About – District Grand Lodge Of The Bahamas

Founding District Grand Master Brother Roderick Eugene Inniss (front, centre) surrounded by other initial District office-bearers in 1991
FOUNDING DISTRICT GRAND LODGE
OFFICE-BEARERS

The formal definition of Freemasonry is “a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols” Its three main principles are brotherly love, relief, and truth. Throughout the world, Freemasons meet in fraternal fellowship to explore these concepts in the working of masonic degrees during formal meetings and to demonstrate these concepts at work in their own lives beyond the four walls of its temples. The Bahamian Masonic experience is no different and Freemasons in The Bahamas have woven the thread of these worthwhile concepts throughout the Bahamian social fabric for generations.

Scottish Freemasonry has a long, storied history in The Bahamas, dating back to 1806. However, the driving force behind its return to The Bahamas after years of dormancy was the late Brother Dr. Claudius R. Walker. Brother Dr. Walker and fellow like-minded Freemasons eventually succeeded in their efforts to revive Scottish Freemasonry in The Bahamas after an extended period of inactivity, with the consecration and erection of Lodge St. Michael 1634 S.C. on 7 June, 1967 with the assistance of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica.

After twenty-four (24) years as part of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and The Bahamas, Scottish Freemasonry in The Bahamas achieved yet another major milestone on 20 March, 1991 with the consecration and erection of the District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas.

Brother Roderick Eugene Inniss 1991 – 1996
Brother Arthur Roosevelt Chase 1996 – 2001
Brother Idris George Reid 2001 – 2006
Brother Levonne Edgar Moxey 2006 – 2011
Brother Charles Wilson Johnson 2011 – 2016
Brother Joseph Ricardo Curry 2016 – 2021
Brother Anthony Ulysses Bostwick 2021 –

The District now number eleven (11) Lodges in total, on five islands across the archipelago. The District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas is holding under the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

District Grand Master

District Grand Master

Brother Anthony U. Bostwick Jr., was elected the seventh (7th) Right Worshipful District Grand Master of the District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas, Scottish Constitution. During his term, the Right Worshipful District Grand Master has outlined the following priorities:

1. The health, safety and welfare of the brethren, particularly during this global pandemic;

2. The construction of the Scottish Masonic Complex or New Temple on the island of New Providence to adequately accommodate all of the daughter lodges and masonic orders. Simultaneously, there will be an effort to advance plans and initiatives to construct smaller temples on the islands of Grand Bahama, Abaco and Andros to better serve our lodges and brethren on those islands.

3. The development of a consultative Twenty-five Year Vision & Plan for the future development and advancement of District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas;

4. The promotion and advancement of Masonic Education;

5. The commission of a book on the history of Scottish Freemasonry in The Bahamas;

6. Undertaking a feasibility study for the creation of a Masonic Group Medical Insurance Plan;

7. Undertaking a feasibility study for the District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas to construct and operate a Masonic Home for our challenged elderly brethren.

For further information on any of these initiatives or to get involved or support our efforts and programmes, please contact me at rwdgm@dglbahamas.com.

District Office Bearers

DISTRICT GRAND OFFICE-BEARERS

(Effective February 4, 2021)

Brother Anthony U. Bostwick District Grand Master

Brother Brendon C. Watson Depute District Grand Master

Brother Dave R. Munroe Substitute District Grand Master

Brother Tyrone A. McKenzie Substitute District Grand Master

Brother Dr. H. Mitchell Lockhart Senior District Grand Warden

Brother Rory Higgs Junior District Grand Warden

Brother Joel R. Lewis District Grand Secretary

Brother Ricardo Rolle District Grand Treasurer

Brother Mitchell A. Thurston District Grand Almoner

Brother Gerrard A. Sawyer District Grand Director of Ceremonies

Brother Mitchell Thurston, Sr. District Grand Chaplain

Brother Andre Sheppard District Grand Chaplain

Brother Alphonso Smith District Grand Chaplain

Brother Anthon Bowleg District Grand Chaplain

Brother Richard E. Simms Senior District Grand Deacon

Brother Louis A. Butler Junior District Grand Deacon

Brother Ryan E. Antonio District Grand Librarian

Brother Melvin Cooper District Grand Architect

Brother Brett C. Jones District Grand Jeweler

Brother Keith L. Daley District Grand Bible-Bearer

Brother Roger L. Minnis District Grand Sword-Bearer

Brother Neville Wilchcombe Asst. District Grand Secretary

Brother Wendell C. Grant II Asst. District Grand Secretary

Brother Sean A. Blyden Asst. District Grand Treasurer

Brother Leo W. Hepburn Asst. District Grand Treasurer

Brother Archibald C. Taylor Asst. District Grand Director of Ceremonies

Brother Cayle Mortimer Asst. District Grand Director of Ceremonies (Ag.)

