Provincial Team do the Double at RPL
Twas the ninth day of Christmas and on a chilly night the Provincial team led by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Mike Greedy had their first visit of the New Year. Their host for the evening were Rural Philanthropic Lodge, one of the oldest lodges in Somerset (if you can pronounce the name, you can join them) residing in that fine seaside resort of Burnham on Sea.
The Provincial team received a warm welcome from the WM who said he had never seen a double raising and was very much looking forward to it. He then proffered the gavel to the DPGM who gleefully accepted it and exercising the power of delegation superbly asked W.Bro Russ Woodland (APGM) to conduct a double raising ceremony with Brothers Simon Orchard and Simon Chanter being the lucky candidates.
The lodge officers were replaced by the Provincial Officers for the ceremony and after the lodge was opened in 2nd degree the candidates answered the questions before raising in superb fashion not a word was out of place!
The Provincial team are very experienced in multiple ceremonies and have been asked to perform several double third ceremonies already. Russ Woodland was in top form and the two Deacons led by Jason Raikers were well rehearsed and the ceremony went very smoothly. The work was divided out amongst the other Provincial officers to a very high standard.
Once the ceremony was completed and the lodge officers restored Barrie Palmer APGM presented a Grand Lodge Certificate to Bro Travis Miller & Michael Young. The Brethren were treated to a hearty 3 course meal at the Festive board with every seat taken. The DPGM said afterward, “It was a fantastic evening, and it was a privilege to lead the team”.
RPL’s next meeting will be their installation meeting so the Master Elect was declared as Bro Ian Chedzey. The Provincial Teams next visit will be an Organ dedication at Keynsham (Gerard Lodge) on Saturday 14th February at 2pm.
Article written by W.Bro Mike Norton PrGPursuivant. Images by Bro Les Pickersgill PrPhotographer, Somerset.
