Highworth Lodge goes back in time

Set in the past but still relevant today, an 18th Century demonstration of 'Making a Mason'.

A full Lodge at Highworth's new home (difficult to find .... but well worth the effort) witnessed a bewigged and period costumed perfomance set in 1765 and presented by the renowned Solihull Demonstration Team.

The well constructed set representing the timeless simplicity of a Lodge room over a hostelry was the ideal location for a meeting to take place. Aided by adequate amounts of liquid refreshment, in this case Ribena and not fine wines or brandy, the Lodge met to consider the admission of a candidate to Freemasonry. Having agreed to admit him they proceeded to 'Make him a Mason' in a manner which many present would have found very familiar.

The demonstration was ably performed with just the right mixture of humour complementing the serious informative and educational aspects of Masonic life and influence nearly 250 years ago. Much of the content including the form of words will have been recognised as similar to our present practices, indeed your Editor couldn't fail to observe that the Provincial Grand Master, his Deputy and the Assistant PGM appeared to be nodding in all the right places, as if they were refecting on 'what it used to be like'.  A sterling bravura perfomance by local Freemason, Keith Hughes, making his demonstration debut in the starring role of the candidate; and oblique references to members and visitors, enabled the whole performance to take on a very personal feel.

Of course the purpose of the demonstration is to allow a retrospect of 'what Freemasonry was like' to be considered. Regular visitor Geoffrey Snelgrove, Lodge of Loyalty No 1533 in commenting said "When seeing re-enactments I feel sure that some of our Masonic ceremonies have roots in Morality Plays and Mediaeval Street Pageants." 

Chris Coombes, Master of the Highworth Lodge, paid tribute to the participants and the appreciative audience responded with sustained applause. I suspect Keith will be submitting an application to the Provincial Grand Secretary for an Equity card, he most certainly deserves one.

The evening concluded with an announcement by Francis Wakem PGM that Mike Taylor, ADC in Highworth was to be the next Provincial Senior Grand Warden; this follows the announcement made last week that John W Cave,Stonehenge Lodge No 6114 will be Provincial Junior Grand Warden. The appointments will take affect at the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge on Thursday 4 October 2012. More news on these and other appointments and promotions will appear on the website and in 'Across The Plain'

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