The Provincial Team visits The Emergency Services Lodge, Taunton for an Emergency Meeting.
Thursday 22nd October saw The VW Bro Mike Greedy; Deputy Provincial Grand Master lead a team of over 35 active provincial officers visit The Emergency Services Lodge at Taunton Masonic Hall to carry out a ‘quintuple’ 3rd Degree Ceremony
In a visit that acknowledged the recent successes in membership increases for the Lodge, Tom Lomas the Worshipful Master welcomed over 90 Brethren to this special occasion. V.W.Bro Mike Greedy was delighted on this occasion to accept the proffered gavel from Tom. The Brethren were then treated to an exemplary ceremony of raising with Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Russ Woodland leading the Provincial team ably supported by our Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Garry Sharp and his two deputies, Jeff Body and Mac Mackay.
What made this evening so very special was seeing a first for both the Lodge and the Provincial team in that five fellow crafts were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in a well-choreographed simultaneous ceremony.
The team would like to congratulate Mark, Malcolm, Martyn, Richard and Tim not only for the way they responded to their questions but also the way they conducted themselves for the duration of the ceremony. We hope you each remember the evening for many years to come. Our team certainly will. It was very special and we thank you for the invitation to attend and deliver this ceremony for your Lodge and the five candidates.
After the ceremony we all moved to the dining room and enjoyed a lively festive board in great company and spirit. Another highlight of the evening was Chris Waterhouse delivering a heartfelt ‘Haka’ to the five new Master Masons as part of his response to the Visitors toast.
Freemasonry means many things to many people and there are many significant Masonic events, but for Somerset Freemasonry attending a lodge and delivering a ceremony to five brethren together cannot do better but to cement the brotherhood these five brothers already have. We wish you all well.
Finally, the DPGM thanked the Lodge for inviting the team in and acknowledged the preparation, planning and the execution efforts by the PGDC and the team.
A special thank you to W.Bro Chris James for stepping in as photographer in the absence of Bro Les Pickersgill who was unavoidably absent.
Words – W.Bro Andy Newland. PrGStwd
