Installation Meeting 1991

It is with the greatest sadness we report the loss of W. Bro. Cliff Silverwood, PPrJGD, who was called to the Grand Lodge Above on Saturday 31st December 2011.

W. Brother Cliff was a “one off” the mould was broken when he came along. A Customs & Excise Officer of serious standing, who conducted himself with a personal warmth and an often disregard to the serious side of life. He had a wonderful outlook on life in general, “it’s got to be a bit of fun”.

We will all remember his Installation Ceremony, when Appointing one of the Deacon’s, quipped, when handing over the wand of office, “you get one of these too”

In his latter years suffering from Alziemers Decease, I ‘phoned him to enquire of his health, he told me he wasn’t too bad but was having problems with ….. he couldn’t remember what he was suffering from. Alziemers I said, yes, that’s it!!

We extend our sympathy and support to Marie and trust the G. A. will watch over her in this dark hour.

W. Bro. Michael Long, PPrGReg, PDJGD (Dist. Barb. & East. Carib.)
Worshipful Master
Featherstone Lodge No. 7851

Following a most memorable day whereby our Worshipful Master Michael Long initiated his son James with his elder son, Christopher, accompanying the Candidate as Junior Deacon; we have another very special Christmas meeting. Christopher will once more support his younger brother by acting as Senior Deacon during James’ Passing with their father in the chair.

As is the custom at Feathersone, other brethren will take on other parts of the ritual to forward their Masonic education with the Inner Guard tackling the Working Tools and the Junior Warden attempting the Long version of the Tracing Board.

All Freemasons are most welcome to attend, please contact us to arrange an invitation.

A Long First

The letter of “apology of absence” received from the Assistant Provincial Grand Master W. Bro. Michael Higginbotham described the meeting as “a very busy one”. W. Bro. Michael Long PPrGReg, was to be Installed as Worshipful Master (for the third time) as is customary at the September meeting.

However, on this occasion after the Installation an Initiation ceremony was also planned. Every Initiation is a special one, but this one a very special one. A father initiating a son happens quite often, is a wonderful family experience and always affectionately remembered. Not so often are son’s Initiated by their father with their older brother in the office of Junior Deacon. Such were the circumstances of our “most memorable day”.

To add to the enjoyment of the day we had the company of our Visiting Officer, W. Bro. Mike (cor blimey) Purdy,
Also, W. Bro. Ford Gillespie, who delivered a most enjoyable extended Apron address.

OUR 200th meeting held last Saturday was a cracking meeting.

51 attended the meeting and 49 dined afterwards. We had an official visit from our new AGPM who exceptionally stayed right to the end of the fetive board because he was so impressed and enjoying himself.

All taking part in the ceremony played their parts excellently. Let us roll on to the 300th meeting and beyond. Our two newest members Liam and Campbell distinguished themselves, highlighting the benefits of our mid-week meetings.

W. Bro. Stuart J. Robinson. PPrJGW

New dates for meetings in the are as follows :-

2010

• 01 Sept
• 08 Sept OFFICERS’ NIGHT
• 11 Sept INSTALLATION MEETING

• 06 Oct
• 20 Oct

• 03 Nov
• 17 Nov

• 01 Dec
• 08 Dec – OFFICERS’ NIGHT
• 11 December FULL SATURDAY MEETING – WHITE TABLE
• 15 Dec

2011

• 05 Jan
• 19 Jan
• 26 Jan

• 02 Feb – OFFICERS’ NIGHT
• 09 Feb – OFFICERS’ NIGHT
• 12 Feb – FULL REGULAR SATURDAY MEETING
• 23 Feb

• 02 Mar
• 16 Mar
• 23 Mar

• 06 Apr
• 20 Apr
• 27 Apr

• 16 May
• 25 May

• 08 Jun – OFFICERS’ NIGHT
• 11 Jun – FULL REGULAR SATURDAY MEETING
• 15 Jun
• 29 Jun

The Featherstone Lodge held its 199th Regular meeting on Saturday 12 February 2010 at the Uxbridge Masonic Centre in Hillingdon.

The meeting was attended by 17 members with 12 guests who included our Visiting Officer from the Middlesex Provincial Office W.Bro Mike Purdy on his maiden voyage to Featherstone, and a return visit of an old friend and Grand Officer W. Bro Barry Cole, a guest of W. Bro Pete Webb.

