EUREKA LODGE No. 8515

The original idea behind the formation of this Lodge was to have a University of Guyana Lodge, but the University authorities were not willing to have their name used for a Lodge of Freemasons. As much of the preparatory work for a new Lodge had been done, the would-be founders were reluctant to abandon the idea. The concept of the Lodge was changed to attract persons with a University background and ‘Eureka’ considered a suitable name. The founders were fortified by the weight of cosmic authority. The foundation of such a lodge, according to the late Bro. Justice Sydney Miller, goes back “to the time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.”

On January 30, 1973, Mount Olive Lodge held an emergency meeting to consider and, if thought fit, approve a Motion to recommend for the favourable consideration of the District Grand Master and of the Most Worshipful Grand Master the Petition for a proposed Lodge to be known as the Eureka Lodge.

The motion proposed by the Master, Bro. C N Murray, and seconded by the Immediate Past Master, Bro. Dr. C C Nicholson, was carried unanimously. The Warrant for the Lodge was approved in March 1973 and Eureka Lodge was consecrated at Freemason’s Hall Company Path on Tuesday September 25, 1973 by the Right Worshipful District Grand Master, the Archbishop of the West Indies.

The Founders and First Officers were:

Mr. Justice J Lyttleton Wills Master

E. B. Hasnudeen Senior Warden

Justice R. Sydney Miller Junior warden

Cyril V Too-Chung Chaplain

Kenneth K Ho Treasurer

Peter A Taylor Secretary

Dr. Chales C Nicholson Director of Ceremonies

Felix C B Baird Senior Decon

Dr. Patrick M Ng-A-Fook Junior Decon

Edward G Hopkinson Asst. Director of Ceremonies

Dr. Mohamed M. Haniff Almoner

Cecil N Murray Asst. Secretary

Carl D. Veecock Inner Guard

Royston B Ying Steward

M. Emram Ali Steward

Orminston O Carter Steward

Milton R D. Ganpatsingh Tyler

The Banner, designed by W. Bro. O. O. Carter PDistJGW and painted by Marjorie Broodhagen was dedicated at the Regular Meeting of the Lodge on June 27, 1978 by the Chaplain.

Regular meetings of the Lodge were held five times a year with the installation meeting on the fourth Saturday in November. It is of interest to note that Degree Workings were also held prior to the installation Ceremony. At these installation meetings too, it was customary for the Honorary Members to occupy the positions of Senior Warden, Junior Warden and Inner Guard at the appropriate time during the meeting. Honorary Members also delivered the Address to the Wardens and the Address to the Brethren.

In March 1977, a resolution in the name of the Master to increase the number of meetings to eight was passed unanimously.