Berkshires’ Lodge of Enlightenment & Hungerford Lodge Collaborate for a Multiple Ceremony on Friday 19th April.
Friday 19 April 2024 at Sindlesham was the long awaited date for a special meeting of Berkshire Lodge of Enlightenment (BLoE). Special, because four Entered Apprentices were to receive a Passing ceremony and a presentation about the degree afterwards. The Candidates were all from Hungerford Lodge, another Berkshire Lodge; hailing from a wide variety of places and professions.
Speaking briefly to the four men before the meeting, they were excited to be part of a larger than usual ‘band of brothers’ to receive this ceremony. Berkshire Lodge of Enlightenment was established in 2017 to encourage learning, understanding and research into Freemasonry. There is always a presentation or educational element to all of their meetings.
The Berkshire Room was abuzz with introductions and anticipation in the lead up to the meeting starting. Some were making their first visit to Berkshire for a Universities Scheme Conference being held this same weekend. Some had grasped the opportunity to attend the meeting and festive board the evening before the conference. Berkshire Freemasonry and both Lodges were also honoured to be joined by the Right Worshipful Assistant Grand Master Arthur Steven Varley, a Ruler in the Craft (left).
The work of the meeting was divided and shared between the Worshipful Masters of the host Lodge (BLoE) and Hungerford Lodge. It was satisfying to see a harmonious 50/50 split of the work between the two Worshipful Masters. The flow of the ceremony was both friendly and warm. They worked together harmoniously as they progressed the Candidates through the ceremony. Maintaining the expected dignity and yet breathing something refreshingly different into how it was accomplished. The Worshipful Master of Berkshire Lodge of Enlightenment, Kenneth Wootton, gave a walking presentation of the Second Degree’s history, its importance and meanings through time. Adding depth to the way that the Second Degree working tools are to be found in a Lodge and gave a richer meaning beyond the explanation we’d just received.
Between the meetings end and the start of the Festive Board the Berkshire Communications Team managed to secure some time with the four men, who were now all Fellow Crafts. We asked them about their first impressions of what they’d just experienced. Here’s some of what they told us:
‘I felt less anxious not doing it on my own.’ ‘We all know each other much better now as a benefit too.’ ‘As we all had a personal conductor escorting us every step of the way I felt we were really well looked after.’
A Sindlesham Court Festive Banquet followed the meeting and went down very well with all present. There was a surprise presentation made to the Master of Berkshire Lodge of Enlightenment just before the conclusion though. A rather large bottle of Guyanan Rum had been carried a very long way as a gift from the Rulers of The District Grand Lodge of Guyana. It was a 21 year old vintage and the trusted brother who’d carried it and delivered it safely all the way to Berkshire, Ryan Samaraoo, couldn’t have been much older than the contents himself. He is attending the Universities Scheme conference and is a member of University Lodge of Guyana, No. 9331.
