For as long as the 52-year-old Hope Valley Experimental School in St Andrew has been around the institution has been able to rely on the support of the Sussex Lodge #345 English Constitution (EC), itself marking 200 years since its arrival in then colonial Jamaica.

Earlier this year, when the Lodge donated a commercial washing machine to the school, onlookers could not understand why the staff and students were so elated, because it did not seem as big a deal as some other gifts made to Hope Valley by Sussex over the years.

The Lodge has virtually adopted Hope Valley Experimental School which was established in 1972 as the first school to cater to both abled-and disabled-bodied children in Jamaica and the Caribbean, founded by the late Sir John Golding.

“The students at the school have benefited tremendously from the lodge’s support, especially the school feeding programme with an annual financial contribution spanning from before my tenure in 2015,” said Principal Anthony Grant.

“And it isn’t just a case of simply donating monies, the Sussex Lodge members have been present and on the ground, even significantly contributing to a teacher’s treat in December 2023,” according to Grant.

He said the commercial washing machine bought from Singer Jamaica Limited in January had come in response to a long-standing need at the school.

“It has been on the wish list for many years now as the school faces day-to-day challenges with the care for students. This donation has extraordinarily filled this gap and we are eternally grateful to the lodge,” he said, explaining the enthusiasm with which the gift was received by the school community.

The donation of the appliance was spearheaded by the immediate past Master Worshipful Brother Don Gittens and Brother Garfield Rodriquez (charity steward for 2023-2024), with the assistance of Worshipful Brother Ossel Campbell.

Freemasonry has had a long-standing presence in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean society for over 200 years, mainly influenced by the events in the United Kingdom and Europe in the colonial era.

Some of the oldest Masonic lodges outside of the British Isles are found in the Caribbean for all three constitutions which are the English, Irish and Scottish, as the region at the time was the prized possession of the European colonial powers.

The tenets and principles undergirding the foundation that Masonic values are built on are brotherly love, relief, and truth which are still being chartered by the Sussex Lodge #354 EC.

The Sussex Lodge #354 itself was formed in 1816 and “has stood firm throughout the testament time ranging from global and local events such as world wars, political turmoil, global financial crisis, and a plethora of local natural disasters directly impacting Jamaica”.

Its 62 active members comprise gentlemen from various religious, educational, cultural, ethnic, professional industries, and socio-economic backgrounds, truly illustrating Jamaica’s diverse culture and motto “Out of Many One people”.

Based on those values, the lodge has supported many charitable causes through fund-raisers such as the Sussex Lodge Family Fun Day at Sabina Park and the Annual Sussex Lodge Charity Golf Tournament under the distinguished patronage of Dr Michael “Mike” Fennell, a long-standing member of the Sussex Lodge.

Some of the other institutions that have benefited are the dental clinic at the National Children’s Home; the SOS Children’s Home in Stony Hill, St Andrew; Munro College in St Elizabeth; and Kingston College at North Street in the capital city.

Speaking of the Lodge’s commitment to the school’s WBro Don Gittens said: “It is a priority to maintain the continuity by supporting the hard-working/dedicated efforts of the teachers and the administration.”

Brother Garfield Rodriquez expressed the gratitude of the lodge to its sponsors and donors without whom they could not have done it, and urged their continued support for the upcoming Annual Sussex Charity Golf Tournament to be held on September 28, 2024 at Constant Spring Golf Club.

“The Sussex Lodge is very proud of its commitment to all charitable outreach programmes, which are fully embraced in the philosophy of Freemasonry and its principal values, which are, integrity, friendship, respect and service,” said Rodriguez.