THE man who heads all Irish Freemasons world-wide, the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Bro. Eric N. Waller, will be given a royal welcome when he arrives in Bermuda on Wednesday from Dublin.

The significance of the visit is underscored by the fact that it will be the first for a Grand Master in a decade, and only the third in the 20 years since consecration of all local Irish Freemasons into the Provincial Grand Lodge of Ireland in Bermuda.

The Grand Master will be accompanied by his wife Pamela. They are coming at the express invitation of the Provincial Grand Master of Bermuda, Rt. Worshipful Bro. St. Clair (Brinky Tucker.

A full round of social events, courtesy calls and tours have been laid on for the visitors. The highlight will be a gala banquet at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel for more than 200 Freemasons, their ladies and potential members. Bro. Waller will be guest speaker at the $85-a-ticket event.

Also attending the gala on Saturday of next week will be other Masonic dignitaries from the Scottish and English constitutions in Bermuda as well as from New Jersey.

Rt. Wor. Bro. Tucker said anyone wanting tickets for the gala, as well as the other functions, can phone him at 297-1957 and he will direct them accordingly.

On Thursday, the day after the Grand Master's arrival, he will make a courtesy call on the Premier at the Cabinet Office and tour the West End. On Thursday evening a reception in his honour will be held at the Ace Building on Pitts Bay Road, to which all Freemasons and their ladies are invited.

On Friday he will tour the historic old town of St. George's, visiting among other places Hannibal Lodge and Lodge St. George. On Friday evening he will attend a Provincial Grand Lodge meeting and a banquet at Hannibal, and play a part in the proceedings.

The Bermuda visit will climax a brilliant Masonic career for Bro. Waller as he plans to retire from the office of Grand Master on November 23. On that date he will install his successor, the Deputy Grand Master, RW Bro. George Dunlop, at a specially convened meeting in Freemasons' Hall in Dublin.

Apart from Craft Freemasonry, Bro. Waller has been involved with all other branches of the Order. On September 6 his career reached a peak when he was appointed to the Supreme Council 33rd Degree, of which there are only nine members. He and his wife were married in 1962. They are parents to a daughter and a twin son and daughter.

Our picture taken at the Grand Lodge of Ireland in Freemasons' Hall, Dublin show the Grand Master, M.W. Eric N. Waller, second from the left, with the Bermuda delegation who had just witnessed the installation in June 2003 by the Grand Master of R.W. St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker as the 4th Provincial Grand Master of Bermuda. Others above, front row, R.W. Dr. Clarence James, 1st PGM of Bermuda, and Bro. Tucker. From left, back row, are Deputy PGM of Bermuda, R.W. Keith White; V.W. Bro. Richmond Anderson; and. V.W. Bro David Mello.

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IT has been a long-standing tradition every second Sunday in October for Friendly Societies making up the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity in Bermuda to combine for their Annual Thanksgiving Service.

This year it was at St. James Anglican Parish Church, Somerset, with the host lodge being Loyal Irresistible No. 6587 of the Somerset District.

Joining were the Provincial Grand Master of the Hamilton District, Bro. Laurel Simmons, as well as Loyal Flower of Day Lodge No. 6536 and Loyal Mayflower Lodge No. 9387. They were joined by members of other kindred societies. Sunday was also the occasion of the celebration by St. James of its annual Senior Citizens' Day; the two groups combined for the worship and repast that followed in the church hall.

The service took on an ecumenical flavour, with the Parish Rector, the Ven. Dr. Arnold Hollis, JP, Archdeacon Emeritus of Bermuda, officiating. The guest preacher was Father Joseph Morley, the Rector of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Somerset.

In December 2004, Father Morley became the first native Bermudian to be ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests for the Roman Catholic Diocese, at St. Theresa's Cathedral in Hamilton.

Our picture shows the two Rectors at the entrance to the church, where they greeted the Odd Fellows. They were in their full lodge regalia

The Presiding Officer of the host lodge, Bro. Norbert Simmons, took advantage of the gathering to note that Loyal Irresistible Lodge is on what he called a rebound from the devastating effects of Hurricane Fabian in September 2003.

The historic lodge building with its landmark tower and four-face clock, was the structure hardest hit in the West End.

Costly repairs and restoration of the physical integrity of the building had been effected. And he said the lodge trustees had been fortunate to have secured the voluntary services as a consultant of Dr. Edward Harris, director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum, in regard to the internal restoration and modernisation.

Bro. Simmons said the target for completion of this phase of the work was November next year, in time for the Somerset District to host the next Triennial Conference of the Caribbean and Atlantic Conference of Odd Fellows.