Thought for the day :"Archaeologists never discover anything new."
Wet
So Sunday !
Susie has made the Christmas Cake and it is on a top shelf to keep it out of harm's way and Puppy Dogs.
Dogs on Sentry Duty while I was out working today.
Quick walk around the lower quarter.
This area has been cleared with Chris last Friday,
Another tree down but fallen over the river so will have to be reduced in due course.
A pile of undergrowth and brush piled ready for drying, the rest of the area is very wet.
Power connected back to the Yurt so we can start with the de-humidifier for the winter months. Will have to get the bedding out and seal the mattresses for the duration. Job for another day.
Back to the log pile, and cleared the small stuff and put it under cover. Again, we will have to reduce the remainder.
And this is what happens when the trees have all gone and the light is greater than in the past.
As a result the ponds are full of weed and will require some serious clearance.
And another Sunday task, is clearing the Ducks and Chickens. Not the nicest of jobs but has to be done.
And some runner ducks.
Susie still has some veg around.
And a cup of tea.
Wet most of the day - but started with a bit of sunshine which was nice - and allowed a walk along the Donkey Trail.
Today's TillyVision - happiness is a favourite log.
In other news. It appears that Cwmcych has suffered storm damage ..
Thought for the day :"I've just seen a sign in the local supermarket saying..."TURKEY £29". That's at least £350 cheaper than Jet2"
Wet
Chris came across if only for four hours - three of which it rained. But we cleared the leaves under the Magnolia trees, and managed to get one trailer of wood up to the house from the lower quarter. Sadly the tractor was not up to getting up the lawn and we ended up using the winch to pull it up.
Chopped a lot of spare branches from the lower quarter and cleared a lot of the lower foliage.
No photos as it was too wet - maybe tomorrow when I go down to see what progress we made.
Used a lot of Chain Saw, and cropper work. But it was very wet underground.
Moved the rest of the Geraniums into the Polytunnel for Susie to finish trimming.
Thought for the day; "Feeling Lonely? Stick a coffee cup to the roof of your car. Then everyone will wave at you as you drive…"
wet
Presentation of the Centenary Warrent
Some musing on the occasion of the 100th Anniversary of St Teilo Lodge no 4755
October 1983, a Thursday evening and a poor candidate in a state of darkness met his first experience of Freemasonry at St Teilo Lodge.
There are Masons older and more senior to me, but somehow from a 29 year old new member twenty years younger than anyone else, 42 years later I find myself as the senior Past Master of this Lodge, with imposter syndrome.
I share a few thoughts.
40 years ago it was normal to wait 2-3 years between application and initiation. As a pipe smoker I bought my tobacco from my tobacconist, W Bro TCR Lewis, who when I mentioned my wish to follow my father’s footsteps, (I hadn't learned of "Lewis" then), he took me up to Ernie Lawson of Lawson's Frozen Foods, to introduce me and see if I was "suitable" material.
They became my sponsors and I thus joined this Fraternity.
We had ten meetings a year then, and without fail, we brought in three candidates each year, three first degree, second and then third, all in a year. In my year my fellow candidates followed me year by year, though all the offices, and each installed our successor. W Bro Malcolm Silcox, honorary member was the third candidate of my year.
Lodges were full. Festive Boards were always in excess of 60. As Chief steward I recall calculating the 28 members with the 43 visitors and advising the price for the meal at the next meeting. All visitors dined free. The cost of the entire festive board was calculated with the proceeds of the bar, and the cost per member would balance the books for the next meeting.
The normal festive Board would have at least 4 sprigs, Junior Warden and Senior Warden as we have now, but the deacons would have their own tables, and at installations, the Inner Guard also fficiated. As hosting officers it was expected for us to call a steward and buy the round for the entire table. We perambulated from deacon onwards, so our counterparts would ensure the first round was available at the table. Stewards would hover behind the past masters who would indicate where to take drinks to friends and counterparts. It was this way in which young members would learn who was who, and also who bought drinks and who was less generous. The master's bottle of Whisky and Gin would circulate anticlockwise for every member and visitor. Stewards had to be at the beck and call of the Wardens and Deacons. Rarely did a visitor pay for a drink. Stewards worked hard - but had the option of four more lodges to sit down and dine and drink free.
It was for this reason that the bar could support the free dining. And members knew that they would pay on their own lodge but could dine and drink free for four more.
Three toasts, Queen and the Craft, Grand Master, Grand Officers and the DC would announce that "the duty was off tobacco" or "those who must should" and a box of cigars would circulate around the room. Though many smoked cigarettes instead - the Master furnished the cigars. The Senior Warden would furnish the large block of Stilton for the after proceedings, and often the port would be passed. No hanging around outside the front door in those days.
