Portcullis Welcome the Provincial Grand Master (PGM)
At Portcullis’s September meeting the members were delighted to welcome the PGM Ray Guthrie and members of the Provincial team for an informative Membership Challenge Visit (MCV) update. The Hanging Chapel had over 55 Freemasons packed in providing a tremendous atmosphere for the evening. The PGM gave a short update as to the progress of the membership challenge in Somerset and in particular Portcullis. We were pleased to hear that we have a pretty healthy lodge in the province with well over the average number of members.
We also had a special initiation to perform. The son in law of one of our members John Foad was being initiated. The candidate Liam Harper is a golf professional. The Master asked John to change positions with the current Junior Deacon so that he could lead the candidate around the lodge. Despite a little bit of understandable nerves from the candidate he very much got into the “swing” of it and very much enjoyed the ceremony. John also performed the charge after initiation in splendid fashion.
In other business the brethren elected 3 distinguished Brethren honorary members; Terry Haggert, David Bates and our former Tyler for 11 years Colin Thorpe. In the risings the Master proposed another candidate for initiation which will be the fourth candidate to be initiated this year by the Lodge.
The PGM also presented to the Master a Solomon Academy Diploma for successfully completing all four Solomon courses. The Master of the Lodge, who is also an Assistant Provincial Mentor encouraged all members to undertake their learning on Solomon. It is not just for newer members but will benefit everybody by making a daily advancement in their knowledge. The Solomon Academy Diploma is a fun and informative way to consolidate this knowledge. It offers short study courses in the four key stages of your Masonic journey; Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, Master Mason and Companion.
The Festive board was laid out in traditional fashion and was a great finish to the evening with a special mentions to our Senior Steward Steve Loveridge who proposed a toast to the PGM and the Province which the PGM responded in fine fashion and Peter Gibson from 261 performed a splendid response to the visitors toast.
Tom Beasley chairman of the Adair club said afterwards “I thought the ceremony was fantastic and the Master was exceptional”. Provincial officer Lindsay Edmunds said on social media “A fantastic evening with a first class ceremony and great company. My first visit to the Hanging Chapel and how amazing it was”.
