On Wednesday 7th December 2022, the eponymous Herne Bay Lodge of Mark Master Masons celebrated its Centenary, at the town’s Cecil Park Masonic Centre, in the presence of our Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Martyn Summers.
The Lodge was Warranted on 13th July 1922, and subsequently Consecrated on 12th of October 1922.
Not one to rest on its 100 year old laurels, the evening began with the Advancement of Bro. Mark Taylor, (above – front row).
After Mark’s Advancement, the Worshipful Master, W.Bro. Rob Jeffries, vacated The Chair in favour of the Deputy Provincial Grand Master who invited W.Bro. Paul Hawtin to present a well-researched and informative Short History of The Lodge, which was warmly received by all present.
W.Bro. Martyn thanked W.Bro. Paul for his excellent contribution to the evening, adding a few anecdotes of his own about the history of the Lodge and the previous century. He then Called upon W.Bro. Chris Clark, the Lodge Secretary and Deputy Provincial Grand Secretary, to read the original, 1922, Warrant of The Lodge. Chris’ “boss” W.Bro. Steve Hyland, Provincial Grand Secretary, then rose and read the Centenary Warrant, which W.Bro. Martyn then presented to W.Bro. Rob on behalf of M.W.Bro. His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, GCVO Grand Master.
After the meeting the almost 50 Brethren present, from the four quarters of the Province, squeezed into the Herne Bay refectory for a typically friendly Mark Festive Board.