On
Thursday
the 26th July 2007 St John the Baptist Lodge No. 39 celebrated 275
years of continuous working in Exeter.
At a special meeting the Lodge was supported by the Junior
Grand Warden of
the United Grand Lodge of England, Rt.W.Bro. Captain Norman
Lloyd-Edwards. Rt.W.Bro. Lloyd-Edwards informed the Lodge that he was
present at the express wish of the Grand Master. He spoke in glowing
terms of the diligence and commitment the Lodge had shown during its
long and distinguished history, being the oldest Lodge outside London.
The
Lodge
was further honoured by the presence of Rt.W.Bro. M.T. Penny,
Provincial
Grand Master; W.Bro. P. Galt Deputy Provincial Grand
Master;
W.Bro. C.C.
Turner, W.Bro. Rev. P.L. Baycock, W.Bro. M. Eglinton and W.Bro. D. Webber, Assistant
Provincial Grand Masters; Rt. W.Bro. R.O. Osborn Past
Provincial
Grand Master; W.Bro. R.D.M. Penny Past Assistant
Provincial Grand
Master;
and W.Bro. M. St. J. French Assistant
Grand Registrar;. Also present were W.Bro. I. Kingsbury Provincial
Senior Grand Warden; W.Bro. Colin Davis Provincial
Junior
Grand Warden; together with many officers of
Provincial Grand Lodge.
W.Bro. P.
Galt read the Warrant of Deputation of the Lodge. It is one of only
four of its kind known to exist and is the oldest of those four. It is
the only document known to bear the signature of the then Grand
Secretary, W. Bro. Will Reid.
The Lodge was pleased to receive a brief history written and delivered
by W.Bro. J. Cornish PAGDC and an Oration given by W.Bro. Rev. G. Usher Provincial
Grand Chaplain, both of which were received with
much applause.
Following the meeting the Brethren enjoyed a sumptuous banquet after
which the
Junior Grand Warden and the Provincial Grand Master both spoke of their
pleasure at being able to support the Lodge on this very special
occasion.
An evening
full of reflection on 275 years service, diligence and commitment was
passed in peace order and harmony with much innocent mirth
and fraternal good humour.
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