Friday 29th May saw the Lodge undertake the 3rd Degree ceremony with a difference. There were some 43 brethren of White Ensign lodge and visitors / guests taking passage for the 3rd Degree Raising Ceremony meeting. The ceremony having to be adapted for Bro. Nick Walker who was in a wheelchair following a recent altercation with a car who knocked him off his motorcycle. A plan having been put together to facilitate what Bro. Nick Walker could actually do in the ceremony.
The Worshipful Master, W.Bro. Paul Tuckley opened the lodge in the First degree and the VW.Bro. Keith Evans presented a Grand Lodge Certificate to Bro. Mark Evans who was raised in our March meeting. The explanation was excellent.
The lodge was opened in the Second-degree. The Candidate, Bro. Nick Walker was then tested in his proficiency in the Second degree and answered his questions in a superb manner, then being suitably entrusted by the WM before departing from the lodge room to be prepared by the Tyler. The lodge then being opened in the 3rd Degree for the commencement of the ‘Raising’ ceremony. The WM, obligated the Candidate and delivered the Exhortation, the Charge and the Signs, Token and Word. The candidate having to make use of his wheelchair / crutches at different times during his ceremony as we had already planned for. The candidate was invested with his Master Masons apron by the SW. The WM, then invited a Past Master to deliver the Traditional History, this being very well explained. The ceremony was concluded by Bro. Hussein Dahya delivering the working tools to the candidate in a fine manner.
The WM then welcomed the newly raised MM and presented him with his emulation ritual book. The lodge was then closed in the 3rd Degree, and resumed downwards from the Second to the First degree. The remaining business being concluded, ‘Cooks to the galley’ was called by the WM, the Stewards departing the lodge room and shortly afterwards the lodge was closed.
The assembled brethren then headed down to the bar to receive the customary ‘tot’ of rum and other liquid refreshments before heading into the mess deck for the festive board. The Masonic Shore Patrol were eager to get going and relieve the assembled brethren of their money. The Masonic Shore Patrol extracted fines to a total of £90 The alms collection raised a further £310, the ‘Masters Balls’ raised £200 The total for the evening being £600
