On Tuesday 24th October 2023, Emerald Lodge No.5907 celebrated 80 years since its warrant was grant by United Grand Lodge on 1st September 1943, and its Consecration at 3.00pm on Wednesday 29th September 1943 by the RW Provincial Grand Master, Reginald P. St. John Charles, assisted by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Edgar J. Rutter. In addition, the evening provided the opportunity to celebrate two of their very distinguished brethren, W.Bro. Ralph Jeffery and W.Bro. Michael Hill who celebrate their 50 and 60 years of continuous Freemasonry in the Craft respectively.
The evening began with an insightful explanation from W.Bro. John Hodgson, titled “The Preparation of a candidate for Initiation”. Lodge Secretary W.Bro. Graham Payne then proceeded to read extracts from the minutes from both initiations, firstly W.Bro. Mike’s from 1973 and then W.Bro. Ralph’s from 1963.
The AProvGM, W.Bro. Robert. G Payne, who was also initiated into Emerald Lodge, read a detailed history of both Brethren, after which the DepProvGM, V.W.Bro. Peter Jones then presented Mike and Ralph with their distinguishing lapel pin badges, certificates, and gifts from the Brethren of Emerald Lodge.
W.Bro Ralph Arthur Jeffery PPSGW.
Ralph was Proposed by his father-in-law Bro George Hurley and seconded by Bro. Cyril Jones, Ralph was initiated age 25 into Emerald Lodge on Tuesday 28th May 1973. The Worshipful Master was W.Bro. Albert Roach (father of Glyn Roach) At this time there were 169 subscribing members of Emerald Lodge and the annual subscription was £4 15s
Ralph progressed through the various offices to the Chair of King Solomon which he attained in January 1977. Ralph was awarded Provincial Honours in 1982 where he was appointed to Past Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Ralph stepped in again to support the Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1995 and again in 2011. He was promoted in Provincial Grand Lodge to PPGSupOfWks in 2002, further promoted to PPJGW in 2006 and more recently promoted to PPSGW in 2020.
In Royal Arch Masonry Ralph was exalted in 1982 and was Installed as First Principal in 1989. He is currently the Senior Past Principal. He has held the office of Director of Ceremonies since 2013. Ralph was honoured with appointment to Provincial Grand Rank in 1994 as PPrGStB and promoted to PPrDepGReg in 1998 and to PPrGSN in 2013. Ralph has also been appointed by the ProvGM as the Lodge Royal Arch Representative.
Ralph has supported and joined many other orders;
Mark Masonry in 1966 (57 years service) where he had only just retired as Langley Mark Lodge’s secretary after 31 years. He was promoted in Grand Mark Lodge to Past Grand Junior Overseer in 2016, which entitles him to the prefix of Very Worshipful Brother in the Mark degree.
He is also a member of the Royal Ark Mariner Degree, Order of the Secret Monitor, Order of the Scarlet Cord, Red Cross of Constantine and Rose Croix.
In total Ralph is a member of 13 Lodges and Chapters, he is the secretary of Good Neighbours and a Founder of the Friends of CMH.
W.Bro. Micheal Frederick Hill PPJGD.
Mike was Proposed by W.Bro Eric Wall and seconded by Bro. Clive Williams, both of whom were life-long friends of Mike’s from the County Conservative club in Birchgrove.
Mike was initiated into Emerald Lodge on Tuesday 23rd October 1973, passed on the 26th March 1974 and raised on the 22nd October 1974. At this time there were 103 subscribing members of Emerald Lodge and the annual subscription was £6.00
Mike attained the Chair of King Solomon in January 2009, and awarded Provincial Honours in 2015 when he was appointed to Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon. Mike is currently the ruling Master of Emerald Lodge 5907, and has been a loyal, dedicated and hard-working member of the Lodge, always willing to step in and help out by filling any office at very short notice. Mike is always approachable and always makes brethren feel comfortable and part of the Lodge.
W.Bro Ralph & W.Bro Mike, we thank you for your service to the Craft in general, to the Province of South Wales and particularly to Emerald Lodge No. 5907. May you both enjoy good health and happiness within our fraternity for many more years.