The Ceremony for the Dedication of the Surrey District Banner was held at a meeting of Surrey Tabernacle No 27 at Surbiton on Tuesday 23rd January 2018.
The Tabernacle was opened by the High Priest, V.E..Kt.Pt Simon McCarthy. The Tabernacle then received the Grand Superintendent and High Prelate District No 15 Rt Em Kt Pt Jack Love who took the seat of High Priest in the East, introduced the officers present and took the minutes.
VIII Kt P Alan J Baverstock CHW, AGDC, PGVIP, was admitted and advised that R Ill Kt Pt Ian Trevor Dudley Smith, GCPO, Assistant Grand High Priest, the Dedicating Officer, was in the ante room and demanded admission to the Tabernacle. The Assistant Grand High Priest entered and took his seat.
The next item on the agenda was to Dedicate the District Banner. The Dedicating Officer instructed the Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies to form an escort and introduce the Banner into the Tabernacle. The Banner Bearer was V Em Kt Pt Peter Vosser and the two Escort Knight Priests were Kt.Pt. Chris Eley and Kt.Pt. Tim Ford.
The Dedicating Director of Ceremonies and the Escort to the Banner retired in procession. The Escort returned with the Banner veiled and took up position in the East before the Altar. The Dedicating Director of Ceremonies invited the Grand Superintendent to accept the Banner of his District and the Grand Superintendent requested the Dedicating Officer to dedicate the Banner.
The Dedicating Officer directed that the Banner is placed in position and unveiled. The Escort resumed their places and the Dedicating Officer delivered a Prayer.
The Hymn, Now thank we all our God, was sung whilst the Banner was paraded and returned to the East. After the Dedicatory Prayer the Dedicating Officer dedicated and set apart the Banner for the service of Surrey District No.15 on the role of the Grand College of The Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests and Order of Holy Wisdom.
The Dedicating Director of Ceremonies directed that the Banner be placed in position and the Banner Bearer and Escort resumed their places and remained standing while the Dedicating Officer pronounced the Benediction. The Grand Superintendent briefly addressed the Dedicating Officer and thanked him concerning the ceremony.
The Tabernacle was closed and a Congregation of the Order of Holy Wisdom was opened. The Aspirants were admitted, and having undergone purification, were lead to each of the seven pillars where they were questioned and agreed to comply with certain instructions for the rest of their lives.
The Congregation of the Order of Holy Wisdom was closed and after the customary group photograph the members of Surrey Tabernacle and their guests then sat down to a most enjoyable festive board at the Croydon Masonic Hall.
Article and photographs by Chris Eley
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