When a first degree ceremony is being performed by the Province’s elite directors of ceremony and the lodge DC is Gary Smith with AProvGM David Thomas in the chair of King Solomon, you can expect something special, particularly when another AProvGM in the person of Malcolm Bell takes the gavel and performs the ceremony of initiation.
Such was the evening at Bryn Masonic Hall when all this came together. Dave Thomas, WM of Sincerity Lodge No 3677 warmly welcomed all present. There were masters of lodges, visitors and guests from around the Province and all settled down for what would turn out to be an absolutely flawless ceremony.
Candidate, George Powell, was conducted by his own brother, junior deacon Harry Powell, around the Lodge through the various stages of his initiation, with dad Malcolm leading the ceremony from the chair and to bring the third generation of Freemasons to the floor.
Jeff Taylor, lodge tyler, briefly left his station outside the door of the lodge to ably give the address to the candidate before the AProvGM for Southport and Ormskirk and Bootle and Groups, Dave Thomas explained the first degree working tools to George. Once shown the warrant and after receiving his Book of Constitutions and the lodge bye-laws, George left the lodge and Malcolm returned the gavel to the WM who resumed his rightful seat.
On his return. Malcolm Bell Snr gave George the charge to the candidate, bringing three generations of the same family on to the floor simultaneously and it was with a great deal of pride that Malcolm performed the duty of bringing another member of the family into the brotherhood of Freemasonry at Sincerity Lodge.
Wigan Group Vice Chairman, Ian Green was on hand to congratulate George and welcome him into Sincerity Lodge in particular and Freemasonry generally, reminding him of the special connection the lodge had with the history of Freemasonry in the West Lancashire Province and United Grand Lodge of England. With that, George was shown to a seat in the lodge and after the risings, the lodge closed in peace and harmony, retiring to an excellent festive board. At the festive board, the raffle raised £140 which was been donated to the Rob Burrow MND fund.