Masonic Lodge perform historic walk

THE Nyanza Lodge of Freemasons in Ilminster last week celebrated 100 years of being based in its headquarters in the town at Berrymans Lane.

The Lodge was founded in 1867 and originally met in premises at the top of North Street in the old doctors’ surgery.

In October 1913 they moved premises and to celebrate that the members marched in full regalia from North Street to Berrymans Lane where they still meet today.

PHOTO – TOP: The Brethren of Nyanza Lodge, Ilminster, are, from left, Richard Baker, Keith Swift, Brian Davies, Steve Albon, Michael Baker, Ian Pamplin, the Worshipful Master Hall Smyth, Provincial Grand Master for Somerset Stuart Hadler, Roger Allen, David Irish, Robert Rowswell, Keith Green, Tony Habberfield, Roy Harkness, Stuart Shepherd, Trevor Paul and Ivor Pettitt outside the Lodge's old headquarters in North Street, Ilminster.

PHOTO – RIGHT: The Provincial Grand Master for Somerset, Stuart Hadler, centre, with Keith Swift, left, and Worshipful Master of the Nyanza Masonic Lodge, Hall Smyth, right.

So, 100 years later and the members of Nyanza Lodge repeated the walk in full Masonic dress.

The Worshipful Master of Nyanza, Hall Smyth, and the Provincial Grand Master for Somerset, Stuart Hadler, were joined by 18 members of the Lodge who marched from North Street to Berrymans Lane – just as their predecessors did back in 1913.

The procession down the main High Street in full regalia was a first in Somerset since the Second World and shows how Masonry – often referred to as a secret society – is looking to be more “open” in modern times.

PHOTO – ABOVE: The ceremonial march from the Nyanza Lodge’s former headquarters in North Street to its “new home” in Berrymans Lane – as carried out in October 1913.

PHOTO – ABOVE: The Brethren of Nyanza Lodge outside their “new” home of 100 years at Berrymans Lane, Ilminster.

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