The freemason brotherhood is known for its secret handshakes, ancient ceremonies and private meetings about 'men's business'. But the fraternity hopes it will dispel some of the myths about the organisation when it opens the doors of its new lodge to the public.
A golden G hangs by chain from the ceiling of the lodge's two meeting rooms.
It stands for one's 'supreme being'.
Bruce Bartrop has been a part of the Ballarat Masonic Lodge since 1957 and was the first regional mason to become a grand master of Freemasons Victoria.
"To be a freemason, you must have a belief in one supreme being, hence it could be God, it could be a great architect, it could be a grand geometrician," Bruce says.
While it's the mystique around what many see as a 'secret society' which keeps it going, Bruce says there are many myths which have evolved over about 300 years since modern freemasonry began.
more New lodge to house freemason fraternity secrets - ABC Ballarat - Australian Broadcasting Corporation
A golden G hangs by chain from the ceiling of the lodge's two meeting rooms.
It stands for one's 'supreme being'.
Bruce Bartrop has been a part of the Ballarat Masonic Lodge since 1957 and was the first regional mason to become a grand master of Freemasons Victoria.
"To be a freemason, you must have a belief in one supreme being, hence it could be God, it could be a great architect, it could be a grand geometrician," Bruce says.
While it's the mystique around what many see as a 'secret society' which keeps it going, Bruce says there are many myths which have evolved over about 300 years since modern freemasonry began.
more New lodge to house freemason fraternity secrets - ABC Ballarat - Australian Broadcasting Corporation