Provincial Priory of Surrey

The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta in England and Wales and Provinces Overseas
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A Visit to Malta
Erga Lura. Well! That is the question. Or is it the answer?

Having just taken the Degree of a Knight of Malta in Praesidium Legati Priory – see http://www.surreyknights.org/news-0160.html a special reason to visit Malta led me to Masonic things. I stayed near Baluta in a lovely hotel and had a reasonable breakfast. Then I was on my own. This is a country which I have known since I was a little lad and always loved the place. I got on to the Masonic website. The HQ is in Valletta and requested a visit. Richard Jump replied and invited me to the centre on Saturday morning.

A Visit to Malta

I walked down to the ferry at Sliema, caught the boat and found 6–7 Marsamxett Street in lower Valletta about 15 mins from the steep climb up from the ferry landing. I could have caught a bus!

A Visit to Malta

The inside had just been newly refurbished and I was welcomed at the bar. I was served by an Albanian guy in his thirties who had just joined an UGLE lodge a few weeks earlier. Richard Jump appeared and took me on a guided tour of the building. This very knowledgeable mason is a District Inspector or Superintendent and was much in demand.

In the room where the Festive Board is served there were two photographs. On the left, the Queen and on the right, the President of Malta. Question. at the Toast who is the first recipient?

A Visit to Malta

A Visit to Malta

Yes, you are right, the President of Malta. The main painting is that of Waller Rodwell Wright, Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Malta. My Craft lodge is Panmure 723 and is in the Aldershot Masonic Centre. In that centre is an ex-Malta lodge named after Waller Rodwell Wright. Another lodge in our centre, Zetland is also ex-Malta.

I also was invited to view one of the temples in the centre which had several interesting features on the wall as well as being a very attractive room. I was pleased to see Mark Master Masons named (in the top of the banner on the right) there too.

A Visit to Malta

A Visit to Malta

I was also shown the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Malta and its regalia. This group shares the centre with our UGLE lodges.

A Visit to Malta

A Visit to Malta

What a fascinating Saturday morning with a few interesting discussion points thrown in which were quite thought provoking. Malta is a strong Catholic country. It is said that a Freemason can be a Catholic but that a Catholic cannot be a Freemason. On occasion, donations, when known to come from the Maltese Masons, were returned. My lodge in Aldershot has a similar experience. There is much work to be done to dispel the myths that surround our organisation.

I shall return, as that man said.

A Visit to Malta

For food and views like this who wouldn’t?

Article and photos by Michael Fenech

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