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Sojourner Kilwinning in Trinidad and Tobago
Soujourner Kilwinning Lodge Nº1798 visits Rosslyn Lodge in Trinidad and Tobago
Alwyn Taylor, PM
W. Bro. Christopher E. Taylor, Worshipful Master of Soujourner Kilwinning Lodge (SKL) No. 1798 led a delegation of nine Brethren and their spouses to Rosslyn Lodge No. 596 of the District Grand Lodge of Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada, and under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, from June 26th to July 2nd, 2007 to further strengthen the bond between the two lodges forged a few years back when contact was re-established with Bro. Ralph Romain, the Chartered Senior Warden of SKL and currently serving as secretary of Rosslyn Lodge. As both Lodges use the identical Scottish Ritual, the visit also afforded the brethren of Sojourner Kilwinning Lodge the opportunity to observe the performance of others.
The delegation from SKL comprised of the following: Bro. Alwyn B. Taylor, Director of Ceremonies; Bro. Solomon Jackson, PM; Bro. Francis Nicol, PM; Bro. Wilfred Auber, PM; Bro. Jonathan Olu Cole, WJW; Bro. Akie Adams; Bro. Prince Deign and Bro. Michael Palmer. The necessary protocols and formalities were effected and accordingly not only was the District Grand Master informed, but he also issued a Dispensation authorizing Rosslyn Lodge to receive the delegation from SKL and for the WM to participate in the conferral of the Master Mason’s Degree.
The highlight of the visit was the conferral of the Master Mason’s Degree on three Fellow Craft brethren of Rosslyn Lodge. It was characterized by pomp and pageantry in the traditional Scottish tradition.
To begin, Bro. Michael Toney, WM of Rosslyn Lodge, was received by officers and brethren of the Lodge. Once in King Solomon’s Chair, he requested the officers to occupy their respective stations. The official reception and presentation of dignitaries followed beginning with the District Grand Master of Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada, English Constitution; reigning and Past Masters of several Lodges. A special welcome was extended to the delegation from SKL headed by Bro. Christopher Taylor, WM. The WM and Past Masters in his delegation were invited to the East.
The last delegation to be received was that of The Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of Trinidad, Tobago and Grenada, Scottish Constitution. The arrival of Most Worshipful Bro. Stanley Marcus District Grand Master, who was accompanied by a suite of twelve including four Past District Grand Masters, was heralded by the Grand Director of Ceremonies. He was welcomed and received in a manner befitting
his rank. In addition to the dignitaries, the attendance by brethren was very impressive.
The Master Mason’s Degree was conferred with solemnity and proficiency by a team of seasoned Masons. Participating in the degree work was Bro. Christopher Taylor, WM. The performance was a
Masonic treat which will remain with the brethren present for years to come.
At the sumptuous Banquet that followed the conferral of the Master Mason’s Degree and at which the wives of brethren of SKL were present, the District Grand Master underscored the significance of the universality of Masonry and congratulated both Rosslyn and SKL for the practical demonstration of this phenomenon. In the view of W. Bro. Taylor, fraternal brotherhood was reflected in the warmth of the welcome extended by the brethren of Rosslyn Lodge who made his delegation feel at home. Although the members of his delegation had not met the other brethren of the Lodge before, the atmosphere was one of familiarity, demonstrating the true meaning of brotherly love. Bro. Michael Toney, WM of Rosslyn Lodge was most appreciative of the visit which was his honor and privilege to host.
The social programs enabled brethren of SKL and their wives to meet and fraternize with the families of brethren of Rosslyn Lodge. These included a welcome reception and Buffet Dinner at the Residence of Bro. Earl Bhagan, on Thursday June 29, 2007. The setting, a hill-top residence with a panoramic view of the valley below and other hills in the distance, and the prevailing cordial atmosphere facilitated fraternal discussions and exchange of views made the evening both pleasant and memorable.
Next, was the Jazz and Calypso Concert on Saturday, June 30th, 2007. It was a delightful evening in that we were entertained by the best of the local artists. We also had the rare privilege of being entertained by one of Calypso’s legends, Lord Superior himself. It was particularly fascinating to note that the director and manager of the jazz band is a member of Rosslyn Lodge.
