DISTRICT GRAND LODGE
Central South Africa
1A Minnaar Str
Forest Hill
Johannesburg
Tel No: (+27) 011- 683 - 9102
Fax No: (+27) 011- 683 - 3072
Postal Address: P.O. Box 74288, TURFONTEIN, 2140 RSA
The new name for our District Grand Lodge came into being after a petition to change the name was sent to the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The petition was to change the name of the District Grand Lodge of the Transvaal, Orange Free State and Northern Cape District to the District Grand Lodge of Central South Africa. The new name was approved at the quarterly communication, of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, held on the 6th October 2003.
The District Grand Lodge of the Transvaal Orange Free State and Northern Cape was consecrated and erected on the 27th of March 1896. There were at that time nine lodges operating in the Transvaal under the Scottish constitution.
The geographic distribution of these lodges is not without interest, as it follows the path of immigrants in their search for gold and subsequent development of commerce and industry in the region.The first Right Worshipful Master of the Provincial District Grand Lodge of the Transvaal (as it was then known) was Bro. Douglas MacMillan. A Brother Harrison was the first District Grand Master Depute as the office was then described.
It is interesting to note that all nine of the original lodges are still operating. By the turn of the century a further six had been added including Victoria No 837, at Kroonstad, in the O.F.S. By the outbreak of World War I, a further 27 lodges had joined the District but it was not until 1920 that two more lodges were added.
In 1944 the Orange Free State was formally added to the District and by 1961, another 35 Lodges had been chartered. In 1957 Lodge Athole No 591 joined our District followed by Lodge Union No 719 also in Kimberley. In 1979 the Northern Cape was added to the District Grand Lodge of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The District now comprises 91 Lodges.
