Masonic Bye-Laws of the Lodge Golden Thistle, No. 744 Scottish Constitution, Johannesburg, South

A small booklet of bye-laws published in 1888 for use by the members of the Golden Thistle Lodge, which was established in Johannesburg in 1887. Mendelssohn doesn't mention this booklet and no copies of it are listed in SABIB. It is an extremely scarce masonic publication that was intended for use in Johannesburg during the time of the Z.A.R. 

Included in this lot is a centenary edition (1887 - 1987) of the history of the Lodge.

Fine soft leather binding with embossed gilt front panel and titles. Gilt page edges. 35pp.

"Between 1860 and 1887, in a hostile and rugged country beset by fever, disease, hardship, poverty and uncertainty, no less than fifteen Scottish Lodges were established in South Africa, thousands of miles apart, extending to all points of the compass." - Bro. V. A. Hodgkinson.

Some interesting fact about the Golden Thistle Lodge:

The charter of the Golden Thistle Lodge (No.744) is dated 4 August, 1887, making it one of the earliest masonic lodges to be established in President Paul Kruger's South African Republic (Z.A.R.).

The first meetings were held at the Witwatersrand Club. During the building of the New Masonic Temple it was decided that the brothers were to meet at St Mary's hall. One year after its inception the Golden Thistle Lodge moved into its first permanent building (corner of Main and Rissik streets) which was duly consecrated on 1st August 1888.

Captain Carl von Brandis, who is most commonly known for being the Witwatersrand's first mining commissioner as well as Johannesburg's first Landdrost, lay the foundation stone of the Temple. Capt. von Brandis was also at one time the private secretary to President M. W. Pretorius. He joined the Lodge on 1st November 1888.

During January 1889 Barney Barnato donated £100 to the Lodge and on 15th October 1896 the Golden Thistle Educational Trust Fund was tentatively suggested for consideration.

On 16th September 1897 the Lodge once again moved premises and relocated to 80 Plein Street, Johannesburg.

During the Anglo-Boer War the Lodge went into recess from 29th September 1899 to 18th April 1901. In this time the Provisional Charter was stolen from the building, only to be recovered from a Brother in the veld at Elandslaagte.

In March 1922 the Lodge donated £25 to the Distress Fund arising out of the industrial unrest (1922 strike).

The Lodge lost only one B.B. during WWII, Brother D.G. Allison who died in Lybia 21/12/41.