand. It may be mentioned that John Boyle O’Reilly was liberated in 1869 and took up residence at Addison's Flat.
Of the Addison’s Flat branch, Thomas Gallagher was President; Michael Carmody, Vice-President; and William Duffy, Secretary. According to N.Z. Gazette of 1872, page 913, the Charleston branch did not come under the H.A.C.B.S. until 24th December, 1872. Assumedly Addison’s Flat branch came under it at about the same time.
The Charleston branch was “St. Patrick’s No. 20,” and its place of meeting was St. Patrick’s Schoolroom. No information regarding this branch prior to 1890 is available, but thereafter the Secretaries were: Timothy Enright, 1890-1895; M. O’D. Lavery, 1896-1897; Patrick Lavery, 1898; T. M. Norris, 1899-1916.
Number of members: Over 100 in January, 1870; 26 in 1880; 26 in 1891; 22 in 1896; 15 in 1898; 20 in 1903; 13 in 1909; and 4 in 1916, when the branch closed.
It is said that the old Charleston banner, first carried on St. Patrick’s Day of 1872, is now in possession of the Westport Branch.
MANCHESTER UNITY INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS: The “Loyal Charleston Lodge” was established in 1867, and still exists with a membership of sixteen. The meeting-place was the European Hotel, Prince’s Street East.
The officers, 1867-1868, and 1868-1869, were:
1868—J. Meredith, N.G.; W. G. Collings, G.M.; D. Cunningham, V.G.; J. Henderson, Secretary; D. Henderson, Treasurer; Dr. McMullin, Surgeon.
1869—F. McParland, N.G.; D. Cunningham, P.G.; Chas. Mirfin, V.G.; E. Speir, E.S.; W. J. Moore, G.M.; J. Hennelly, Secretary; E. Price, Warden.
In 1880 there were 63 members. In December of 1904, there were 47 members, the Trustees being: T. Lander, R. J. Powell, Wm. Henry (Treasurer), J. H. Powell, G. F. Hurburgh (Permanent Secretary), G. M. Powell (Auditor). The Grand Master, North-West Coast, was G. M. Powell, and the Past Grand Master, J. M. Powell. Mr. C. Woodhead was Secretary for several years.
ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS: Court Charleston, No 5026, was established in 1871. Its second anniversary was celebrated on 22nd October, 1873. The Hon. Secretary of this celebration was Thos. Dollman, and the Committee were Messrs. John Gardner, John Berg, George Bavan, W. B. Gallard, Chas. Bowater, Joshua Smith, and John Phalin. In 1874 there were 20 members. The lodge met on alternate Saturday nights at 8 p.m., in a room at the European Hotel.
Secretaries (dates are not ascertainable) were Arthur King, G. M. Powell, Thos. Dollman, Chas. Woodhead, and, of course, others not recorded. Some of the early members were: 1871—John F. Gardner, Wm. Price, Thos. Mills; 1874—Arthur King, Chas. Tomkins, Hugh Horner, J. Hatch; 1875—S. McFetterish; 1876—Walter King; 1878—J. W. Fair, Alex Peters; 1883—James Parsons, Ben Parsons; 1885—Alf Parsons, Gilbert Mouat, H. Horner, J. W. Fair, James Hatch, W. Rickelbaum, T. Mills, James Parsons, Jnr.; 1892—Fred Parsons; 1894—R. Woodger; 1897—G. M. Powell; 1899—Thos. Green, John Morrison. In 1874 the trustees were J. F. Gardner, Arthur King, H. Horner, and J. Hatch (Treasurer).
The lodge amalgamated with Court Royal Oak, of Westport, on 31st March, 1924, when only 15 members remained, and not all resident in Charleston. The books and records were lost in a fire that occurred in the Westport premises.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF GOOD TEMPLARS: This was Charleston Lodge, No. 5563, of which no records are available, but the following facts have been gathered:
They met in the Good Templars’ Hall—site unknown. Mr. G. R. Brown was Chief Templar. In 1878, W. G. Collings was Secretary, and in 1882, James Green. Active members were Rev. Parkin, G. R. Brown, W. G. Collings, S. Loring. It closed prior to 1886, but the exact year is not known.
LOYAL ORANGE INSTITUTION: No lodge existed at Charleston, nor at Addison’s Flat, though references have been made to “Orangemen” in various accounts of the riot at the latter place. No lodge existed in the district until the opening of the “Apprentice Boys’ Lodge” at Westport on 4th April, 1891.