By Ed Thompson

On Saturday 20th June, Technical Lodge No.5666 performed a re-enactment of a First Degree Ceremony as its main business.

Due to holidays, other engagements and some ill health, numbers were slightly lower and some stand ins were required. These empty slots were filled in quickly and conscientiously: W Bro Phillip Daniels agreed to be Tyler; W Bro Keith Challis stood in as IPM; and W Bro Steve Berry acted as Secretary. Over a hundred years of combined masonic experience ensured proceedings were very smooth and they kept us younger officers on track. W Bro Allan McKay drew a wry smile when he was asked to be 'Candidate' by Lecture Master W Bro Jonathon Sykes. 

It was 6.30pm when Director of Ceremonies W Bro Rob Atkinson kicked off proceedings before handing over to the Worshipful Master Arash Vesali to formally open the Lodge. The Secretary then temporarily retired to ensure 'Mr McKay' had signed his 'necessary paperwork' and was in attendance. A report was given by Inner Guard Bro Paul Draper to the Junior Warden Bro Nandakumar Thekkootupisharam and the Secretary returned to his place after informing the Worshipful Master of 'Mr McKay's circumstances. 

The tyler than knocked and Bro Draper informed Bro Nanda of an alarm. 'Mr McKay' was then admitted in due and antient form before being conducted by Junior Deacon Malcom Hussain Gambles. 'Mr McKay' then became 'Brother McKay' as he was obligated by the Worshipful Master.

Next up was the main bodies of ritual. Bro John Hemingway informed Bro McKay of the three Lesser Lights in Freemasonry. I communicated the Secrets of an Entered Apprentice Freemason after which they were exchanged with the Wardens. Senior Warden Bro Adam Tunnicliffe invested Bro McKay with his Entered Apprentice apron - which was strange seeing Allan in that piece of kit!

Bro David Turner explained the significance of the North East Corner before Bro Draper temporarily absented his Inner Guard post to claim Bro Allan's attention to the Warrant of the Lodge. W Bro Sykes explained the symbolism behind the Working Tools of an Entered Apprentice before Bro Bill Turner-Bone delivered the Antient Charge. 

Bro McKay listened attentively to both Wardens when he learnt of the answers to the questions needed to advance to the next degree. He then retired and the re-enactment was complete. Due to the heat, it was quite a physically challenging ceremony but everyone persevered and completed their duties heartfully.

The only other major business that an announcement was made that our 'candidate' W Bro Allan McKay would be taking over the vacant office of Almoner - this was very well received by the Brethren in attendance.

The festive board was smaller than usual but no less enjoyable. The food was cooling and delicious, the Whiskey flowed generously and all Brethren left in great spirits at about 9.30pm, out to a light and pleasantly cooler Summer's night.

Tuesday 9th June 2026 - By Anthony James ProvGStdB

The Chapter was opened in due form at 6.30pm prompt, with the usual sense of order and ceremony. The minutes of the previous Chapter meeting were then presented and duly confirmed.

The MEZ, M.E. Rob Atkinson, then called for a ballot for Bro. John Hemingway to become a member of Technical Chapter No. 5666. The ballot proved to be in favour, and it was confirmed that Bro. John Hemingway will be exalted at our July meeting. This was very pleasing news and will no doubt be a memorable evening for both Bro. John and the Chapter.

The MEZ then invited the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard Team to retire from the Chapter in order to prepare for their presentation, entitled Knights Templar Meets Chapter. After a short interval, the team were readmitted, this time dressed in their Knights Templar regalia.

It has to be said, they made a very impressive entrance. The regalia brought a real sense of colour, dignity and tradition to the room, and immediately gave the evening a different atmosphere. There is always something striking about seeing another Order represented in full dress, particularly when it is presented with such pride and respect.

Unfortunately, due to having to attend to a medical issue outside the Lodge, I missed much of the presentation itself. However, from what I did see, it was clear that a great deal of effort had gone into it, and the appearance of the Bodyguard Team certainly left a strong impression.

For the purposes of this blog, and to support the theme of the evening, I have prepared the following piece on the Knights Templar. I hope it gives some useful background to the Order, its history, its symbolism, and its continuing place within Masonic life today.

The year is 1099, and on 15 July, the walls of Jerusalem finally fell.

For weeks, the city had endured fear, fire, hunger and prayer. Beyond its defences stood the army of the First Crusade, exhausted, bloodied, and driven by a belief that God Himself had led them there. When the walls were breached and the gates fell, Jerusalem was no longer a distant dream whispered across Europe. It was a prize, a battlefield, and a Holy City about to be drowned in history.

Yet from the violence of that day would come something even more enduring than conquest. It would give rise to a brotherhood of warrior monks, sworn to poverty, faith and the sword. They would become known to the world as the Knights Templar.

In 1118, nine knights, led by Hugues de Payens, made the decision to dedicate their lives to the protection and service of the Holy Land. They approached King Baldwin II of Jerusalem, who granted them quarters on the Temple Mount, within part of the al-Aqsa Mosque complex. This site was traditionally believed to stand on the ground once occupied by the Temple of Solomon.

