The brethren and guests assembled in the Geoffrey Hirst Masonic Suite within Woolton Golf Club for a very special meeting. City Lodge No 2514 were going to initiate Neil Wycherley. Neil had been passed to the lodge through the Pathway Scheme and Mersey Valley Associate Group Membership Officer Chris Lyon was present to witness the event.
The WM Andrew Prowse opened the lodge in due form and the minutes of the last regular meeting were confirmed and signed. The details of the prospect were read out by the WM and then a ballot was taken which proved in favour of Neil. The secretary and acting treasurer retired from the lodge and on their return informed the brethren that Neil had signed the declaration book and paid the fees.
After a short pause whilst the tyler prepared Neil, he was then regularly announced and the two deacons met him to accompany him on his journey of initiation. Having affirmed to the usual questions, Neil took his obligation and was then entrusted with the password and grip of an entered apprentice Freemason. The WM presented Neil with the warrants of the lodge and then Phillip Summers provided an excellent address of the first degree working tools.
Neil retired from the lodge to restore himself to his former comforts and on his return senior deacon Eric Shepherd provided a flawless delivery of the charge. The WM congratulated Neil who then took his place in the lodge. The ceremony throughout had been flawless with outstanding work conducted by all who took part in the ceremony.
After a collection for charity had been taken the secretary reported that he was in possession of a Grand Lodge certificate for Andrew Sharkey which the WM presented to him and after Andrew had signed it the WM informed him that a full explanation of the certificate would be given to him on a future occasion.
The secretary informed the brethren of an email from the group vice chairman John Gibbon encouraging the lodge to appoint a membership officer. Discussion of this was deferred until a later date. The lodge was closed in due form and the brethren retired to the dining room. During the evening a raffle was held which raised £85 for charity.
The director of ceremonies Stephen Riley, the initiate’s proposer, proposed the toast to Neil and then led the brethren in the singing of the Entered Apprentice Song which was delivered in fine style. Neil then had an opportunity to reply to the toast and thanked the brethren of `City Lodge for welcoming him although it was still a bit of a blur, but he would be attending a first degree ceremony the following evening.
Barry Owens of Dormer Lodge No 4389 responded on behalf of the guests and said that he had been privileged to witness a flawless ceremony and he thanked everyone for a wonderful evening. All good things come to an end and lodge tyler Tommy Lunt proposed the final toast of the evening after which the brethren departed for home.
Article by Colin Roberts.