Page 35 - EM-Issue-90

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The Lodge takes great pride in its’ Ritual, which is Taylors Workings. There have been numerous memorable meetings
and achievements. The Lodge achieved Grand Patron Status for Festival 2011 and has Vice Patron status for Festival
2022. Thundersley Lodge is proud to have 9 members who have achieved 50 years’ service to Masonry, of which three
have been in recent years. Our Late Deputy PGM, VW Bro Peter Holland presented W. Bro Ray Fretten his Certificate
on 24th November 2011. Our Late W. Bro Henry Stennett was presented with his on 28th May 2015. The Brethren were
pleased to receive a large contingent from the Grand Lodge of Ireland in private capacity, including their Grand Master
MW Bro Douglas T Grey when W.Bro Mel Goodchild was presented with his Certificate on 24th May 2018.
The Lodge has been fortunate to have witnessed four Lewis ceremonies in recent years. Our Late W. Bro David Clement’s
son, Stephen was initiated on 10th April 2008, W.Bro David Fairney’s son James was initiated on 22nd January 2009 and
Larry Hocking initiated his adopted son Daniel Ward on 23rd November 2017. Bro Steve Hodder proudly presented the
tools of an Entered apprentice after his son Joseph was initiated on 22nd November 2018. Another notable ceremony
was that of Bro Robert Huntley when his twin Brother W.Bro David Huntley delivered the charge after initiation, witnessed
by several Grand Officers from the Province of West Kent, including their PGM, MW Bro Mark Estaugh. Finally, several
brethren have had Grand Rank bestowed upon then over the years gone by, including our own venerable W. Bro
Raymond Fretten, who was promoted to PGStB on 30th April 2003.
Sadly, due to the restrictions placed on large gathering due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is unclear when Thundersley
Lodge may be in a position to truly celebrate the wonderful achievement of 90 years after receiving its warrant. The
Lodge has truly flourished, and with the assistance of the Great Architect of the Universe, will continue to uphold the
principles and tenets of the Craft.

Never Too Late

To Become a Freemason

In his 84th year, Bro Voltaire proved it is
never too late to become a Freemason
by being Initiated and made an Entered
Apprentice of the Lodge of the Nine
Sisters in Paris. Among the distinguished
visitors was Benjamin Franklin who later
became Master. Born in 1694 and famous
for his travels, wit and irrepressible grin
seen on hundreds of paintings, sketches,
caricatures, statues and busts, Voltaire
once wrote “Let us always march forward
along the highway of Truth, my brothers,
grinning decisively”.
Philosopher, historian, and writer who also led many campaigns against injustice, inequality and tyranny and who
introduced the term “Human Rights”, Bro Voltaire is described on his tombstone monument in Paris as the ‘Immortal
symbol of the Age of Enlightenment’.
Learning to be a successful investor whilst living in London in the late 1720s Voltaire never had to rely on book sales or
aristocratic patronage for the rest of his life. He loved England, especially the coffee houses and the London Exchange,
writing that “There the Jew, the Mahometan and the Christian deal with each other as though they were all of the same
religion”.
Having lived a long, full and eventful life, it appears that one of the World’s greatest ever Philosophers found in
Freemasonry the same ‘Brotherly Love’ and tolerance for all religions and denominations to work together, similar to
that which had impressed him so much in the London Exchange where “the Presbyterian trusts the Anabaptist and the
Anglican accepts the Quaker’s bond”
Voltaire’s grin and wit stayed with him all his life, even during his dying hours when a Jesuit priest, who had been sent for,
urged him to renounce the devil to which Voltaire softly replied “Now is not the time to be making enemies”. Fortunately
for the Age of Enlightenment, which greatly influenced the development of Freemasonry, Bro Voltaire also refused to
renounce any of his works before his ‘passing’ to the Grand Lodge Above on 30th May 1778.