Modern Freemasonry for Maidstone
The Lodge will be donating £700 to the Alzheimer’s Society at a ‘White Table’ meeting on Friday 25th October. The money was raised at our Worshipful Master’s Ladies Festival last July and a representative for the Charity is giving the Brethren and their guests a talk on the work of the Society.
The donation was made at the Festive Board after the meeting.
Our WM W Bro Malcolm Graham and Mr Sam Edwards the Community Fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Society in Kent and East Sussex
Fifty-five years is a big slice of anyone’s life and, at ninety-three years of age, represents 60% of Colin’s existence. All those who know Colin will see how the integrity, respect and benevolence taught and encouraged by Freemasonry as a way of life, is reflected clearly in his own personality and character. The world is certainly a better place for having W Bro Colin Bayliss in it!
On 1st April 1964, a thirty-eight (almost thirty-nine) year-old man named Colin Richard Bayliss was Initiated into our fraternity in the Cinque Ports Lodge No.1206, in this, the Masonic Province of East Kent.
Colin later joined Agricola Lodge in Maidstone on 28th January 1977, where he became Worshipful Master of the Lodge in November 1989. In 1993 Colin became the Lodge’s Assistant Director of Ceremonies, and in 1995, he took over as Director of Ceremonies, and continued in that role for four years until 1999. Although no longer able to attend meetings, Colin remains both a member of Cinque Ports and Agricola Lodge and is regarded and remembered, to this day, as a highly respected and valued member. He was first recognised by the Province for his contribution to the Fraternity in 1996, when he was appointed to the Rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, and he later received a very well-earned promotion to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon in 2002.
Colin went on to join Royal Arch Masonry at Monckton Chapter No.9236 in 2007, where he remained a member until the effects of his advancing years on his ability to attend, forced his retirement ten years later in 2017.
Due to some administrative delays, the certificate refers to fifty-years, and should have been presented five years ago. It is extremely well deserved and we are all very happy that admin has eventually caught up with reality!
Now in a Care Home with Midge, Colin was presented with his Certificate on Tuesday 21st May 2019, by W Bro Roger Howard Waltham, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master, together with W Bro Bob Burns, Secretary of Agricola Lodge No 4501.
Photographs by W Bro Peter Floyd.
Well that’s it until October.
Being a Farmer’s Lodge we will all be in the fields bringing in the harvest. Well we would if there were any farmers left in the lodge, sadly we lost the last one a year ago. 🙁
But we will be meeting at our Ladies Night and there is a Curry Night arranged for 14th June.
Please remember to keep up with learning the ritual and we will see you at our LOI AGM at the end of September
The Worshipful Master of Agricola Lodge 4501 and his Lady, Janet would be pleased to welcome you to our Ladies Night, which will be held at Bearsted Golf Course, Ware Street, Bearsted, Maidstone ME14 4PQ, on Saturday 1st of June 2019
Dress – Black Tie
1900 Arrival – 1930 Dinner – Carriages at Midnight
Charity raffle on the night in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society
To book please email: ianrpacker@gmail.com or call 07764 254670
Our regular meeting on Friday 26th April will see Bro Michael Keohan taking his third step and become a Master Mason.
The Festive Board will reflect a St George’s Day menu of Roast Beef and all the usual trimmings. To book in please use the contact form.
Our March regular meeting had a very special guest attending. W Bro David William Alexander the APGM for East Kent was accompanied by many active Officers and the escorting DC W Bro David Francis Tyler.
The ceremony for the meeting was a second degree at which Bro Michael Keohan took his second step in Freemasonry.
We all enjoyed a marvellous Festive Board which complimented a very happy meeting.
Another Initiation.
If you wish to join us you will be most welcome and our Festive Board menu is Steak & Ale Pie. Everyone loves a pie!!
Friday 25th January 2019
Our Worshipful Master W Bro Malcolm Graham conducts his first ceremony in initiating Bro Michael Keohan ably assisted by his Wardens Bro Neil Marshall and Bro Ian Packer.
Afterwards the brethren enjoyed a Burns Night festive board, Haggis Neeps & Tatties of course.
As well as being a Freemason, Richard was a prominent local farmer who had lived and worked in Kent all his life. So great was the attendance, that the Service, which would normally have been held in his local Church in Bredgar, was moved to the larger Church of St. John the Baptist in nearby Tunstall.
In welcoming the congregation, The Reverend Alan Pinnegar described Richard as someone “who had the knack of putting people at ease”. He referred to Richard’s kind and gentle manner as well as to his mischievous and often self deprecating sense of Humour.
The main Tribute to Richard was given by his friend of 40 years David Rhys-Jones who described Richard as “a Gentleman” who was always welcoming, interested in people, and who loved to socialise.
Looking back over Richard’s life and achievements, David described his love of country sports and his lifelong interest in National Hunt and Point to Point racing. He also mentioned the pride Richard felt in his membership of Agricola Lodge and Chapter, and in his many Masonic achievements.
He also described Richard’s love of his family, the sad loss of his wife Bridget, and the happiness he had found in later life with Alice.
“With Richard…” said David “a laugh was never far away”.
The Service featured contributions from 5 of Richard’s Grand Children Charlie, Monty, Rachel, Freddy and Fergus.
A retiring collection was held in aid of the Injured Jockey’s Fund and the local Parish. Brethren wishing to donate should send payments in Richard’s Name to:
C. Waterhouse and Sons, Funeral Directors, High Street, Burwash, East Sussex TN19 7ET.
The Lodge does not meet during the summer months. It was originally formed as a Farmers’ Lodge, whose members would be busy harvesting their crops during the period May to October.
Organised by Junior Warden and membership Officer Neil Marshall, the evening featured some excellent Italian food and wines all cooked and prepared by the lovely staff at Vesuvius. Several happy diners remarked on the quality of the food, especially the Steak and the Veal which were pronounced “yummy!”
We were delighted to welcome our newest recruit Michael K. and his partner who were able to meet and get to know the members of the Lodge in a relaxed and happy setting. Michael will hopefully be welcomed into the Lodge in January but we hope to see much more of him before then.
As no Masonic occasion would be complete without a raffle, Neil raffled a bottle of Berry Brothers and Rudd’s No 3 Gin in aid of the Lodge’s centenary fund (we will be 100 years old in 2023). Rather unusually for an Agricola event it wasn’t won by Secretary Bob Burns, but went instead to well known Gourmet and “Masterbrew” expert Roger Waltham.