Munster Express Online

On Thursday, May 1, Worshipful Master Bjarne Heidtmann and 20 of his officers and brethren of St Johannes Christian Lodge No. 507, Copenhagen, under the Grand Lodge of Denmark, visited Worshipful Master Michael Hudson and his Lodge brethren of Royal Shamrock Lodge No. 32, Waterford, under the Grand Lodge of Ireland.

The Danish Brethren wore their normal Masonic dress of top hat and tails and regalia, and the Irish brethren their normal dress of dark lounge suits and regalia.

The Danish brethren were very keen to observe the workings of an Irish lodge, and to that end Lodge 32 demonstrated the 1st Degree, which is the ritual of instruction performed when a man joins Freemasonry, and is on the first rung on the Craft Masonic ladder.

The Festive Board (Dinner) then followed, with the ladies joining the gents. The traditional toasts to Ireland, Absent Brethren, Visiting Brethren, the Ladies, and the Charities were proposed.

There are over 8 million Freemasons worldwide, and they are in most countries in the free world. Although the ritual content is basically the same in all countries, with the passing of the centuries , and many languages, differences exist, so it is that freemasons all over are keen to observe other lodges at work, and to enjoy the fellowship of Brothers wherever they may be.

Even within Ireland with its 30,000 masons, lodges in the western part of Munster do things differently to the rest of the country. Hundreds of years ago trade between Cork and Bristol was substantial, and thus it was that they adopted Bristol working.

Lodge 32 has existed in Waterford continuously since 1795, and its sister Lodge 5 since 1757, “which is a pretty good record for any fraternity or organisation, and illustrates that masonry is enjoyable,” says Lodge Secretary Michael Davies from Grantstown Village, Waterford.

He adds that anyone wishing to join a lodge “must possess a good character, and must believe in God. Having been proposed and seconded, one must pass a ballot of the lodge membership. Then one can enjoy the fellowship, ceremony, and charitable works that have appealed to men over the centuries, and still does in 2008.”

Freemasonry started/evolved from the stonemasons’ guild setup many centuries ago to regulate workers engaged in the building of the great castles, temples, and churches in Europe and the Middle East. There was supervision, training, and differing levels of skill and pay. The early masons were actually engaged in building work (operative masons) but others (speculative masons) not engaged in building wanted to join these guilds too, as they appealed to them.

In order to preserve harmony in lodges any discussion about politics or religion is forbidden, which is just as well as the membership is made up of all races, colours, and creeds.