It was a year ago when an historic link was forged between Masonic Brethren of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Philadelphia and the oldest Irish Constituted Lodge in Bermuda, Hannibal Lodge No 224.

It happened when the Grand Master of the Prince Hall Lodge, Rt. Wor. Bro. Charles Allen Bishop, made a friendly visit to the St. George's Lodge, being the first from a Prince Hall ruler other than from the jurisdiction of Massachusetts. He was so overwhelmed by the work he witnessed at Hannibal and courtesies show him, he invited the Bermudians to visit his jurisdiction.

Hannibal responded to Grand Master Bishop's invitation in a characteristically grand way. Fifty Brethren and their ladies had the red carpet laid out for them during a weekend of events The delegation was headed by the Provincial Grand Master of Irish Lodges in Bermuda, Rt.Wor. St. Clair (Brinky) Tucker and his deputy Rt. Wor. Bro. Keith White along with rulers from English Constituted Bermuda Lodges.

Grand Master Bishop accepted an offer by Hannibal to perform a Third Degre as part of the 195th Session of the Most Worshipfull Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. It was hosted by the Bay City Lodge of Erie; and Hannibal conducted the Irish Degree in impeccable form.

And the Brother who was Raised joined the ranks of the few Bermudian Master Masons who have been Raised in another jurisdiction. Three of the latter were in attendance.

The following day the Brethren attend a church service and later they were privileged to witness a third degree performed by the Brethren of Prudence Lodge who raised two candidates. That night there was a was a Lodge of Sorrow attended by over 1,200 masons and their families honouring the 168 masons that had died over the year.

The Bermudians were not the only visiting Brethren at the week-end events. Others came from all over the US and from as far away as Greece. In all the freemasons occupied 1,000 rooms of the two hotels and the fellowship continued into the early hours of the morning with receptions and hospitality suites on every floor of the hotels.

The major highlight of the visit was the installation of the 100th Grand Master of Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in he person of MW Bro. Leonard Alexander Heard. This was followed by his banquet for 1,200 guests including ten Grand Masters, and the Grand Worthy Matron of the Eastern Stars of Pennsylvania Elsie Cardwell. At the installation Bermuda's PGM of Irish Lodges, Rt. Bro.' Brinky' Tucker was made an Honorary Member of Prince Hall Grand Lodge along with the Prov. Grand Master of Greece and the Past PGM.

Bro. Tucker presented the newly Installed GM Heard a cedar friendship goblet to be placed in the Grand Lodge museum, and for his use a cedar gavel on a base. He also gave MW Bro. Heard an invitation to visit Bermuda during his term of office. The offer was accepted without hesitation.