31 Oct 2016

Fraternal Visit to Vedra Lodge No. 3137, October 2016

Submitted by Wayne Rumley

We had a superb visit to Vedra.

The business of the evening was the initiation of a Mr Stephen Williamson, who became the latest brother to join the Craft. A stand-in team performed the ceremony admirably, only receiving the information at the last moment that their Worshipful Master was otherwise detained with work.

Well known as a dining lodge, the festive board was not to be missed, and consisted of 5 courses, all worthy of upholding their reputation.

I also had the good fortune of sitting next to the candidate, and can confidently say he will be a great addition to Vedra Lodge, and to Sunderland Freemasons' in general. He let slip that he was an accomplished pianist, and was duly enlisted to play Auld Lang Syne for the Tyler's toast, which he did with aplomb.

After the formalities of the evening were over, we retired to the bar, where he duly stayed until the steward had decided he wanted to go home and we were all kicked out!

An invitation was extended to Stephen to visit us in January, where he will be witness to the initiation of our latest candidate, and our 260th birthday.

I think I'll be adding Vedra to my list of regular visits in future.