Herbert Barrington Slater Council No 234 held there meeting on the 28th February at Salford Masonic Hall, with a plan to deliver the Holy Royal Order of Grand HIgh Priest for the two candidates Bro Anthony Smith and Bro Gokhan Gelisen named on the summons.
The Summons also invited any other qualified Brethren to receive the order. Little did they know that a total of seven brethren would qualify and take part in the proceedings.
The meeting commenced at 11:00 am with the WM Steven Graham swiftly covering the business in hand. The order of St Lawrence was adjourned and the Lodge room prepared for the Order of Grand HIgh Priest.
W.Bro David Entwisle had volunteered to take the office of Most Excellent President for the ceremony, which meant that the majority of the ritual rested on his shoulders. Whilst W.Bro Adrian Hunter and W.Bro Phil Moor took office as Chaplain and Vice President. Director of Ceremonies W.Bro Peter Hegerty ensured the scene was set according to ritual book and W.Bro Craig Wood filled in the remaining offices as well as his own duties of Secretary.
Seven Candidates where treated to a magnificent rendition of the Holy Order of Grand High Priest, it really was word perfect and action packed, for those who have experienced the ceremony it brough back a lot of memories. You just dont get to see the five ceremonies often enough to build up the memory of how the ritual goes. But wow David Entwisle certainly knew this ceremony backwards.
The DC somehow managed to corral the remaining six candidates into suitable positions to see the proceedings and to take part at the relevant points whilst the large Lodge room lent itself well to the regular movements about the floor. It really was a first class performance.
One of the Candidates was a brother Gokhan Gelisen who lives in Turkey. He regularly flies over to Manchester to receive the orders of the Degree and this meeting was no different. He had flown in that morning from Istanbul to receive the degree as there is no Allied Masonic Order or even the Mark Degree in Turkey at the moment. Gokhan mentioned that he also regularly visited Germany and Belgium for various Masonic Meetings. Hows that for dedication.
The lunch that followed was a very social affair with the brethren enjoying a hearty Tomato & Chorizo soup followed by a chunky steak meat pie with chips and vegetables. Nobody went home hungry.
If HBS ever say they are going to perform the Order of Grand HIgh Priest then its certainly one to go to.
The Allied Masonic Degrees -East Lancashire 