Joe Doherty was installed as Worship Master of Castle Point Lodge No. 9122 on the 11th of October 2022. This is not an unusual event as you climb the ‘Masonic Ladder’ but, for Joe, all the progressive Officers he was to appoint and invest, were, including himself, also members of a unique club to Castle Point and Freemasonry.
Joe was initiated in Castle Point during March 2009 but, the story really begins once he was passed to the second degree a year later. Alan Anthony, the then Director of Ceremonies, who instilled high standards within the lodge, thought that as a real challenge, he wondered if he could convince a Fellowcraft to learn and present the second-degree Tracing Board while still a Fellowcraft himself. Joe was that Fellowcraft, and he agreed to give it a try and true to his word, and one month before his raising ceremony, he presented the Tracing Board with great enthusiasm, and to most members and visitors’ amazement.
For many years, Castle Point were fortunate in gaining members allowing them to adopt a work policy of performing at each meeting (in rotation) a first-degree ceremony, then a second and third, interspersed with the Installation meeting. Alan wondered if he could duplicate Joe’s success with their next Fellowcraft, Matt Harrington, which he duly did. The scene was now set, and it became expected that each new Fellowcraft would follow suit and was continued to be encouraged by Neil Watch who took over as Director of Ceremonies from Alan.
Over the years each FC duly presented the TB and became a member of what was now being called the ‘Tracing Board Club.’
The full list of FCs are Joe Doherty, Matt Harrington, Darren Ridgwell, Adam Horn, Gregg Workman, Ian Curry, Rob Prior and Sam Harrison. Sadly, Ian Curry passed away in 2020 so they now have seven members in the Tracing Board Club.
Due to the success and uniqueness of this achievement, a lapel pin to honour this was commissioned and first presented at Castle Point’s March 2018 meeting to the then five Fellowcraft’s. This meeting was also attended by their then Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Nick Franklin who congratulated the lodge emphasising what a great achievement this was.
Joe Doherty, who had to step back from Freemasonry for a while, having finally achieved the Master’s Chair should be justly proud at being the first Fellowcraft to begin this exclusive club which is unique within the Province and perhaps throughout the country and further afield. One thing is for sure, should a Lodge start a similar club today, they would have to go some way in catching up.
On an entertaining note, at the October 2022 Installation meeting the Worshipful Master appointed Adam Horn as the ‘Lodge IT Officer’ and with a collar to match, which was a ‘Mouse appended to a collar adorned with keyboards.’ This was in recognition of his assistance during the COVID pandemic whereby he enabled brethren and in particular, one brother Howard Prior who now lives in Wales, to take part in Zoom meetings.
This allowed them to keep in touch with each other and stay focused on maintaining their excellent standard of ritual so that all the members of Castle Point Lodge No. 9122 could continue to enjoy Freemasonry at its best.
