It is a well-known fact that the loyalty of the members of Forest Lodge No 1852 knows no bounds.

This part of their Masonic cause was more than amply demonstrated when a party of 5 members, plus an authorised Elliott Lodge interloper, recently journeyed to the other side of the world, namely New Zealand, to support the Installation of the new Master of another lodge by the same name. R W Bro Stewart Hill, accompanied by Mrs Susie Weston, W Bro Keith and Joyce Buckley, W Bro John and Jill Bugg, W Bro Terry and Lynn Manifold, W Bro Philip and Ann Marshall and W Bro Gordon and Christine Beastall (the Elliott Lodge representative), made the lengthy trip to New Zealand via various sunny stopping off points. Indeed 2 of the party, W Bro Buckley and Susie Weston, celebrated birthdays in style at Raffles in Singapore on their outward journey.

Eventually the intrepid group reached Nelson, a city at the north of New Zealand’s South island where they were to spend the week leading up to the Installation. As part of the plan cooked up by W Bro Terry Manifold and W Bro John Krammer (Past Master of Forest Lodge No 116, New Zealand Constitution), each couple was hosted by a member of the local Lodge. Their hospitality can be truly described as magnificent. The warmth of the welcome of all New Zealand brethren and their wives epitomised one of the key elements of freemasonry.

There is no doubting the pride which the members of No 116 feel in their country and W Bro Krammer had arranged 2 day trips for we visitors, one which enabled us to see magnificent beaches as part of an eco-tour and the other took us on a 4 hour cruise.

Towards the end of the week, the Nottinghamshire brethren dined out their New Zealand hosts at an excellent sea-front restaurant which had been booked by Ann Marshall before she left England. It appears the only person who knows how much alcohol was consumed is W Bro Philip Marshall and he is saying nothing. The evening itself was very eventful but a clear highlight was the arrival at the restaurant (fashionably late) of W Bro John and Jill Bugg in a large pink Cadillac!

The Installation meeting took place throughout the day of Saturday 10 November 2007 and began with the Nottinghamshire brethren assisting with the setting-up of the Festive Board in the local community centre in Wakefield as the Masonic Hall itself could in no way accommodate the number attending what was considered to be a very special event.

The Lodge was opened at 11 am in a manner very familiar to us all except that the mode of dress for all participants was somewhat casual. After a small amount of routine business the Lodge was Called Off and everyone dispersed for lunch.

The brethren gathered again in significantly greater numbers from 1.30 pm, this time in either black tie or dark suits. The presence of the Nottinghamshire Provincial tie added to the colour of the occasion. A reporter and photographer from the local newspaper were in attendance, having been tipped off about the visit of a group of masons from England. The resulting article and photograph captured the spirit of the day.

It was a truly international gathering with representation from America and Singapore joining the Mansfield brethren.

The Lodge Called On at around 2 pm and following various processions, those qualified brethren present were treated to a first-class Installation ceremony conducted by V W Bro Chapple, District Grand Master Nelson and Marlborough and his team of Grand Lodge officers. It was interesting to note that the Lodge officers played very little part in the proceedings. A particularly memorable part was the singing of our National Anthem which made the Englishmen present very proud and gave a clear message that the roots of the New Zealand brethren’s freemasonry are still valued.

During the Installation ceremony, the Nottinghamshire ladies were invited to join the wives of the New Zealand brethren at the Wakefield Community Centre for an afternoon of entertainment. What they did not quite realise was that they were the entertainment! Apparently it is customary for any visiting ladies to talk about their lives but on this occasion there was great interest in the kind of social interaction they had at home and about their roles in supporting their husbands’ masonic activities. The nominated spokesperson for the Nottinghamshire ladies said it felt a little like being on Mastermind with numerous questions being fired in quick succession!

For the White Table Festive Board, over 100 brethren and their ladies dined together in what can only be described as a very convivial atmosphere. Wine and beer flowed freely in typical New Zealand BYO style.

Special mention needs to be made about the hard work of Mrs Christine Beastall on the trip. She had carried, in her hand luggage, a wooden gavel and stand housed within a heavy oak presentation box from England to New Zealand. It was the least that W Bro Gordon could do to present it to our New Zealand brethren in such fine style. Christine’s relief at acquiring spare capacity in her hand luggage in case she wanted to do a spot of shopping during her holiday was short-lived. W Bro Krammer of presented Forest Lodge No 1852 with an equally heavy object in the shape of a richly carved wooden ballot box. Christine graciously agreed to bring this back to England.

The end of the evening was prolonged by a somewhat lengthy period of photo-taking involving all and sundry. It seemed that everyone wanted a permanent record of what was a very special day.

The next day saw our party heading off from Nelson to various parts of the globe, with some only returning to England at the beginning of December.

There is no doubt that the warmth and friendship we all received made a lasting impression and it is to be hoped that some of the New Zealand brethren are able to make their wish of a reciprocal visit into a reality. Given the level of interest from members of 1852, there is every prospect that more Mansfield masons will be making the trip to the other side of the world in forthcoming years.

Submitted by W. Bro Phillip Marshall