Garston Masonic Hall on Island Road, Liverpool was the venue for the passing of David Terry and Marc Holme at Olympic Lodge No 4461. WM Michael Moore opened the lodge in due form before the ceremony could commence. Robert James, the lodge secretary, read the dispensation to hold the emergency meeting.
For the purposes of the ceremony, Peter Ryan took on the role of WM. The two candidates stood by the junior warden’s pedestal and alternately answered the necessary questions so that they could proceed to the second degree. David Terry and Marc Holme were then led to the WM’s pedestal were Perter Ryan entrusted them with the pass grip and password leading to the second degree, they then left the lodge for a short period to be prepared for the ceremony.
WM Peter Ryan opened the lodge in the second degree and David Terry entered the lodge after being properly announced by the inner guard Ian Jackson. Senior deacon Stephen Cornwell led the candidate around the lodge saluting at each of the pedestals before arriving at the senior warden’s pedestal where he gave the password and pass grip leading to the second degree to senior warden Matt Wilson. David was then led to the WM Peter Ryan were David recited his obligation dictated to him by the WM who then demonstrated the signs, pass grip and words of the degree and their meanings.
David was then led to the junior warden pedestal and then onto the senior warden’s pedestal where he showed the signs and communicated the words of the degree before Matt Wilson invested with the distinguishing badge of a fellow craft Freemason. The ceremony was repeated for Marc Holme after being properly announced by the inner guard and also invested with distinguishing badge of a fellow craft Freemason.
Stephen Cornwell then led both candidates to the senior warden’s pedestal were Rob James presented the second degree working tools. They were then led to the junior warden’s pedestal who explained the second degree charge. This completed the ceremony of being passed to the degree of a fellow craft Freemason for David Terry and Marc Holme.
It was a very enjoyable evening, both in the lodge room witnessing the ceremony, and at the festive board with the lodge being supported by a number of guests from other lodges attending, which is what Freemasonry is all about, visiting other lodges and enjoying the experience of meeting with other Masons in a relaxed atmosphere with the friendly banter.