W. Bro John Shepherd PAGDC of Quest Lodge was presented with his 50 years certificate for services to Freemasonry…
W. Bro John Shepherd PAGDC of Quest Lodge was presented with his 50 years certificate for services to Freemasonry by W. Bro Derek G Webber PSGD Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
This is the recitation given on the day.
The Worshipful Master and brethren of Quest lodge No 7883 have given me the very great honour privilege and indeed pleasure in presenting to you our Provincial Grand Masters certificates marking your having served 50 years as a freemason in this Wonderful Province of Devonshire also London, Cheshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
I am presenting the certificate to you on behalf of Rt Worshipful Brother Michael T Penny who particularly wanted to present it to you on behalf of R.W. Bro Ian Kingsbury, Provincial Grand Master, but is otherwise disposed and has asked me to present it on his behalf.
You were initiated into this lodge on the 20th of January 1973, Past to the Second Degree or that of a fellowcraft on the 17th of February 1973 and Raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on the 17th of November 1973.
You are a member of Blundell’s Lodge No 5467 also Pleiades and Blundell’s Royal Arch Chapters. Also a member of Pleiades & St Boniface Rose Croix Chapters. Your interest in becoming a freemason started on you leaving Burnley in Lancashire. You are a very keen churchman, and you were presented by the then Bishop of Burnley with a pair of Masonic gold cufflinks with the square and compasses. Whilst travelling to London early one morning on a train having a breakfast meeting with a director of Renwick’s, the group you had joined as chief accountant, he said to you I did not know you were on the square to which you replied I am not but I am interested, his reply was you have just taken your first step. It was then that you joined Quest lodge No 7883 at that time there was a waiting list of two years before you could join even though at that time Quest lodge held two meetings on their Saturday one in the afternoon and one in the evening.
You came to love Devon when you were posted here with the Royal Air Force during your National Service stationed at Prawle Point Salcombe. Later you spent many holidays in Salcombe with your family your Son and Daughter Tim and Sue. It’s lovely that your son Tim is here to share in this 50th celebration.
You have always been very keen on charities you were charity steward of Blundell’s lodge for 16 years. You were charity steward of Stockport lodge No 9562 and founding Treasurer of Prestbury lodge No 8880 where you became Worshipful Master in 1982. You say your greatest time in freemasonry was becoming treasurer of the Wake Fund an idea of Rt Worshipful Brother Robin Osborn set up to complete the raising of 1 million pounds. The interest on the money invested each year would be given to non Masonic charities.
The realisation of Rt Worshipful Brother William Alexander Keels dream was realised under your stewardship. You were also treasurer of the 2007/12 festival which raised over 3 million pounds. You say you find this work very rewarding. You say you owe a great to Douglas Penny, Michaels father, he encouraged you to keep up your membership of Quest Lodge when you had to move away for work reasons. Indeed he was your proposer into Blundell’s lodge No5467 he said you needed a London lodge. You and Douglas worked together to draught The Bible presentation which has now been used by many other lodges.
You also assured him that the Blundell’s Address to the brethren would be continued as you instructed. You became Worshipful Master of Blundell’s Lodge on two occasions, the second being in 2017 when the lodge met for the first time at the school in Tiverton and it coincided with the 300 centenary year of Grand Lodge.
Brother John 50 years is a long time and you will have seen many changes in the world this country and indeed here in the West Country over that long period. You have lived through a world war under five monarchs although one was never crowned and seven Provincial Grand Masters in this Province. Freemasonry has changed and I suppose like Society it must continue to change in order to attract and retain new members, but the basic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth remain principles you have upheld throughout your life. 50 years and one day ago on the 20th of January 1973 you laid your foundation here in the North East part of Quest lodge No 7883 and you have raised a superstructure perfect in its parts and honourable to you the builder, Brother John I congratulate you. You are an example to us all.
I hope you continue to enjoy your masonry but more importantly we may enjoy your company. Now on behalf of our Provincial Grand Master Rt Worshipful Brother Ian Kingsbury who sends to you his best wishes and warmest congratulations, I have much pleasure in presenting his certificate to you, but I would first like to read the citation. Many congratulations. After Photos were taken all retired for an excellent festive board, ending yet again another very happy Masonic Evening.
Derek G Webber PSGD Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master.