The Year of the Rabbit
A Celebration for Oriental Lodge

Oriental Lodge No. 9371 celebrated the Chinese New Year in style. About 170 visiting brethren from all over England, Wales and Scotland together with about 30 members of the Lodge assembled in the Corbridge Road Masonic Hall, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne on Monday 21st February 2011 at 6.30 p.m. to witness a second degree ceremony. The reason is this was their popular annual Chinese New Year meeting. There were groups of brethren from the Provinces of South Wales, Cumberland and Westmorland, Lincolnshire, Ayrshire, Argyll and the Isles, Durham and of course, Northumberland along with a number of distinguished guests, some of whom travelled hundreds of miles to be there.

Amongst the distinguished and individual guests were the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V W Bro. John James Craigs, the Assistant Grand Master, W Bro. Vic Wood, the Past Provincial Grand Master of Argyll, R W Bro. Frank Mapes, the Past Depute Grand Master of Argyll, V W Bro. Lindsey Hunter, the Past Assistant Grand Master of Durham, W Bro. Conrad Barnet, the Honorable Grand Steward of Ireland, V W Bro. Ivan Scott, W Bro. Roy Dewer of Shamrock Irish Lodge from the District of Hong Kong and the Far East and W Bro. Harry Aitken, the Worshipful Master of Zetland & Hong Kong Lodge in London.

As usual the Festive Board was held at the Palace Garden Restaurant in Stowell Street, Newcastle Chinatown where about 190 brethren dined. The Chinese New Year Banquet consisted of a 10 course meal during which the Chinese Lion danced and entertained everyone. W Bro. Andrew Chen also handed out the traditional ‘red’ packets which suppose to bring luck and prosperity during this Year of the Rabbit. To conclude the evening, the Piper from the Province of Argyll played a few well known tunes for the brethren to listen and enjoy. The evening was certainly a tremendous and first time experience for many visiting brethren.

Finally the raffles raised a truly magnificent sum of £575 for charity. The Worshipful Master of Oriental Lodge, W Bro. Kam Wah Mak wished to thank all the brethren for their attendance, generosity and support, especially those who travelled far and wide.

The following photographs are to mark this happy, memorable and unique occasion. To see a larger image of the photograph, just click on the photograph itself.