Vigilantes Lodge celebrates 70th birthday with a new web site – and a spooky collection…
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Vigilantes Lodge looked to both past and the future at its 70th birthday celebration – not only was the founding Worshipful Master’s grandson at the anniversary meeting, but the Lodge has just created the newest Lodge web site in the Province.
In the temple, members received an explanation of the First Degree Tracing Board from W Bro Z Zamo, writes Lodge member Karl Hedison. It was a masterful performance, and those present said they had enjoyed their daily advancement with a piece of ritual that isn’t often seen.
Downstairs at the Festive Board, the ladies were gathered ready to join in the festivities. The Vigilantes were honoured to welcome 15 visitors, as well as the Ladies, meaning the dining room at Cleethorpes Masonic Hall was full of atmosphere, laughter and merriment.
Spread across the dining tables were replicas of the original consecration programmes, that members and visitors alike enjoyed reading and reminiscing over familiar names, shared histories, and sharing those stories with younger brethren.
One name stood out the most; WBro E Rudkin, the first Worshipful Master of the Vigilantes Lodge, whose grandson Malcolm was at the meeting. He has been a good friend of the Vigilantes for a long time, regularly visiting and even stepping in to perform ritual too. This time, he entertained everyone with a rousing toast to the founders, telling tales of his Grandfather and other prominent Masons who helped to shape the towns of Grimsby and Cleethorpes, and pulled together to form the Vigilantes.
Malcolm asked those gathered to imagine those founders were sitting with us that evening, and to think about what questions, thoughts and fellowship could be shared. I’m sure they’d be proud to see the newly refurbished Temple, and to see the Vigilantes Lodge which they worked so hard to create still going strong after 70 years.
The Vigilantes enjoyed a wonderful four-course Festive Board, which had been carefully put together to be a modern interpretation of the original 1953 menu, followed by a celebration cake and a cupcake for each of the Ladies to take home.
The evening drew to an official close with the drawing of a well-stocked raffle, with bottles and Easter eggs going to the winners, and more than £200 raised.
The traditional copper collection, even raised a spookily specific sum of £19.53..! Unofficially, the celebrations and fellowship continued in the bar until the early hours. Overall a fantastic evening was had all around, with new and old friends, and the Vigilantes Lodge looks forward to honouring its founders with many more years of happy Freemasonry.
