by W Bro. Raymond S. Diamond PPGReg
It was not until I was sitting in the Chair of King Solomon in September 1995, with The Banner behind me, that I really took notice of it. Previously, when I was Superintendent of Works, I didn’t pay much attention to it; I just used to carry it from the cabinet in the small practice Temple to the large Temple. Indeed most of the time the Deputy Supt of Works would have arrived before me and have done it!
Suddenly I had time to study it, to admire it, to understand its symbolism…. and to notice how threadbare and damaged it was. To repair or renew it was essential and I proposed that it would be appropriate to combine this with The Lodge of Dawn’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration.
I sought the advice of a leading Masonic embroidery specialist whose husband is a member of Brook Lodge. She admired the original workmanship and detail, but pronounced it beyond economical repair.
Bro Simon Fellerman took some excellent photographs which I sent to several specialist companies around the country. After receiving quotations, all of varying price, I recommended to the Lodge Committee that we ‘play safe’, pay a little more and entrust the commission of a new Banner to the Embroidery Department at Grand Lodge. In October 2006, the old Banner was delivered to Great Queen Street to enable a replica to be reproduced.
After 10 months work we finally received our new banner. The result was spectacular, and a permanent reminder to our future brethren of our 60th Anniversary.
The new Banner, in all its splendour, was dedicated by W Bro. James K. Batty, Assistant Provincial Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Chaplain, W Bro. the Rev. Peter B. Miall at our regular meeting on Tuesday 23rd October 2007.
The dedication ceremony required a ‘Banner Escort’. The escort consisted of six Brethren, namely;
Bro Timothy J. Newman
Bro Martin Myers
W Bro. Gary A. Sadler
W Bro. Alan B. Brown
W Bro Stuart H. Ross PPSGD
and W Bro. Raymond S. Diamond PPGReg
The Banner Bearer was W Bro. John T. Lyons PPGSwdB and an explanation of the symbolism of the Banner was delivered by W Bro. Eric I. Frazer PPJGW. Sadly, W Bro. Alan B. Brown passed away several weeks after this memorable evening. He had been honoured by the Provincial Grand Master with the rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon.