The venue was Woolton Golf Club, where upstairs the members and guests of Woolton Lodge of Unity No 1086 were preparing to initiate a new brother, Ben Karl Gardner, whose brother Stephen had proposed him into Freemasonry.
The brethren of the lodge gathered and the lodge was opened in the first degree by the WM Michael Daly. Once the opening business had been conducted the brethren waited anxiously for the tyler to announce that Ben was ready.
The knocks on the door sounded and the inner guard, Norman Pollock announced that Ben was ready to be initiated and was met by junior deacon Alan Riley and assisted by Tommy Lunt as senior deacon. In a very fine ceremony, Ben took his obligation in a confident manner watched on by his proud brother Stephen.
Junior warden Barry Harnick gave the explanation of the first degree working tools and afterwards the charge, given a sure and confident manner, was delivered by Alan Riley. The brethren had obviously put a lot of work into preparing for the occasion.
Ben retired from the lodge in order to restore himself to his former comforts and on his return took his place next to his brother Stephen. After the usual business of the lodge having being completed, the brethren retired to the dining room for a well-earned liquid refreshment.
Article by Colin Roberts.