Masonic Memories 2

Visiting Niederrhein Lodge in Düsseldorf #1

How important and what pleasure visiting other Lodges gives. Sat in the North East at Niederrhein and about to give his greetings, the WM next to me whispered “This will surprise them!”

He proceeded to give greetings from Lodge Erin No 463 (Irish Constitution) in Province of Hong Kong. It caused great smiles and whispered approval. Later, I took him aside and told him I had a surprise for him and produced from my case a founders medal for Lodge Erin.

It had belonged to my uncle, Chief Engine Room Artificer Harry Bell of The Royal Navy. I discovered that he had been raised in the Irish Constitution while serving with the RN in Malta. The story goes that his ship got into ‘bad odeur’ for some reason and was sent to the South China Station at Shanghai for maybe 2 years?

With so much spare time on their hands they formed Lodge Erin.

Well done uncle Harry!

W Bro Gordon Rayfield PJGD
PM Star of Saxony Lodge