An official visit of historical significance for Bermuda Freemasonry was undertaken a fortnight ago when the Worshipful Master and Brethren of Hannibal Lodge #224 of the Grand Lodge of Ireland accompanied by a delegation were received as guests to the I-95 Connection Annual Meeting of Free and Accepted Masons of Prince Hall Jurisdictions hosted by Mt Zion Lodge # 15 of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

Prince Hall was freed slave who in 1784 founded what is now the oldest social organisation among blacks in North America.

The I-95 Connection is a social group of Prince Hall Masonic Lodges extending along the Interstate 95 corridor.

For the past fifty years, the group has exemplified a strong commitment of support to each Lodge and its members, and extends the ties of friendship and brotherly love to all affiliated jurisdictions and Freemasons in good communication.

In attendance were Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of Massachusetts M W Bro Compton Jones, his Deputy Grand Master RW Bro Reuben Meade, The Honourable Leslie A Lewis Past MW Grand Master and MWPGM Frederick B Summers all from the Jurisdiction of Massachusetts, RW Bro Norman L Campbell, Deputy Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia and The Honourable Milton Frederick (Toby) Fitch of the Jurisdiction of North Carolina, in addition there were brethren from New York, California and of course Bermuda.

The Bermudian delegation compromising some 36 local Freemasons, along with four wives, travelled to Dedham, Massachusetts just outside of Boston on Friday March 14th to first hold a meeting conferring the degree of a Master Mason to Bro Michael Wellman.

This was done in exemplary fashion to a large audience of approximately 300 Prince Hall Brethren.

For many present this was the first time they witnessed the Irish Ritual.

Evidently they were star struck, as many spent the remainder of the night into the wee hours of the next morning discussing what they had witnessed.

The following day, Worshipful Master Don Dingle and his Mount Zion Lodge # 15 degree team conferred the Master Mason degree upon three candidates.

They were equal to the task and produced a very high standard of ritual work, thus leaving no one of the estimated 500 plus Masons present disappointed.

A celebration party was then held to honour the newly made Master Masons, capping off a weekend of hospitality that should make the members of Mt Zion Lodge #15 proud.

As earlier stated this official visit has historical significance for Bermuda Freemasonry for several reasons.

Firstly, ten years ago, Wor Bro Dwayne Douglas, the current Worshipful Master of Hannibal Lodge, was the Second Irish Mason to receive his Master Mason degree in the very same Prince Hall Lodge.

It was after that meeting he vowed to return as the Worshipful Master.

This he did, adding to the illustrious relationship between Bermuda Irish Freemasonry and the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Prince Hall of Massachusetts.

Secondly, this visit marked the first occasion that all reigning Worshipful Masters of the four Irish Craft Lodges in Bermuda t travelled together, making an official overseas visit at the same time.

Pictured above, they were Wor Bro Dwayne Douglas of Hannibal Lodge #224, Wor Bro Kevin R Bailey of Abercorn Lodge #123, Wor Bro Troy Glasgow of Bermuda Garrison Lodge #580, and Wor Bro Millard Rawlins of Friendship and Harmony Lodge #894.

Thirdly, Grand Lodge Officers of all of the three Constitutions presiding in Bermuda was represented.

The Provincial Grand Master of the Irish Constitution of Bermuda, Rt Wor Bro St Clair (Brinky) Tucker, was present along with Brother Travis HO Gilbert, the Rt Wor Grand Superintendent of the Scottish Constitution in Bermuda, and Wor Brother Colin Blades PGD of C for the English Lodge Constitution in Bermuda.

Provincial Grand Master, Rt Wor Bro St Clair Tucker, was high in his praise to both the Bermuda Brethren and the host Lodge for what he termed the outstanding work that he witnessed over the weekend.

The Bermuda delegation comprised Wor Bro Dwayne Douglas, Bro Stephen Tucker, Bro Jerome Reid, Bro Jerry Jones, Wor Bro Llewellyn Trott, V Wor Bro Elroy Ratteray, Bro Michael Wellman, Wor Bro Keith Battersbee, Wor Bro Darius Tucker, Rt Wor Bro St Clair (Brinky) Tucker.

Also Wor Bro Harrison Simons, Wor Bro Kevin Bailey, Bro Kevin B Bailey, Wor Bro Randy Wilkinson Sr, Bro Randy Wilkinson Jr, Bro Miles Simons, Bro Kurt Wade, Bro Dwayne Brown, V Wor Bro Lenard (Shinah) Simons, V Wor Bro Norman Pogson, Wor Bro Troy Glasgow, Wor Bro Robert Dill, Wor Bro Millard Rawlins, Bro Anthony Bennett, Bro Wendell (Shine) Hayward, Wor Bro Calvin Smith, Wor Bro Ernest Dill, Wor Bro Eugene Minors, Bro Anthony Evans, Wor Bro Gary Dublin, Bro Travis HO Gilbert, V Wor Bro Ed Robinson, V Wor Bro Lloyd Smart, Bro Earlston Bailey, Wor Bro Colin Blades, Wor Bro Keith Desilva.