An Evening at Westminster Lodge: Honoring Tradition and Friendship

This evening, I had the pleasure of visiting Westminster Lodge in the Province of Cheshire.

For nearly two decades, I have been frequenting Westminster Lodge sporadically; my first visit dates back to their December white table event, 20 years ago this December. A close friend of mine, whom I worked with at the time, joined Westminster Lodge a year before I became a member of Llannerch Lodge. Both of us joined and climbed the ranks together. We took turns visiting each other’s Lodges, and eventually, we assumed the positions of our respective Lodges’ chairs a year apart. Ten years later, we once again took on the chairs of our new Lodges, having both moved to new Lodges.

When Pete informed me that he was visiting his mother Lodge on the 20th anniversary of his initiation, and that they were performing an initiation demonstration with him acting as the candidate, I knew I had to attend. Since he joined before me, he witnessed my initiation, but I had missed his. This anniversary provided a perfect opportunity to finally experience it, albeit two decades later.

A couple of weeks before the meeting, I received the sad news that Pete’s father had passed to the Grand Lodge above. Given that Westminster was John’s Lodge, they planned a small memorial for him during their next meeting, coinciding with Pete’s anniversary. This occasion provided two significant reasons to attend.

So, I gathered my father, who had met John several times, and another member of Wrexhamian Lodge to visit. Despite my efforts to rally more attendees, Hugh succumbed to food poisoning, and Henk’s demanding work in the medical field prevented him from leaving early enough. Nonetheless, the three of us attended to pay our respects to John.

The evening was profoundly moving and somber, yet undeniably memorable and enjoyable.