Steps towards the construction of a masonic temple within the township of Makeni has commenced with the laying of the foundation stone by the Right Worshipful District Grand Master of the Scottish Constitution Bro. Johathan Admire Thomas past Sunday.
Before the foundation stone laying ceremony, the Leader of the Wusum Lodge Planning Committee Bro. Samura M W Kamara, who is the Finance Minister declared to the District Grand Secretary, Bro. Arthur B.C. Jones the intention of setting up a structure in the headquarters of the Northern Province, Makeni Town, which would represent a Temple of The Mind and also house the proposed Lodge to be named Lodge Wusum.
At hand to assist the District Grand Master were Paramount Chiefs P.C. Bai Sheborah Kassanga and PC Masayalie Tham II accompanied by their subjects, who performed the traditional rites, as well as the Resident Minister, Alex Kargbo.
Speaking at the site, PC Bai Seborah Kassanga expressed his delight at the inception of freemasonry in his jurisdiction, while the District Grand Master, lauded the stance of Bro Samura Kamara, for the erection of the masonic temple, as well as for the formation of Lodge Wusum.
He gave the assurance that the District Grand Lodge of Sierra Leone and the Gambia would render the necessary assistance towards the erection of the temple.
One significant aspect of the foundation stone ceremony is the fact that Freemasonry worldwide is a universal brotherhood and in Sierra Leone therefore, it should not appear to be restricted to Freetown alone as this conveys the incorrect picture that it is a society for Freetonians only.
It had already started in the Provinces (Delco, Rokel, Blue Diamond Lodges) but unfortunately, these had to relocate to Freetown for various reasons chief of which were the closure of the companies/mines, and the rebel war, coupled with the declining economy.
The establishment of the proposed Lodge Wusum in the Northern Province Headquarter Town – Makeni will help to bring initiates from the area especially as the initiative for its creation is from the indigenes of that area who are staunch Masons. The Wusum Temple will house the meetings of Lodge Wusum when it is created but it could also serve to host other Lodges if convenient, especially so for Lodges that originally were meeting in the provinces.
Furthermore, it should be noted that this initiative is under the Scottish Constitution and quite encouragingly, there is also another initiative under the English Constitution to set up a Lodge in Bo, the Headquarter Town of the Southern Province.
These two initiatives are both timely and complementary for while the Scottish Constitution is addressing the Northern Province, the English Constitution is also addressing the Southern Province thereby spreading Freemasonry over at least three provinces and regions.
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