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Combermere Lodge No.752 E.C

Founded 1857

Lord Combermere, the illustrious Mason after whom the lodge was named, by special bequest, bequeathed to this lodge the right to have his Coat of Arms engraved upon the Past Master's jewel and included in the lodge badge.

R.W. Bro. Joseph John Moody, first Master of the Combermere Lodge, came to Victoria in 1852. He was brought to the Colony to occupy the office of Town Clerk of the Municipality of East Collingwood, the first Municipality to be established outside Melbourne. However he was not installed in that office until 1855, in which year the Municipality was proclaimed. He had obtained considerable experience in civic affairs as Shire Clerk in Lincolnshire. He had also gained Masonic emminence, with the rank of Past Prov. Grand Deacon (Lincolnshire), also Past Prov. Junior Grand Warden (Cheshire). It was with this latter distinction that he served under R.W. Bro. Lord Combermere, District Grand Master, from which circumstances the name of our Lodge is derived. He had been Past Master of Lodge Unity No.403 (Cheshire), Virtue No.177 (Lincolnshire), and Lodge Lindsay No.602.

Arriving in Victoria, he became a member of Australia Felix Lodge No.697 E.C. (now No.1 V.C.). He was Master of Australia Felix Lodge in 1853/4/5. In 1862, he was appointed by the government to be the first Chairman of the newly formed Charities Committee. This body later became known for many years as the Charities Board and later as the Hospital and Charities Commission.

In 1863, he promoted the idea of establishing a home for "aged and decayed Freemasons", and taking advantage of a strong Masonic feeling in the McCulloch government, then in power, was able to influence the passing of a Bill, setting aside by Colonial Land Grant of a piece of land, in extent 5 acres and 21 perches, known as No.3 Punt Road for the purpose mentioned, the Act being passed in November 1864. J. J. Moody was appointed by Parliament as the first (and at the time, only) Trustee. Three years passed, before, in 1867, sufficient funds to fence the property were available, and on 17th May of that year, three District and Provincial Grand Lodges were opened in the Prahran Town Hall by the English, Scottish & Irish Constitutions, after which the bretheren marched to the site when the land was dedicated and foundations of the first two cottages laid.

Francis Ormond Lodge

Sponsored by Melbourne University Lodge No. 171, this lodge was named after Francis Ormond, a great benefactor in Victoria, who provided the seed funding to create the Working Mens College, which later became R.M.I.T. The Foundation Master was WBro. S. N. Rodda, a Past Master of Combermere Lodge No. 752 E.C., and Principal of the Working Men's College. Francis Ormond Lodge No. 286 was consecrated on the 5th August 1921. The founder's gavel presented carries a Latin inscription, "AUDI, VIDI, TACE", which the Master was told means, "See, hear, and be silent ". This motto was incorporated into the Lodge crest and emblem.

Old Melburnians Lodge

Sponsored by Melbourne University Lodge No. 171, this lodge was the first school lodge to be formed in Victoria. The Foundation Master was WBro. O. M. Williams, a Past Master of Combermere Lodge No. 752 E.C., a member of the School Council and a Past President of the Old Melburnians. Old Melburnians Lodge No 317 was consecrated on the 26th February 1923.

footnote: The azure shield has on it three bales of cotton, emblematical of the family name. They look like three eights and may also be considered to have a Masonic reference so well known to Brethern. This little blue shield, with the open hand and red heart in the centre, the insignia of a Baron, is a representation of the medal presented by the King to the first Viscount Combermere after the battle of Salamanca. Over this medal, on the right, is a falcon with the wings expanded and holding in the right claw, a belt. On the left, a Cavalry Officer of the 3rd Regiment Light Dragoons in full charge, and over this is a scroll with the word Salamanca in gold letters. The whole is supported by two falcons, each supporting a spear with a standard flowing from each. On a scroll underneath appears Lord Combermere's motto "Utraque Fortuna Paratus" (Ready, prepared for adventure or adversity)".

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