Palatine Lodge No. 97

Once again, January bring us a fresh new year and the first meeting with our newly installed officers, and also once again, we started the year with an initiation. There's nothing like putting them immediately to the test!

Due to work, we had a stand-in Junior Deacon, but, thankfully, it was an old-hand that put in a fine performance, depite being one of our regular visitors rather than one of our own - his ritual is different!  Our candidate also put in a very good show with an air of confidence about his responses.  It certainly bodes well for his future journey with us.

Our annual meeting was held on Thursday 13th December, 2018, this being the installation of WBro Martin Pigford.

The representative on the evening was WBro John Johnston Stevenson, ably assisted by WBro Richard Davison, who was his Director of Ceremonies for the night.  It was the second succesive year Richard has performed this role at Palatine. He is a true friend of the lodge! They both received a very warm welcome from the brethren.

Another busy evening for us on the night of the 8th November. As is always the case for this meeting, we first had the election of officers for the ensuing year. This was followed by raising one of our newer brothers to the degree of a Master Mason.

Unfortunately, illness, work, and holidays, beset the best laid plans of mice and men.  The three principle officers were all missing!  Thankfully, we knew a little in advance, so a substitute team was quickly put together and the ceremony went very well, once more.  A huge thank-you to all of the stand-ins; they know who they are.

We were fortunate to be performing another initiation this month, the fourth this year, and the first monthly back-to-back initiation in recent memory.

Our candidate was the second one fully recruited through our website, so we are finally reaping the rewards of a little hard work and effort keeping the site up to date.  If you're reading this and you're not a Freemason, get in touch - it could be you!  

The first meeting back for us after recess, and as usual for September, a lower than average turn-out, with a number of brethren still being in holiday mode.

It was a rather special evening for us on the night of the 14th June.  Not only were we passing the Grandson of one of our Grand Lodge Officers, but we also had the Provincial Grand Master in attendance to present the lodge with a festival award.

Another good turnout of our brethren for what was a pleasant evening, not only with the weather, but with the atmosphere in and around the meeting.