Benevolent Lodge No. 303 in Teignmouth hosted a memorable Grand Officers’ Night this week, blending centuries-old ceremony with a very modern celebration: the 100th birthday of one of its most respected members, Gerald “Gerry” Rooke.
The evening opened in traditional fashion before the lodge handed the gavel to the head of Devonshire Freemasons, Provincial Grand Master Nicholas Ball. With quiet authority, he took charge of proceedings and installed a team of senior officers for the night, including Assistant Provincial Grand Master Timothy Golder as Senior Warden, Rick Parnell as Junior Warden, Geoff Taylor and Barry Page as Deacons, former Provincial Grand Master Michael Penny as Inner Guard, Mike Twitching as Director of Ceremonies, and visiting officer Christopher Oliver as Chaplain.
The main ceremony was the passing of Brother John Pearce to the Second Degree, conducted in full by Nicholas Ball himself, including the traditional “entrusting” of the candidate. Timothy Golder delivered both the Charge in the South East Corner and the extended explanation of the working tools. Time was tight, so the tracing board was left for another day, but the quality of the ritual set the tone for the whole evening.
A particularly moving moment came with the reading of the “ancient minutes”. Instead of going back a century, the lodge chose the minutes of September 1962, recording the initiation of a young man named Gerald Rooke – now celebrating his hundredth year and more than 63 years of Masonic life.
After photographs, the meeting resumed with a charitable challenge: to raise £1,000 in Gerry’s honour. Then it was downstairs for a three-course dinner for the more than 80 attendees, complete with a spirit draw and lively raffle, which included a headline prize of 100 Guineas.
During the toasts, Bill Daw offered a heartfelt tribute to his friend. Gerry replied with characteristic warmth and humour, speaking about his birthday celebrations and the many Provincial Grand Masters he has served under. He was presented with a gift from the various Masonic Provinces in Devonshire, and also shared his birthday cards from Their Majesties The King and Queen, and from HRH The Duke of Kent. There was even a gift of a bottle of Plymouth Gin, the distillery joking that they had heard it his consumption of the gin might explain his longevity!
By the end of the night, the charity challenge had been truly achieved with the total reaching a staggering £1,710 after an initial additional donation to bring it to a round £1,600 and then the guinea-prize winner donated his winnings back into the pot. The funds will support the Provincial Grand Master’s Personal Fund and a charity chosen by Gerry.
Ritual, Generosity, history, and laughter all in one room. Not a bad way to mark a Century!
