A jewel of an evening

Of all my encounters over these past few days, meeting the  great- granddaughter of Garibaldi at the Library & Museum of Freemasonry was the most memorable . The Museum has a new exhibition marking the 150th anniversary and retracing the General's visit to London in 1864. To celebrate the opening, the Tricolore Theatre Company presented a re-enactment of Giuseppe's greeting and speech to adoring crowds from a balcony at Crystal Palace, at the Museum. Garibaldi's leadership of the 'Expedition of the Thousand' in Southern Italy had already captivated public opinion. He was met by and dined with both royalty and exiled revolutionaries and the media of the day hailed him as a national hero. He led thousands of volunteer soldiers fighting for the unification of Italy, emancipation of women and the abolition of ecclesiastical property. In so many respects, a man before his time.

To this day, the values of Freemasonry are still based on fairness and honesty and equality, chiming with Garibaldi's principles . In recognition of the support of Freemasons, his great-granddaughter, Anita Garibaldi, now Head of the Garibaldi Foundation, presented one of only five specially minted anniversary medals to the Museum Director at the evening's reception. And so another special 'jewel' was added to the Museum's collection. And a special evening will be remembered by all of us there.