Russ Woodland Advanced into George Norman Lodge
At the George Norman Lodge on Monday 30th September a very special advancement took place. After 27 years as a Craft Mason Russ Woodland Assistant Provincial Grand Master in the Craft was advanced into Mark Masonry in splendid fashion by none other than the Craft Grand Master, Ray Guthrie.
Ray, who has spent the last 45 years as a Mark Master Mason and of course is a former Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Somerset. Ray had not presided over a Mark Ceremony for over 10 years but after taking the ritual book on holiday with him, he and the lodge officers performed a superb ceremony.
Garry Sharp, the Craft Provincial Director of Ceremonies as Master Overseer certainly enjoyed performing his ritual to the candidate! Other senior members of the Craft were also in attendance including Barrie Palmer, another one of Ray’s assistants and Ray Conneely Provincial Grand Mentor. Russ said “It was a great honour to be advanced by Ray and he very much enjoyed the ceremony”!
The Lodge also voted to donate £500 to the Somerset 2028 MBF Festival. The raffle raised £135 and your humble narrator won a nice bottle of Red! All the members and visitors very much enjoyed an excellent ceremony and a delicious festive board!
Mike Norton (visitor from 1656)
