W Bro Alan Russell PAGStB reports.
I have just returned from a Masonic visit to Banjul, The Gambia, for an elaborate programme of lodge meetings and associated activities. I can confidently state that the District of Sierra Leone and The Gambia is thriving. This part of Africa is known as the “Smiling Coast” and I can see why. The warm welcome from my hosts and everyone we encountered was overwhelming. It got better and better as the week went on.
We started on Wednesday 12th November with a Scottish Constitution Initiation by Lodge St. Mary No. 1711 in the presence of a delegation from the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone and The Gambia (Scottish Constitution). The candidate, Mr (now Bro.) M., was from Mauritania, who is already looking at how a lodge might be established in his home country.. The colourful ceremony was completed with flourish.
The following day, Thursday 13th November, qualified visitors were invited to a seminar to discuss setting up a Mark Lodge in the locality, after which came a meeting of Winward Lodge No. 7364. At this, elections were held for the coming year and a lecture was delivered entitled “The Tracing Board”. Notably, Winward Lodge has several members and visitors who are also Middlesex Masons.
On Friday 14th November the day started with a visit to Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital, Sukuta, where the District of Sierra Leone and The Gambia had raised funds for much-needed supplies of food and linen. This is the only mental health in-patient facility in The Gambia. It was heartwarming to see how much this donation meant to patients and staff. This was followed by a meeting of Banjul Chapter Rose Croix No. 1064, where an Enthronement was carried out most capably.
Saturday 15th November saw two half-yearly English Constitution District communications, Royal Arch at 2.00pm and Craft at 4.00pm. These were spectacular meetings, and as with every meeting were followed by a generous festive board. Many dishes were traditional Gambian fare, accompanied by copious quantities of drinks. However, the best was still to come.
On Sunday 16th November, everyone who had participated during the week assembled at 9.00am at Christ Church, Serrekunda for a Service of Thanksgiving, led by the Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev’d St. Obed Arist Kojo Baiden. This 37-year-old Bishop was truly inspirational and he showed the strength of his connection to the local community. We wore full Masonic dress regalia, for which a dispensation had been granted, and we all processed into the church, which was packed. We were treated to a service, the likes of which I have never seen. Five excellent organists, a 40 strong choir (which at one stage received a spontaneous ovation) a sermon from the District Grand Chaplain, a Christening, an address by the District Grand Master, a total of 17 hymns sung in English or Creole, and a recognition of one senior member, W.Bro. Oliver Andrews on reaching his 70th birthday and celebrating his 40 years in Masonry. It didn’t end there.
After we recessed, a brand new church hall was dedicated to the memory of the late Albert Charles Andrews, whose family had contributed significantly to the construction cost. We were then invited to a sumptuous white table luncheon. The entire programme took most of the day. The friendly good humour that prevailed throughout is clearly a hallmark of this church, and of the Masons of Sierra Leone and The Gambia, showing how being so visible and well engaged with the community sets Masonry in a very positive light.
Finally, on Monday 17th November, a meeting at the home of W.Bro. Oliver Andrews addressed the possibility of establishing a District Grand Stewards’ Lodge in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, and informal discussion commenced on how we can harness the commonality between special interest lodges in Middlesex and neighbouring Provinces to link up with Masonry in Africa for mutual benefit.
I am particularly grateful to W.Bro. Sir Oliver Charles Tunde Andrews for his kind invitation and generous hospitality, and to W.Bro. Arthur Foster-Mason for organising the logistics to make sure that I was conveyed wherever I needed to be. Both are Past Masters of Artes et Scientiae Lodge No. 8797 in the Province of Middlesex, and both are enthusiastic supporters of our Province. I look forward to visiting The Gambia again.
