Lodge Stony Hill gets new master

It had all the makings of an ancient medieval ritual. Men in black suits descending the stairs with sealed oversized locked briefcases and an air of mystery about them. They had been 'upstairs' the Lodge Stony Hill Masonic building, located at McGregor Square in St Andrew, for the installation of their 'brother' Jassel (JD) Dunstan on Thursday, July 14. For the next 12 months, he will be its Right Worshipful Master and family, staff, friends and colleagues had come out to share in and witness the occasion.

For the uninitiated, the entire process borders on the hilarious. Lodges worldwide are, after all, shrouded in rumours and unsubstantiated assumptions and that only makes people like this reporter curious enough to request to see the contents of one briefcase. Nothing more sinister than paperwork and sashes and other paraphanalia was inside. And when I told one of them that I had planned to come upstairs and get them, he quipped, "You wouldn't dare!"

The invitation had stated a 6 p.m. start, but the black suits did not descend from behind locked doors on the upper floor of the temple until close to 10 p.m. Sipping cocktails and chit-chat among the lodge wives and guests was how the time was passed in the gold-and-white decorated room.

Following the welcome by chairman Errol Harvey, the grace was said. Check it out:

May our grateful thanks ascend to him from whom all blessings flow.

And may we have a square meal within the length of our cable tow."

Toasts

Then came the toasts and the most lusty singing of some Irish and other songs and choruses you ever heard. Let's just say churches would be packed on Sundays if congregations knew they could expect such melody from the men. The best part was they all seemed to enjoy the sound of their own voices, and Dr Conroy Cooper's rather loud and enthusiastic keyboard playing spiced up their performance!

The songs included: Vive la Compagnie, Loch Lomond, Greensleeves, Tipperary, Jamaica Land of Beauty, Drink to me Only with Thine Eyes, When Irish Eyes are Smiling, Pack up your Troubles, The More we are Together and And I Love you So.

Outgoing Grand Master Colin Leslie welcomed Dunstan and lauded him for being a special brother who was extremely generous and always willing to go the extra mile to help others. In accepting the toasts, Dunstan thanked everyone who had worked tirelessly to make his installation a reality. He singled out his predecessor for his kind words, help and guidance while he served under his leadership. "I am grateful for your love, knowledge, dedication to the craft, the way you conduct meetings smoothly and commandingly, and for your continued assistance that will be vital for my time of service," Dunstan said.

barbara.ellington@gleanerjm.com