April meeting of Temperance Mark Lodge.
 
On a typical April evening, (warm and damp); members of Temperance Mark Lodge No774 met for their last meeting of the 17/18 season.  The 17th April meeting was the first meeting since the Installation meeting in February and so it would be a new team in place for the planned Advancement ceremony.  It was fitting that the new team would be bringing in a well known face around Woolton Golf Club, Bro Tommy Lunt.  Tommy has been setting up the lodge room for Temperance Mark Lodge since they moved to Woolton and had finally been persuaded to join the Mark Degree.   After the lodge had been opened by the Worshipful Master, WBro Derek Gaskell PProv GJD and the minutes approved, the WM collared WBro Emmanuel Santangeli P.Prov G.Insp of Wks. who had been unable to attend the Installation meeting, as both Tyler and Charity Steward.
Derek Gaskell WM and Tommy Lunt (candidate)
It was now time for the ballot for the new member and it was to no one’s surprise the Ballot proved successful.   With an air of anticipation the ceremony began.   Bro Tommy Lunt was met at the door by the Inner Guard Bro Steve Cornwell who after the initial introduction handed Bro Lunt over to the Senior Deacon, Bro Bob James, who then took charge of the candidate for the rest of the ceremony.   At the appropriate time Br James introduced the candidate to those very nice overseers.  First, Bro Ian Jackson, then VWBro Eric Hughes PGJO; (who was standing for the night) and finally WBro Tony Cross PProv GJW and for a while after his encounter with the overseers our candidate looked somewhat shocked; but fear not things got worse!
Derek Gaskell; Tommy Lunt; Bob James (Senior Deacon)
This is the ‘fun degree’ and so it all ended well.   The ceremony flowed well with the whole team working well together.  After the ceremony the Master asked the Secretary WBro David Anderton PJGD to record his thanks to all the offices that had taken part in the ceremony and how proud he was of all the hard work everyone had put to make it such a good ceremony.     He also expressed his thanks to WBro Bryan Humphries and VWBro Eric Hughes for kindly assisting in the ceremony.   During the risings the Master offered on behalf of himself and all members of the lodge congratulations to Grand Officer designates Worshipful Brothers Andy Whittle;Tony Cross, both of whom have PAGDC and Graham Sinden PAG Std.B Br. and also to WBro. Mel Cross on his promotion toPGJD.
A Grand Bunch: Mel Cross, Tony Cross, Andy Whittle and Graham Sinden Congratulations to each
At the festive board in the response to the toast to his health Bro Tommy Lunt thanked everyone who took part and said how much he had enjoyed the night.
Everbody
During the meeting a proposition had been put forward for a new member for the September meeting and Temperance Mark Lodge have already agreed to do hold the Liverpool Mark Festival in 2019 and so it looks like there will be plenty of work to do next season.
 
Words by Derek Gaskell and pictures taken by others