RWM Andy Martin flew down to Cardiff with Tim Keen, WSW and Cams Campbell, IG on Friday, 13 September, to attend the installation of Archie Reynolds at Llantwit Major Lodge No 9241 in the Province of South Wales. Our Lodge has had a good relationship with Barry Lodge in the same Province and Archie is a well-known face to our Lodge members, having visited St Molios for our annual ladies’ night and stood in as candidate for not one, but TWO master mason degrees! The journey down was as smooth as could be. We touched down in Cardiff, met Shelagh, Archie’s wife outside and were whisked off to Llantonian Hall in Llantwit Major just 30 minutes before the ceremony was due to start.
The ceremony went extremely well and it was very interesting to watch a masonic ceremony in a different country, with all its differences from our ritual up in Scotland.
The harmony, or festive board as it’s known down there, was held in the local rugby club and was most enjoyable. The brethren were extremely grateful that we’d made the effort to travel down there, and we had a terrific time. Cams had his camera with him and was spotted through the night capturing candid shots of the brethren as the festive board got into full swing. These are posted in a Flickr set and can be seen by clicking the following link:
One of the most special parts was the master’s song, which was sung superbly by none other than Archie’s son, Stuart. It was a joy to behold and I can imagine it must’ve been a very special moment for Archie.
Information about Llantwit Major Lodge is on their own site here.
