Ever since the first meeting in 1952, the Kindred Lodges have met as part of their ethos of fostering relations between Freemasons with the common bond of developing young people to take a constructive place in their local, national and international communities, whether through Scouting, Boys Brigade or any other youth organisation. Visiting other Lodges is an important part of Freemasonry and the Kindred Lodges Association has met at least once each year ever since its formation to provide a focus for such visiting.
From 1953 to 1982, the KLA Festival was always held on the Friday preceding the Scout Association’s “Gilwell Re-union” (originally an annual re-union of Scouters who had completed their ‘Wood Badge’ training) held in September each year. From 1982, it has been the custom of the Kindred Lodges Association to hold two Festival Meetings each year - one at about St George's Day (April) and the other about the time of the “Gilwell Reunion” (September).
Festival meetings are officially held by the KLA but are aways hosted by a member Lodge which is responsible for all arrangements for the day, including the provision of a ceremony within a Masonic meeting. Such Festivals are an opportunity for a host Lodge to demonstrate its own workings, by inviting all to attend a Regular Lodge meeting, or to provide a talk and / or demonstration from a well-known brother or brothers skilled in such practices. The ceremony presented should be as inclusive as possible and should allow even the newest Entered Apprentice to attend - although in some cases it is necessary to restrict attendance.
In September 1969, W Bro Jurgen Diener, Past Grand Chancellor (German Constitution) and an active Scouter attended the Festival meeting held at Great Queen Street, hosted by The Quest Lodge No 5969, and presented the Kindred Lodges Association with a terracotta tilein the form of the Fleur de Lys. Subsequently Pinewood Lodge had, in 1979, the tile mounted in a wooden case which was dedicated to the memory of their first Master, W Bro Eric J Walden (County Commissioner for Greater London South West from 1966 to 1979). Thus started the tradition of presenting the Tile to the host Lodge for the next Festival Meeting of the Kindred Lodges Association. Egraved plaques on the outside of the case list all the Lodges who have hosted a Festival Meeting. The passing of the Tile from one Lodge to the next usually takes place at the closing ofthe Festive Board following a Festival Meeting and marks the transfer of responsibility.
The idea of a Festival meeting has been taken one step further in the fairly recently formed “Scout Lodge of Mark Master Masons”, This Lodge, within the Mark Degree in Freemasonry, is based in Derbyshire and will hold its annual installation in that Province, but will hold its other two meetings each year outside its ‘Mother’ Province. All Mark Master Masons are welcome to attend the Scout Lodge of Mark Master Masons at any of its meetings, and it is intended that the meetings held outside Derbyshire will allow for representatives of local youth organisations to be invited to address the meeting and highlight how Freemasonry can support the development of youth work across the United Kingdom.