WBro Mark Titterton has been awarded his second ‘scratch’ for a perfect 2nd degree ceremony on Friday, 25 April at The Emulation Lodge of Improvement in London.
Mark is delighted to have again achieved this special and unique award, following the award of a silver matchbox for initial success in delivering a perfect 1st degree in January this year.
As a Recognised Preceptor’s by the Emulation Lodge of Improvement, WBro Mark Titterton and WBro Billy Glover are in the process of setting up the ‘Northants & Hunts Lodge of Emulation Perfection’ to provide instruction and teaching of pure emulation ritual in our Province.
It is hoped that this will run from October through to June each year, meeting twice monthly and will follow the same format as The Emulation Lodge of Improvement in London.
They look forward to welcoming brethren who also wish to pursue the delivery of the perfect emulation ritual.
Please contact Mark Titterton or Billy Glover for further details.
History of The Silver Matchbox
On 22nd October, 1897 Bro. Major R.L.S. Badham, who was occupying the Chair, worked the second degree in a manner described as exemplary by the then Senior Member of the Committee, Bro. Robert Clay Sudlow, who was precepting on that occasion. Sudlow subsequently presented him with a silver matchbox to mark the achievement; he also – at his own expense until the rest of the Committee decided that he should be relieved of the burden – made similar presentations to other Brethren attaining a similar standard.
Within a few years it had become the established custom, and a Brother who works a ceremony from the Chair “without standing in need of prompting or correction” receives a silver matchbox, engraved on the front with his name and on the reverse with the heading “E. L. of I.” and beneath it the ceremony he has worked, together with the year (e.g. “2nd. Deg. & T.B. 1975”). If the Brother subsequently works a different ceremony without correction, that is recorded in the same fashion, and if he has worked all four ceremonies without correction, the words “Complete Record” are added at the foot of the list. In order to qualify, the ceremony must be worked by the Master without any mistakes in either words or actions.