VW Bro Kent Henderson PGMO, is the current Secretary of the Victoria Lodge of MMM No 47 (EC), the oldest Lodge of Mark Master Masons in Australia, and the only Mark Lodge in Australia within the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England. Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas.
KE – Firstly Kent, many thanks for agreeing to take part in this virtual interview. I have had the pleasure of knowing you for many years, primarily as Secretary of Victoria Mark Lodge No 47 (EC), of which I am privileged to be an Honorary member. So let me start by asking how you first became aware of Freemasonry?
KH – I joined in 1979, on the invitation of my stepfather. I was 24 years old at the time.
KE – What made you want to join?
KH – I also found out my father had been a member; he died when I was 12 years old, very sadly.
KE – What did your family and friends think of this?
KH – Obviously my Stepfather was happy, and my mother has a favourable predisposition to the Order. My stepfather was WM at the time, and my mother was involved in a myriad of social occasions as a result.
KE – Whilst I know you to be a member of most, if not all, masonic Orders and Degrees, when and why did you decide to join the Mark Degree?
KH – Yes, I am a member of all Masonic Orders, and been through the chair of almost all. I decided to join the Mark Degree a bit over a year after I was initiated!
KE – Were you Advanced into a lodge in Victoria Mark GL, or in Victoria Lodge?
KH – I joined Barwon Lodge of MMM No 77 (UGLMM of Victoria) on 14/4/80, and was installed as WM on 1/8/88.
KE – Victoria Lodge being of the EC, what made you want to be a member?
KH – I joined Victoria Mark 47 EC on 23/5/94 (and resigned from my mother Mark Lodge in the same year). The fact it was unique (in Australia), and also very weak, at that time. The challenge was to revive and save its unique warrant. That was soon achieved.
KE – As I know Victoria Lodge to be a most successful lodge, what is it that the lodge is doing that is making it so successful?
KH – Many reasons. Being a Dining Lodge helps (rare in Victoria). Having a number of fairly dynamic members, also. We draw our candidates for a small number of dining Craft Lodges, most successfully. It is very, very rare for either Victoria Mark or RAM to be without a candidate at any meeting.
KE – Is there any competitiveness with Victoria Mark GL? How would you describe relationships between the two?
KH – Extremely good. The UGLMMM of Victoria is always represented at our annual installation, usually by the incumbent Grand Master. Every year we make a substantial charity donation to the UGLMMM of Victoria “We Care” charity. The current UGLMMM of Victoria is an Honorary Member of Victoria Mark and RAM.
KE – Of all the masonic bodies of which you are a member, what office has given you the most pleasure?
KH – Hard question, but being Secretary/Scribe of Victoria Mark and RAM is right up there.
KE – I also know you to be the author of several books on Freemasonry. What inspired you to take on such time-consuming research?
KH – I was fascinated with Masonic history and organisation from the beginning. I was originally a teacher (I have a Master of Education Degree). And I enjoy writing – these things all came together.
KE – How has the Covid pandemic affected masonry here in Victoria?
KH – Well…we were largely shut down for over two years, which was difficult for many, despite all the Zoom meetings.
KE – What should we all be now doing to ensure a return to Freemasonry as we knew it before the pandemic?
KH – I think we will soon be back to normal, happily.
KE – Would you encourage others to join Freemasonry?
KH – Of course. The vast majority of Freemasons are really nice blokes; our Craft is one of the few organisations where you can share that kind of brotherhood.
KE – What has Freemasonry given you?
KH – Many friendships, but also a deep sense of worthwhile involvement.
KE – Finally Kent, may I thank you for your frank and interesting responses. It has been a pleasure to learn a little more about you personally and seek the views of a mason of considerable experience. On behalf of all within the Mark Province of Hertfordshire, I wish you every happiness in your future masonic career
Very Worshipful Brother Kent Henderson is also a published author, having written a number of books on Masonic related subjects. He has also produced and presented a number of very interesting and informative papers, including: “The English Mark and Ark Mariners the same, but very different” which can be accessed via this link
