Australian Freemasonry

Data sent by Norman C Butt FPS

Q - How were you first prepared to be a Steward?
A - My coat and shirt sleeves were rolled up and a corkscrew was placed in my hand.
Q - What is a corkscrew?
A - An instrument fashioned like a winding stair up which our Brethren ascended to receive their BEER
Q - Where did you receive it?
A - In a convivial room beside the chamber
Q - How did you receive it?
A - In tanks and half tanks
Q - Why in this peculiar manner?
A - In tanks because of the reliance they placed in the mildness of the brew in those days and in half tanks because they knew full well they could be replenished.
Q - Name the 2 advertisements that hung on the door of the chamber?
A - That on the left , Tooth and that on the right Toohey ( or for us Qlders - XXXX Bitter and XXXX Gold)
Q - What are their separate and conjoint significance?
A - The former denotes Good Health and the latter Happy days and when taken together - INSTABILITY.
Q - What is BEER?
A - A peculiar product of chemistry veiled in mystery and illustrated by labels
Q - How is it usually depicted?
A - By a couple of hops near a barrel of water.

CHARGE - Seeing you are properly prepared to be made a Steward I will now proceed to entrust you with the secrets of a Steward.

You will bring a bottle of beer in your left hand, your corkscrew in your right - so - you will now fill the tank in front of you - so - you will invite me to drink deep, wish me good health, happy days, and repeat at frequent intervals, always remembering that it is your duty to keep my tank full and make apologies for me if necessary.

Words to live by - Bread, meat, vegetables and BEER

Like it a lot!

Any volunteers to take this position at their lodge?

not bad, not bad at all. lol

Hahaha... Gold, mate (not XXXX Gold either!)

sounds like those beermasons!!

still a good bit of houmour even though it has been a few years sense i actually heard that at a festive board.

Oh my god haha, never seen that one before, nice.