The Old Berkhamstedian Lodge

During my year as Master of the Lodge we have been emerging from the effects of the suspension of Masonic activities due to Covid and enjoying meeting regularly once again at the School.

The Old Berkhamstedian Lodge continues to attract an increasing number of young Old Boys giving a vitality and enthusiasm to meetings. Our new Master elect, Jack Baker (Nash 2013), takes over from me in February 2023 and will become the youngest Master of the Lodge to date. His first ceremony will be to welcome an even younger OB to the lodge.

Admitting younger Old Boys to the Lodge has improved masonic social media understanding, capabilities, and utilisation. This has led to better communication between members and improved their ability to reference Lodge history and traditions. The Old Berkhamstedians Masonic Lodge welcomes new members specifically from the school i.e. teachers or support staff, parents and partners of those connected with the school. This helps retain the strong links and traditions associated with the school. This, at times, can be quite quirky and discombobulating for the younger Old Boys by the singing of the school song Carmen (in Latin) which I believe was discontinued on amalgamation with the Girls school in 1996.

In addition to the fraternity of meeting in the school with the connection to the school, the principal reason for the OB lodge, another main tenet of the lodge is support to members, the school, and the local community. Charity is at the forefront of our minds. Our Head of Charity, Keith Goddard (Adders 1962), has been proactive in presenting opportunities where the Lodge can help in the local community. A few examples are: help in the refurbishment

The John Sayer Alms Houses in Berkhamsted; Open Door Youth Project; Berkhamsted Swan Youth Project; St Mary’s Primary School, Northchurch; Westfield Primary School; Bridgewater School; Sunnyside Rural Trust and Dens to name a few.

The assistance the Lodge gives does not always need to be financial. To assist St Mary’s School woodworking classes, the members of the Lodge were asked for any for 9" hand drills, an 8" wood vice and small hammers and gardening tools to donate to the school. Charity comes in many forms!

The OB Lodge also donates to the Province of Hertfordshire which has helped people cover their essential daily living costs with over £98,000 of support. Over £80,000 was used to help give access to life-saving and life-changing health support. Over £23,000 helped families with care and education costs. And there were nine grants to local charities totalling over £71,000. Further afield the National Masonic Charitable Foundation has donated 21 million pounds to cover humanitarian disasters, global poverty, and national causes.

Rob Petrie (Hon) Current Staff