This is a story about a lodge trip to Lithuania, but to coin a well-known phrase, to put this trip in context, it is first necessary to call the readers’ attention to a retrospect of those journeys through which they have already passed.
‘They’ are the intrepid travellers of Bryn Lodge No 6553 who are now renowned for their globetrotting expeditions as they continue their tradition of annually visiting a lodge in a different country/jurisdiction. In previous years the team of lodge members have visited Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Czech Republic, Spain, Holland (to a lodge working under the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts), Portugal, Majorca, Jersey, Greece, Gibraltar, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Hungary, Belgium, France, Poland and Slovakia, as well as a special trip to London to celebrate the Tercentenary.
The visits started in the year 2000, and only COVID and travel restrictions caused a blip in the regularity of the tradition. The plan is always where possible to visit an English-speaking lodge, and as a result they have seen many variations of ritual, customs and culture. This year it was to be no different. Vilnius Arch Lodge No 10, under the Grand Lodge of Lithuania, was identified and after following the protocols between the respective grand lodges, a fraternal visit was arranged.
Vilnius Arch Lodge is a new lodge, established in 2018 to serve members wishing to practice their Masonry in the English language. The visitors were looked after and entertained by the members, some of whom were founders.
Flights were at a premium, so it was four am on a grey Wednesday morning that a bus left Wigan with the Brethren, heading across the Pennines to Leeds Bradford airport and a morning flight to Vilnius. They were met at the airport in Vilnius by local lodge members, who had obtained a minibus to run the visitors around during their stay. They pulled out all the stops to look after their visitors and went the extra mile to ensure full enjoyment and experience.
The hotel was in the centre of the city, close to the famous Gates of Dawn and just outside a bustling area housing the many bars and restaurants the old town is famous for. Now something about the hotel. It was next to a large church and was in an impressive courtyard, being an ancient monastery. It still housed the priests who attended the seminar at the church. Fortunately, the cells had been re-furbished and made comfortable accommodation, but to the surprise of all, there was no bar! Once settled, the rest of the day was spent exploring the city and sampling the local beer and restaurants.
Next day, the minibus arrived with one of the Vilnius Arch Lodge members to take the visitors on a very interesting and informative tour around that wonderful city, giving an insight into the history and culture that only a passionate and proud local can give. The evening was, for a change, spent in local bars and a fine restaurant. The members of the lodge were perfect hosts, but most kindly asked not to be photographed or referred to personally in any publicity, apart from the Worshipful Master, but more of that later. This is quite common in Eastern Europe.
It appears that attitudes in Lithuania are not as liberal towards Freemasonry as they are in the UK, and their wishes were rigorously adhered to. Freemasonry in Lithuania dates back to 1776 and by 1781 there were three lodges operating in Vilnius. During the Russian occupation it was banned and did not return until independence in 1990. It was in 2002 that the Grand Lodge of Lithuania was formed, which is now recognised and in amity with UGLE.
Friday was the day of the lodge meeting. Although the ‘office address’ is in Vilnius, they actually meet in a Masonic Hall in Kaunas, the second city some 100km away. After a morning shopping, it was check out of the monastery, a pickup in the minibus and a drive to the destination. There was a little nervousness as road signs for Minsk, started to appear on the motorway, and the travellers realised how close they were to the war zone and the Russian border, but they were assured by their hosts that everything was safe and secure in the NATO region of the Baltic, for now at least.
The meeting was in a hall outside the centre of Kaunas. It was a work in progress, having been purchased by the members and they spend a lot of their leisure time renovating it. Some of the members actually do taxi driving after their normal day’s work to raise money to buy materials for the renovation, all the work for which they do themselves. As the visitors entered the hall, a plaque on the wall greeted them, which read: 'Brother Mason, if you have come from anywhere in the world, this is your home.' A very nice thought.
After meeting all the members and a large number of visiting Brethren from other Lithuanian lodges that meet locally, an initiation ceremony was the treat that awaited. Although it is the intention of the lodge shortly to adopt Emulation ritual, they currently use ceremony adapted from German ritual. It was a wonderful spectacle, full of drama and atmosphere, and thoroughly enjoyed by all present. The consensus amongst the English Masons was that it was special to witness, but totally unrecognisable from the structured ritual they were used to. When bringing greetings, Chris Williams, Worshipful Master of Bryn Lodge, presented the Worshipful Master of Vilnius Arch Lodge with a wooden gavel, suitably engraved, as a memento of the visit.
Following the ceremony, it was time for a festive board, known as the ‘agape’. Here the hospitality continued with a fine meal and wine a plenty. As the lodge was due to move to Emulation, two of the Bryn members, Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Ogden and Provincial Grand Communications Officer Barry Dickinson were invited to give an explanation of its practical application in Bryn Lodge, who did so. This was followed by a Q&A session which was much appreciated by the hosts.
On leaving the lodge, and wishing to continue the festivities, it was back to the hotel. Being advised that it would not be a good idea to be seen together in morning dress, a quick change allowed the fellowship to continue in the lively strip in central Kaunas.
Saturday after breakfast it was a return to the Monastery in Vilnius, and a further exploration of the city before being joined by some lodge members for a meal of local delicacies, including for the adventurous, the restaurant specialty starter of pig’s ear! A good night’s sleep and all safely returned back to Blighty to reflect on a truly wonderful experience, a massive advancement in Masonic knowledge, and many new friends.
