By Anthony James, ProvGStdB

Promptly at 6.30 p.m., the Worshipful Master opened the Lodge in due and ancient form. As always, the Officers carried out their duties with confidence and professionalism, setting the scene for another enjoyable evening built around friendship, fellowship and the traditions that have shaped Freemasonry for generations.

As is often the case during the holiday season, a few Officers were unavailable, so sincere thanks go to those who stepped in at short notice to ensure the evening ran smoothly.

· W.Bro. Paul Hillary stood in as Tyler.

· Bro. Ken Wright stood in as Inner Guard.

· W.Bro. Mark Cusack stood in as Secretary.

Their willingness to help is another reminder that Freemasonry is very much a team effort. Whenever someone is needed, another Brother is always ready to step forward, and the evening ran seamlessly because of it.

The Secretary then read a portion of the Ancient Charges before presenting the minutes from our previous regular meeting on 20th June 2026, which were approved without amendment.

The usual reports followed, including my first since taking over as Lodge Mentor. Unfortunately, a particularly busy few days beforehand meant I was rather less prepared than I would have liked. My somewhat brief report proved one thing beyond any doubt; the new Lodge Mentor may still require a little mentoring himself.

The Lodge then turned its attention to three charitable proposals, each supporting a very worthwhile cause.

The first came from Bro. Bill Turner-Bone, who proposed a donation of £250 towards the Fourth Provincial Charity Cycle Ride.

This year's event will see participants tackle approximately 180 miles over three days, cycling from Whitehaven to Newcastle along the Hadrian's Wall Cycle Route. It promises to be a challenging few days, requiring determination, stamina and, I suspect, a good sense of humour once the climbs begin.

The Worshipful Master then proposed a donation of £250 to his Charity of the Year, Matthew's Hub. Later in the evening, our guests would hear more about the remarkable work the charity carries out across Hull and the East Riding.

Finally, a proposal was made to donate £250 to the homeless kitchen run by our own Bro. Adam Tunnicliffe. Adam and his team provide hot meals, practical support and, just as importantly, kindness to people facing extremely difficult circumstances.

Although each proposal supported a very different cause, together they reflected one of Freemasonry's greatest strengths, quietly supporting people and organisations that make a genuine difference within our communities. It was a fitting introduction to the presentation on Matthew's Hub that followed later in the evening.

With the business of the evening complete, the Worshipful Master moved on to the Risings before closing the Lodge in due form.

Our White Table meeting then took on a different atmosphere as wives, partners and guests joined us in the Lodge room to hear more about Matthew's Hub.

The Worshipful Master gave an informative and engaging presentation explaining how the charity came into being and the invaluable work it now carries out throughout Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. By the end of the presentation, everyone present had a much clearer understanding of why it had been chosen as his Charity of the Year.

Matthew's Hub is a Hull-based registered charity supporting autistic people and those with ADHD aged thirteen and over. Its services are primarily aimed at people without a learning disability, although it also offers support to individuals waiting for assessment or a formal diagnosis.

The charity itself was born from tragedy following the death by suicide of a young autistic man named Matthew. His mother, Simona, believed that with the right support, understanding and guidance, his life might have taken a very different path.

Determined that something positive should come from such a devastating loss, she worked alongside the charity FIND, together with Gill Poole, Kath Trotter and a dedicated team of autistic volunteers, to establish a specialist support service. Their commitment and hard work eventually led to Matthew's Hub becoming an independent registered charity in October 2016.

One of the things that impressed me most was learning that many of the people working within Matthew's Hub are themselves neurodivergent. That shared experience allows them to offer understanding and reassurance that can only come from having walked a similar path themselves.

The Hub provides a safe and welcoming environment where people can seek advice, build friendships and access support without fear of judgement. It also offers valuable guidance to families who are often trying to make sense of situations that can feel overwhelming.

Listening to the presentation, it soon became obvious that Matthew's Hub is about far more than providing a service. It gives people confidence, reassurance and the knowledge that they do not have to face life's challenges alone.

By the end of the presentation, I don't think anyone could fail to appreciate both the dedication of those involved and the positive difference the charity continues to make throughout our local community.

With the presentation concluded, we made our way downstairs to enjoy a relaxed White Table Festive Board in the company of our wives, partners and guests.

White Table evenings always have a different feel. They provide an opportunity for our families and friends to enjoy the social side of Freemasonry and to see first-hand the friendships that exist beyond the Lodge room.

As you would expect, the formalities were kept to a minimum. We stood proudly to sing the National Anthem, followed immediately by a loyal toast to His Majesty the King. A second toast was then given to our Grand Master, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. With non-Masonic guests joining us for the evening, there were no speeches, allowing everyone to relax, enjoy the meal and simply spend time together.

It was exactly as a White Table evening should be.

Conversation flowed easily around every table, with plenty of laughter throughout the room. It was particularly pleasing to see members, wives, partners and guests all mixing so naturally.

To me, that says a great deal about our Lodge.

One of the strengths of Freemasonry has always been its ability to make people feel welcome, and White Table evenings are often the perfect opportunity for our guests to experience that for themselves. While many people naturally associate Freemasonry with ceremonies and tradition, evenings like this show another side of the Craft, one built on friendship, companionship and genuine enjoyment of each other's company.

Of course, there was another topic of conversation that kept appearing around the tables.

England were due to play France later that evening.

There were plenty of opinions being shared, although very few people seemed willing to predict the final score. Whether that was caution or experience, I'm not entirely sure.

With kick-off approaching, there was certainly no appetite for a long evening. Not that anyone was rushing for the door, but equally nobody wanted to be remembered as the Brother who delayed everyone getting home in time for the match.

Fortunately, everything ran like clockwork.

The food provided by Luke and his team, as always, was excellent, the company even better, and the relaxed atmosphere rounded off a thoroughly enjoyable evening. There is something rather special about seeing everyone chatting so comfortably together.

As I looked around the room, it reminded me that while our ceremonies are an important part of Freemasonry, it is the friendships we build that keep people coming back year after year.

Looking back on the evening as a whole, it struck a wonderful balance.

We carried out the business of the Lodge, supported three worthwhile charitable causes, learned about the outstanding work being undertaken by Matthew's Hub and then enjoyed a relaxed White Table evening in the company of our families and guests.

For me, that sums up Freemasonry perfectly. We take our work seriously when we're in the Lodge, but we never lose sight of the friendships that make it all worthwhile.

As this was my first meeting as Lodge Mentor, it was also an evening I shall remember for another reason. My report may have been a little shorter than I had intended, but I now have a much clearer idea of what lies ahead.

And, of course, I also know exactly what advice I'll continue to receive from my predecessor.

"Solomon... Solomon... Solomon."

I have a feeling I'll be hearing those words for quite some time yet.

All in all, it was another memorable evening in excellent company. We left having enjoyed good fellowship, learned about an exceptional local charity and spent time with our families and friends.

Better still, we all made it home in time to watch England beat France.

I couldn't think of a better way to round off a very enjoyable evening.