Bethesda Lodge is 150
years old
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On August 27 Bethesda
Lodge of Valparaíso, Chile, turned 150 years. Bethesda Lodge, is the
oldest acting Masonic Lodge in Chile, and the oldest US Masonic
Lodge overseas. The celebration took place on 11 October 2003 at the
Masonic Temple of Wagner Street downtown Valparaíso, with an
attendance of near one hundred Brethren from this city, Viña del
Mar and Santiago. It is worth noting at the celebration the presence
of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Chile, Grand Wardens and
Grand Delegate. |
Some Views of
the Event |
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First
Row (L to R): RW Emilio Morgado Grand SW G.L. Chile, RW Daniel Cerda,
DDGM for Chile District G. L. Massachusetts, MW Jorge Carvajal,
Grand Master Grand Lodge of Chile, Wor. John R. Enos, WM Bethesda
Lodge, RW Julio Hernández Grand JW G.L. Chile, RW Gabriel Zamora DDGM G.L. Chile
for Viña del Mar, Wor. Ronald Hoehmann, WM Lessing Lodge Nº 90.
Second Row (L to R): Wor. Jorge Cifuentes, WM Huelén Lodge; Bro.
Rodrigo Oliver; Bro. Alonso Nuñez; Wor. John H. Murdoch; Wor. Enrique Cañas; Bro.
Rubén Scheihing; Wor. William Buxton; Wor. Francisco Casas.
Third Row (L to R): Bro. Enrique Johow; Bro. Claudio Stuardo; Bro.
Guillermo Delgado; Bro. Pablo Bilbao; Bro. John J. Enos Jr.; Bro.
Thomas Gallardo; Bro. Thomas Jackson; Bro. Andrés Guarello |
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GM
Jorge Carvajal of the Grand Lodge of Chile reading his greeting |
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Wor.
John Enos receives Huelén's present from Wor. J. Cifuentes |
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End
of the communication |
Speech
pronounced by our WM on behalf of the Correspondent Lodges in Chile |
Worshipful
Master,
Gran Maestro de la Gran Logia de Chile,
DDGM of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts,
Brethren,
It
is an honor and a pleasure for me to greet Bethesda Lodge on their
150th Anniversary on behalf of the correspondent Lodges within the
Chilean territory. The correspondent Lodges operate under Grand
Lodges of foreign countries with which the Grand Lodge of Chile
maintains fraternal relations. Three Grand Lodges are tonight here
present: The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, The Grand Lodge of
England, and The Grand Lodge of Scotland. The Grand Lodge of
Massachusetts represented through Huelen Lodge, Santiago and St.
John's Lodge, Concepción (headed by their Master Wor. Claudio Roa)
The Grand Lodge of England represented through Lodge of Harmony 1411
(headed by their Master Wor. Germán Buchheister). The Grand Lodge
of Scotland represented through Britannia 1033 (headed by their
Master Rt. Wor. Catone Nicoreanu).
The
correspondent Lodges are indeed a minority within the country, and
our presence has diminished dramatically during the past decades.
Nevertheless we are still here to demonstrate that the Masonic
energy abounds in our Lodges and our various rituals and insignia
still serve to establish common ground and shared values across
language and cultural differences, without leaving aside that
Freemasonry advocates the individual's right to think for himself,
pursue truth through science and the arts, and take responsibility
for the welfare of society through quiet acts of charity.
Bethesda's
150th anniversary is a paradigm for the correspondent Lodges,
because of their endeavors, which have been ceaseless during this
century and a half, comprising remarkable fraternal actions, both
within the Masonic and the profane world. This important anniversary
makes us proud for the diligence of our Brethren from Bethesda, and
also makes us happy for being here tonight, in this wonderful and
cozy Temple, where fraternity and brotherly love reign as usual,
with the different aprons that we see with enjoyment, demonstrating
that Freemasonry is the same no matter what ritual is performed.
Brethren
of Bethesda: happy 150th anniversary.
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