Freemason Lodges in Bermuda from time immemorial have set aside one meeting a year known as Past Masters Night. That's when Past Masters vie for the honour of being singled out to take charge of the workings of their lodge for that particular night and demonstrate their superior ritualistic knowledge and skills.

Customarily, the "work" is raising a member to the sublime degree a Master Mason.

Lodge St. George, No. 200 the oldest Scottish Lodge in Bermuda, with roots dating back to the late 1700s, held its Past Masters night on April 6. Past Masters from near and far packed to overflowing its Temple, which is the imposing old State House in the town of St.George's. It was built in 1620 and is one of the oldest standing English structures in the New World.

When the capital of Bermuda was moved from St.George's to Hamilton in 1815, the powers-that-be decided to turn the State House over to Lodge St.George for its meetings in perpetuity at an annual rent of one peppercorn. In April of each year the Governor, with much pomp and ceremony including a parade of the Bermuda Regiment, goes to St.George's to publicly collect the rent.

Lodge St. George decided to make something extra special for its Past Masters Night on April 6, 2010. It was because the candidate eligible for raising to the degree of Master Mason, Bro. Brian R. Center, is the son of the District Grand Superintendent of Scottish Lodges in Bermuda, Rt. Wor. Bro. Leslie T. Center.

Instead of the customary practice of creating the degree team comprised of Past Masters of Lodge St. George, the degree team was made up of Past Masters of all three constitutions, Scottish, English and Irish. Six Lodges were asked to participate in the floor work of the degree, two from each constitution, with any remaining offices being filled by members of Lodge St. George.

From the Scottish were Lodge Civil & Military, No. 726 and Lodge Somers Isles, No. 1503. From the English were Prince Alfred Lodge, No. 233 and Lodge of Loyalty. No. 358. From the Irish were Hannibal Lodge, No. 224 and Abercorn Lodge, No. 123. Two members from each of the visiting Lodges took part in the ceremony.

In addition to the Grand Superintendent representing the Grand Lodge of Scotland, The Grand Lodge of Ireland was represented by Rt. Wor. Bro. St. Clair B. Tucker, Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Bermuda and Rt. Wor. Bro. John J. Maihos, District Deputy Grand Master of the tenth Masonic District representing the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts.

The evening, presided over by Rt. Wor. Master Martin Weekes went off without a hitch, despite the majority of the Brethren being from different ritualistic traditions. It was believed by many, that this may have been the first time that anything of this sort had ever been attempted.

It was hailed as a success and pointed to the universality of Freemasonry.