Page 35 - EssexMason (Issue 86) Online Version

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n Monday 11th March, and for the second year in a row, myself and three other intrepid
OUndine Lodge Brethren ventured North to the province of Suffolk in order to meet with
an old friend and Undine Lodge Brother, W Bro Bill Molloy, now Secretary of Lowestoft-based
St Margaret’s Lodge No.1452.
On the evening of the same day we were pleased to be part of a regular, well attended meeting which took
place in The Masonic Hall, Lowestoft. At 6.15pm the W Master and his Wardens Opened the Lodge promptly,
greeting Members and Visitors warmly and in grand style.
The busy and business-like Agenda included an excellent Third Degree ceremony, which I am reliably informed
was almost word perfect, elections of various Lodge Offi cers, and to receive the Audited Accounts for year
ending 31st December 2018.
The Festive Board proved, as before, a most enjoyable affair. Good, wholesome, well presented food, good wine and good company were in abundance, and at the fi nish
we were delighted to have witnessed a rather pleasant closing tune sung by the Brethren of St Margaret’s Lodge.
Needless to say, this early Spring event will now become a permanent fi xture in our diaries, and would strongly suggest that all Brethren should take every opportunity to
make such visits to other Provinces as and when they may arise.
photo shows : Front Row, Left to Right - W.Bro’s Colin Keeping, Barry-John Smith (Welsh Mason Visitor in area on business),Terry Mirams, David Elliott and Clive Snell.
Back Row - Left to Right. W.Bro Colin Browne SW, W.Bro Stephen King WM, Brother Andrew Besant JW, W.Bro Bill Bowman Provincial Rep. and Brother Darren Mann
IG (Candidate – Third Degree).

As part of our passing in the second degree we learn that freemasonry is
universally spread across the earth, meaning freemasonry is bigger that just The
United Kingdom. So as masons always searching out new wisdoms the question
is why would we not want to search out masonry in other countries and learn
and understand their ways.
Well that is exactly what we did at the Lodge of Faith 6830 Brightlingsea. Before
becoming a freemason I was in a Round table in Essex and we were twinned with
a Round table in Zwolle in the Netherlands and had many happy years twinning
making great friends there and it typifi ed what brotherly love is all about. So
after a couple of years being a mason I suggested the possibility of twining to
our General Purposes committee and cutting a long story short after seeking the
appropriate permissions we were twinned with Fides Mutua Lodge No 33 in The
Netherlands.
We now have reciprocal visits each year to each others towns. Last summer we had a healthy contingent of about 15 Dutch brothers visit us and they put on a
demonstration of a Dutch fi rst degree in English which was excellent, so naturally we had to return the gesture, so at the end of March myself and 10 brothers
from the Lodge of Faith supported by brothers from Lodge of Hope and Charity from Brightlingsea and 1 from United Lodge in Colchester took a trip over to
The Netherlands. We were as always looked after superbly by the Dutch brethren which culminating us English Brethren performing a 1st degree in English! And
being made up of mostly past masters it was of course word perfect. One of the great things about vising our brothers in The Netherlands is it isn’t just them we
get to meet, there are often Dutch masons from various parts of the Netherlands and some years there have been brethren from Osnabruck in Germany, a truly
international weekend. I guarantee If you really buy into the masonic spirit of brotherly love your would enjoy twinning with other lodges in Europe and even
wider. I would encourage all lodge to consider a reciprocal twining arrangement with other lodges from Europe. 371 Words
Since 2010 The Lodge of Faith 6830 in Brightlingsea has been twinned with Fides Mutua Lodge No 33 in The Netherlands and with each visit each year the
relationship goes from strength to strength. This year was no exception, in fact this was the best year yet for The Lodge of Faith to visit The Netherlands as
we were accompanied by members of Lodge of Hope and Lodge of Charity Brightlingsea and a member of United Lodge Colchester. After a fantastic visit
to us by Dutch Brethren last year who most ably performed an ancient Dutch fi rst degree ritual In English, we returned the gesture this year by carrying out a
demonstration of an Emulation 1st Degree also in English in their temple. This went down so well next year they will visit us again this time delivering a Dutch
3rd degree. I think these demonstrations will go on for sometime to come and maybe we may even attempt one in Dutch in the future (or maybe not). Twinning
is a fantastic way to meet new Brethren from other countries and I would thoroughly recommend it to all lodges.

The Essex Cornerstone Club
will be holding it’s annual
Curry this Thursday.

It’s a great way to connect with
other young, Essex masons
over good food and a few
drinks.

All welcome if you’re in the
area, would be a pleasure to
have you there!

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