St Leonard was born in the 5th century, in Limoges, France, known as the Patron Saint of releasing of prisoners, pregnant women and the diseases of cattle. After offering prayers to the Queen of the Franks who bore a child after a difficult pregnancy, he was invested with lands near Limoges, and a village still bears his name to this day, Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat.
Leonard was venerated throughout Europe and is reflected in the UK, not only by many churches and chapels which bear his name, but also by the town of St Leonards-on Sea in East Sussex. Leonard was the patron saint of Kinghorn, where a hospital bearing his name was recorded in 1226. It is no surprise that it is also the name of a lodge, Lodge St Leonard No 935 on the Roll of the Grand Lodge of Scotland in the Province of Fife and Kinross, which bears the coat of arms and the inscription ‘Sanctus Leonardus De Kinghorn’.
On a very warm evening in May, the brethren of Toxteth Lodge No 1356, accompanied by a large number of visitors, gathered in anticipation of witnessing a unique demonstration of the Scottish rite first degree ceremony, at Woolton Masonic Hall, within Woolton Golf Club.
Having settled everyone down and seated, and indeed every seat was taken, master of the lodge Matthew Wilson welcomed all to Toxteth Lodge and hoped that all had a very enjoyable evening. Once the lodge business was concluded, director of ceremonies Simon Birch, announced that the visiting brethren of Lodge St Leonard stood without.
All stood whilst the visiting brethren of the lodge filed in, all resplendent in their maroon aprons, collars and sash, directed by their director of ceremonies Michael McAdams. They assembled either side of the chequered pavement until they formed a guard of honour for their WM, Jason Watson, to be conducted to master Matthew Wilson. Matthew formally welcomed Jason and the brethren of Lodge of St Leonard to Toxteth Lodge. The visiting brethren took their allocated seats perambulating in a completely different and magnificent manner, all the while directed by their director of ceremonies who instead of carrying a wand, directed the brethren with a baton.
Initial impressions were very different, and it was obvious to all the visitors and brethren were about to observe something very special indeed. Master Matthew, requested principal officers upstanding, and called-off the lodge. Having completed the process, Matthew requested Jason to occupy the chair of King Solomon for the demonstration to follow.
Jason having taken the chair then requested the brethren of Lodge of St Leonard to occupy all the principal offices of the lodge, which again the brethren complied, and all of the lodge offices and chairs were duly filled. Jason, explained to all present what an honour and a privilege it was to be invited to Toxteth Lodge and that on behalf of the brethren of Lodge St Leonard he hoped everyone would enjoy the demonstration of the Scottish Rite of a first degree ceremony.
The first order of business was to select a candidate, and Anthony Robinson, inner guard of Toxteth Lodge took another step, in Freemasonry, and was selected as the candidate. What followed was simply superb, the St Leonard lodge officers, were sublime in their ritual and the ritual was very different, from the execution through the perambulations and actions, it was utterly fascinating to watch.
The junior and senior deacons, Paul Bachelor and Stuart Aitken, were perfect in the way they conducted the candidate around the lodge and performed parts of the ritual that we wouldn’t normally see. Jason performed his obligation of a candidate faultlessly and it was an oration of ritual of the highest order. Similarly senior warden, Craig Stevenson and junior warden John Cairns, were equally impressive in their display of ritual with John presenting the working tools of an entered apprentice with equal aplomb.
Finally, when it was thought that it couldn’t get any better, Craig Thompson, who is a substitute Provincial Grand Master, then delivered the charge to an entered apprentice, which to a keen ear had very subtle differences to perhaps the ritual we are used to, was delivered perfectly and with obvious sincerity.
The ‘candidate’ was then taken to Jason, who congratulated Anthony on being initiated in the Scottish Rite, and in recognition presented him with a tie of the Scottish Constitution. The ceremony being concluded, Jason requested Matthew to take his rightful place, and having done so, requested the officers of Toxteth lodge to resume their positions.
Matthew once again thanked Jason for the amazing demonstration and shared with all those gathered that the Lodge of St Leonard don’t practice their ceremonies, which made the whole demonstration that much more impressive. The lodge business being completed the visiting brethren retired from the lodge, and the lodge was duly closed.
Having all retired to the dining room of Woolton Golf Club, the festive board was a lively affair, full of praise for Lodge St Leonard and all commenting on how good the demonstration had been. WM Matthew led the toast to the visiting brethren of Lodge St Leonard and praised them all for their wonderful demonstration, explaining how the visit had come about. Philip Birch then stood and presented a gift to the Lodge of St Leonard of an engraved silver platter in honour of the visit.
In response, Jason Watson responded to the toast to Lodge St Leonard and explained when they first received the call from Phil Birch with a request to perform a demonstration, that they were initially apprehensive of how the ceremony would be received. However, they were all delighted at the friendly welcome that they had received and thanked all those who had congratulated them.
Jason explained that the lodge had visited other places before and that they would like to extend a welcome to all present to visit their lodge in Scotland, and as the lodge meets all through the summer months, then there was plenty of opportunity for this to take place.
Jason thanked Anthony for his willingness to act as the candidate and the brethren of Toxteth Lodge in allowing them to perform a demonstration of ‘The Scottish Rite’. Jason then presented master Matthew with a gift from the Lodge St Leonard of a very special bottle of whisky, the Grand Masters Mason’s choice of Scotch whisky distilled in Speyside, which was signed by the current Grand Master Mason of Scotland, Dr Joseph J Morrow.
Jason then proceeded to present Matthew with a very special gift to Toxteth Lodge of a commemorative gavel and base which had been hand-carved and engraved with a plaque celebrating the visit of Lodge St Leonard to Toxteth Lodge. Finally, Jason requested Michael McAdams to present an entered apprentice apron to candidate Anthony Robinson, which had previously been signed by all present as a memento of the occasion.
Needless to say, at the culmination of Jason’s response it was met with loud applause and the honours due to Jason of three were heartily commended. With a late bar organised at the golf club, the brethren and visitors of Toxteth Lodge chatted to the visiting brethren of Lodge St Leonard until finally time was called, and the end of ‘The Scottish Rite’ was nigh.
Story by Mike Fox.