On the Masonic date 27/10/6021(2021) a few serving Military Brethren posted to Bovington and Lulworth Garrison, who were all on the square from all ends of the UK, grouped together.
Starting with only two known to each other, a spark of light has increased to a beaming beacon in the east of eight. The main theme of our small group is travelling brethren of all degrees away from our Mother Lodges for quite some time aiming to remain active in the ways of the craft while posted in Dorset.
Our travels have been to a few lodges in Dorset but also to the Province of Wiltshire.
Our introduction to Brethren and Lodges in Dorset was initially via the Three Pillars Club. After speaking to my Mother Lodge about the process of visiting outside of GLOS and the need to be invited to meetings, then being advised to join the TPC and being warmly welcomed on social media.
On arrival to the Province of Dorset, two of us attended our first meeting in Wareham where we spectated a special EA degree hosted by Lodge of St Martin No 7986 and Brownsea Island Lodge 9689 co-jointly, being the first meeting outside of GLOS we were very nervous initially as the hit of COVID -19 had meant we had all been away from the craft for some time. However the knowledge that had been locked away was quickly remembered.
Following this meeting we had set our firm foundation stone in the Province of Dorset to further our Masonic travels bringing light to other Lodges. Subsequent meetings were to the Lodge of St Cuthberga No 622 where our group had reached a plateau of eight brethren and provided a healthy visitor presence. This meeting was a special one for us as the Commander of the The Armour Centre had recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant along with the Provincial Grand Master of Dorset Graham Glazier. It felt good to represent the military in the Craft.
Following on in the year 6022(2022) we visited Lodge Brother in Arms No 9540 in the Province of Wiltshire where one of our members Bro Russell is the Assistant Secretary. The meeting was also of special importance as it was the Burns dinner during which Bro Wishart, one of our members, delivered one of Robert Burns famous poems – Address to a toothache, which was done to a very high standard. On this occasion there were two fellow serving members of the military joining the craft.
The most recent visit in Dorset was to Lodge Honour and Friendship No 1266 in Blandford Forum, where we spectated a flawless EA degree worked with a family member of one of the Lodge officers joining the Craft.
During our travels we have been warmly welcomed in every Lodge hosted by every member and enjoyed some great harmony after the meetings. On which the saying in Freemasonry goes “There are no strangers in Freemasonry only friends you have yet to meet”. This has been very poignant and we are duly grateful.
Our future is not scripted and will try to do as much travelling as we can within the Province. Hopefully as we individually move back to our Mother Lodges the foundations that we have laid will be built upon by others who replace us over the years to come and if possible, establish a permanent solid structure in the future.
Written by Brother Robert Millar MM, Lodge Coupar o Fife No 19 under GLOS
