A Grand Tour for Our Grand Master in Italy

by Oscar Bartoli, PM Rimini Italia Italia Lodge No. 2001 Venezia

WB Giancarlo Oderda, Master of Italia Lodge architecture. Of course, we couldn’t miss out on a No. 2001 went to the airport at Tessera, prolonged visit to the Home of Raffaello. Afterward, near Venice, Italy to welcome Grand Master we continued on the road to Rimini, location of the Paul D. Gleason and his dear wife, Patricia. I annual communication of the Grand Orient of Italy. traveled from Rome to Venice to meet the party and the tour of the classic lagoon city, also known as the Queen of the Adriatic, began. The tour included the Palazzo Ducale, San Marco, and a quick visit by boat to Murano to see the famous glass works there. The tour of Venice culminated with a “must do” activity: a canal ride in one of the famous gondolas. The next day, the American delegation entered the enormous temple assembled at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Rimini, where more than 2,000 people, including brothers and “profani” (uninitiated), were gathered to listen to an address by MWB Gustavo Raffi, Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Italy. The group then embarked on a journey to the next town, Ancona. Here we were welcomed by a delegation from Garibaldi Lodge No. 750. We visited the great cathedral or “duomo” and other prominent churches. The brethren of Garibaldi Lodge No. 750 hosted the “Americans” at the Napoleonic Fort, a famous resort in the bay of Porto Novo. The banquet offered by the Ancona brothers was a fine example of their tradition of outstanding hospitality. In a gift exchange, the WM of Garibaldi Lodge gave his Italia Lodge counterpart a wonderful book, and an equally important volume was given to Grand Master Gleason. WM Oderda gave the Ancona brethren a box containing a replica of the famous George Washington Gavel or “Magleitto”, the original being held by Potomac Lodge No. 5. It was the morning of March 28th, when visiting dignitaries representing several prominent Grand Lodges took turns in making presentations to Grand Master Raffi. Grand Master Gleason spoke very eloquently, in front of thousands of brothers from Italy and around the world, about how the United States of America is still struggling with defining the concept of “liberty”. As a memento of the occasion, MWB Gleason presented MWB Raffi with a bronze figurine of George Washington, testifying to the true friendship uniting American Masonry to that represented by the Grand Orient. During the afternoon we visited San Marino, an old and noble independent republic in the heart of Italy’s Romagna region, where we participated in the annual assembly of the local Grand Lodge. With a final visit to picturesque Lake Como, the The Master of Italia Lodge, seated with Masonic dignitaries, conducts a special communication of the Lodge in Rimini, Italy. The group, now forming a substantial caravan Grand Master and Mrs. Gleason returned home to of cars, stopped at Urbino, where we visited the Washington, D.C. n Palazzo Ducale, and the students’ residence, one of the most interesting examples of 1970’s