The Masonic Mic

Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next!Freemasonry gets labelled as secretive or old-fashioned, but the real challenge is far closer to home: can you honestly look at yourself and do better? We’re joined by Graham Martin, a past grand lecturer and long-time Royal Arch Mason, for a grounded conversation about New Zealand Freemasonry that starts with a simple origin story. After losing his father, Graham didn’t wait for an invitation. He went to the library, found a lodge phone number in 1991, and asked to join. That choice sets the tone for everything that follows: no shortcuts, no easy path, just steady work.We dig into why Masonry is intentionally staged and demanding, and why “progress” only means something when it’s earned. Graham connects Masonic values to everyday ethics through a powerful test: if you explained your decisions to someone you truly admire, would they be proud of you? From there we explore fidelity, responsibility, and how ritual is meant to shape behaviour, not simply be memorised. We also talk leadership development in lodge, including how office can build confidence in men who never thought they could speak in public, while still keeping family and time commitments front and centre.Then we open the Royal Arch, including how the degrees are structured in New Zealand, what the Mark degree teaches about owning your work, and how operative Mason’s marks in cathedrals become a sharp metaphor for accountability today. Graham also unpacks the idea of “to die regretted” as a call to purpose and character, and “wages due” as a spiritual reward for a life lived with justice.If you enjoyed this kōrero, subscribe, share it with a mate, and leave us a review. Download the Masonica app to stay connected and support the show.We hope you enjoyed the conversation. Listener support helps us cover the costs of producing each episode and, allows us to give back to the community we all share. Every contribution, big or small, helps us keep the conversation alive and growing.  If there is a topic you would like to see discussed drop us an email at [email protected] or simply send us a message via the "Send us a text" link attached to every episode.Now, back to the conversation.Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575492416064

Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next!Freemasonry gets talked about like it’s either a punchline or a plot twist, but what’s it actually like when you’re the new bloke walking through the door? We sit down with our friend Yotti, a new Fellowcraft in Christchurch, to hear the honest version: what sparked his curiosity, what made him feel “ready”, and why the first year can be both confronting and genuinely uplifting.We get into the part that people rarely describe well, the lived experience of brotherhood. Yotti shares how the refectory felt welcoming, then how initiation flipped a switch from being a visitor to being treated like family. We also unpack the nuts and bolts of growth: having a mentor who can answer questions at the right time, learning charges and public speaking, and discovering how much wisdom is sitting right there in the room when you’re willing to ask.We don’t dodge the tricky stuff either. Family and partners can worry about the unknown, especially when you’re not sure what you’re allowed to explain yet. Yotti talks about cultural and religious concerns, how those conversations changed over time, and why modern Freemasonry in New Zealand needs to be clearer about its positive work, including charity, scholarships, and community support.If you’re curious about joining a lodge, supporting someone who is, or you just want a grounded take that cuts through conspiracy noise, this chat will give you plenty to think about. Subscribe, leave a review, share it with a mate, and download the Masonica app to stay connected and support the show.We hope you enjoyed the conversation. Listener support helps us cover the costs of producing each episode and, allows us to give back to the community we all share. Every contribution, big or small, helps us keep the conversation alive and growing.  If there is a topic you would like to see discussed drop us an email at [email protected] or simply send us a message via the "Send us a text" link attached to every episode.Now, back to the conversation.Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575492416064

Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next!Freemasonry can look mysterious from the outside, but the real story is usually human: family, belonging, and a decision to be useful. We’re joined by Worshipful Brother Arvind Masilamani, an Indian Kiwi who grew up in Chennai and later made Christchurch home, to talk about the moments that shaped his Masonic journey, from watching his father suit up for lodge to finding his own way into the Craft through a trusted connection.We get practical about what’s similar and what’s different between Freemasonry in India and Freemasonry in New Zealand. Arvind explains how ritual and lodge structure stay close to English tradition, while everyday culture shifts with place: the Volumes of the Sacred Law can reflect many faiths, socialising after lodge can be a bigger part of the night overseas, and here in Aotearoa, we’re still learning how to better reflect the communities we live in. We also dig into diversity, accents, real listening, and why a sense of welcome matters more than people think, especially for newer members who don’t yet feel confident to speak up.Arvind also lifts the lid on Grand Lodge of New Zealand roles, including what it means to serve as a Grand Steward, why he’s stepping back from that time commitment, and where he’s putting his energy next: the Freemasons Charitable Trust in Canterbury. We talk through how local funding applications work, the kinds of projects supported, and why charity is one of the strongest answers to outdated myths. If you care about rebuilding community, attracting younger members, and keeping Freemasonry relevant without losing its core values, this conversation is for you.If you enjoy the kōrero, subscribe, share the episode with a mate, and leave a review so more New Zealanders can find it.We hope you enjoyed the conversation. Listener support helps us cover the costs of producing each episode and, allows us to give back to the community we all share. Every contribution, big or small, helps us keep the conversation alive and growing.  If there is a topic you would like to see discussed drop us an email at [email protected] or simply send us a message via the "Send us a text" link attached to every episode.Now, back to the conversation.Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575492416064

Send us a text and let us know what topic you would like to hear next!Progress can be a loaded word in Freemasonry, especially when people confuse it with getting everything perfect. From inside Lodge of Progress No. 22, we talk with the Worshipful Master about why “progress over perfection” is not lowering the bar, it’s choosing a healthier way to grow. That single shift links straight to wellbeing, confidence, and staying engaged in lodge life without the stress of needing to nail everything instantly. We also go deeper than the usual diversity and inclusion talk. Our guest shares his story as a Filipino immigrant in Christchurch, including the awkward moments of learning Kiwi colloquial English, reading the room through a new cultural lens, and trying to find a real sense of belonging. He offers a simple, memorable definition of diversity in a Masonic context: “harmonious inclusion”, then expands it into something practical for everyday life: belonging without the assumption of ownership, and relating without erasing differences. If you care about community, leadership, or just becoming easier to be around, this part will land. From there we tackle the values people associate with Freemasonry in New Zealand: brotherly love, relief, and truth. We talk charity as more than money, including presence, empathy, and helping a brother through stress. We also address common misconceptions about Freemasonry and religion with calm clarity, then finish with Lodge of Progress history and a nod to its 150th anniversary, including the symbols that keep pointing back to the theme: keep moving, and learn from the past. If you enjoyed this, subscribe to The Masonic Mic, share it with a mate, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation.We hope you enjoyed the conversation. Listener support helps us cover the costs of producing each episode and, allows us to give back to the community we all share. Every contribution, big or small, helps us keep the conversation alive and growing.  If there is a topic you would like to see discussed drop us an email at [email protected] or simply send us a message via the "Send us a text" link attached to every episode.Now, back to the conversation.Masonica - Connecting FreemasonsMasonica, the official Freemasons New Zealand app.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575492416064