Page 39 - Essex Mason Issue 85

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Twinning is it worth the effort.

ow did we, a very small town on the Essex coast get
to the point of twining with a lodge in a different
Hcountry and why. The Lodge of Faith 6830 in
Brightlingsea is typical of any small town lodge. We do a lot
of interacting with other lodges and side degrees, as long as
they are based in our Temple. However those of use that do
get to travel round and visit or join other lodges know that
there is a big masonic world out there.

I was in Round table and we were twinned with a Dutch Roundtable in a city called Zwolle in The Netherlands . Which was and still
is a great source of meeting other like minded people. I took a recommendation to our lodge General Purposes Committee, and
after many discussions about the pro’s and con’s of twinning and then once we agreed we would like to twin we needed to decide
where, again lots of discussions but in the end we agreed to try Zwolle in Northern Netherlands as I had some very good times there.
Going through all the appropriate channels to gain permission within Province then Grand lodge who acted on our behalf to contact
the Grand Lodge of the Netherlands we eventually made contact with the Secretary of Fides Mutua lodge in Zwolle. He and I
discussed the possibility of twining and the rest as they say is history. Each year a party of our brothers visit Fides Mutua at their
temple in Zwolle northern Netherlands and the reciprocate later that year to visit us here in Brightlingsea. There is normally a core
of 4 – 5 members of Lodge of Faith that make the trip annually Last year a couple of us attended a special meeting at the lodge in
the Netherlands where we saw a 18th century version of a 1st degree adapted for today’s time, in Dutch of course, which while in
Dutch we could follow some elements. At the festive board which again is a different experience!

The main driver of this demonstration Bro Freddie suggested that they do a Dutch (modern) first degree here in Brightlingsea in
English, which we obviously agreed to, provided that we didn’t have to do an English first degree in Dutch, as we all recognise their
English is excellent and our Dutch isn’t.

I would like to say this is unique but actually there are other lodges in the UK that are twinned, and I would strongly encourage other
Lodges in Essex to consider such a relationship. We had a very well attended meeting and were honoured with the presence of Very
Worshipful Brother Paul Reeves Deputy PGM and members of the Executive. The day went really well and there is even talk now of
potentially some members of the Lodge of Faith visiting Zwolle to deliver a 1st Degree in English!

The bonus of twinning is that you get to make new masonic friends from a different country. Whilst we have all made great
masonic friends some of us have taken it further and built up personal friendships outside of the lodge, visiting each others
families, so twinning really is the definition of International Freemasonry and yes it does take some effort but that effort is worth
it and I encourage all lodges to consider it .

Chafford Lodge 5510
Banner Dedication

On 15th November 2018, The Chafford Lodge 5510 having been
consecrated on the 31st January 1935 completed the dedication
of their 1st Lodge Banner at the Upminster Masonic Hall at the
regular meeting held on the 15th November 2018 with the
APGM W.Bro Peter Hollingsworth attending the dedication
along with the Prov G Chaplain W.Bro Mick Scotchmer and the
ProvDepGDC W.Bro Neil March who conducted an excellent 1st
class dedication ceremony enjoyed by the members and visitors
The ceremony was followed by a festive board which continued
in the same vein of brotherly love, but in a more relaxed and
humorous atmosphere.

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