Ethical Lodge No.458 meets in Cagliari, Sardinia
Ethical Lodge is London-based but last year we decided to become a travelling Lodge with Installation and one other meeting held in London and two meetings held at various locations in Italy.
I am privileged to be the the first travelling WM.
This weekend we travelled to Cagliari in Sardinia for our regular meeting – and what a weekend it was!
It started on Friday (5 July) evening when a group of us and partners went out for a meal. In true Italian style we started at 9pm and after a lovely seafood meal and lots of convivial chat, finally finished close to 1am.
On Saturday afternoon the serious business started with the Ethical R.A.M., at which the Worshipful Commander W. Bro. Nick Davies advanced Bro. Remigio Esposito in an exemplary fashion!
Following on was the Mark meeting presided over by myself. Unfortunately our potential candidates couldn’t make the meeting for family reasons but, although short, I thoroughly enjoyed chairing a meeting in a lovely temple and attended by a large number of local Mark Masons from the Lodges that did all the organisation for our visit – San Graaf Lodge and Sardus Pater Lodge.
(Alms were taken at the Mark meeting when the Worshipful Commander, W. Bro. Nick, proposed that the money raised should be donated to the local Mark Lodges, which was passed with acclaim!)
At both meetings W. Bro. John Ellis, R.A.M.G.R. A.Prov.G.M. (London), a stalwart of the Lodge and its mainstay over many years, was elected an Honorary Member.
The meeting was followed (again at 9pm) by the most amazing Festive Board ever at a local restaurant… there were 11 courses including many different seafoods, two pasta courses (and a suckling pig!) the 10th course of various fish was a sight to see (and eat!).
All present agreed they were wonderful RAM and Mark meetings and a very enjoyable weekend.
This is the most innovative, enjoyable and interesting venture by Ethical Lodge which promises to be the start of a bright future. It is an honour to be the WM for the first year as a travelling Lodge!
Content: Colin Miller