Brother Anthony H.R. Richardson District Grand Director of Music

Brother Preston A. Ferguson District Grand Organist

Brother Andrew A. Flowers District Grand Marshall

Brother Mark A. Smith District Grand Standard-Bearer

Brother District Grand Inner Guard (Ag.)

Brother Eric T. Fowler District Grand Tyler

BOARD OF STEWARDS

Brother Alex D. Carey District Grand President of Stewards

Brother Wesley Willie District Grand Vice President of Stewards (Ag)

Brother Arien Rolle District Grand Steward

Brother Godfrey A. Bethell, Jr. District Grand Steward

Brother Terrence Smith District Grand Steward

Brother Elston Dean District Grand Steward

Brother Navardo J. Rolle District Grand Steward

Brother John Culmer District Grand Steward

Brother Adrian Sands District Grand Steward

Brother Lysle Chase District Grand Steward

Brother Devon Hepburn District Grand Steward

Brother Tyrell Ferguson District Grand Steward (Ag.)

DISTRICT GRAND COMMITTEE

Brother Derek A.R. Dean Brother Henry A. Gibson

Brother Dr. Derwin Munroe Brother Wayne Reckley

Brother Solomon Williams

AUDITORS

Brother Craig Ferguson Brother Geovanni Rogers

Acting District Grand Office-Bearers to be Appointed (w.e.f. February 4, 2021)

To determine from among the Past District Grand Office-Bearers (w.e.f. February 4, 2021)

New appointment to DG Committee (w.e.f. February 4, 2021)

District Committees

DISTRICT GRAND LODGE COMMITTEES (2021-2022)

Administration, Information and Communications
Joel Lewis Chairman; George Burrows, Charles Farquharson, Neville Wilchcombe, and Henry Gibson

Benevolence
Keith L. Daley, Chairman; Mitchell A. Thurston, Preston Ferguson, Kevin Culmer, Giovanni Rolle, Stan Sawyer, James Adderley and Mariano Rigby

Blood Registry
Terrence Smith, Chairman; Ethan Adderley, Joshua Sears and Locksley Munroe

Bye-Laws
Marco Rolle, Chairman; Dennis Williams, Darrin Culmer and Myles Parker

Ceremony and Protocol
Gerrard Sawyer, Chairman; Kayle Mortimer, Melvin Cooper, Archibald Taylor, Andre Sheppard, Devon Hepburn, Mariano Rigby, Arien Rolle, John Culmer and Navardo Rolle

Charity and Community Outreach
Mark A. Smith, Chairman; Keith Deal, Andrew Flowers, Mark Hall, Bacchus Rolle, Alex Major, Levar McPhee, Richard Jones, Willard Oliver and Wayde White

COVID-19 Advisory
Julian A. Stewart, Chairman; H. Mitchell Lockhart, Locksley Munroe, Daniel Johnson, Marvin Smith, Olu Tinubu and Charles Wildgoose

Database Management
Clinton Clarke, Chairman; Henry Gibson, Jamaal Davis, Jason Dodge and Luther C. Smith

Disaster Relief
Andre Sheppard, Chairman, Eddie Rolle, Devon Hepburn, Lysle Chase, Ethan
Adderley, Wayne Reckley, Solomon Williams and Tyrell Ferguson

Finance and Audit
Derek Dean, Chairman; Richard Simms, Ricardo Rolle, Sean Blyden, Leo Hepburn, Louis Butler, Ryan Antonio, Allington Hunter, George Watson, Levar McPhee and Randolph Minnis

Fundraising
Dwayne Davis, Chairman; Wesley Willie, Kwesi Smith, Andretti Demeritte, Greg Stuart and Brandon Bowleg

