Back with a Bang (or Three of the Gavel) – October Regular Meeting
Although summer feels like it is still here, with warmer days in autumn, the show must go on. We reopened again after the summer break with a brother’s ceremony of passing at the Lodge of Honour.
We started off the new Masonic season at our October Regular Meeting with a 2nd degree ceremony and passed one of our entered apprentices to the degree of a fellow craft. This was also a time to pause and remember one of our brethren who passed to the grand lodge above earlier this year.
Receiving our Fraternal Visitors from the Lodge of Brotherly Love no 329
We were honoured with the presence of brethren from the Lodge of Brother Lodge no 329 meeting in Yeovil. Headed by their Worshipful Master, the Fraternal Visitors included a distinguished brethren, a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies (PAGDC), a Worshipful Brothers and two Master Masons.
The Ceremony of Passing
Back to the ceremony, it was completed with the assistance from a number of guests including an ex-member of the lodge who is currently a member of the Chaloner Lodge no 2644 standing in as Senior Deacon, the presiding Worshipful Master of Royal Sussex Lodge no 53 standing in as IPM and Chaplain and the presiding Worshipful Master of the Royal Cumberland Lodge no 41 standing in as IG.
Apart from the guests, our Worshipful Master, aided by his Senior and Junior Warden, the Secretary, Junior Deacon, Assistant Director of Ceremonies and Tyler performed a lively ceremony. It is safe to say that our candidate passed with flying colours and was later given an explanation of the tracing board expertly delivered by our Junior Deacon. Members were invited to join our fellow craft on the floor to witness a brilliant explanation, which they enjoyed.
Refreshments
The evening continued at the Festive Board where our visitors and members enjoyed a hearty main course followed by the Worshipful Master’s signature cheese board. The night was filled with laughter and celebrations to mark the restarting of the season, our new fellow craft and most importantly our valued visitors.
To our Fraternal Visitors, we say thank you once again for choosing the Lodge of Honour no 379. We hope to return the favour and find time in our diaries to organise a Fraternal Visit to the Lodge of Brother Lodge no 329 in the near future.
We are looking forward to our next meeting in November where we will nominate the new line-up of officers ready for our Installation Meeting in December. This is an exciting time for members who currently occupy progressive offices. We will also be welcoming back a Past Master to the chair and working towards our bi-centenary in just over 16 months time.
Please note that a version of this article is also published on the Province of Somerset Website titled Lodge of Honour Back with a Bang of the Gavel.
