The Masonic Mic

16/09/2026

Sometimes a building finds the right people.

When the brethren of Ashley Lodge No. 28 found a possible new home in Rangiora, a few peculiar details stood out.

“Fabric of Society” was painted on the building.
A chequered pavement.
Bees and hives worked into the old decoration.

Nice coincidences.

Then they found the old paperwork.

The building had been constructed in 1912 by a man named Withers — a Freemason, a member of Ashley Lodge, and later its Worshipful Master.

More than a century later, Ashley Lodge had somehow found its way back into a building constructed by one of its own.

Perhaps not such a coincidence after all.

🎙 From The Fabric of Society — The Masonic Mic.
https://www.themasonicmic.nz/episodes

12/09/2026

Looking for something beyond the Craft?

For some Freemasons, the Craft is the beginning rather than the end of the journey.

Beyond the three degrees sit a number of Masonic and philosophical paths, each offering a different emphasis — history, symbolism, contemplation, service, ritual, Christian chivalry, esoteric study, or simply a deeper way of engaging with ideas already encountered in Lodge.

There is no single “next step,” and there doesn’t need to be. The important question is what you are actually looking for.

Explore Masonic Paths:

Explore the SRIA Masonic Podcast for insights on Masonic paths, history, and community, curated for enthusiasts and members alike.

10/09/2026

What keeps you coming back to Lodge?

The ritual?
The people?
Learning?
Service?
Something harder to put into words?

Tell us in the comments.

08/09/2026

What actually makes a Lodge somewhere you belong?

Revisit the conversation.
https://www.themasonicmic.nz/episodes

05/09/2026

What has Freemasonry taught you that actually changed the way you live?

Freemasonry gives us plenty to think about — but which lessons actually leave the Lodge room with us?

Maybe it changed the way you treat people.
Maybe it made you more conscious of your time.
Maybe it gave you confidence, discipline or perspective.

Or perhaps the lesson only made sense years later.

What is one Masonic lesson that genuinely changed something in your life?

03/09/2026

The "Fabric of Society"
- New episode out now!

02/09/2026

"You’ve lost something along the way. Everything’s a trade-off".

Follow The Masonic Mic for more conversations like this.

02/09/2026

30/08/2026

Can Freemasonry preserve tradition without becoming trapped by it?

One of the great strengths of Freemasonry is its ability to carry old ideas into the present. But preservation and relevance are not always the same thing.

Technology changes. Communities change. The way we learn, communicate and spend our time changes.

So where is the line between protecting what matters and simply refusing to move?

Michael Galloway joined us for a conversation about tradition, technology and what may have been lost along the way.

Listen to the full conversation at The Masonic Mic.
https://www.themasonicmic.nz/episodes

27/08/2026

Masonic Spotlight # 7

Bro. Dean “Deano” Johnstone is a Christchurch artist, designer, signwriter, performer and Freemason whose creative life has taken him into some unexpected places.

Raised around creativity, Deano built a career in design and signwriting and later worked in the New Zealand film industry, including as Chief Signwriter on Peter Jackson’s King Kong.

He is also an international performer, having sung in Los Angeles, Mexico and Las Vegas — a striking contrast for someone who admits that reading from a page in Lodge can still make him nervous.

Within Freemasonry, Deano is less interested in titles than contribution. He brings practical skill, curiosity and a strong interest in symbolism, art and personal growth, approaching the Craft as a gradual journey of learning, perseverance and experience.

Hear Deano's Story.