While on a special holiday with his wife Jane, Bro. Derek A. Robertson, Junior Warden visited Lodge Oleeta West Dade No. 145, Miami.
Having researched Miami lodges as near as possible to his hotel in North Beach, the search narrowed to Lodge Oleeta West Dade. Next, he obtained the relevant letters of introduction from our retiring Provincial Grand Secretary, Bro. Ronnie Hay.
And so, on Thursday 26 June the Uber arrived and took him the 20-miles to the Lodge in time for the pre-degree meal. Immediately on arrival he was welcomed by Past Master Bro. Mario Rodriguez and Bro. Patrick Davis, Treasurer. Bro. Rodriguez gave Bro. Robertson a lodge pin badge.
Derek took lots of photos of the building while introducing himself to the brethren as they arrived. The lodge room had amazing seating – obtained second hand from a theatre. He noticed adverts for 2025 Masonic leadership training, the masonic home and posters for the DeMolay group (the organisation for young people that sounds similar to our Boys’ Brigade). And there were awards for charity work and mason of the year. Just like our lodge, there is a snug area, displays of memorabilia, kitchen and picture gallery of Past Masters. Like us too, their patriotism is on display with pictures of George Washington together with framed copies of the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution. The Stars and Stripes hangs prominently inside and outside the lodge.
As you would expect in Miami, there were many Spanish speakers and like any lodge there were visitors from inside and outside the 27th Masonic District of the Grand Lodge of Florida. They included RWM Dr. Bro. Marvin Smith and his Master-elect, Bro. Wilshire Bethel, of Lodge St. David No. 1741, Nassau, Bahamas. At 6:30pm everyone sat down together for a Cuban meal. Congris, plantains (from the banana family) and chicken breast were accompanied with soft drinks (their rules forbid alcohol on the premises). And then on to the degree with a 7:30 tyle.
After the opening, which included reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Derek was invited to the East with Bro. Smith and from there witnessed an excellent Entered Apprentice degree. During the remarks, he tendered the warm and fraternal greetings from our RWM Bro. Richard A. Kerry, from the retiring RWPGM Bro Gordon W.S. Sewell and the recently installed RWPGM Bro. Stuart Stirling. He further wished their latest Entered Apprentice Bro. William Lara all the best for his masonic career.
He then presented the RWM, Bro. Alexis Roca, with four mementoes from our Lodge, the 2024 Lodge History book update, mark penny, our blue lodge tie and the special Spirit of Bannockburn tartan tie. RWM Bro. Roca thanked Bro. Robertson for the gifts from our lodge, promising to read the history before making it available to others. He also expressed interest in buying some tartan ties.
After the Lodge closed, Bro. Kerry (Dino) Davids the District Photographer took more photos and RWM Bro. Roca presented Bro. Robertson with their lodge tie (Black with square and compasses embedded within) and the penny of the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Florida.
At the evening’s conclusion Bro. Davis gave Bro. Robertson a lift back to his hotel (a journey he was sure was not on Bro. Davis’ route).
It’s been said many times that you arrive as a visitor and part as a friend. This was certainly true of this visit. The degree work was recognisable to him. For example, the obligation and final charge were almost the same as ours. There were noticeable differences such as the greater emphasis on maintaining the secrets. And a lecture, given by Bro. Fernand Pavon of Lodge Coral Gables No. 260, that must have been 30-minutes. It included what we would recognise as the MoP, apron charge and the secrets.
And to further prove that our fraternity is closer than the continents that separate us, Bro. Smith, like me, had been speaking with the Grand Master Mason in person earlier in the month and Bro. Abraham (Abe) Metz PM is a regular visitor to Lodge Stevenston Thistle and Rose No. 169 in the Province of Ayrshire.
A major thank you to Bro. Kerry (Dino) Davids, Photographer at the 27th Masonic District of the Grand Lodge of Florida. A brilliant co-incidence that he was in attendance to capture a memorable night.
