Massias District Grand Stewards Lodge 9217
The Massias District Grand Stewards Lodge No.9217 was the brainchild of the late RW Bro Menase James Massias, District Grand Master at the time. The Lodge proudly bears his family name. It was consecrated on 10th September 1987. It is a relatively young Lodge within the District of Gibraltar. There were 42 Petitioners. The Lodge was founded with no intention of admitting Candidates for Initiation, hence, to discourage candidates being proposed, the Initiation Fee was set at the sum of £300. Nowadays the Fee is much higher, at present £500.
Agreement
It was not the intention of the Lodge to compete with other Lodges of the District for Candidates. There was at the time a gentleman’s agreement with the other Lodges in the District to discourage Initiations. The Lodge was founded mainly to assist the District Grand Lodge and it’s Lodges by providing Stewards when and as necessary. Being a District Grand Stewards Lodge, all members must wear Crimson Regalia as approved by Grand Lodge at its consecration. The Lodge is a normal working Lodge. Although most of its members are all Past Masters, it is not a Past Masters Lodge nor is it registered as such in Grand Lodge. It meets twice a year, nowadays the Lodge meets on the third Friday of April and September, as the Lodge used to meet in June and December. As the December Meeting used to fall near the Festive Season it was unanimously decided to change the meeting dates of the Lodge in the interest of its members.
Fraternal Visits
Shortly after it’s consecration, probably up until 1999, it was customary for the Lodge to pay fraternal visits to some of the Lodges in the District, always at their request, and likewise, at the request of the host Lodge the Massias District Grand Stewards Lodge No.9217 accepted the invitation to work a degree, mainly a 2nd or 3rd Degree. The Lodges visited were mainly the Royal Lodge of Friendship No.278; Robert Freke Gould Lodge No.2874; Connaught Lodge No.2915 and United Services Lodge No.3813. Regrettably and sadly, although a salutary custom, these annual fraternal visits suddenly stopped and never re-started again.
The Lodge, like most other Lodges, regrettably has been reduced in numbers these past few years. However, it is very gratifying indeed to note that although the Lodge is not big in numbers it continues to be a very healthy, happy, and well attended Lodge, considering its numbers. It is worthy to note that we still have 3 members of the Massias family as members of the Lodge.
