EUREKA LODGE – District Grand Lodge of Nigeria

EUREKA LODGE - NO. 6222, (1945)

A Petition to form a second Lodge at Ibadan was signed by eight brethren in the year 1945. The object of the Founders was to form a Lodge which would serve the needs of African members in Ibadan and the district. The Petition was sponsored by Ibadan Lodge No. 5316 and a Warrant to form the new Lodge was issued on 31st December, 1945,

The Lodge was consecrated at the Ibadan Masonic Temple on 23rd March, 1946. The Consecrating Officer was the Deputy District Grand Master, Sir Adeyemo Alakija, K.B.E., P.A.G. Reg. The first Master of Eureka Lodge No. 6222 was I. C. During. The first Senior Warden was G. E. V. Samuels, and the first Junior Warden was T. D. Brodie-Mends.

On Saturday, 28th August 1965, the Foundation Stone of its own Temple known as ‘Oluyole Masonic Temple’ was laid at Jericho Reservation, Ibadan by Right Worshipful the District Grand Master, The Hon. Mr. Justice Lionel Brett Kt. He was to be assisted by Worshipful the Deputy District Grand Master, The Hon. Mr. Justice L. N. Mbanefo Kt., P.A.G.Reg. and Worshipful the Assistant District Grand Master G. M. G. Andrews, P.A.G.D.C., both of whom were unavoidably absent. The Worshipful Master at the time was E.J. Phelan. The Senior Warden was O. Sodeinde and the Junior Warden was V. B. Martins. The Chairman of the Building Committee was Olatunji Olagoke, while F. Olaseni Fisher and N. O. A. Akinyemi were Treasurer and Secretary respectively.

On Saturday, 23rd April 1966, the new Temple of the Lodge, ‘Oluyole Masonic Temple’ was dedicated. The Installation Ceremony of R. Ade Doherty, P.D.G.W. as Master was preceded by the dedication ceremony which was conducted by Gordon Andrews, A.D.G.M. assisted by J. L. Bomford, P.D.G.W. who acted as D.G.S.W.; D. Atanda Pratt, P.D.G.W., who acted as D.G.J.W.; Olatunji Olagoke, P.D.G.Chap., who acted as D.G.Chap until the arrival of Kwao Sagoe, P.D.G.W. who took over as D.G.Chap.

At the Installation Ceremony, Olatunji Olagoke was the Installing Master and was assisted by W. R. D. Matches who acted as the Senior Warden; S. E. Mbanefo who acted as the Junior Warden and A. Band Ekun who acted as Inner Guard. The newly installed Master, R. Ade Doherty appointed and invested F. Olaseni Fisher, P.D.G.D. and Olatunji Olagoke P.D.G. Chap, as Senior and Junior Wardens respectively for the year 1966/67.

It is of interest to record that by April 1966 the total membership of the Lodge had grown to 83 and it was composed of 20 officers and 63 members. Eureka Lodge No. 6222 has very close and cordial relationship with both its sponsors, Ibadan Lodge No. 5316 E.C. and other Lodges in the District. It celebrated the 21st Anniversary of its founding during the 1967-68 administration year.

On the 27th September 1969, Eureka Lodge No. 6222 unanimously sanctioned a motion passed for the establishment of Eureka Lodge of Instruction as requested by certain Master Masons of the Lodge. Thereafter, the Lodge of Instruction of the Lodge met every second Tuesday of each month and had as its first Preceptor, R. A. Doherty, P.D.G.W. with J. O. Sobande, P.D.S.W. as his assistant. He later became the Preceptor after the death of R. A. Doherty, with A. O. S. Kuti as his assistant. After him, M. Adekunle George, P.D.G.J.W., also became the Preceptor. The members of Eureka Lodge found the Lodge of Instruction very helpful in their Masonic advancement, making the workings of the Lodge to be perfect and of very high standard.

In April 1970, one of the Founders, Olatunji Olagoke, P.D.S.G.W., was honoured with the rank of P.G.STD.Br. In April 1980, he was again promoted P.J.G.D. In December 1978, he was appointed A.D.G.M. of Nigeria. He was befittingly honoured after the installation ceremony of Titus Foluso Folarin, in May 1982, when a coloured portrait of him was unveiled by the Deputy Grand Master of Nigeria, G. C. Mbanugo, P.S.G.D. in the banquet Hall of the Temple of Eureka Lodges.

Eureka Lodge added another feather to its laurels for solidly supporting the hosting of the half-yearly communications of the District Grand Lodge held at Oluyole Masonic Temple, Ibadan on 28th, of June 1975. The half-yearly communication was a very huge success.