Ormskirk Priory RAM Elevation |
| Thursday 10th February saw Ormskirk Priory Royal Ark Mariners; No1019, hold their final meeting of the season at Ormskirk Masonic Hall. |
| The season had started with a provincial team visit for the Installation meeting in October. Unfortunately, the meeting was not straightforward. Just before the meeting started the Worshipful Commander was taken ill and had to be taken to hospital. The lodge DC, WBro David Rawcliffe, PrRAMGR, stood in and conducted an excellent Installation ceremony with no warning. |
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Maurice Evans; Tony;Priory; Derek Gaskell; Fred Hargreaves |
| Then the Lodge’s second meeting in December was affected by Covid. An elevation ceremony had been planned for that meeting but on the day of the meeting the candidate tested positive for Covid and so was unable to attend and because of the Covid restrictions in place at the time the lodge could not have its usual carol singing at the festive board. |
| Despite all this it was still a very enjoyable evening. Now it is February and the last meeting of the season. With the candidate, (from December), Bro Tony Prior fully recovered from Covid he was able to attend the meeting; also attending was WBro Maurice Evans, RAMGR, who is the PGM’s Special Rep for the area. WBro Maurice Evans likes to attend all meetings; (Mark and Royal Ark Mariner) where there is a new candidate in order to welcome them into the degree. |
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Maurice; Derek and Fred |
| At the appointed time the Commander, WBro Derek Gaskell opened the lodge and carried out the business of the lodge. Then it was time for the elevation ceremony of Bro Tony Prior. Acting as Senior Deacon for the night was the lodge Scribe, WBro Fred Hargreaves, RAMGR, who took charge of the candidate during the ceremony. WBro David Rawcliffe, PrRAMGR, presented the signs to the candidate and WBro John Rawcliffe, RAMGR, explained the workings tools. |
| Both these explanations were done in fine style. The explanation of the steps was done by the Senior Warden WBro Geoff Gill, PrRAMGR. It was good to see Geoff back in the lodge after his recent illness. At the end of the ceremony the Worshipful Commander, WBro Derek Gaskell welcomed Bro Tony Prior into the lodge saying it was particularly satisfying to have performed the elevation ceremony for Tony because he, (Derek) had performed Tony’s the third-degree craft ceremony as a guest WM in the same lodge room. |
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Maurice; Tony; Fred |
| The next item of business was to elect a Worshipful Commander for the ensuing year and with only one candidate WBro Gaskell declared Bro Bill Nolan Commander Elect. He then declared WBro Graham Radford, PrRAMGR, once again lodge Treasurer. |
| When the lodge had been closed in due form, it was time for an excellent festive board. It has been a successful season for Ormskirk Priory Royal Ark Mariners; No1019 having had a team visit and a new member. For the Worshipful Commander there are still a couple of visits to Blackpool to come. |
| The first into the Mark Provincial Meeting on 5th May at The Spanish Hall, Winter Gardens. His next visit is to the Royal Mariner Provincial Meeting on 20th September, at the Savoy Hotel. All the embers of Ormskirk Priory Royal Ark Mariners; No1019 wishes everyone a good spring and summer. Remember to test regularly for Covid. If we all do it then we will get through it. |
| Words by Derek Gaskell and pictures by Matt Fogg |
