Visiting is an integral part of being a Freemason; the opportunity to get out within the Province and meet new friends, spot the subtle and sometimes not so subtle differences in the ceremony, enjoying each others company. With almost 140 lodges in our Province and just under 50 Royal Arch Chapters there’s something going on almost every night of the week!
With so much going on in our Province it’s easy to forget that in every Province under United Grand Lodge of England, there are meetings taking place up and down the country!
Earlier this month I made a visit to Company of Information Technologists (CITO) Lodge 9650 which meet at Bakers Hall in London. A modern building in the heart of London, not only the meeting place of CITO Lodge but also that of the Worshipful Company of Bakers, one of the oldest City of London, Liveries with a history dating back over 800 years.
My visit to CITO Lodge was to witness a first degree ceremony and what a truly fantastic ceremony it was. With almost every seat filled, the meeting commenced, without giving too much away, highlights of the evening were a splendid first time delivery of the Charge by the Junior Deacon, and a marvellous rendition of the tracing board by the Senior Deacon.
One of the wonderful aspects about visiting, is you never know who you might bump into and this visit was no exception, with the RW Deputy Grand Master Jonathan Spence paying a visit!
Bro Dr. Christopher N. Tait, WBro Ian Henderson, RW Deputy Grand Master Jonathan Spence
After the ceremony I had the opportunity to discuss with the Deputy Grand Master the importance of visiting not only within your own Province but to other Provinces as well.
Get out and visit, you never know who you might bump into!
Bro Dr. Christopher N. Tait
Special thanks must go to WBro Ian Henderson for his kind invitation to CITO Lodge, WBro Ian is a seasoned visitor across the country and has visited our own Province, performing a piece of ritual as part of an initiation never seen before in Lodge Temperance 2557!
A thank you to WBro Gus Machado PSGD, MetGInsp – Director of Ceremonies of CITO Lodge for giving me an introduction to RW Deputy Grand Master Jonathan Spence (as well as his camera skills!), and to the Worshipful Master of CITO Lodge 9650 WBro A. Southward, Officers and Brethren for their very warm welcome.
If you have been been out visiting and would like to share your story please get in touch with the Provincial Communications Team news@northumberlandmasons.org.uk.