Overseas Visitations
Brendon C. Watson, Chairman; Ken Culmer and Rory Higgs

Petitions, Complaints and Appeals
Roger L. Minnis, Chairman; Edmund Turner and Uel Johnson

Pledge Programme
Rory Higgs, Chairman; Co Chair Reginald Saunders; Adrian Sands, Richard Simms, Derek Dean, Ricardo Rolle, Warren Rolle, Mustapha Strachan, Eric Carey and Kenred Dorsett

Social and Fellowship
Derwin Munroe, Chairman; Eric Fowler, Elston Dean, Cayle Mortimer, Sharad Young, Glen Williams, Devard Francis and Randolph McClain

Strategic Planning and Capital Development
John-Michael Clark, Chairman; Arthur Rolle, Brendon Watson, Mark Smith, Donald Thompson, Tyrone McKenzie, Alphonso Smith, Godfrey Bethell, Sr., Wendell Grant, J.F.K. Rolle, Quentin Thompson, Sheldon Maycock, Willie Simmons, Michael Pratt and Faron Newbold

Website, Social Media and Public Relations
Javon Rolle, Chairman; Arien Rolle; Andre Sheppard, Clinton Clarke and Deon Cox

Legal Advisor
Marco Turnquest

Past District Grand Masters

Roderick Eugene Inniss

1991-1996

Levonne Edgar Moxey

MBA, CPS, CA

2006-2011 BIO

Arthur Roosevelt Chase

M. Sc, TEP, FIFS, ABIB

1996-2001 BIO

Charles Wilson Johnson

MBA, AIIC, CIP

2011-2016 BIO

Idris George Reid

MA, JP

2001-2006 BIO

Joseph R. Curry

MAIA, JP
2016-2021 BIO

History

Founding District Grand Master Brother Roderick Eugene Inniss (front, centre) surrounded by other initial District office-bearers in 1991
FOUNDING DISTRICT GRAND LODGE
OFFICE-BEARERS

The formal definition of Freemasonry is “a system of morality veiled in allegory and illustrated by symbols” Its three main principles are brotherly love, relief, and truth. Throughout the world, Freemasons meet in fraternal fellowship to explore these concepts in the working of masonic degrees during formal meetings and to demonstrate these concepts at work in their own lives beyond the four walls of its temples. The Bahamian Masonic experience is no different and Freemasons in The Bahamas have woven the thread of these worthwhile concepts throughout the Bahamian social fabric for generations.

Scottish Freemasonry has a long, storied history in The Bahamas, dating back to 1806. However, the driving force behind its return to The Bahamas after years of dormancy was the late Brother Dr. Claudius R. Walker. Brother Dr. Walker and fellow like-minded Freemasons eventually succeeded in their efforts to revive Scottish Freemasonry in The Bahamas after an extended period of inactivity, with the consecration and erection of Lodge St. Michael 1634 S.C. on 7 June, 1967 with the assistance of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica.

After twenty-four (24) years as part of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and The Bahamas, Scottish Freemasonry in The Bahamas achieved yet another major milestone on 20 March, 1991 with the consecration and erection of the District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas.

Brother Roderick Eugene Inniss 1991 – 1996
Brother Arthur Roosevelt Chase 1996 – 2001
Brother Idris George Reid 2001 – 2006
Brother Levonne Edgar Moxey 2006 – 2011
Brother Charles Wilson Johnson 2011 – 2016
Brother Joseph Ricardo Curry 2016 – 2021
Brother Anthony Ulysses Bostwick 2021 –

The District now number eleven (11) Lodges in total, on five islands across the archipelago. The District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas is holding under the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Masonic Orders

Royal Arch

District Grand Committee (Nassau)
District Grand Chapter Convocation (Nassau)
St. Michael Royal Arch 850 (Nassau)
St. Andrew Royal Arch 877 (Freeport)
Ivan A.Hanna Royal Arch 885 (Nassau)
St. Anne’s Royal Arch 887 (Nassau)
St. Gregory Royal Arch 890 (Nassau)
St. Patrick Royal Arch 894 (Eleuthera)
St. Michael Lodge & Council 850 (Nassau)
St. Michael Cryptic Council 850 (Nassau)
St. Gregory Lodge & Council 890 (Nassau)
St. Gregory Cryptic Council 890 (Nassau)

