Vivary News. No 6 May 2016

Transcription

1 Vivary News No 6 May 2016 VIVARY LODGE No Province of Somerset English Constitution. Provincial Promotions The January edition of Vivary News carried details of W Bro Wm Allen's promotion to PProvAGDC. Unfortunately it failed to note our senior Lodge Mentor, W Bro John Howlett's promotion to PProvGSwdB and the continued appointment of our lodge Organist, W Bro Alwyn Clegg as The Provincial Director of Music. Our belated congratulations are extended to all of these together with due apologies for the earlier omissions. Welcome Brother Mike Mike Marshall was the candidate for initiation at our February meeting and he made "such progress" that he was made a fellow craft in March. This was following attendance of the Gentlemen's' evening in November and quite soon afterwards expressing a wish to become a member. It was explained at the meeting that Mike was born in London, moved to Barnstaple as an infant and to Taunton in his youth where he attended Richard Huish School. A degree in business studies at Salford University was followed by a career in the Building Supplies industry, mostly with Bradfords. There he dealt with the requirements of operative masons. He is an active member of the Ruishton community, where he lives; being the vice chair, and a past chairman of the Parish Council, chair of the Flower Show, a former school governor and a regular Quiz Master in the village. He was also involved in organising the display of dragons in Taunton in the summer of 2014 and the vintage bus day on the 8 th May this year. The lodge also recently welcomed Mike's wife Lilian to the Lodge Luncheon. All Vivary members welcome Mike, are confident he will be an asset to the lodge and hope you both enjoy the friendship of Freemasonry for many years. Vivary changes in recent years As W Bro Adrian has been the first person to serve two terms as WM of Vivary it was thought members may wish to know the comparisons and changes he has noted during this period. He has penned the following. Back in 1993, when I was Installed as Master by the late W Bro Brian Cooper, Vivary Lodge was very much different from today. At 44 I was the youngest Master of Vivary and people watched everything I did. Ritual was very strictly adhered to with only the IPM

2 prompting the WM and the DC everybody else. You always had the Lodge Elders listening to every word and woe betide anyone who got it wrong. The DCs in my early days were strict and you attended rehearsals in sports jackets and ties, no jeans and trainers like today. If you made mistakes at rehearsal you certainly knew you had to get it right for the actual meeting. Since those days the lodges have relaxed and masonry is now more enjoyable, though I must admit my early years have shaped my masonry and I hope that what I have learnt I can pass on to others. I was Initiated back in March 1979, just a few days before my 30 th birthday and progressed up through the offices, doing my utmost to be word perfect. In those days I was young and ritual came easy, not like today as since I had chemotherapy in 2006/7 the memory has gone. I am pleased to say that as Master I did all three Degree ceremonies, two firsts, two passing and two thirds, even Initiating and Passing W Bro Jimmy Durant and Raising W Bro Peter Light. I enjoyed doing ritual and did almost all of the work in a Second Degree ceremony including the Tracing Board. During my year I visited over 30 times, some as far afield as Manchester, and made quite a few acquaintances by doing so, something I would commend to future Masters. On 25 th March 1995, my 46 th birthday, we had the Ladies Festival at the County Hotel, the last ever before it was redeveloped into M&S, etc. During the summer recess a Sausage Sizzle, BBQ and music, took place at Cheddon Fitzpaine Memorial Hall which carried on for several years after. In the October I installed my successor W Bro Bill Warren. As was usual in those days the lodge was packed and it was not uncommon to have 120+ dining at both Installation and Christmas, taking over the Sherry Room with loud speakers connecting to the latter. It was even televised at one time so that those down below could see the speeches. There was always a time lag in applause between the upper and lower rooms, at times deliberate I think. Sometimes I wonder which period as Master was better and there are pros and cons to both: ritual was always perfect but daunting; everything was more formal but less enjoyable; younger brethren were almost kept at arm's length by those in dark blue, but once you had shown yourself capable they mellowed towards you, today is far better for this; waiting on was done by the Stewards and other young brethren, which meant you got to meet more of the brethren, you also got Steward's portions, but now there's less indigestion. So which would I rather have? I don't honestly know but perhaps Adrian Your WM The Lodge of Instruction The planned lodge of Instruction in April was extended to provide a forum for all members to discuss ideas to revitalise the L of I. and other matters concerning the future success of the Lodge. It was thought the L of I would be better attended if held mid week and this is to be investigated. It is essential for a lodge to have guidance on potential officers for the future to provide help for an incoming or future WMs to make their appointments - noting, of course, the wishes of individual members. A difficult area but one which was addressed at this forum. There is to be a committee meeting on Wednesday the 22 nd June when these matters will be discussed further. All members are invited and may contribute to the discussion, but only certain officers and past masters are entitled to vote. Please note the date.

