Soon to be 97-year-old Owen Soal has become the second South Cantabrian to receive the honour after top lodge officials presented him with a service bar at a ceremony late last month.
Mr Soal, a past master of the Caledonian Masonic Lodge, said his journey with Freemasonry began after an encounter while working as a traffic officer.
"These chaps were out having a ball and they just overstepped it ... one thing led to another and we sort of got to know each other a wee bit better. We sort of seemed to click, and from there on we became quite good friends.
"They never told me they were [lodge] members but nobody does, if you wish to join you’re the one that’s got to make the inquiry. I heard something being mentioned so I made a couple of inquiries and asked those two."
Six months later he heard his name had been put forward and after being questioned along with his wife he ended up joining.
"You wouldn’t think it was 60 years ago. The time has just gone, I don’t know many that have joined an organisation or a club and are still active after 60 years.
"I did my first degree, that was the initiation, at the Caledonian Lodge, then I was farmed out to a country lodge at Pareora for my second degree and then did my third degree at Geraldine.
"Over the years I’ve worked my way up through the various ranks. I’ve gone from nothing to a master, immediate past master and was also director of ceremonies for seven years."
He was grateful to have had his tenure recognised.
"My date was meant to be in July but they decided to bring my date forward for health reasons and the master’s year finishes in June so he wanted to clean up a lot of things.
"In doing such they held it at my home, I was absolutely blown away. The master was there and another chap [junior grand warden Paul Johnston] who represented the grand master of New Zealand, who happened to be away overseas.
"He officiated the ceremony. At 50 years I was presented with a jewel and for my 60 years he attached a bar to it. I doubt if I’ll see the 70th year."
He said the camaraderie of the organisation was one of the biggest things that had attracted him to and kept him a member.
"I’m very pleased I did go ahead and join, it’s worldwide and anywhere you travel over the world, if you happen to have a lapel badge or something like that it’s internationally recognised.
"The only thing that I feel is really not right, is it’s all for men. What about your wife? She’s sitting at home, babysitting, night after night and you’re out visiting, representing them.
"I have raised this time and time again and it’s starting to show a bit of progress."
After a dip in membership over the years, Mr Soal said younger people were starting to join again.
"I know in my initiation when I first joined, there was about 108 people, and when I went into the chair, there was 120 members in the temple.
"Every organisation changes, some for the better, some for the worse. In our case our numbers have gone down a lot but I feel we are starting to climb up again.
"It’s a battle that I think applies to everyone, one year you’ve got a flood of people wanting to learn something and the next year you’re struggling to try and find candidates."
There was another important milestone, Mr Soal was hoping to tick off this year.
"My wife turns 91 this month and I’ll be 97 in July.
"Our big hope is to celebrate our 70th wedding anniversary in November if this little old coot is still around.
"But it’s day by day, my wife supported me right through the years, I appreciate that and that’s what I can do for her now."
