One of those Masonic Secrets…..with an Allied Touch
 
On a fine early spring evening, Right Worshipful Brother Paul Snape, District Grand Prefect for West Lancashire together with his Deputy, Mark Barton and accompanied by the District Director of Ceremonies and other Brethren, made a journey to Lancaster in order to attend a meeting of Garnett Council. The reason for this visit by the District Rulers to a normal meeting of Garnett had been firmly kept under wraps, and those few Brethren in the know were reminded of the unfortunate fate of St Lawrence the Martyr, if they betrayed the trust reposed in them. A true Masonic Secret, and the obligation kept (perhaps as a result of the fear of the dastardly outcome if they didn’t)!
 
As always, a very warm welcome was given to visiting Brethren on arrival at Rowley Court, the very comfortable home of Garnett Council, and soon everyone was seated and waiting for the WM, W. Bro. Stephen Pemberton to commence the meeting. One of the unusual traditions of Garnett Council is that members and visitors wear a St Lawrence Apron in the Lodge Room whilst working in that degree, aprons provided by the Council. A tradition which has fallen by the wayside in most other Councils (other than Garnett, I am not personally aware of any Council that does).
 
Following the opening of the Council, the WM offered the Gavel to the DGP, which was received with much pleasure, but wisely returned on this occasion as the DGP recognised that there was much work to do during the evening. The DGDC then lead salutations to the DGP and then to the DepDGP, both of whom thanked the Brethren for the warm reception and returned the greetings.
Joining Member, Brother Gorden Ivett, welcomed to Garnett Council by WM, WBro Stephen Pemberton
The meeting then moved on at quite a pace, ballots being taken for a new member, Brother Paul Broadly, who would be admitted at the next regular meeting, and Brother Gordon Ivett who was immediately admitted and introduced to the WM as a Joining Member. A demonstration ceremony of the degree of St Lawrence the Martyr followed, and was completed in due form, followed by a collection for charity.
WM offers warm welcome to Members and visitors
The avid reader of these notes will be wondering by now what I was blethering on about, when I suggested that there was another secret reason for the DGp’s visit to Garnett Council. Well, following the collection, the DGDC rose and suggested to the WM, that perhaps if he would offer the gavel once again to the DGP, the DGP may be minded to keep it for a short while on this occasion. Brethren present appeared a bit non plussed at this developing situation, but the WM followed the suggestion, and the DGP duly accepted the gavel and took the Master’s Chair.
RW Bro Paul Snape DGP, VW Bro Peter Mason, WM Stephen Pemberton, W. Bro Brian Sager and W. Bro Mark Barton DepDGP
The DGP then instructed the DGDC to present VW Bro Peter Mason and Brian Sager to him, and they were seated on his left. The DGP then went on to explain, that District DGP’s had recently been given permission to celebrate the service of Brethren who had been members of the AMD for 40 years, and that both Peter and Brian had exceeded this tenure. He went on to give a resume of their service to the Order, and then requested the DepDGP  to read out the contents of framed District Certificates. The DGP then vacated the Master’s Chair to warmly present the signed certificates to each of the recipients in turn. The DGDC then requested all present to stand to order and salute the two recipients with the salutations of the Degree 5 times. The recipients, still a little surprised at this turn of events, rose to acknowledge the salutations, and to thank the DGP for the honour.
 
The Secret being well and truly out in the open, there was a definite buzz around the Council as the WM closed the proceeding in due form. A pleasant festive board followed, when the recipients were given an opportunity to reminisce on their time in the order. A truly uplifting masonic experience came to an end with a final word from the WM, and we departed, looking forward to our next merry meeting.
 
Words by our Coccium Scribe
Photographs by the Lancashire Horse Whisperer