The brethren of Great Eccleston Lodge No 8895 were delighted to host a visit by no less than 14 brethren from Caledonian Lodge No 392 in the Scottish Constitution. Not content with driving almost 200 miles south and then another 200 miles back again in the same day William Innes (Willie) offered that his deputation from the Province of Edinburgh should carry out a demonstration of their third degree ceremony, which the brethren of Great Eccleston Lodge were very willing to accept. The lodge was opened and the business dispensed with before the deputation from Caledonian Lodge made their entrance to be welcomed by the WM Stuart Mowbray.
Willie Innes (left) and Scott Devine.
A packed lodge room then witnessed fellow Scotsman Les Newlands (Great Eccleston Lodge JW) raised to the third degree in the Scottish style. The work was allocated in such a way that every one of the 14 brethren had a part to play. The attentive audience showed their appreciation in the usual manner before the lodge was handed back to the Great Eccleston members. Stuart Mowbray thanked the visiting team for taking the time to travel and demonstrate a very interesting and well executed ceremony. Willie responded by thanking Great Eccleston members for the invitation before presenting Les Newlands and Scott Devine (Great Eccleston Lodge ADC) with Caledonian Lodge ties.
At the closing of the festive board Les Newlands, in his toast to the visitors, referred to the evening as one of those occasions where: “We have hit the Masonic sweet spot when all the pieces of a perfect Masonic evening come together.” The brethren of Caledonian Lodge then offered an invitation to the Great Eccleston brethren to travel north in the not too distant future to return the favour.
Caledonian and Great Eccleston Lodge members together in peace and harmony.