Page 5 - Essex Mason Issue 84

Provincial

Villerica Lodge 4053

t the Villerica Lodge 4053 meeting on Saturday 21st April 2018, W.Bro Fred Steed
Awas presented with a Certificate of 60 years of meritorious service by W.Bro Peter
Hollingsworth APGM.
Fred was initiated into the Villerica Lodge on 23rd April 1958. His father had been Master
in 1954 and Fred was Master in the year the Lodge celebrated its 50th Anniversary. He
held the position of Asst Secretary and then Secretary in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
He retired from the Secretary’s post in
1987 because he moved firstly to Leighton
Buzzard in Beds and on his Retirement to
Suffolk in 1989.

Since then his Masonry has been more focused on Suffolk. He was a Founder
Member of Laconic Lodge No: 9771 and subsequently it’s Master. He has been
awarded Past Provincial Junior Warden in both Essex and Suffolk.
At the same meeting the Worshipful Master W.Bro's Matt Lucas and W,Bro Chris
Jeakins (Charity Steward) presented the APGM with a cheque donating £10,000
to the Essex 2022 Festival.

Benfleet Lodge 3798

he Centenary of Benfleet Lodge No. 3798 was
Tcelebrated at an Emergency Meeting held at Saxon
Hall, Southend Masonic Centre on the 22nd. February
2018. The meeting was attended by the Provincial Grand
Master, Right Worshipful Rodney Lister Bass OBE together
with the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and members of
the Provincial Executive.
The Lodge was opened in excellent form and was delighted
to received the Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful
Rodney Lister Bass OBE together with the Deputy Provincial
Grand Master and members of the Provincial Executive.
Centenary Meeting
The Lodge history, highlighting the last 100 years of Benfleet
Lodge was delivered by W.Bro. S. Hollands, after which the
Provincial Grand Secretary, Worshipful Brother Philip Lovelock read out the new Centenary Warrant to the Lodge.
The Provincial Grand Master then presented and entrusted the Centenary Warrant to the Worshipful Master Mark Inns. He then bestowed on the
Worshipful Master a promotion with the rank of Provincial Grand Steward to mark the occasion.
The then Provincial Grand Chaplain, W.Bro Rev. Martin Howse (APGM), delivered an Oration and blessed the Benfleet Lodge.
The Worshipful Master rose and presented to the Provincial Grand Master, on behalf of the members of Benfleet Lodge the sum of £10,000 to go
to the Essex 2022 Festival. At which point Worshipful Brother Peter Hollingsworth Assistant Provincial Grand Master, presented the Worshipful
Master with a framed certificate which stated that the Lodge had reached Patron status of the Essex 2022 Festival.
Greetings were read from Worshipful Brother Douglas Wilson, PPJGW, who, at the age of 99 years and a
subscribing member of the Lodge for 72 years, was unable to attend due to his advancing years.
The raffle held at the Festive Board raised £1,000 in aid of Stisted Hall, TLC Appeal and Paediatric Nursing Team
Rochford and Southend
Tracing Board Club

astle Point Lodge 9122 Following a tradition of allowing new members to participate in ritual presentation
Cat the earliest stage, Alan Anthony, The then Lodge D.C. posed the question of taking it to a further level
Having this in mind, he then encouraged the lodge’s latest Fellowcraft member at the time, Joe Doherty, to learn and present the Second Degree
Tracing Board, while still a Fellowcraft Freemason himself. Joe readily accepted this challenge and became the first member of the lodge to
achieve this accolade.
Not knowing if this would continue into the future, the next Fellowcraft, Matt Harrington, was also encouraged to
do the same. This was again successful and was subsequently followed by Darren Ridgwell, Adam Horn and Gregg
Workman. It was at this stage, following this success, that Alan thought they may have the beginnings of what might be
considered to be a 'Tracing Board Club'.
Alan set about designing and commissioning a lapel pin that would be awarded to each member who met the criteria.
At their meeting on 13th March 2018, when two more members were passed, the Worshipful Master Rob Alabaster,
presented these five members with the unique lapel pin consisting of the two great pillars, represented
in open lodge by the Warden’s columns, and the Fellowcraft’s rosettes, depicting that it was a Fellowcraft
Freemason who presented the Tracing Board.
(left) W.M. Rob
Alabaster with Joe The Assistant Provincial Grand Master W.Bro. Nick Franklin was present and congratulated the members
Doherty on their considerable achievement, saying that he hoped the new 'Tracing Board Club' would continue
long into the future.
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