Advancement at Morecambe |
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| Once again the ongoing work at Morecambe Masonic Hall meant that Morecambe Mark Lodge No 716 had to decamp to the Evelyn Battersby Masonic Hall, the home of the lady masons of the town. The building was originally a Christian science church and provides all the facilities you need for a masonic meeting. | |
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Gareth Harrison and Dave Shaw |
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| The main business of the evening was to advance Gareth Harrison into the order. WM Dave Shaw had to call upon stand-ins to cover for officers who were missing for health, work or other reasons. Jubilee Mark Lodge members Jim Richards and Peter Quirk acted as inner guard and tyler respectively whilst Ian Stokes, WM of Garnett Mark Lodge, took on the role of senior overseer. When the senior warden is unable to attend who better to call upon than a former junior warden of Grand Mark Lodge in the person of Tony Harrison. | |
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Tony Harrison, Gareth Harrison, Larry Branyan and Tom Shankland |
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| The first part of the ceremony was undertaken by Dave who then handed over to Alan Gregory for the second part of the ceremony. Tony made his way from the senior warden’s pedestal to present the working tools. Senior deacon Larry Branyan conducted Gareth throughout the ceremony in good style assisted by junior deacon Tom Shankland. |
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| Amongst those looking on and enjoying the ritual were Reg Wilkinson WM of Jubilee Mark No 375 and his IPM Steve Ellershaw. | |
| The meal following proceedings was a very affable affair with the toast to Gareth being proposed by his seconder Tony Harrison (no relation). The candidate’s proposer APGM Geoff Bury being otherwise engaged in London at the RAM annual assembly. | |
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Steve Ellershaw, Reg Wilkinson, Ian Stokes, Peter Quirk and Jim Richards |
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| In replying to the toast to his health Gareth remarked on how much he had enjoyed the friendliness of the degree and the smiles that had accompanied some of the ritual. | |
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The assembled Brethren |
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| There are a couple of irons in the fire so hopefully Gareth will not be the junior member of the lodge for too long. | |
| Words and pictures by Dave Sear |
