The Phoenix Lodge No. 914 E.C. introduced an innovation to local Freemasonry when it premiered videos featuring four of its outstanding Past Masters.
The District Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother Thomas Charles Smith, J.P., headed the list of attendees at the viewing, which took place in the Ladies Lounge at the Masonic Temple, 45-47 Barbados Avenue, on Tuesday October 18, 2022
The Master of Phoenix Lodge, Worshipful Brother Colin Roberts conceived of the idea of the video presentation as a means of informing young masons of the achievements of some of those who preceded them and to educate the young masons about the rich legacy of which they are the inheritors.
The District Grand Master in commending the initiative said it was a means of linking the Masonic past to the present. He congratulated the W.M. and the members of the Phoenix and expressed the hope that the concept would be adopted by other Lodges.
The four Past Masters of the Phoenix featured in the hour long video are W. Bro. Denis Lalor, who served as Master in 1966, W. Bro. Philmore Ogle, Master in 1969, W. Bro. Ishmael Robertson, Master in 1975andW.Bro.CarltonWilliams, Master in 1980. Also pictured are Master of the Phoenix, W. Bro. Colin Roberts and the District Grand Master.
Each Past Master was engaged in a conversation by W.Bro Neville James of the Phoenix, and spoke about their early lives and education, the Jamaica in which they grew up, their chosen careers and the role that Freemasonry played in their lives;
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W.Bro. Neville James with W.Bro. Vernon Davidson, Executive Editor of the Jamaica Observer
A fifth interview in the present series is scheduled with W. Bro. Andrew Strudwick, Past Master of the Phoenix Lodge in 1982.
The filming and editing of the interviews was done by W. Bro. Mark Gentles, J.P., of the Friendly Lodge #239 who is the District Grand Communications Office.
All four Past Masters were presented with thumb drives of their respective interview by W. Bro. Charles Pennycooke. From the left: W. Bro. Denis Lalor, W. Bro. Ishmael Robertson,
W. Bro. CarltonWilliams and W. Bro. Philmore Ogle.
The audience headed by the District Grand Master.