Very busy day yesterday, leaving the house at 6.30AM to catch the 7.00AM train to Grand Central and thence to Connolly Station Dublin by 10.15AM. Goodly number of Brethren on both trains and in my case, I spent most of the journey down in the company of Winston & Dessie, Ballyclare’s finest which certainly shortened the journey. Out of Connolly, caught a taxi and ended up in Buswells for Coffee, Scones, Strawberry Jam and fresh cream, a good healthy start to the day.
The big event f the day was the Installation of Right Wor Bro Richard Ensor who would become our next Most Wor Grand Master and Rt Wor Bros Leslie Nixon and John Montgomery who would become our new Deputy and Assistant Grand Masters, respectively. One surprise of the day, whilst speaking with the senior officers was learning that my good friend Dougie Grey is quite seriously ill and has spent the last three weeks in one of the Dublin hospitals. I’m sure , like me most of you will keep Dougie in our thoughts and hope that he will make a speedy and full recovery in due course. As a result of Dougie’s absence, Most Wor Bro Eric Waller stood in to preform the opening ceremonies in a Grand Lodge room filled to capacity. Again it was good to see Eric looking so well, its been quite a few years since he was up in the Ballymoney Hall to unveil the portrait of the late Rt Wor Bro John Dunlop, Provincial Grand Master of Antrim, at the time.
Before the meeting started, I had the opportunity to see many old friends from across the Constitution, and you will see many of them in the photographs attached. I could not help but get a sense of optimism from the enthusiastic approach from all of the Brethren that I spoke with. Now the focus is clearly on the forthcoming Tercentenary celebrations starting with the Church service on the 22nd, the Glittering Star presentation in The Grand lodge Room on the 23rd and The main Grand Lodge celebration on the 24th June. On this occasion we expect some 40 Grand Lodge Delegations and upwards of 1000 Brethren turning up on the day, which certainly should be a very memorable occasion for all those in attendance.
Just before the end of yesterdays meeting our Grand Lodge Organist got quite a surprise, when the Brethren all sang Happy Birthday to him on the occasion of his birthday, that day. Once Grand Lodge closed, it was then downstairs, saying our farewells and heading back to Connolly. This time the terrible threesome were joined in their taxi by Graeme Ferguson Lodge 162 and our new Assistant Provincial Grand Secretary. We just missed the 3.00PM train, went out for a sandwich and coffee, caught the 4.00PM train and had an enjoyable run home, after a great day in Grand Lodge
Robert Bashford