Originally all Llanelli lodges fired the Queen and the Craft. Then certain Grand Officers of other lodges who felt they knew best took it on themselves to dictate that the Queen was not a member of the Craft and therefore this firing should be left out. It was when I was DC that we fought hard to get it reinstated for St Teilo, and Province gave permission, as long as the Tyler's toast was fired loudly and not silently as was traditional. This is why we are still different today.
The Visitor's song was sung for years by Dai the Painter, a very distinctive Past Master from Burry Port, who was remarkable because his teeth did not fit properly and the rendition was very sibilant!.
The same Grand Officers also felt that they should dictate regarding the costing of the festive board and allowing visitors to dine free. It turned out that three of the lodges were very successful, but two found that their members were happy to visit for free meals but were failing to attend their own lodges and were losing money. And so visitors had to pay or be paid for. St Teilo once again was the Black sheep and held out for almost a year after the decision, but were brought into line with the threat that the hall would be "withheld" for use. We knew when we were beaten.
St Teilo always had its own variations for the ritual and each Deacon would have to learn the minor differences, so by the time they got to the Chair it was second nature. For many years the lodge was influenced by a strong secretary nick-named the Rottweiller, and we lost many good members from being told that they were not good enough to go through the Chair as their ritual was too poor. In my many years as DC, and three times through the Chair I fought hard to remove this bullying. Our Ritual remains important and has not suffered.
Ladies nights were great affairs. Numbers were never a problem and in my early days no-one was able to invite a guest until you were in the Chair itself. Even wardens were not allowed to bring counterparts. Candidates were on a three-line whip - and the blindfolded DC never failed to miraculously find the new members with the Spot Prize. Live Music was regular. Numbers lapsed over the years and in my three ladies’ nights the composition of the evening change drastically. St Teilo always had ladies’ gifts and the Master was responsible for arranging everything, flowers, settings, gifts, reception. (My wife reminds me that she did all the work). Other Llanelli Lodges had variations, one with no gifts at all. Some had committees. With us the Master was responsible to ensure that all costs were covered.
The Ladies’ Night was a high point of the social activity of the year. But the Whist drive early in the year allowed new members to meet socially, couples changing table after each hand - ladies up a table, gents down a table. Card tables are still stacked in the roof area. Teilo Tavern, members of the Lodge only, where the members of the Lodge entertained the Ladies, often with interesting results. Summer Outing, to various venues including the Gower, Black Boy, Stable Door Laugharne, and various music venues.
The Master's lady was responsible for arranging the installation tea with a small book being handed to her after the Master Elect night for her to make the arrangements with the ladies. Partners of Officers were expected to assist with the tea. In my first installation I made the mistake of advising my wife to invite wives of all Past Masters instead of Officers, and had the awkward task of having to approach the Senior Past Master and inform him that the invitation for his wife to attend had to be rescinded. Yes the Rottweiller again!
Masonic Dress. Stewards wore bow tie and Dinner Jacket, others dark suit. In Trevor Kelway Lodge, Dinner Jacket was worn until they received Provincial Honours. Other Llanelli Lodges required Morning Suit at Junior Warden, but it was not required in St Teilo. I treated myself to my full Scottish kilt and Bonnie Prince Charlie for my installation, which cost about the same as Morning Dress, and did not wear stripes until my first Provincial Appointment. Seven years after the Chair in those days.
Installations were complicated things in the early days. We opened in first second and third degrees for the Provincial team to enter. Dropped to second for the obligation, resumed to the third and then the Inner Working. We NEVER closed in shortened form. Not the done thing!
In 2000, our 75th anniversary, and the Millenium year, my second time in the Chair, I invited the inimitable Willi Wood to start our tradition of having a Burns Night Celebration in our January meeting. In 2006, due to sudden illness I deputised for Willi, who is sadly missed, and have continued our tradition since then.
The Masonic Council, now a committee of representatives, was an open meeting attended by almost all the Past Masters. The Council had its own Almoner, elected annually and funds for providing for widows. I was Almoner for seven years until the work was taken over by the Province.
Many things have changed in the last 42 years. Some for the good, some I miss with nostalgia. I have had the opportunity of perambulating with three sets of Wardens up to the Chair and made many fine friends and I treasure the innocent competitiveness, friendship and fraternity.
When I joined, Llanelli was described as the Province within a Province. During this time we have changed the lodges here from being inward looking to being active through the Province, indeed developing relationships with other provinces.
It is with great pride that I celebrate with you all our 100th Anniversary .
For the ceremony I gave an explanation of the 2nd Degree Tracing Board which went with only one stumble. Pity, but there was something dead in the hall and there were flies everywhere annoying the candidates and me. Oh Well!
It was good to see a full festive board - like some old days.
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