Curry Night

A mid summer get together at one of Maidstone’s finest Nepalese restaurants.

Join us at the Ghurkha Restaurant in Week Street,  Maidstone on Friday 29th June at 19:30.

Wives, Partners, Family and Friends all welcome.

Please book with Ian Packer ASAP.

Agricola Members conquer Vesuvius…

Tuesday 15th May 2018, saw 24 Lodge members, wives and partners gather at the Vesuvius Italian Restaurant in Maidstone for a Dinner to mark the end of the 2017/2018 Masonic “Season”.

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.

A great time was had by all…

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.

Look out for our next social occasion, a mid summer get together at one of Maidstone’s finest Nepalese restaurants,  the Ghurkha in Week Street, Maidstone on Friday 29th June at 19:30. Wives, Partners, Family and Friends all welcome. Please book with Ian Packer ASAP.

Viva Espana!

This just in from our Spanish Correspondent:   Snr.  Rodgerico de Walthamos who is currently on a beer tasting expedition somewhere in the Iberian Peninsula…

 

Muchos Gracias Hermano!

April 2018 Meeting

Our April Regular meeting took place at the Maidstone Masonic Centre on 27th April 2018.

The main event this time was the “Raising” (i.e. taking the third degree) of Bro. David Dadswell by our Worshipful Master Paul Constable.

However before that, the Lodge witnessed a sad moment when WBro. David Kershaw rose to pay a fulsome tribute to our late Brother Richard Hinge,  who died recently at the age of 83.

David Kershaw
David Kershaw

Initiated in 1969, Richard was the last member of the Hinge “Dynasty” who had been staunch supporters of Agricola Lodge since it was founded in 1922.  Both his Father and Grandfather had been members;  and Richard had served the Lodge for many years including a stint as Secretary in the early 1990’s.

David recalled how he, Richard and the late Ted Whiting had progressed through the Lodge Offices together, providing mutual support, encouragement and friendship over many years.  He was, said David…

An example to us all, who will be sadly missed.

A Service of Thanksgiving for Richard’s Life will be held on Wednesday 16th May.  Details can be obtained from the Lodge Secretary.

David and Paul
David (L) and Paul

The meeting then proceeded with Organist John Fry restored to his place at the keyboard after his recent hospital treatment.  The Ceremony of Raising, featured an hilarious moment when The Worshipful Master, (who is 5ft 3 inches tall) raised David (almost 6ft 5 inches tall).

The Master Masons among our readership will appreciate the problem :-)))

Happily all was concluded satisfactorily,  when David was invested with the Rank of a Master Mason with much acclaim.

The Festive Board was our usual happy affair featuring Hot Sussex Smokie, Roast Beef and Apple Pie.  The Bottle Raffle in aid of the Lodge Centenary Fund featured a particularly fine bottle of Jura Single Malt.  It raised £56.00 and was won by David Kershaw.

The main Raffle raised a further £175.00 for which Charity Steward
Jim de Save thanked the Brethren.

In his toast to the Worshipful Master, acting IPM Richard Carney congratulated him on another battling and determined performance and thanked him for the funniest moment (see above) “… Since Herbie Watson’s trousers fell down”.  A famous moment of high comedy, featuring a wardrobe malfunction,  which occurred back in the year 2000.

This meeting was the last of the current “season”.   Our next will be on Friday 26th October 2018.  However there are a couple of social events over the summer.  Full details are in the Events section.

Agricola Eggheads rule OK? (Well almost…)

Agricola’s Quiz team recently took part in the 6th annual Maidstone Masonic Centre Quiz Night.

This annual competition for the “Brooks-Tozer Shield” seeks to raise both the intellectual ability of the members,  as well as a significant sum for the improvement of the Centre.

However by the end of the evening it was generally accepted that whilst second objective had been achieved,  the former “may be in doubt”.

Appearing for what was billed as the “Agro Cola” team were Malcolm & Janet Graham, Mike and Julie Spencer, Ian and Kellie Packer and Bob and Wendy Burns.

 
Fleur de Lis Lodge
The winning team from Fleur de Lis Lodge

For the first time the eventual winners were the team from Fleur de Lis Lodge No 8969  who improved on their previous best position of 2nd.

However the “Agro Cola”  Eggheads ended up a creditable 4th.

 

Secretary Bob Burns afterwards admitted that they would have come third if he had listened to Wendy who provided the correct answer to a critical question.

However the team displayed what Bob describes as…
“A good spread of useless knowledge”.

The evening raised  the magnificent sum of £360.00 which will be donated to the Maidstone Masonic Centre for improving  facilities for the members.

