December meetings, known as Old English Night, are traditionally the occasion for the annual inter-visit from our Mother Lodge, Loyalty Lodge.
Unfortunately, due the pandemic, last year’s Inter-visit was held on Zoom (see here), so we were all more than happy for this year’s Olde English Night to be a ‘real’ inter-visit… but it had lots more to it this year, making it unique!
We initiated our third candidate of the year. Not unique, as we always perform a First Degree ceremony in December. But it contrasted beautifully with, not one but, two presentations of 50 year certificates to two of our long-standing brethren.
W. Bro. Leslie Marten and W Bro. Roger Levy have lots of connections between them, both having originally been members of Hadassah Lodge in Sheffield, and having spent many an evening travelling back and forth to Tapton Hall. So it was extra special for us to welcome a delegation of around a dozen brethren from Hadassah to witness the occasion.
But that wasn’t all ! By coincidence, the Provincial Grand Master Designate, RW Bro. James Newman PJGW, also a member of Hadassah, was attending as a guest (invited before his promotion was announced) and knew both Roger and Leslie personally from their days at Hadassah. So it was extra-special to see him present them both with their certificates.
Whilst the ceremony took place downstairs in the Castle Grove ballroom rather than the main temple, we were fortunate to witness ritual performed to a very high standard and then a speedy and effective turnaround meant that we ended the evening with a wonderful Festive Board surrounded by great company. The charity raffle collected a fantastic £400 for Kevin Sinfield’s #ExtraMile 101miles challenge. Charitable giving is a key part of masonic life. You can read more about The Lodge of Dawn’s charitable activity here.
The evening can be summed up in the words of one of our guests “It was a truly memorable evening…. and I thank you and your team, once again, for such a lovely welcome and great hospitality“
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