Masonic Hall
Comments on article: InfopediaTalk
Masonic Hall at 23A Coleman Street is located behind the Hill Street Fire Station in the Central Region of Singapore. The Freemasons' meeting place is used for social activities and is also called the Freemasons' Hall. Designed by Donald McLeod Craik, the Masonic Hall was erected in 1879 and consecrated in 1886.
History
Freemasonry started out in England in the 16th century with similar sister constitutions later set up in Ireland and Scotland. The headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England is in London. Masons meet monthly in "specially designed buildings" known as Lodges or Temples. Lodge "Zetland In The East" No. 748, the oldest surviving lodge in this region, was set up on 8 December 1845. In Singapore, the Masons had seven other meeting places before the present Masonic Hall was erected in 1879.
Description
The foundation stone of the Masonic Hall in Singapore was laid on 14 April 1879 and the building was completed and consecrated in 1886. Designed by Architect Donald McLeod Craik, the two-storey grey building once had an imposing gate of black spikes. For many years, the locals called the building rumah hantu, meaning "haunted house" in Malay, as few knew of what happened in this exclusive clubhouse and people often thought "strange ceremonies" took place here. Non-members are only allowed on the ground floor where there is a bar, a dining room, a billiard table and a jackpot room. The area upstairs is known to the Freemasons as the Temple, and is used for gatherings and ceremonies which have been continuing for more than a hundred years.
Freemason Lodges in Singapore
There are 11 lodges in Singapore: The Zetland In The East (mother lodge) Lodge No. 508 E.C., Lodge of St George No. 1152 E.C., Lodge St Michael No. 2933 E.C., Eastern Gate Lodge No. 2970, Lodge Singapore (for men of all races, colour and creed) No. 7178 E.C., Stamford Raffles Lodge No. 7444 E.C., Horsburgh Lodge No. 7533 E.C. and Centenary Lodge No. 7629 E.C. for English Freemasons; Lodge Ailsa No. 1172 and St Andrew No. 1437 for Scottish Freemasons; and St Patrick No. 765 for Irish Freemasons. The lodges in Singapore hold meetings at the Masonic Hall in Coleman Street once a month at different times. These meetings are black-tie affairs and include the teaching of moral values through two-part plays. Each session lasts about an hour.
Entry Requirements
Membership is by invitation only and often entails a committee interviewing the prospective member, mostly to ascertain if he believes in a Supreme Being. The potential member's entry then depends on a secret vote done through the use of black and white balls. If the candidate is "black-balled" twice, he is disqualified from joining. Only three or four new members are said to be initiated each year. In Singapore, although there is no minimum income criterion to join, Freemasonry is definitely a "professional outfit".
Membership Fees
Members have said the one-off entrance fee is around S$200. Membership of the Masonic Club, the dining and social facilities at the Freemasons Hall plus a free Saturday lunch, costs about S$500.
Members
According to a recently published book by Lodge Singapore, current members include a descendant of Eu Tong Sen, Joseph William Yee Eu, the former judicial commissioner Michael Hwang, former banker Yeo Tiam Siew and Singapore Art Museum chairman Earl Lu. Other members range from well-heeled businessmen and social administrators to lawyers and judges. All members are men.
Timeline
8 Dec 1845: The Lodge "Zetland in the East" No. 748 (now known as "Zetland in the East" Lodge No. 508) was consecrated in the "Masonic Room" in Armenian Street.
9 Mar 1846: Lodge Zetland moved to a larger house in High Street. The first Masonic Ball was held here on 25 January 1850.
1 Oct 1853: Lodge Zetland moved to Masonic Hall in North Bridge Road.
1856: A Masonic Hall opened on the Esplanade, at Coleman Street corner now the property of City Hall.
1871: The Masonic Hall at the Esplanade vacated.
10 Mar 1871: A new Masonic Hall consecrated at 15 Beach Road
1873: 10 Beach Road was the next meeting location.
1875: The next move was to 59 Hill Street.
1879: The Masonic Hall in Coleman Street was built.
1886: The Masonic Hall was consecrated.
Today
Presently there are more than 400 members in the 11 Lodges here.
Author
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama
References
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore: 1819-1867 (pp. 437, 488). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)
Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1996). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 364). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)
Lim, K. H. (1995). In the chair of King Solomon (pp. ii, ix, 1, 14, 15). Singapore: L. K. Hui.
(Call no.: RSING 366.1095957 LIM)
Long, S. (1995, December 8). Hush-hush world of the freemasons. The Straits Times, Life!, p. 8.
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 1, pp. 176, 583). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G. E., & Braddell, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, pp. 589, 590, 591, 593, 595, 598, 605). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE)
The Pentagram (1994). Singapore: Library Committee, District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Archipelago.
(Call no.: RSING 366.109595 P)
Further Readings
Lim, K. H. (1995). In the chair of King Solomon. Singapore: L. K. Hui.
(Call no.: RSING 366.1095957 LIM)
Wan Meng Hao. (2009). Heritage places of Singapore. (pp. 77). Singapore: Marshall Cavendish Editions.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 WAN)
Freemasonary in South East Asia. (n.d.). Retrieved August 14, 2002, from web.singnet.com.sg/~masonry/eastarch.htm
The information in this article is valid as at 1998 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>> Historic Buildings
Organisation>> Associations
Historic buildings--Singapore
Freemasonry--Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Public and commercial buildings
People and communities>>Social groups and communities