St. Patrick's Masonic Lodge No. 1594 (Grande Loge Nationale Française), Marseille, was inaugurated on 17th March 2007, St. Patrick's Day, in the presence of a deputation from St. Patrick's Lodge No. 43, Carrickfergus. Since then, exchange visits between the two Lodges have become a regular and treasured feature of each other's calendar.
The formal twinning of the two Lodges, which had first been suggested in 2006, took place on Tuesday 22nd September 2009 in Marseille.
The journey to Marseille
On the Monday morning a party of eight Brethren set off from Belfast International, flew to Nice and then took the train along the coast to Marseille. The mademoiselle behind the ticket desk (Sophie was her name) very helpfully offered the party various concessionary fares, the catch being that concessionary fares could not travel on the fast trains. An hour and a few beers later the slow train eventually carried the Brethren to Marseille, with one or two minor diplomatic incidents along the way involving a polite French guard and the question of First versus Second Class.
Reception in Marseille
On arrival the visiting Brethren were greeted by two members of Lodge 1594 and from then on were treated like Princes. After settling in to their hotel, the party was driven to a Boat Club overlooking the old Marseille harbour for an evening meal in the company of friends both old and new. The following morning the visitors were taken to the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde, before lunch beside the pool at an exclusive residents-only restaurant.
The Twinning ceremony
At 7:30 pm on Tuesday 22nd September the visiting Brethren took their places as guests of honour for the Installation of W. Bro. Roland Mayer for a second year as Worshipful Master of Lodge 1594. After the Installation of the Lodge Officers came the formal Twinning of the two Lodges. The ritual, though conducted in French, was easy to follow.
As part of the ceremony, Lodge 43 presented Lodge 1594 with an engraved Trowel and Mall, both of which were warmly received. Bro. Paul Gilbert, Secretary of Lodge 1594, did a marvellous job of translating the speeches into French, although he did wonder at one stage why the Carrickfergus Brethren appeared to be presenting a shopping centre. The exchange of Twinning Certificates closed the formal part of the evening, after which the company retired for an evening of friendship, food and wine.
The visiting party was driven back to the hotel in the small hours and collected again at 6:30 am for the homeward journey, leaving Marseille with happy and fond memories of a town and a Lodge that had treated them like Princes.
Our hosts
Particular thanks are due to W. Bro. Roland Mayer, Worshipful Master of Lodge St. Patrick's Marseille (2008 to 2010), and to Bro. Paul Gilbert, Secretary of the Lodge (2008 to 2009) and Junior Warden (2009 to 2010), who acted as the visiting party's chauffeurs and hosts throughout the visit.
