On the 8th March 2010 St John’s Lodge, No 328 celebrated the 200th anniversary of its warrant being granted on the 8th March 1810, as reported in the Herald Express on Friday the 5th March 2010.
Needless to say that on Monday the 8th of March 2010 the lodge was full to capacity. The Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, the Past Provincial Grand Master, a Past Assistant Grand Master, Grand Officers and present Provincial Grand Officers processed into the lodge after demanding admission.
The Provincial Grand Master then took charge of the lodge.
The following, a {rokbox text=|letter from David Ryan, Director, Private Secretary’s Office at Buckingham Palace|}images/stories/lodge/buckingham-palace-letter.jpg{/rokbox} was read out...
I have been asked to thank you, The Worshipful Master, officers and brethren of St John’s Masonic Lodge, No. 328 for your kind letter containing loyal greetings to The Queen, sent on the occasion of the Lodge’s Two Hundredth Anniversary which is being celebrated on the 8th March.
Her Majesty was interested to learn about the Lodge and appreciates your thoughtfulness in writing as you did. In return, The Queen sends her warm, good wishes to all concerned on this most special anniversary.
The assembly then heartily sang the National Anthem.
The warrant of the lodge was then read by the Assistant Grand master, followed by a brief history from the lodge historian.
The brethren then retired to the dining room for the celebratory banquet, at which the guest of honour was the Civic Chairman of Torbay Council. Following the banquet, toasts and responses all the brethren were presented with an engraved souvenir whiskey glass and a history of St.John’s Lodge, No. 328.
The prize raffle in aid of the Devonshire Provincial Teddies For Loving Care raised £398.00. A special Teddy, donated by a brother, will be travelling around the Province with the aim of raising more money for this very worthwhile cause. This project was implemented in August 2009 with Teddies being introduced into the RD&E, Exeter, followed by Torbay and then Derriford in October. In November the Teddies were introduced to the North Devon Hospital. An estimate for the Teddy Bear scheme is that Freemasons will issue around 4500 teddies per year to children, who for one reason or another have to spend time in hospital.
It was a lodge meeting that we will all remember with great pride and a sense of belonging.