348 RAM has a Banner!
It was a memorable evening on Friday, 13th January, at the Masonic Hall in Taunton when the Fidelity and Unanimity Royal Ark Mariner lodge 348, together with the Provincial Grand Master and the provincial team, combined to dedicate the new lodge banner.
The lodge was opened and received the PGM and Provincial Team, and the initial part of the agenda was completed. The Worshipful Commander then called on the scribe WBro Rod Green to present a short paper on the lodge’s history.
On completion, the Worshipful Commander WBro David Palmer, who had to take the chair at very short notice due to the actual Commander WBro Sidney French being unable to attend due to personall family reasons, requested the PGDC to present the PGM to him so he could offer him the sceptre for the ceremony.
The PGDC then placed the Provincial Officers in their respective chairs, and the lodge banner party was formed. The ceremony progressed, and the Provincial Grand Chaplin gave an excellent oration on the history of banners and standards, with an exact explanation of the new lodge banner.
Although being a centenary lodge, having been consecrated in 1913, the lodge had never had a banner. Some 18 months ago, WBro Jimmy Durant, the Worshipful Commander at our centenary meeting in October 2015, informed the scribe that he wished to commission a banner that he would present to the lodge.
The lodge was pleased to accept this generous offer. The planning and approval from Grand Lodge took many months. Still, finally, approval was received, and the banner was made by Heather Everitt of South Molton, who has made numerous banners for many degrees within the province.
The scribe finally collected the banner last September.
The dedication ceremony was set for January 2023, and invites went out. Over 60 Royal Ark Mariners from across the province attended, and there was at least one member from every ram lodge within the province present.
On completion of the ceremony, the PGM returned the Worshipful Commander to his chair, and the lodge reverted to the standard agenda. Bro Darren Sinclair, our SW, was elected as Commander-elect for the ensuing year. He will be straight in at the deep end at our April Installation meeting, installing his new officers and then immediately carrying out an Elevation ceremony. he’s ready for the challenge, he
tells us.
On completion of the lodge business, all retired to a magnificent festive board supplied by our now famous catering team. with over 60 dining, the atmosphere and banter were palatable. WBro Barrie Baker gave the toast to our visitors, and the DPGM Tony Guthrie responded. Both were in top form, and it was entertaining to listen to both of them.
As the scribe stated in his paper in the temple, it’s only taken 110 years to become a centenary lodge with a banner, but it all now seems worthwhile after such a wonderful evening.
