Vale of Avon Mark 867

Last night saw the Vale of Avon Lodge No. 867 of Mark Master Masons return to its familiar state of organised chaos. We met, as usual, at the BMC and, although numbers were a little disappointing, those present compensated admirably by producing enough exuberance for twice the attendance.

Under general lodge business, the Secretary welcomed W. Bro. David Booth as an Honorary Member. David immediately began earning his keep by presenting a Grand Lodge Certificate to Bro. Jimmy Lewis - presumably secured by the solemn promise of an extra flake in his cornet in the car park later.

The lodge was then closed and promptly taken over by a collection of men in strange attire who appeared to have escaped from rehearsals for a particularly ambitious Christmas pantomime. In fact, they were correctly dressed to demonstrate an Initiation Ceremony from the year 1717 - period when ritual was apparently plentiful, but clothing designers exercised very little restraint.

The evening’s unlikely candidate was one Ali ‘Nick-Nick’ Longworth, a character of such dubious standing that even the drunken Tyler seemed the safer pair of hands. Under the supervision of ‘Worshipful’ John, and with the brethren’s assistance, Nick-Nick was duly initiated, and everyone somehow concluded the ceremony without major incident and apparently sober.

All in all, it was colourful, entertaining and gloriously different - just another quiet evening at Vale of Avon Lodge!

Then down to the dining room for dinner – reviewed under ‘A Square Meal’.