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MESSAGE Rt\Wor\
Bro\
E. Conradie, Assistant Grand Master, In the Transvaal and other parts of South Africa there are thousands of Masons who will learn of the approaching demolition of the Masonic Temple in Plein Street, Johannesburg, with very real regret and a deep sense of almost personal loss. For in this Temple they first saw the Light of Freemasonry. Here they were invested for the first time as officers of their Lodges. Here many of them reached that highest pinnacle of any Mason's career - the Chair of King Solomon. This was their Masonic home. Around it clustered all those happy memories, all those heart-searching experiences which one associates with the word "home". Much water has flowed under the bridge since the three premier Lodges on the Witwatersrand Star of the Rand (at that time working under the Grand East of the Netherlands), Golden Thistle (S.C.) and Johannesburg (E.C.) - decided towards the end of the last century to build a home for their members in the furthermost outskirts of what was then little more than an overgrown mining town. Masonry in the Transvaal at that time was still in its infancy, and the prospects of development and expansion were certainly not bright, for the clouds of war were gathering darkly on the horizon. But the work was proceeded with, and how well those early Masons built is proved by the almost incredible advances Masonry has made in the intervening years. Few of the original tenants of the Masonic Temple could have guessed that within a short space of time their spacious Temple would he totally inadequate for the needs of Masonry in this city, and that many other buildings would have to be erected to accommodate the thousands who were joining the Craft. For 67 years the Masonic Temple in Plein Street has nobly fulfilled its purpose. But, in contradistinction to the eternal principles of our Order, its temples (like its members) are subject to change and decay, and so we have now reached the stage where we must take a last farewell of this well-beloved building. We do so with sorrow. Its youth has passed, and soon there will be nothing left but happy memories. In its passing we are reminded of the passing of David, the father of King Solomon, of whom the Bible tells us that he died in a good old age, full of days, riches and honour. That is how we shall always remember the Masonic Temple in Plein Street.
Rt\Wor\Bro\
G. R. de Villiers, Much has already been said, and will be said this evening about the Masonic Temple in Plein Street, Johannesburg, and Lodge Star of the Rand's connection with this venerable old building, and I know that the hearts of many members of the Lodge-especially the older members - will be heavy at the thought that this will be the last time that they will gather as Masons at 80, Plein Street. But time brings with it certain inevitable changes, and in this message to the Lodge I want to look not so much at the past as to the future. Star of the Rand can, with every right, regard itself as the premier Lodge of our Constitution in the Transvaal. It is true that' there are three Lodges in the Transvaal- Flaming Star, in Potchefstroom, Aurora, in Pretoria, and Orange, in Rustenburg - which were consecrated before Star of the Rand. But all three these Lodges have, at one time or another, been in recess for a varying number of years. As against this Star of the Rand enjoys the distinction that it has worked uninterruptedly and continuously for 74 years since its consecration in 1889. It can therefore claim to be the oldest continuously working Lodge of our Constitution north of the Vaal. Like most Lodges, Star of the Rand has had its years of prosperity, but has also known lean years. At the moment it is probably riding the crest of the wave, and as Provincial Grand Master of the Transvaal I look to Star of the Rand to set an example and to give a lead to the younger Lodges of our Constitution in this Province in supporting the various established Masonic charities and in furthering the great building scheme which the Irish, the Scottish and our own Constitution have undertaken in Johannesburg. A distinguished era in the history of this Worshipful Lodge is drawing to a close this evening. I sincerely trust that in the years that lie ahead Star of the Rand will maintain its position as one of the premier Lodges of our Constitution in the Transvaal, and that it will exert in the future, as in the past, a very real influence for good on the Order in general and on its own members in particular.
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