Grand Lodge of the Union of South Africa and Rhodesia
History of the Grand Lodge of southern Africa and RHODESIA
Just after the first world war a delegation of disgruntled Brethren from the Grand Surrey Banner Lodges in South Africa visited England for the purpose of finding out who were the “King pins” of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes in England. They met the Grand Surrey Banner leaders and they also met the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of England, Brother William Rose K.O.M. at Cheltenham. They decided that the Grand Lodge of England set up was the one to which they would give allegiance and, therefore, asked the Grand Lodge of England for a Warrant & Decree. On the 2nd January 1921 the Grand Lodge of England issued thirteen Dispensations numbered 4004 to 4016 to Lodges seceding from the Grand Surrey Banner, Grand Surrey Lodge (Mother Lodge of the World), Grand Council and the Grand Lodge of England Limited to the Grand Lodge of England. The only Lodge still in existence today is the May Lodge No. 4014. In August of 1921 the Grand Lodge of England granted a Warrant and Decree for the inauguration of the Grand Lodge of the Union of South Africa and Rhodesia which took place on Saturday, 21st August 1921. The first Grand Primo was Brother Lawrence Pascoe K.O.M., Deputy Grand Primo was Brother Roy Sterry K.O.M. and the Grand Secretary was Brother Chris Deighton C.P. who all countersigned the Decree and Warrant along with their counterparts of the Grand Lodge of England.It was decided that the Grand Lodge of the Union of South Africa and Rhodesia would use the designs and colours of the Grand Lodge of England for all their Degree Regalia and Jewels but would adopt the green with yellow diamonds design for the Grand Lodge collars and the Grand Primo’s sashes and regalia. Brethren who had Regalia and Jewels from another Banner on joining the Grand Lodge of the Union of South Africa and Rhodesia could purchase replacement Regalia and Jewels or ribbons for their Jewels from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the Union of South Africa and Rhodesia.