AN EXCITING MASONIC VISIT

by Bro.  Norman Senn


During May and June of 1989 I was fortunate in spending five
weeks in New Zealand based in the City of Rotorua in the North
Island.

I was privileged to stay at the home of my good friend and
brother, W. Bro.  Peter Verrall, who had been the first
Worshipful Master of the Waikato Lodge of Research No. 445, G.R.
New Zealand, and was now its Secretary.  I had first met brother
Verrall at a meeting of Quatuor Coronati in Britain in 1979 when
both of us were heavily involved in the formation of research
lodges in our respective countries.  We traded planned bylaws and
constitutional references and corresponded regularly about the
progress of the two lodges once they were established.

Now I was in New Zealand with Brother Peter and he set up quite a
Masonic schedule for my "holiday"! I visited four Craft lodges,
both urban and rural, one Scottish Rite and one Royal Arch
meeting.  In addition, I found I was attending many social
activities with brethren and their wives.  What a wonderful
experience.

There were many differences in each meeting I attended, compared
with Canadian ritualistic work, but the thing that struck me most
was at Installations.  The Provincial Grand Master personally
conducted all Installation Ceremonies with his officers.  BUT, in
this particular Province, the Provincial Officers were unaware of
the part they had to perform until they arrived the lodge.  This
stunned me and I asked a few of them how they coped.  They
informed me that when they first became a Provincial Officer they
quickly learned ALL the parts of the Installation Ceremony. 
Another thing that I noticed was that all New Zealand Masons sing
loudly and well.  It really enhances an evening at lodge.

While visiting the Waikato Lodge of Research to present my paper
on visitation (which I modified by comparing it to the
Constitution of New Zealand), I was presented with a
Commemorative Founders Jewel to bring back to Fiat Lux Lodge of
Research by Worshipful Master Ian Nathan.  He commented, while
making the presentation, on the merits of fraternal visitations
and the pleasure that they bring to all involved.  As the
traveller and visitor I concurred wholeheartedly with this
sentiment as my pleasure was so real.

I can only remind my Canadian brethren that if they fail to visit
lodges when they travel away from home, especially when in
another country, they are missing a major component of Masonic
education and pleasure.

I should add of course that my wife and I had ample time to visit
much of the North Island and experienced a warmth of welcome,
helpfulness and a genuine friendship that would be hard to equal
anywhere in the world.



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