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First Timers Visit Grand Lodge
Masonry being a progressive science, it necessarily follows that each year new brethren qualify to attend the United Grand Lodge of England and experience the splendour of the World’s most renowned Masonic meeting place.
Your first visit to a meeting at Freemasons Hall can be quite daunting. However, for those more experienced it is an opportunity to help the newcomers miss nothing and ensure they take away the enjoyment of the day and thereby encourage others to attend in the future.
This year was particularly difficult in arranging travel, as all the cheap advance seats seemed to be taken quickly and we had brethren departing as early as 5.30am. You could identify them by the tired look in the eyes and the chin dropping on to the chest with a sharp recovery saying “I wasn’t asleep”.
Every down has an up and the up on this occasion was “café culture”. You could find brethren scattered around enjoying full English breakfast [Italian café] or breakfast rolls and coffee. Whatever the food, or venue, it was good company. Old and new friends alike were greeted, there being “no strangers in Freemasonry only friends we have yet to meet”.
Entering the Inner Porch of Grand Lodge, the PGM, his Deputy, and Assistant Grand Master John Trout were waiting to greet the Brethren. It seemed that almost as soon as we had entered Grand Lodge, seen the pageantry and conducted the business of the meeting, we were on our way again.
The hosts at the Freemasons’ Arms, Jon and Linda Annetts, were waiting to greet and feed us. John Davies, the Deputy Provincial DC was frenetic in ensuring protocols were observed. You didn’t know there were protocols? Good! that means his efforts to ensure our enjoyment were very successful. Thank you John.
An acting Chaplain was called on for Grace, and the assembled brethren listened carefully.
‘Heap high this social board and gather to the feast, and toast this sturdy pilgrim band, whose courage never ceased. Give praise to that all glorious one, by whom our steps are led, and thanks unto the Harvest Lord who sends our daily bread.’
The waitresses appeared and we were not disappointed, as the food was great and the company resounded to laughter and appreciation.
Lunch was over all too soon and the Provincial Grand Master, Richard Anderson, addressed the “Pilgrim Band”. He welcomed two guests from the RMTGB, the first being Les Hutchinson Secretary to the Council of the Trust and, in recognition of his support for our Festival, presented him with a pair of Provincial cufflinks. He then also welcomed Keith Hulks, the Festival manager of the RMTGB. In conclusion, Richard thanked all those who had attended and I am sure we realised that his enjoyment of the day, came from seeing so many members of the Province supporting this annual event.
One last thing to do. Gather in the bar and compare notes on our day. Soon the company was dwindling as people made their way back from whence they came. It was a good day and all who attended will remember it for a long time. Hopefully, they will encourage others to join in our annual visit to Grand Lodge and share the experience. The time may soon come when so many wish to attend that we will have to review how we manage the day. Now wouldn’t that be a good problem to have.
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