OUR FIRST EVER TRIPLE SECOND DEGREE
What a Recess Busting night we had!
This has been a busy year and the rest of the year is rammed with ceremonies. So why not ignore the Recess and try something new. With a queue of Entered Apprentices, the lodge took the bold, or mad, step and held the first ever Triple Passing. Sakke Lankinen, Euan Hickey and Josh Durham played a superb part in this unique occasion. Preston Guild Lodge has an ever growing band of new and young Masons which bodes well for the future. But it does bring forward some very pleasant challenges. And Preston Guild Lodge does love a challenge.
The lodge believes that multiple ceremonies can be done, but in a way that retains a degree on individuality for the candidate taking part. It takes a bit longer but the outcome is quite special. Sakke, Euan and Josh were all excellent candidates looked after by an extended team of Deacons with Gowan O’Hagan stepping in to assist David Moss and Dean Cook. Inner Guard, Craig Freeman must have thought it was Groundhog Day. He can probably do his part in his sleep now. The Master of the Lodge, David Parker Jnr, took a back seat for the night and after opening the lodge handed over the reins to Steve Croasdale to run the proceedings.
This special event attracted the attention of not one, but two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters in Jonathan Heaton and Peter Scofield along with Past Assistant Grand Master, Peter Locket. John Rimmer, Preston Group Chairman and Neil Ward, Provincial Grand Membership Officer added to the gravitas. The lodge was also delighted to welcome Paul Cotton who is the newly appointed North West Regional Lead for the UGLE Universities Scheme. Immediately on opening the lodge, Alistair McIntyre, who is a member of Preston Guild Lodge as well as fellow Universities Scheme City of Lancaster current Master made a presentation of the Academic Ashlar; a special smooth ashlar to be utilised by Universities Scheme lodges in the Province of West Lancashire. This is a remarkable addition to the Province.
