Starkie Lodge No 1070 held its regular meeting at the Scarbrough Temple within Southport Masonic Hall, where the brethren gathered to perform a memorable and well-executed third degree ceremony. The Wm, Adam Bicknell, opened the lodge in due form, assisted by his acting officers including John McGrady as director of ceremonies, Alan Taylor as acting junior deacon, John Calvert as acting inner guard, Peter Stones as acting junior warden and Michael Foster as acting senior warden.
Evacuation procedures were read by the secretary, Ian Jolly, and the minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed. A Solomon’s Nugget was shared by David Ellis, followed by the investiture of officers not present at the installation. Reports from the treasurer, almoner and charity steward were all accepted following unanimous votes from the brethren.
Entered apprentices were asked to retire as the lodge was opened in the second degree. David Briscoe then demonstrated his knowledge of the Craft before retiring to be prepared. Upon his return, and with the lodge now opened in the third degree, David was Raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason. The ceremony was conducted with dignity by Adam, assisted by John McGrady and John Karran. The Traditional History will be presented at the next meeting, and the tools were presented by Alan Lindo. Salutations were extended to Provincial Grand Lodge, with John Karran responding. The almoner’s collection raised £98.
General business included numerous thank-you letters from charities and organisations that had benefited from the lodge’s generosity. Communications from United Grand Lodge were read on the first rising, followed by Provincial business on the second, and with nothing further raised on the third rising, the lodge was closed at 7:25pm. The evening then continued with a well-attended festive board. Thanks were given by the chaplain before the meal, and the usual wine-taking was observed. The raffle raised a generous £110, bringing the total amount raised during the evening to £208.
The most moving moment of the evening came during the traditional 9 o’clock toast to absent and seafaring brethren. On this occasion, it took on a particularly poignant tone, as the lodge had just learned of the passing of Alwyn Johnson, a well-loved brother whose deep ties to many lodges, and whose son had once served as Starkie Lodge director of ceremonies, making his loss especially heartfelt. The timing of his passing, coinciding so closely with the close of the lodge meeting, lent a sense of profound significance to the toast. It became a quiet but powerful moment of shared remembrance and reflection, uniting all present in honouring a much-missed friend and brother.
The candidate for the evening, David Briscoe, delivered a warm and heartfelt speech, expressing his deep gratitude to the brethren for their kindness, encouragement and support. David shared how honoured he felt to have been raised in such a supportive and respectful atmosphere, and how much the evening meant to him. His words were met with warm applause and appreciation from the assembled brethren of the lodge and visiting brethren.
Michael Hope, master of Rose of Lancaster Lodge No 2325, responded to the visitors’ toast with warmth and good humour, thanking Starkie Lodge brethren for their outstanding hospitality, fine ritual and the spirit of fellowship that had made the evening so enjoyable.
Finally, the tyler’s toast brought proceedings to a close, ending a night of excellent ceremony, meaningful charity and deep brotherhood, a night that will surely linger in the memory of all who were there.