Woolton Lodge of Unity No 1086, as its name suggests, incorporates four lodges, namely Lodge of Prudence No 2114, Allerton Lodge No 6653, Warbreck Lodge No 6976 and Walton Lodge No 1086, from whom the lodge take their number. The lodge meets at Woolton Golf Club, Liverpool, the lodge is rightly proud of its shared history.
WM Michael Daly has had a busy few months, conducting initiation ceremonies and this ceremony was no exception with the installation of another candidate, Darren Hudson. Michael welcomed everyone to the lodge on a very warm evening indeed, and proceeded to open the lodge, aided by several acting brethren.
Treasurer David Rimmer, acting as senior warden, Tommy Lunt acting as junior warden, and Paul McLachlan acting as inner guard, with David Boyes assisting Alan Riley as senior deacon. The lodge was opened in exemplary fashion.
The necessary lodge business being duly completed, Paul McLachlan announced that Darren Hudson stood without the lodge, Darren was admitted into the lodge and the ceremony of his initiation began. Darren was conducted superbly by junior deacon, Alan Riley who ably assisted by David Boyes, made for excellent perambulations by the two deacons.
Darren was initiated in a first-class manner by the master Michael, and having been duly obligated was congratulated as brother Darren Hudson by Michael. Having been conducted to the junior warden’s pedestal, Darren, then received a perfect rendition of the working tools of an entered apprentice by Tommy Lunt.
It was then the turn of JD, Alan Riley who orated a sublime delivery of the Ancient Charge to an entered apprentice, it was sincere and thoughtfully delivered. Darren may not have realised the import of the delivery of that charge, but all those present were spellbound by its delivery.
The lodge business was duly completed and having been closed in solemn form, all retired to the golf club dining room to continue the celebration of the initiation of Darren Hudson, and to offer personal congratulations to him on his first step on his journey as a Freemason.
At the festive board, following the toast to grand officers, Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Kevin Poynton, congratulated Darren on joining a wonderful lodge, and that he wished him many happy and long years as a Freemason and as a member of the Woolton Lodge of Unity. Kevin was effusive in his praise of the many brethren who took part in the ceremony and explained to Darren that his initiation ceremony had been first class.
Lodge secretary Chris Taplin led the toast to new initiate Darren, explaining that Darren had been interested in Freemasonry for some time, and having enquired through the Digital Pathway Scheme had been offered several lodges to choose from and had chosen to join Woolton Lodge of Unity.
The famous poem, ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost, sprung to mind with the lines: “I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference”, in that Darren had chosen to follow his interest and applied to join Freemasonry through the Digital Pathway Scheme.
In his response to the toast to his health, Darren explained that he had really been looking forward to joining Freemasonry and was equally looking forward to taking part in the ceremonies at a future point and contributing to the lodge, indeed by taking the road less travelled he has become an ornament to the society of which this day he has become a member.
The brethren and visitors responded with applause and praise for Darren at the completion of his speech and the honours due to him were given. With the final toast of the evening delivered by the tyler John Hibbert, the brethren, visitors and newly made brother Darren, departed to those farewell strains, ‘happy to meet, sorry to part’.
Story by Mike Fox.