Modern Freemasonry for Maidstone
This is what happens when the DC gets a new app on his mobile.
A few covert images taken before and after the Lodge of Instruction meeting and a simple press of a button captured our Worshipful Master in pensive thought!
Which the Secretary thought was a remarkable likeness to Carl Frederickson in Up!
He then managed to capture both of our Wardens trying to find out the exact pronunciation of the second degree password!!
Worshipful Brother Neil Graham Marshall has the honour of being the only Master to have served two consecutive years in Agricola Lodge, due to the Corona Virus pandemic. He was installed in November 2019 and presided over two meeting before the Grand Master suspended all masonic meetings. He was then declared to serve a second year in October 2020 when we were able to meet under the rule of ‘six’.
During his two years it was only possible to complete two second degree ceremonies so it was only fitting that he should be in the ‘chair’ again for a third term. He will now be the only Master of Agricola Lodge to have his name on the honours board three times.
It was a doubly special evening at a recent meeting of Agricola Lodge at the Maidstone Masonic Centre.
The first special part of the meeting was shortly after the Lodge was opened by the Worshipful Master, WBro. Dr. David Penman. There was a report and the Deputy Provincial Director of Ceremonies, WBro. James Close, was admitted. He announced that WBro. Duncan Rouse, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, accompanied by a significant retinue of Active Provincial Grand Officers, stood without and demanded admission. He was very well and warmly received by the Lodge members, guests, and visitors; an honour indeed to be visited by such a senior member of the Province.
The main business of the meeting was to Initiate two Candidates. A double Initiation is special in itself but, add to that the fact that they were brothers AND that they were the sons of the Lodge’s ADC, WBro Ian Packer, and you get not just a double, but a very special double! You’d think that was sufficiently amazing for the history books, but Dad himself then proceeded to take the Chair and Initiate both sons, Toby and Matthew!
And it being a special evening doesn’t end there, either, because before the Lodge was closed, WBro. Duncan Rouse, the AsstProvGM, rose to his feet and presented the Worshipful Master with a Platinum Certificate to mark the Lodge’s considerable support of the 2025 Festival, saying, “It is rare to be able to present this level of award and the Lodge’s exceptional endeavours are very gratefully acknowledged”.
So, a Double Initiation, which was doubly special as it was all about a father and his two sons, doubled with the special visit of an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, doubled up again with the presentation of a very special Platinum Award Certificate. It was indeed a double-double special evening for Agricola!