Other Orders

Rising Sun Preceptory 181 (Nassau)
Blazing Star Preceptory 188 (Nassau)
St. Michael Rose Croix 239 (Nassau)
Sunshine Rose Croix 250 (Nassau)
Nassau Sovereign Council 81 (Nassau)
Bahamas Conclave No.82 (Nassau)

Masonic Principles

A Way of Life

There are now about 4 million Freemasons under more than 100 “regular” Grand Lodges worldwide. Membership of the Craft is open to every respectable man who believes in his personal Supreme Being – usually known in Masonic terms as The Great Architect of The Universe, Grand Geometrician of the Universe or Most High. These descriptive names show the importance the Freemason places on his Supreme Being in the order of things in life.

Principles

Three great but simple principles, Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth, unite Freemasons of every color and many creeds. Non-Freemasons often unfairly criticize not knowing that members of the Craft are guided by such honorable objectives. The good Freemason builds these principles into his daily life as a law abiding man and citizen of the world.

BROTHERLY LOVE is the concern which each Freemason has for his Brother, which is readily shown by tolerance and respect for the beliefs, opinions and practices of his fellows and his willingness to care for his Brother and that Brother’s dependents.

RELIEF The Freemason is by nature and teaching a charitable man. He will cheerfully and kindly assist those less fortunate (whether Freemasons or not!). He will care for and support his community – local, national and international.

TRUTH The Freemason believes in truth in all things, in honesty and integrity in his personal, business and public life, in fair dealings and in firm standards of decency and morality.

An Education

As every Man progresses in life by education so every Freemason is taught how he can be a better Man. This is done by a series of degrees – each degree educates him and answers some questions but leaves a door beyond. When the candidate has grasped the teaching of one degree, that door is opened by his progress to the next degree.

Freemasonry is believed to have begun its evolution 500 or more years ago in Scotland among the bands of working, skilled, builders known as “masons” (stonemasons). The traditional framework into which most Masonic degrees are woven is the story and symbolism of King Solomon’s Temple. Masonic teaching is a system of education related

to the building of the Temple – especially the activities and traditional skills of those by whom it was designed and built, and is intended to maintain the interest of the candidate as he progresses through the Masonic degrees, thus rendering his development more effective.

Freemasonry and Religion

A man’s religion is precious and personal to him. Discussion on matters of religion often causes arguments and many wars have been fought ostensibly to impose or defend one religion against another. As he loves all his fellows, understandably religion is a topic which the Freemason, in that capacity, is just not allowed to discuss – nor would he want to.

Freemasonry is most certainly not a religion. It has no “Masonic” God. When Freemasons pray together, as they do in their Lodges, each is addressing his personal Supreme Being. So Freemasons of many creeds can in love and fellowship meet and pray together, irrespective of their individual religions. The Holy Book (known to Freemasons as the Volume of the Sacred Law) of each religion represented in the Lodge is open during meetings. It is common for 5 or 6 different V.S.L.’s to lie open during Lodge meetings.

Freemasonry and Politics

For much the same reasons as above, the discussion of political matters among Freemasons is absolutely prohibited. A man’s politics are his own concern and the Craft, being completely non-political, will never interfere in the world of politics nor will the District Grand Lodge of The Bahamas express any views on political ideology or theories.

Freemasonry and Secrecy

It is often wrongly stated that Freemasonry is a secret society. There are many thousands of books on Freemasonry openly available in libraries everywhere. The Masonic Temple is usually a fairly conspicuous building in most communities. In The Bahamas the activities of Lodges are well known in the media and public. Are these the hallmarks of a secret society?

The truth is that the principles and many of the practices of Freemasonry are anything but secret. Members are perfectly free to make it known that they are Freemasons. The only Masonic “secrets” are just those methods which members of various degrees throughout the world use to recognize and greet each other. It’s as simple as that.

Summary

Freemasonry is an ancient and honorable society.

Its principles are just steady standards of life and conduct in a changing world. The practice by the Freemason of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth and the other principles of the Craft will go a long way to making a good man better.

(By courtesy of The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland)