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London Trip
Lodge of Perfect Light, No. 7971, UGLE
June 2 - 11, 2006
Seven members of St. John's Lodge
No. 115, plus one spouse, left Philadelphia on the evening of June 2,
bound for London via Gatwick Airport. Arriving at our hotel, we
were joined by Worshipful Master Bob Santoro and Marcia, coming from
Italy. Over the next nine days, we slept, ate, toured, and drank
(some more than others) together, forming bonds that will never be
forgotten.
The high point of the trip (and
the excuse for it all) was attending the Lodge of Perfect Light, No.
7971, UGLE, as our very own Brother Adam Kravitz was installed as
Worshipful Master. This may very well be the first time that a
Pennsylvania Mason has become Master of a Lodge in the UK, as dual
membership is a recent phenomenon -- though Bro. Ben Franklin was
Master of a Lodge in Paris, it is unclear whether he belonged to a
Lodge back in Pennsylvania at the same time.
As is frequently the case in
other jurisdications, the work was "the same, but different". One
interesting difference was that the most recent Past Master holds
special responsibilities in the running of the Lodge, and sits
immediately to the left of the Worshipful Master. I can tell you
that I certainly would have appreciated that kind of help when I was in
the East!
The meeting began at 4:00 PM and
lasted three and a half hours (with a break for "tea and biscuits") but
really didn't seem long at all. It was a beautiful ceremony, full
of ritual and symbolism to spark endless philosophical
discussion. Afterwards, a quick stop at the bar on the lower
level, then on to dinner: fish and chips. And wine, with toasts
in the manner of a Table Lodge, and more wine, and more toasts,
and... The pictures below are but a taste of the evening.
In addition to
the visit, of course, we toured. A day trip to Stratford, where
Shakespeare lived, with a stop at the graves of William Penn and his
family. The Tower of London was obligatory, and the Royal
Observatory
at Greenwich. A trip to Cambridge, and a brief tour there of the
King's College Chapel (an understatement: more of a cathedral).
Lunch at the RAF Bar,
where British and American pilots signed their names on the ceiling
during WWII, and a
drive through beautiful countryside. An Elizabethan dinner, with
serving-wenches, lots of wine, and old Henry VIII as well as daughter
Elizabeth I and their respective courts to entertain us.
And the
"breakout sessions" -- visiting museums, theatre, side trips, and
Buckingham Palace, not to mention that uniquely English institution,
the local pub. And the local brew, of which each pub had its own
selection. And so, finally, on Sunday, June 11th, we said goodbye
to that strange and
wonderful place that is London, and headed back to our homes and
families.
-- David M. Director, P.M.
For
those of you who missed it, a complete CD slide show of the tour is
available for a $50.00 donation to the 200th
Anniversary Fund. Contact the Secretary for further
information.
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