It was from this association that the knights took their name. In Latin, they were known as Pauperes commilitones Christi Templique Salomonici, meaning the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. In time, they became more commonly known as the Knights of the Temple, and later simply as the Knights Templar.

Today, the full title of the Order is The United Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta in England and Wales and its Provinces Overseas. It is widely regarded as the longest title of any Masonic Order, and it reflects the Order’s historic connection with the Temple, the Holy Land, and the later traditions associated with St John, Rhodes and Malta.

The earliest references to Templar activity in the British Isles can be traced to Ireland. In England, the first recorded Masonic references appear at Portsmouth in 1777, where the Knights Templar degree was worked under the authority of Royal Arch Chapters as an appendant degree.

By 1791, a Grand Conclave had been formed. It consisted of seven appendant Encampments, with Thomas Dunckerley as Grand Master. Yorkshire has a particularly strong link with this history. The oldest Knight Templar unit in the county is now based in Hull, although its origins lie in York. It can show a continuous existence from 1778, and today works under a warrant granted in 1791, following the establishment of the Grand Conclave. This is the Ancient York Conclave of Redemption “B” Time Immemorial.

At that time, Freemasonry still had a clear Christian foundation and was worked in five degrees under one Lodge warrant. The first three degrees were those we now recognise as Craft Masonry. The fourth was connected with the Chapter, and the fifth with the Knights Templar.

Over the years, Craft Masonry and the Royal Arch moved away from that original Christian basis. Even so, traces of the old relationship between the degrees can still be seen in parts of the present-day Knights Templar ceremonies. These links give the Order a strong sense of continuity and help to preserve its connection with earlier Masonic practice.

Membership of the Knights Templar is more specific than membership of Craft Freemasonry. In standard Freemasonry, a candidate is required to profess a belief in a Supreme Being. For the Knights Templar, however, the requirements go further. A candidate must already be a Master Mason, must have been exalted into the Holy Royal Arch, and must profess a Trinitarian Christian faith.

In the Province of North and East Yorkshire, there are now thirteen Preceptories and several hundred members. These members are known as Sir Knights and Brother Knights.

What makes the story of the Knights Templar so enduring is the unusual nature of the original medieval Order. They were not simply knights in armour. They were men bound by religious vows, living under rule and discipline, while also taking the field as soldiers of the Crusades. Few institutions in history have combined such different worlds so completely. They were part monastery, part army, and part international brotherhood, created to protect pilgrims and serve the Holy Land.

That mixture of faith, service, sacrifice and military duty is what gave the Knights Templar their lasting fascination. It is also why their name still carries such power today, many centuries after the fall of Jerusalem and the disappearance of the original medieval Order.

The fascination of the Knights Templar lies not only in what they were, but in what they became: warrior monks, bankers, builders, symbols of Christian chivalry, victims of politics, and, centuries later, an enduring inspiration within Masonic tradition.

By the time I was able to re-enter the Chapter, the presentation had unfortunately come to an end. From the comments made afterwards, it was clear that it had been very well received by the Companions present, and that the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard Team had delivered an interesting and worthwhile presentation.

Bro. Ken Wright was due to receive his Chapter Certificate during the evening, but sadly he was unable to attend. It is hoped that this will now be presented to him at our next meeting, when he can receive it properly and with the recognition it deserves.

The usual reports were then given, along with any other business. Greetings were received from visiting Companions, and the Chapter was closed in due form with the usual ceremony and dignity.

We then retired to the Festive Board, where the evening continued in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. As always, it was good to enjoy good food, good company and plenty of friendly conversation after the formal business of the Chapter had concluded.

Although I missed much of the presentation itself, the evening still proved to be both enjoyable and memorable. It was pleasing to see the Chapter well supported, to welcome the presence of the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard Team, and to look ahead to Bro. John Hemingway’s exaltation at our July meeting.

All in all, it was another successful evening for Technical Chapter No. 5666, combining ceremony, companionship, Masonic interest and the fellowship that makes these meetings so worthwhile.

By Ed Thompson, Senior Deacon, Principal Sojourner  29th May 2026

Technical Chapter were on the road again. The drive to Northallerton took just over 90 minutes. I drove and was in good company - E Comp Eddie Wildman of Kingston Chapter No.1010 along with Technical Companion Nandakumar Thekkootu Pisharam (‘Nanda’). It was mine and Nanda’s first time in Northallerton however Eddie had previously visited Anchor Lodge No.1337 on a separate occasion, but not their Chapter. So, it promised to be an interesting experience for all of us.

We arrived in decent time and were warmly welcomed to Northallerton Masonic Hall by Companions already there, of which there were many. Anchor Chapter is well supported, and their companions commit themselves heartfully.

I did not just simply need to see their strong attendance to understand their enthusiasm as a Chapter. At Humber Chapter No.57’s installation earlier in the year, they brought 8 companions to visit. Technical Chapter brought 7.