3 The Social Scene The skittles evening which had been planned for February had, unfortunately, to be cancelled due to a possible lack of interest and/or clashes with other functions. The lodge Luncheon held at the Orchard Inn, Hillcommon on the 24 th April was, however a great success and attended by 36 members with their wives and guests. They enjoyed both a hearty meal and extremely speedy and friendly service. Every little helps for the Teddies Our WM was given a 'pill pot' containing nearly seven pounds in five pence pieces which had been collected for the TLC fund by a guest at the Lodge Luncheon. Pam Paul had obtained the collecting pot when she had previously attended a Vivary TLC quiz evening. Joan Town and Mark Crawley are in the picture and showing their approval. Should you wish to save your 5p s for this good cause Adrian has an ample supply of 'pill pots'. Taunton Freemasons United The nine craft lodges and sixteen side degrees meeting in Taunton have a common interest in maintaining the Masonic Hall and promoting cooperation between all to ensure Freemasonry is recognised as a force for good in the area. The Masonic Hall Company deals with the former and the Masonic Liaison Group the latter. We have one of the best managed halls in the Province and at the recent Masonic Hall Committee AGM, Geoff Dolling, who has done so much to get us into that position, stood down as Chairman and is to be replaced by Tony Beaumont from Emergency Services Lodge No John Rudge has also replaced Ron Blake as the Company Secretary. Over recent years they have made the building waterproof, done extensive renovation and redecorated from top to bottom. Having now brought the kitchen up to an acceptable standard they are investing in reorganising the under croft to ensure individual lodges can store their respective artefacts securely. Consideration is also being given to providing a PA system. The Taunton Masonic Liaison Group consists principally of the Lodge information and Communication Officers from the craft and side degrees. They have arranged an Open Day and other events but are very aware to respect the autonomy of all lodges. The first social event organised by this Group was a St George's Supper, held on the 30 th March, (the 23 rd and 24 th being unavailable). This evening was sold out with over seventy members, wives or guests; including twelve from Vivary, supported the evening and enjoyed a traditional roast beef supper. The dining room having previously been decked out with red and white table cloths and bunting.

4 Post dining entertainment noted that Shakespearean celebrations were topical and Barrie Palmer, a Shakespearean actor, delivered excerpts from the Bard's work including a range of insults and such classics as Henry V's Agincourt speech. Jack Leeming then used his musical expertise and lead the singing of traditional and popular songs. With flag waving and uninhibited participation it was a Taunton Masonic version of the Last Night of the Proms. Members were volunteered' to deliver lines and these included Romeo, Mike Marshall, charming Juliet, his wife Lilian, and John Winston delivering a sonnet to his wife Lynn. Freemasonry will be celebrating its Tercentenary next year and details of the Tercentenary Appeal, which the PGM has nominated and will be for two Air Ambulances is on the Provincial web site. Taunton Freemasons plan to give it due recognition locally and a dinner at the Rugby Club is to be organised with the menu being that served at the London Inn known as the Goose and Gridiron, when the United Grand Lodge was formed. The Goose and Gridiron was the nickname for the establishment officially called the Swan and Lyre. Open Days and other activities to promote Freemasonry in the special year are being planned. Freemasonry on a cruise liner? The P and O cruise liner Ventura' had left Southampton with 3,000 passengers on board and it was just over 24 hours before a notice appeared in the ship's daily bulletin inviting those interested, to attend a "Masonic get together" to be held the next day. Having heard of Masonic meetings at sea your LIO, on his first cruise, duly attended. It was explained that it was quite common for a cruising Brother to liaise with Reception and instigate a meeting in order to identify Masons travelling on board and assess the level of interest for a fund raising activity. Approximately 20 attended this meeting and when introducing themselves revealed the expected diversity, coming from Botswana to the Shetland Isles and ranking from junior members (FC) to those with a 50 year certificate. Two of the brethren represented our Province. The "steering committee" explained that it was the custom to keep meetings informal and organise a Ladies' Cocktail party (or even a less formal function) to promote Masonic friendship and raise funds for charity - usually that nominated by the Captain. A Minute Book was passed around and this gave details and photographs of previous meetings and functions held on this ship. Past experience suggested that initial meeting notifications are often missed by Brethren who are still settling into a cruising routine and there could well be more Brethren attending

5 subsequent meetings. It was also acknowledged that some, otherwise keen, Masons choose to detach themselves from the craft whilst on holiday and that this was their prerogative. The meeting then appointed a President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director of Ceremonies (for the proposed function) and the Secretary agreed to liaise with the ship's Events Manager in order to secure a venue and confirm the (provisionally suggested) time and date. A subsequent meeting was also fixed to check on plans and progress. Unfortunately a suspect outbreak of norovirus on this cruise lead to the suspension of many functions where handshaking would have been a possible source of transmission so arrangements were delayed until the OK could be confirmed. As luck would have it, and although several functions were cancelled, we were given the go-ahead only one day before the planned event. Unfortunately, time constraints meant that we could not follow the normal procedure of having commemorative programmes and invitations printed. Similarly, an intended buffet of canapés and nibbles had to be cancelled due to the health scare but collectively, these forced omissions reduced the outgoings and thereby increased the charity donation accordingly. Whilst on the Atlantic and three days prior to disembarking, Brethren, their Ladies and their personal guests were welcomed to the cocktail party by the President and drinks served by ship's stewards. Toasts were in due course given to the Queen and Craft, The Captain and Ship's Company (response by the Ventura's Entertainments Manager, who was representing the Captain on this occasion), the Ladies, (response by the wife of the Proposer ) and Absent & Seafaring Brethren. Another toast was proposed to a couple who celebrated their Emerald (55 th ) wedding anniversary on that day - your LIO. A raffle had been considered during the planning stages but time constraints and logistics rendered this a non-starter. However, additional funds were raised by means of a "Heads and Tails" (fun) event with the winner's prize, a bottle of champagne, having been donated by one of the Brethren. This was a new departure for many and one suggested for Brethren's own Provinces or Lodges. Whilst all enjoyed the evening and the fraternal friendship generated, there was also the satisfaction of having raised the magnificent sum of 541 to be presented to the Captain's nominated charity, the RNLI. As they say there is always something for everyone on these cruises. No need to pack your regalia though but a Provincial bow tie could be worn with pride. Wishing all an enjoyable summer break. Editor: Peter Light - Vivary Lodge Information Officer