On Sunday, July 1, 2007 Bro. Michael Toney, WM of Rosslyn Lodge entertained us with lunch at his country residence situated close to the NE part of the Island where the lighthouse is located and some three hours driving time from Port of Spain. The occasion afforded us the opportunity to see many towns and villages en-route. One of the points at which we stopped was a creek from which, on a clear day one could see the Island of Tobago. At the luncheon some of the brethren of Rosslyn Lodge were also present, which afforded another occasion to fraternize and exchange views on a wide range of Masonic and other issues.
In addition to the official program, brethren and their wives organized guided tours to the North of the country and on foot to down town Port of Spain, as the visitors reminisced about their native Sierra Leone.
The six-day visit was pregnant with possibilities of Masonic interaction and cross fertilization and lived up to SKL’s Masonic theme of the year 2007 namely “interdependence”. In addition, it exemplified in varying degrees the practical application of the Masonic prescription of Brotherly love, Relief and Truth and demonstrated the reality that Masonry is still very much alive and well.
Masonry does not need change, but the way we teach and practice it, does! “In all our endeavors, we are charged, above all else, with keeping the principles of freemasonry, and herein lies our strength – ongoing, unremitting. We must change, but the change we need to make, are in the way we present Masonry to today’s man. Men in today’s world – the men we want to have as members, have themselves high standards. We Must create an environment that matches their expectations of an organization representing the highest ideals.”
The Essence of Masonry continued from page 10
and hundreds of diverse associations — political, economic, and military — that have been established in consequence of need during our lifetime.
Nowhere, however, has the necessity for unity been more fully appreciated than it is among those who dedicate themselves to securing a better world through Freemasonry. It is thus not unusual for Masons to attribute their successes to “unity” and their failures, of which there may be too many, to “disunity.” Hence, in the Freemasonry that we practice today, we invoke with purpose the 133rd Psalm early in the initiation of our candidates. “Behold,” we remind every initiate, “how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
Do we do so merely to conform to the demands of our ritual? Perhaps. But there must be a reason for the selection of this Psalm, over all others, for presentation to the initiate. If so, what is it? Many years ago Bruce Harmon Hunt, in a compilation of materials published in reviews written for the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, suggested a logical explanation in an analysis of the Psalm within the context of human relations existing at the time it was written.
In that review Hunt observed that David, “the singer of sweet songs,” was deeply concerned about the unity of his people. He claimed that David feared that the tribes in his nation might drift apart and become enemies if they were not held together by some strong bond. It was unity, Hunt declared, that the tribes sought, as they participated in pilgrimages or retreats to the same place, at least three times a year. This practice was calculated to bring about the intercommunication of tribesmen with each other. The practice was most certainly one of the chief means by which the unity of feeling and sentiment was kept up among the scattered members of the nation.
The pilgrimages, said Hunt, were to the Israelites what the meeting at the Olympics and other games were to the Greeks, what a trek to Mecca was and is to the Moslems, and, in a sense, what Grand Lodge is to Freemasons. It must have helped greatly the various classes of pilgrims — the spiritual and the secular, the rich and the poor, the citizen and the peasant — to feel themselves united with each other and with the great Jehovah. Just as the 133rd Psalm recorded the means by which the Israelites were bound one to the other, Hunt concluded, it should also remind us that genuine unity is the unvarying condition of real success.
In conclusion it would seem evident that although the 133rd Psalm is used primarily to introduce the novice to the complexity of the moral and spiritual values of the Masonic world, its real purpose is to serve as a constant reminder, to the Masonic initiate and veteran alike, of their mutual obligation to demonstrate by their actions “how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” It is only in the perpetuation and propagation of that basic truth that peace, harmony, and understanding, worldwide, will be attained.
Fall Leadership Conference 2007
The Grand Lodge Fall Leadership Conference 2007 entitled “Enlighten, Energize, Engage” will be held on Friday, September 7 and Saturday, September 8, 2007, at the 4-H Educational Center in Front Royal, Virginia. Given the renewed energy within Freemasonry, this year’s Conference is designed to focus on Policy and Leadership. The Grand Master and our Grand Lodge Officers, all look forward to your presence at Front Royal on Friday, September 7. These are exciting times for our Craft!