 On that evening, the Southern Travelling Sceptre was claimed by Anchor as they had the most visitors present on that occasion.  There are 3 Travelling Sceptres in YNER Chapter Province, each representing the geographical areas – Southern, Central and Northern. To claim all 3, a remarkable feat that Anchor Chapter achieved, the successful Chapter with etch its name on the Provincial Wall of Fame. Falling short at Humber Chapter’s Installation by just 1 companion, Anchor kindly agreed to relinquish the Southern Sceptre to Technical, once they achieved their noble goal.

Their main business was very informative and insightful. Provided by information from Solomon –UGLE’s online learning platform – each Chapter officer explained the history and meaning behind their respective roles. Further education was also given on some of the Chapter banners. After which, they balloted for a candidate to be Exalted in their September meeting. The Sceptres were then presented and handed back to their respective geographic areas.

Companions Nandakumar Thekkootu Pisharam and Ed Thompson

presented with Southern Travelling Sceptre

Companions of Anchor Chapter presenting the Travelling Sceptres to Companions of their respective regions.

Eddie, who was great company in my passenger seat on the long drive North, gave his regards firstly from the Supreme Grand Chapter of England and secondly from Kingston Chapter No.1010. Stood with Nanda, I gave regards from Technical Chapter No.5666.

The festive board was filled with warmth, fun and great fraternal cheer. Although football talk was frequent, as a Hull City supporter, I only made occasional digs at the Middlesbrough fans present - of which there were many.

Whilst Middlesbrough’s position in the final – placed in there retrospectively by an Independent Football Panel after their controversial semifinal defeat - was a dubious one, Eddie, Nanda and I were in the right place on that Friday evening. It was a truly fantastic night and well worth the long travel and late night.

Technical Lodge now has the Travelling Gavel in Craft as well as the Southern Travelling Sceptre in Chapter. We now look forward to welcoming visitors to our proud Masonic Unit which we all love and cherish.

L to R: Companion Nandakumar Thekkootu Pisharam, Companion Ed Thompson, E Comp Eddie Wildman

By Anthony James, ProvGStdB - Monday 18th May 2026

It was a great pleasure to be part of the visiting Provincial team in my role as Provincial Grand Standard Bearer, accompanying the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Mark Iveson, PAGDC.

Also present on this very special occasion was the Past Deputy Grand Master, Sir David Wootton, whose attendance added an extra sense of warmth and distinction to an already memorable evening.

The occasion was historic in every sense of the word, marking the first time a Lodge meeting had been officially held within a hospice. Special dispensation had been granted to enable Scarborough Lodge No. 1147 to meet at St Catherine’s, making the evening both unique and deeply meaningful.

From the outset, there was a quiet dignity about the proceedings. This was far more than a Lodge meeting in an unusual setting. It was a powerful reminder of Freemasonry at its most compassionate and humane. To witness such an event as part of the Provincial team was a genuine privilege, and one that will remain in the memories of all who were fortunate enough to attend.

WBro Tony Dyer then gave a short but thoughtful talk on the Masonic Aware Project, explaining how the initiative helps to build stronger links between Freemasonry and the wider community. Rather than speaking about it in detail here, I will simply say that St Catherine’s involvement in the project is a fine example of that work in action. WBro Philip Daniels will hopefully be giving a talk on the Masonic Aware Project in the near future, so I would not wish to steal his thunder. Suffice to say, it is a fantastic initiative, and one that shows Freemasonry engaging with the community in a practical and meaningful way.

WBro Ray Baird, Chief Executive Officer of St Catherine’s, then delivered a fascinating and informative talk about the charity and the wide range of services it provides.

He posed an intriguing question to the brethren: “What possible link could there be between a modern hospice and Freemasonry?”

The answer lay in the word Hospitium, an ancient term used to describe a place of shelter and hospitality for weary travellers, pilgrims, and those returning from the Crusades.

It was a fitting comparison. Freemasonry has long been founded upon principles of charity, compassion, and care for those in need. St Catherine’s reflects those same values, offering comfort, dignity, and practical support to patients and their families during some of life’s most challenging moments.

WBro Ray Baird also spoke about an innovative project at St Catherine’s, a holiday flat built within the grounds. As well as providing visitors with a peaceful and welcoming place to stay, it generates a valuable source of income for the charity. In this way, the ancient concept of Hospitium continues to live on, providing both hospitality and practical support.

Another particularly interesting point was that St Catherine’s is gradually moving away from using the word “hospice”, as many people understandably associate it solely with death. In reality, the organisation offers far more than end-of-life care. Its aim is to support patients in living as fully and meaningfully as possible, and, where circumstances allow, to help them return home with continued care and support.

This offered a much warmer and more hopeful understanding of the work carried out at St Catherine’s. It is not simply a place where life ends, but a centre of compassion, dignity, and renewed quality of life.

Following this enlightening presentation, RW Bro Mark Iveson presented a number of Solomon Diplomas and Certificates, one of which was awarded to the Worshipful Master, WBro Greg Fox.

The Lodge was then closed in due form, and the Brethren reconvened in St Catherine’s restaurant, Flavours.

There, we were treated to an excellent three-course meal, accompanied by warm conversation and the special sense of fellowship that always comes from visiting another Lodge.

It was, in every respect, a memorable and deeply meaningful evening.