The meeting saw the initiation of a new Brother in Bro Campbell Caraher with a ceremony carried out by our Master W.Bro Rob Davies, the father-in-law of Bro Campbell. The meeting also included the presentation of a Grand Lodge Certificate to Bro Liam Delahunty by W. Bro Stuart Robinson, Bro Liam’s proposer into the Lodge, and the presentation of Masonic watch to Bro Albert Allen by our Visiting Officer, to mark Bro Albert’s 30 years as a freemason. The members were advised by the Secretary W.Bro Mike Long that W.Bro Pete Webb had been promoted within the Province and Bro Albert Allen had been awarded his first Provincial Honours.

Those present witnessed the continuing progress of Featherstone Lodge as a forward thinking, progressive and radical Lodge. The Visiting Officer from the Province afterwards repeatedly commented on the excellent quality of the work throughout the meeting and the ambience generally within the Lodge. The initiation of Bro Campbell as a member further demonstrates the success that Featherstone continues to achieve in the drive to recruit enthusiastic, proactive and caring members to build upon the excellent foundations that have been formed in regards to the membership which will carry the Lodge forward in a diligent and successful manner.

The announcement during the meeting that W.Bro Pete Webb had been promoted by The Province and that Bro Albert Allen had received Provincial Honours, indicates that the efforts made by the Lodge both in terms of our charitable donations and the quality of our work generally is acknowledged by the Provincial Executive. Furthermore, these appointments also demonstrates the recognition within of the Provincial office of the considerable efforts and contributions made by Featherstone Lodge in the promotion of Freemasonry generally and the generating of a happy, conscientious and hard working environment in which the reinvigorating of the craft will thrive and prosper.

Following the conclusion of a very successful lodge meeting, the members and their guests enjoyed refreshments in the Centre bar, followed by a gourmet feast (!!) and an affable festive board where Bro Campbell was formally welcomed into our Lodge with a toast from his proposer, W.Bro Rob Davies, and the Initiates song superbly sung by W.Bro Mike Long. This rendition of the Initiates song inspired the Brethren to perform their own interpretation of “Happy Birthday” to Brothers Keith Browne and Caraher. The Brethren dined in love and harmony and closed the festive board with the sombre and thought provoking Peace Love and Harmony followed by The Tyler’s Toast.

Everyone left feeling good about the meeting and the festive board and looking forward to our milestone 200th meeting in June.

This will be a memorable day because our Worshipful Master Rob Davies will initiate his son in law, Campbell Caraher, into Freemasonry.

Campbell is quite well known to many of us, as he has attended Ladies Festivals and white table meetings over recent years.

We have an official visit on behalf of the Provincial Grand Master the R.W. Bro. HRH Prince Michael of Kent, by W. Bro. Mike Purdy PPrJGW. This is W. Bro. Mike’s first official visit to us, so let’s make it enjoyable for him.

I list below the dates for our regular and midweek meetings in this Masonic Year.

• Wed 7 October 2009
• Wed 21 October 2009

• Wed 4 November 2009
• Wed 18 November 2009

• Wed 2 December 2009
• Wed 9 December 2009 Officers’ night
• SAT 12 DECEMBER 2009 – WHITE TABLE MEETING
• Wed 16 December 2009

• Wed 6 January 2010
• Wed 20 January 2010
• Wed 27 January 2010

• Wed 3 February 2010
• Wed 10 February 2010 Officers’ night
• SAT 13 FEBRUARY 2010 – FORMAL MEETING
• Wed 24 February 2010

• Wed 3 March 2010
• Wed 17 March 2010
• Wed 24 March 2010

• Wed 14 April 2010
• Wed 21 April 2010
• Wed 28 April 2010

• Wed 12 May 2010
• Wed 26 May 2010

• Wed 9 June 2010 Officers’ night
• SAT 12 JUNE 2010 – FORMAL MEETING #200
• Wed 16 June 2010

• Wed 30 June 2010

We had an excellent regular meeting on Saturday 12 September. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

The agenda was unusual for a September meeting which normally is the Installation of the new WM. We followed our policy of being different and radical. W Bro. Rob Davies has agreed to stay as WM for a second year continuous to last year. Hence we simply needed to proclaim him as such.

Firstly Brother Liam Delahuntly was raised to the third degree after a word perfect question and answer session. This meant that after Rob’s proclamation he was able to appoint Liam as Inner Guard.

Keith Browne presented a paper “‘Tis more Ancient than the Golden Fleece…”

Stuart Robinson read a short poem he had written for the occasion.

At the Festive Board, we lowered the lights to have just the candles on the the tables and all joined in the singing of “Peace Love and Harmony”.

W. Bro Michael Long was extremely disappointed when the 100 club raffle was drawn. The Brethren send him deep messages of sympathy because he only managed to win the first and second prizes. The third eluded him.

The scrutineers confirmed that there was no “Fix”. That’s why he did not win the third prize as well !