Newsletter - May 2003 meeting Although last Saturday’s meeting was a happy one, it was poorly attended and I felt that the Master and his Officers were worthy of much greater physical support for their work which was commendable. All the Offices were occupied by those who had been appointed and invested with the exception of the Junior Warden whose office was filled at very short notice by W. Bro. Simon Higgins. The Lodge having been opened, the brethren stood to order and the Book of Remembrance was placed on its pedestal by the Chaplain who  opened it at an appropriate page, which happened to contain the names of W, Bro. George Goodall and W. Bro. Stanley Heath. The brethren stood to order in memory of Bro. Freddie Mortimer, who had passed to the Grand Lodge Above just before our last meeting. W. Bro. Cyril Evans gave a short eulogy in his memory, and among other things mentioned that he had been initiated into the Lodge on Saturday, 21st. August, 1943 at the height of the Second World War, had celebrated his 50 years in Masonry in 1993 which had been marked by the Lodge by an appropriate presentation. Due to the absence of our regular Tyler and the reorganisation of the storage areas at Loughton our ‘banner box’ could not be found, so for the first time in my memory, we were unable to display the Lodge Banner. The Candidate, Bro Sack, answered the questions leading from the First to the Second Degree, was entrusted and left the Lodge. The Lodge was opened in the Second Degree and Bro. Sack was passed to the Second Degree by the Worshipful Master, W. Bro. Kevin Bird in an exemplary manner, assisted by the Senior Deacon, Bro. Michael Morley whose work was of an equally high standard. The Working Tools in this Degree were presented in a near word perfect manner by Bro. David Innocent (Junior), while the Explanation of the Second Degree Tracing Board was equally well delivered by W. Bro. Colin Marshall and the Lodge was closed in the Second Degree.. Pursuant to a Notice of Motion given at the February Meeting, W. Bro. Don Larcombe eloquently outlined the tremendous and generous contribution made to the Lodge by W. Bro. Charles Mee during more than 50 years of membership of the Craft in general and this Lodge in particular. He particularly mentioned the three goblets used by the Master and the two Wardens at the Festive Board; the Lodge Banner and the Book of Remembrance. He then proposed that Bro. Charles Mee be made an Honorary Member of this Lodge which was seconded by W. Bro. Vic Dalton. A ballot was taken which proved perfect. The Worshipful Master referred to the retirement of W. Bro. Cyril Evans after 15 years in office as Treasurer of the Lodge. The matter of the withdrawal of the Cheese Course at the Festive Board which was made many years ago on account of the cost and the high degree of wastage, lived on to haunt this brother up to the present day, and to mark the occasion the Worshipful Master presented Brother Evans with a Cheeseboard and a wide variety of cheeses!. To make amends he returned it to the Worshipful Master with the request that the Brethren made good their denial over the years at the Festive Board. This they did for the Cheeseboard has been returned but no cheese! The Worshipful Master then presented Bro. Evans with a framed document on which had been recorded a selection of the sentiments expressed by the brethren in appreciation of the contribution made by him down the years together with a ‘Promissory Note’ for £340 collected as a gift from the Brethren. Bro. Evans suitably responded and said that the ‘framed document’ would be the one item most cherished by him. W. Bro. John Gilligan the Lodge Almoner, gave his usual well documented report, but at the same time informed the Lodge that he was in the middle of relocating to Spain to oversee his firm’s operations in the Mediterranean area. Bro. John was thanked for his diligence and care during the period he had served in this Office, and a short discussion ensued as to how best cover this important work until an Almoner could be appointed at the Installation Meeting in November. Under this item it was reported that Sylvia Chapman was very ill, and sadly it has transpired that she died on the Monday following the meeting. She had been a great stalwart of this Lodge, she and Bro. Bill had been an untiring team in organising Ladies’ Nights and outings and their contribution to the life and work of this Lodge was immense in creating happiness and brotherly love. Sylvia suffered from Cancer for very many years, but she had a very positive attitude towards this illness which we are sure kept her going for a period well beyond her allotted span and was a great inspiration to all. Bro. Jack Warner also reported that Mrs. Pat Clark, the widow of W. Bro. Dennis Clark a previous and very successful Almoner of this Lodge was not at all well. Bro. Derek Weaver sent his apologies for his absence from the Lodge, but it has transpired that Bro. Derek went on holiday to Gibraltar, and while there contracted pneumonia and ended up in hospital. It appears that he is now home and we hope is making a good recovery. The Lodge was then closed according to ancient custom, the Book of Remembrance was duly closed and the Closing Ode was sung. The brethren then retired to the Bar and the Festive Board.   W. Bro. Cyril Evans, PGStdB., PPJGW. Chaplain.