Dewi Sant Lodge No. 9067 made Masonic history with its installation at Bridgend Masonic Hall on 7 September 2021. This was the first time anywhere in the world that an installation was held completely in the Welsh language.
Dewi Sant Lodge, in the Province of South Wales, was consecrated on St David’s Day (1 March) 1983. It was founded by 27 Freemasons with a love of all things Welsh, particularly the Welsh language, and originally met in Maesteg before moving to its current home, the Bridgend Masonic Hall, in 2006.
In April 2019 the Lodge was granted permission by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) to conduct ceremonies in the Welsh language. To date, Dewi Sant is the only Masonic lodge in the English constitution permitted to carry out its ceremonies in Welsh.
This installation ceremony was translated into Welsh – and approved by UGLE – by W. Bro. Elfan Jones, the secretary of Dewi Sant Lodge.
A total of 54 Brethren were present to witness W. Bro. Dr Steven Bassett flawlessly install his successor, W. Bro. David Jones, as Worshipful Master in this historic ceremony.
David Jones said: “Steve Bassett clearly put a lot of work into memorising this historically significant ceremony for which I, as the first Worshipful Master to be installed in the Welsh language, am extremely grateful. I was very moved by the way in which Steve delivered the ceremony.”
The Executive Officer for the evening was Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. Stephen Harries, and he was accompanied by the Provincial Deputy Director of Ceremonies, W. Bro. Mark Newbold, and Past Provincial Grand Steward, W. Bro. Peter Williams.
Bro. Stephen Harries, who is not a first-language Welsh speaker, learned the address to the Worshipful Master in Welsh and delivered it perfectly, with conviction, passion, and full of Welsh ‘hywl’.
A large number of Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge Officers attended the evening, including the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Gareth Jones OBE – who is a member of the Lodge – the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V. W. Bro. William Jenkins, Assistant Provincial Grand Masters W. Bro. Marc Lewis and W. Bro. Kelvin Jones, Past PGM R. W. Bro. Captain Sir Norman Lloyd-Edwards, Past DPGM, V. W. Bro. Andrew Gretton and the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent E. Comp. Gerald Rowbottom. The Provincial Senior & Junior Grand Wardens, Almoner and Charity Steward were also in attendance.
Bro. Stephen Harries said: “Having already undertaken the first initiation ceremony in the Welsh language in November 2019, this was an event which has been long awaited and was in no way a disappointment. The Installing Master was a Welsh learner and to his immense credit performed an immaculate ceremony, which was both impressive and emotional for those who had worked for so long and hard to reach this goal. It was also encouraging to see the initiate from November 2019, Brother Wayne Robinson, present the first-degree working tools to the Worshipful Master.”
The Provincial Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Gareth Jones, and who – subject to the next election – is likely to be the Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 2022, commented on the occasion: “This was indeed, a momentous occasion both in the Masonic calendar for the Province of South Wales, and for Freemasonry in general under the constitution of the United Grand Lodge of England. It’s the first time, anywhere in the world, that an installation ceremony was undertaken entirely in the Welsh language.
I feel very privileged to have been present to witness it, and see it performed with such sincerity, professionalism and panache”.
More on the Dewi Sant Lodge No. 9067 and its history can be found here.
