Report on meeting held on Saturday 12th May, 2012

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Our May meeting is traditionally held at Wellington College and it was with great pleasure that 25 members and guests once again met at Wellington.  It was a gloriously sunny day which made a pleasant change from the recent rains (despite the country being in a period of drought!)

The work of the day was a Ceremony of Raising, where a Fellow Craft is raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.

The Worshipful Master, WBro Charles Goblet d'Alviella once again led the meeting with near perfect ritual.  During his year as Master, WBro Charles has had opportunity to deliver three of our main ceremonies – Initiation, Passing and Raising. It is nice for an Installed Master to have opportunity for varied ceremonies during their year as Master, but it does require effort to perfect the rituals.  WBro Charles has met this challenge enabling candidates, members and visitors to gain much enjoyment from the meetings.

In a similar fashion, Bro Alex Stuart-Bamford fulfilled his important role as Senior Deacon with much confidence and precision.  In this ceremony, a skilled Senior Deacon is important for the instruction of the candidate; Alex certainly performed his duty in this capacity.

After the meeting the Lodge members, guests and wives dined in the new Munro Pavilion.  This was our first time dining in this location and we all enjoyed the good company and excellent food as the sun set in the west over Bigside at the closing of the day.

Our next meeting will be the annual Installation ceremony in October, when we will meet at Freemasons' Hall, London. 

If anyone is interested to find out more about the Old Wellingtonian Lodge, please get in contact with the Lodge Secretary.

Report on meeting held on 10th February 2011

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Raising: Bro. Jonathan Kim Rance.

Unusually for the month of February the weather, local, long distance and international transport systems all allowed for a good attendance to celebrate the raising to the sublime degree of a master mason.

The ceremony was conducted by the Worshipful Master in the Chair. However, in keeping with our policy of sharing the work in the lodge, the WM requested a past master W. Bro Rory Shackleton to assist him by taking the Chair of King Solomon for the duration of the Ceremony of Raising.  W. Bro. Richard Bradburn, a personal guest of the candidate from the Old Reptonian Lodge No 3725, delivered the exhortation in fine style. The Working Tools were explained in detail by Bro Jeffrey Smith, Whitsters Lodge No 4717, another guest and friend of Bro Jon Rance.

Bro Jon had been proposed by W. Bro. James Milne LGR and initiated on 11th November 2008. The Old Wellingtonian Lodge being blessed with an increasing number of candidates from College wishing to become freemasons Bro Jon had been passed to the 2nd degree by courtesy of the Old Cliftonian Lodge No. 3340 on 15th January 2009.

The former Secretary, W. Bro. John Ross-Barnard JP having returned from a year’s travelling around the world presented W. Bro. Cdr. Stephen Dudley RN with an ornamental china bottle of Australian Navy “Pussers” (purser’s) rum to mark Bro. Stephen’s elevation to London Grand Rank. Members warmly applauded him. 27 members enjoyed a festive board at the Pillars of Hercules.