Once each year an Emergency Meeting of a London based lodge is held at the Lodge building in Tiverton, Devon.
This is Blundell’s Lodge No.5467 most of whose members are past pupils of the world-renowned school of the same name. It was founded in 1604 under the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time and moved to its present site on the outskirts of the town in 1882.
This is always a very well attended meeting by members from all over the UK and Ireland together with many visitors and Friday 16th June was no exception. After the Dispensations from both The Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London and the Province of Devonshire had been read the ceremony was to be an initiation, but what made it special was the initiate, William Peter Holland, who is the younger brother of Michael Holland the Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire.
Among the fifty-plus who were in attendance were The Provincial Grand Masters of Devonshire, Nicholas Ball, Bristol, Jonathan Davis and Herefordshire, Michael Holland, three Past Provincial Grand Masters, six Assistant and Past Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, six Grand Officers and seven active Provincial Grand Officers from the Province of Devonshire. What a fabulous reception for a new member to behold when the blindfold came off.
The ceremony, guided by the expert hand of Worshipful Master James Jarvis, was a pleasure to behold and will be remembered by the initiate for the rest of his life. Andrew Manasseh acted as the Junior Deacon and lead William around the lodge in a very professional manner. Following his obligation, the signs and secrets were given by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Craig Cox, the North East Corner by past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Derek Webber, the Working Tools were explained in a very fine fashion by the Inner Guard Donncha Kearney then, in what was a very poignant moment, the Charge after Initiation, this was very special as it was given by his Brother Michael. Finally, a piece seldom heard “an explanation of the ceremony” which was described by the Lodge Visiting Grand Officer Dudley Tucker.
All those present then retired to the refectory to enjoy a superb four-course festive board with much cheerful banter that could be heard throughout the evening. A very emotional address to the brethren introducing their newest member was given by his brother Michael to which William suitably replied.
The Worshipful Master James Jarvis then announced a donation to Nicholas Ball of £700 on behalf of the members of Blundell’s Lodge which was gratefully received with the promise that it would be faithfully applied.
On what was one of the warmest days of the year to date everybody retired from the lodge happy in the knowledge that they had been witnessed to a superb event.
