Charles Dickens Lodge celebrate their 125-year history with Song

The Past, the Present and the Future celebrated by this resourceful, vibrant and successful lodge 

The past, the present, and the future were all celebrated at the 125th Anniversary meeting of the Charles Dickens Lodge No. 2757, that meets at Loughton Masonic Centre on the 13th July.

Paul Tarrant, Provincial Grand Master (PGM), and Nicholas Franklin, Deputy PGM was in attendance with a full supporting Provincial retinue including members of the Provincial choir.

The Lodge secretary David Lee, while looking through the Lodge archives discovered a book written by a member soon after the lodge was consecrated, providing a compilation of music, specially written to accompany their initiation, passing and raising ceremonies.

David who is also a member of the Provincial choir, thought what a perfect opportunity for the anniversary, to replicate their workings of 125 years ago and include aspects of the ceremony being sung.

Therefore, with committee agreement an initiation was scheduled which would be for his son, Richard Lee and David was immensely proud as he was given permission to perform the ceremony with the accompaniment of the Provincial choir which made the ceremony a unique experience for all those in attendance.

The members of the Lodge can be justly proud of their recruitment strategy as today’s initiation makes a total of 7 initiates in just 20 months, which were sourced internally with two direct applicants.

Following the ceremony Colin Holding, Worshipful Master (WM) presented a donation of £250 to the PGM towards the Essex250 Appeal.  

The meeting was exclusive to the Charles Dickens Lodge and with characteristics similar to a Dickens novel, celebrated the PAST representing their 125-year history, the PRESENT depicting today’s meeting delivered with pomp and grandeur and the FUTURE being the seven initiates who will be an integral part of carrying the Lodge through the next 25 years.

Photos

Top: Members of Charles Dickens Lodge with their many guests

Left (L-R): Andy Sampson, Tom Elliott, Steve Petts, PGM, Richard Lee, Mitchell Burns, Colin Nobbs

Right (L-R): Some of the Provincial Choir, Andy Fairbairn, Douglas Bettell-Higgins, Roger Davis, Stuart Eastbrook, John Hubbard, Daniel Broyd, Nicholas Franklin (DepPGM)