FIRST MEETING

Saturday 1st October 2005

The first Masonic meeting at the new hall was held on Saturday 1st October 2005. This was the Installation Meeting of the Frituna Lodge and was attended by 34 members and 16 guests.

Following the meeting in the temporary temple, which appeared to comfortably accommodate the number attending, the members of the Frituna Lodge and their guests enjoyed a drink at the bar before proceeding through to the main dining room for dinner. The dinner on this occasion consisted of: pate; roast lamb; apple pie and cream; followed by cheese and coffee.

PRESS RELEASE 10/7/05

Freemasons Take Over Night Club

The Frinton and Walton Masonic Association has sold its current meeting place at Central Avenue, Frinton Park and purchased Tracks, a disused night club in Station Road, Kirby Cross

Local Freemasons have owned the building and met there on a regular basis for 60 years. Built as part of a shopping mall on the partially completed Frinton Park Estate in the 1930s, the building, along with the adjoining derelict flats, has been acquired by developers who plan to convert the site to flats. It was originally acquired by members of the local Arnold and Frituna Masonic Lodges and over the years has seen this expand to a total of eight Masonic Orders.

Due to problems with the adjoining flats and the age of the building, it became apparent that the hall would become unusable in the near future. A search was made of the local area and Tracks became available at the right time. The Freemasons will remain in occupation of the building in Frinton Park whilst conversion of Tracks is carried out to suit their needs.

The Chairman of the Association said this acquisition ideally suited their needs and was significantly larger in size enabling larger Masonic events to be held.

The new building is considerably larger than that previously occupied and an extensive program of refurbishment is underway to convert it to our needs. It will provide a temple with a capacity for over 200 brethren with room for additional seating if required and dining facilities for over 200 with spacious separate bar area. It is planned to have completed essential works and be in occupation in time for the first meeting of the new season, namely Frituna Lodge on 1st October 2005.

12/7/05

Travelling Gavel Comes To Frinton

The Gunfleet Lodge has been entrusted with “The Travelling Gavel” which started it’s journey in Grand Marais Lodge No. 322 under the Grand Lodge of Minnesota on 19th April 1966.

The gavel is in the Great Britain until March 2006 when it will be returned to the Grand Master of Minnesota A.J.Rice. There is a larger gavel that comes with this travelling gavel which is about two and a half feet in length. This gavel was presented to our own Grand Lodge at the Quarterly Communications in June, when 23 brethren from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota attended, and will stay with Grand Lodge for one year.

The smaller travelling gavel is held by a Lodge for one month and a day then passed onto a Lodge of the bearer’s choosing. The gavel is accompanied by a book containing details of all the Lodges that have held the gavel. It has travelled to the far corners of the World and visited such places as: Denmark; Norway; Germany; Canada; New Zealand; Australia; England on several occasions and; Singapore, to name but a few. It finally made it’s way back to the Grand Marais Lodge on 11th April 2004 after 38 year and 7 months, where it was held prior to being brought to England and presented to the Martello Lodge 7121 in person by the Grand Master of Minnesota.

The gavel is accompanied by the following message: ”Now this little gavel has a tale to tell, listen carefully and remember it well. For soon you must send it on its way, its important message to convey. This gift comes to us from the Holy Land, from a travelling Brother in a foreign land. Its history we would like to share, because this gavel is rather rare. It is constructed of olive wood, the workmanship is really quite good. It was once a part of a famous tree, that is why we are sending it to thee. This tree was living when Christ was a boy, take care, it is our pride and joy. If it could talk, and we wish it could, its story would be interesting and good. Don’t keep it for a month and a day, but soon send it on its merry way. A couple of hundred Lodges we hope to see, listed below and returned to me.”

Unfortunately, Gunfleet do not have any meetings during the term of holding the gavel but it will still go into the book as a piece of history.

Update to item 22nd October 2005. The gavel was subsequently passed on to both the Arnold and Frituna Lodges and was displayed at both Installation Meetings.  The gavel then made a further one night visit to the Gunfleet Lodge at the Installation Meeting on 22nd October 2005 on it’s way to Mistley.