New Year, New Initiate – Regular Meeting in February 2023

We kicked off the new year in 2023 in style, with a new candidate for initiation. After the ballot proved in his favour and with permission from the RW Bro R Guthrie, Provincial Grand Master, he was promptly initiated into freemasonry according to our ancient rites and customs.

Ceremony of Initiation

We were very pleased to welcome a new initiate in to our fold for the very first meeting of 2023. The new initiate was well-prepared by the Tyler. The Initiation Ceremony was carried out by the Worshipful Master, while the presentation of the NE corner and the Charge after Initiation was presented by the Junior Deacon. The Inner Guard presented the Working Tools.

Festive Board

Following the successful ceremony, we retired upstairs to the Dining Hall for the Festive Board.

Worshipful Master, Brother Initiate, Officers, Members of the Lodge and Guests at the Festive Board

198th Anniversary Commemorative Cupcakes

The 15th of February 2023 is the 198th anniversary of the Lodge’s founding. To celebrate the day, a partner of one of our members very kindly prepared over two dozen cupcakes for the evening. Each cupcake bore the numbers 198. These tasty treats were given out after dinner to be enjoyed with coffee or taken home. This tradition of celebrating the Lodge’s founding, started last year, in 2022 with a similar treat handed out to mark the annual event.

We are really looking forward to the bi-centenary celebrations in two years time, which we promise will be a momentous celebration. In the meantime, we are celebrating every additional year the Lodge adds to in age. If you’re interested in join us or to learn more about Freemasonry, do get in touch.

Bumper Raffle Prizes

The evening is never complete without raffles, a chance for the brethren to raise money for charity. Our lodge members did not disappoint as they brought an array of different drinks to contribute to the raffles draw. The evening’s raffles raised a good money for charity. A number of lucky guests and members got to take something home from the meeting.

We Have Hot Sauce

A very creative and talented member of our lodge surprised us all with his own collection of hot sauce. He made this himself and went to great lengths to brand and bottle his recipe. There were half a dozen bottles placed at the dining tables and one was even reserved for the raffles draw. Everyone enjoyed the sauce and wanted more. Guests and members were invited to take the remaining sauce home, which they did. We are certainly looking forward to more contributions and surprises from our members.

Worshipful Master presenting the Hot Sauce

Toast to Initiate

At the festive board, after the usual toasts, we toasted the newly made mason. The toast was given by his friend who visited from the Lodge of Holyburne 9507 in Hampshire. The Brother Initiate responded thanking everyone for making his initiation a memorable experience. We also demonstrated to the initiate how the masonic fire is performed in the lodge. Together we all formed the initiate’s chain and sang The Apprentice’s song dedicated to our newly accepted mason. The explanation of the masonic chain was then delivered by W. Bro Tan.

All in all, a great evening was had by all and we look forward to our next meeting.

You Are Invited

Don’t forget, our next regular meeting is on the 13th March 2023 and you are invited. Please contact the lodge secretary if you wish to come or leave us a message.