It was the first initiation of a new member, Daniel James Cotton, held by Norley and Langtree Lodge of Antiquity No 178 since the amalgamation of the three constituent lodges in 2014.
Antiquity Lodge was the oldest lodge within the Wigan Group before the amalgamation and was originally a Brathay lodge, using a slightly different form of ritual to emulation which predates the standardisation. The number of Antiquity Lodge has been retained by the amalgamated lodge.
As well as the lodge number, a number of the more unusual features from Antiquity’s past have been retained, such as the use of Hermes as a symbol on the deacons’ wands and collar jewels instead of the dove bearing an olive branch, which is referenced and explained in the address to the deacons during the installation ceremony.
On this occasion the WM Chris Whalley invited the lodge DC Colin Sharples to take the chair and perform the initiation ceremony, as he was both Daniel’s proposer and also his uncle.
The senior warden was Stewart Cranage, Provincial Grand Mentor, with junior warden being filled by Keith Ashcroft, who also presented the working tools very competently.
The charge after Initiation was delivered to the candidate in excellent fashion by John Grimshaw, after which Daniel Cotton was welcomed to the Wigan Group by John Selley, Wigan Group Chairman, who also presented Daniel with a welcome pack.
A very successful festive board followed with the evening being rounded off by the tyler Alan Cornwell who finished the evening with a splendid rendition of the full version of the tyler’s toast.