On Friday 3rd January 2025, Perseverance held its January meeting, it having been deferred from the Wednesday which was a Bank Holiday. One of the attendees was the PGM, RWBro. Nicholas Ball, who was on a private visit but was to make the Presentation of a 50 year Service to Freemasonry Certificate to WBro. David Wheaton.
He gave a wide ranging explanation of David’s personal life before returning to cover his Masonic involvements. David had joined Freemasonry whilst a student at Oxford. There he was Initiated into Apollo Lodge No 357. He was quickly Passed and Raised at the following Lodge meetings. After leaving University, Masonic pursuits then had to take something of a back seat, for a while, as he completed his training and started his career as a Solicitor.
He joined Perseverance in 1989 and was able to grow his Masonic involvements. At the same time he was increasing his commitments in the local business community, which included reaching the role of Chairman of the Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce. In 2000 he became WM and has now progressed to the rank of PPrJGW. Later in 2025 he will be invested into the role of Provincial Grand Registrar. He was Exalted into the Royal Arch in Perseverance Chapter and became First Principal in 2008. He has also been involved in Knights Templar.
With the presentation completed, the other significant piece of work at that meeting was a lecture on the 1st degree tracing board (Perseverance version) which was delivered by W Bro John Eaton in a very relaxed and extremely competent style. I’m sure everyone present will have picked up some nuggets of knowledge from this.
When all the rest of the business had been completed and the Lodge duly closed, it was back downstairs to pack regalia away before moving into the candlelit dining room. At Perseverance the January Festive Board celebrates the Festival of St John the Evangelist which is an important event in Freemasonry and in the history of this Lodge.
Two meetings previously on Wednesday 6th November another 50th year Service to Freemasonry Certificate had been presented (from memory) to WBro Michael Daniels by VWBro Martin Mitten. He spent a considerable while covering Michael’s life, work and especially time on the professional cycle racing circuit. He finally moved on to Michael’s Masonic career which was very extensive culminating in his currently being Treasurer in eighteen (yes 18) Lodges, Chapters and other degrees!
He had been Initiated into the Craft while working in Staffordshire in October 74. His progress in Masonry was slow and steady while he built his career. After some early time in Ireland, work took him to more and more destinations worldwide. In the 1990s and 2000s he joined and became deeply involved in a whole variety of Lodges, Chapters and other Orders both in Staffordshire and Devon. It was towards the end of this period that he joined 164 in January 2010. One could produce a very long book about both his Personal and Masonic achievements.
As this meeting was held shortly before Remembrance Sunday the Lodge performed the Ceremony of the Empty Chair. The Empty or Vacant Chair ceremony dates back to 1875, a decade after the close of the American Civil War when it was used in Masonic Lodges to pay tribute to those who did not return from the war. Since then it has been used by many Lodges at Remembrance Day to pay homage to those Brother Masons who fell during WWI, WWII, and other wars. This can be a very emotive ceremony, well worth seeing if it is new to you.
Previous to these, back in September there had been yet another 50th presentation to WBro Michael Jones. On that occasion the presentation was made by WBro Reuben Ayres, AsstPGM, in a very friendly and engaging manner. Unfortunately no photographs were taken of the ceremony. Michael was a Lewis who was initiated into 164 in February 1974 having been proposed by his father who was a PM of the Lodge. As a youth he was a chorister at the Parish Church in Sidmouth. His working career had been as a serving police officer for 30 years in the Devon and Somerset Force. He had progressed steadily in the Craft and has reached the rank of PPrJGW. He has been, and is, involved in a considerable number of other Degrees and Orders
Also at that meeting W Bro Chris Jones said a few words about his exploits. W Bro Jones, a visitor, was on an epic journey, walking the entire coastline of the British Mainland (7,500 miles) to raise funds for the MCF, particularly their support for mental health. He gave a brief but very interesting report of his reasons for doing this and some of his encounters thus far.
Arthur W Rowe PPrGSwdB (Som)