January 2018 Meeting

Our regular meeting on the 26th January 2018, saw us welcome our latest recruit, in the person of Nikolay Marinov.  Nik’s journey into Freemasonry began some years ago when he moved into the house next door to Senior Warden Malcolm Graham.  He had long been interested in Freemasonry but it was his growing friendship with his next door neighbour which finally convinced him to take the plunge and apply for membership.

nik marinov initiation
Nik was proposed by Malcolm Graham (l) and seconded by Neil Marshall (r)

Nik, aged 35, is an Accountant living in Maidstone with his wife Maria, who is a local GP,  and his 2 young boys aged 6 and 1.  His hobbies are “anything sporty” with a particular interest in  Martial Arts.  Malcolm of course proposed him.  He was seconded by Junior Warden, and Membership Officer Neil Marshall.

The meeting opened at 6pm and, in addition to a smoothly executed first degree ceremony, included a poignant moment in the Lodge’s history when long standing member WBro. Richard Hinge was elected an Honorary Member.  A local fruit Farmer,  Richard is the third generation of his family to have been a member of Agricola Lodge.  He served the Lodge in many ways over the years;  but is perhaps most remembered for his years as Lodge Secretary, and for his rendition of the “Address to the Brethren” which was a regular and much loved feature of our Installation Meetings for longer than most of us can remember.

The Lodge was also delighted to see WBro. John Beadle back with us after his stroke last year.

nik marinov initiation
Nik was welcomed by WM Paul Constable

The formal proceedings being over,  the Lodge was closed at around 8:15 after which the Brethren repaired to the Dining Room for our now traditional January Burns Supper.  The meal began with a warm and satisfying, home made, Cock a Leekie soup.  This was followed up by Haggis Neaps and Tatties and rounded off with Tipsy Trifle, Cheese and Coffee.

Following the usual Toasts, Neil Marshall rose to propose the “Toast to the Initiate.”  He outlined Nik’s background assuring the Brethren that although Accountancy didn’t enjoy the most exciting of reputations, Nik was very much at the hip “Rock and Roll” end of the profession.  Following a rousing toast, Nik thanked the Brethren for accepting him into the Lodge and said how much he was looking forward to getting to know more about Freemasonry.

With the Lodge’s Centenary looming in 2023, our Secretary Bob Burns kindly donated a bottle of Single Malt whisky which was raffled in aid of the Centenary Fund.  It was won by er…..  Bob Burns !!!  

A Stewards Enquiry has been ordered ;-)))

The meeting was brought to a close by Tyler Mark Kirby at approximately 10:00pm

Installation Meeting 2017

Agricola Lodge No 4501 has a new Worshipful Master!

WM with IPM
Our new WM (L) with his IPM

At our installation meeting on Friday 24th November 2017, Paul Constable was installed into the Chair of the Lodge as it’s 96th Worshipful Master.  The ceremony being expertly carried out by his predecessor Neil Sadler.

Paul is one of a very select group of Masons who have served as Master of Agricola 4501 on more than one occasion.  Aged 67,  Paul is a retired  IT professional and former Royal Navy seaman.  He lives in Tunbridge Wells with his wife Lin,  and has been a member of the Lodge since 2004.

Grand Officers
Our new WM with the PGM’s Representative and some of the Grand Officers

Every Installation meeting in East Kent  is attended by a senior member of the Province,  representing the Provincial Grand Master.  On this occasion we were pleased to welcome Provincial Junior Grand Warden, Martyn Summers.

 

 

We were also pleased to welcome 24 other guests and visitors.  This number included the Masters of Duke of Kent, Monckton and Malling Centenary Lodges who assisted during the ceremony.

Following the appointment and investiture of the new Master’s team of Officers,  the Brethren approved donations to the following Charities….

The Kent Museum of Freemasonry

Teddies for Loving Care

Demelza Hospice Care for Children

The Masonic Fishing Charity

 

The formal work of the Lodge being complete, members, guests and visitors repaired to the dining room where they enjoyed a sumptuous meal of Farmhouse Pate,  followed by Roast Lamb,  a dessert of Baked Apple, and the usual Cheeseboard, Coffee and mints!

During his response to the Toast to the Provincial Officers,  Martyn Summers thanked the Lodge members for their warm welcome, and conveyed to the new Worshipful Master the personal congratulations of Provincial Grand Master Geoffrey Dearing.

Master and Wardens
Our New WM with his Wardens

After the meal a  raffle organised by new Charity Steward Jim de Save raised the magnificent sum of over £325.00 which was donated to the Cornwallis East Kent Freemasons Charity

 

 

Agricola Lodge No 4501,  traditionally ends the Festive Board with the Tyler’s Toast which guides our thoughts to those of our Brethren who might be in “….distressed circumstances”.  This having been completed,  the Brethren departed,  eagerly looking forward to a new Masonic year.