History of the Demonstration Team

The original demonstration "Initiation -- 1765" was given by members of the Association. It is the responsibility of the Master for the year to find a lecturer or demonstration team for each meeting. W Bro. Jimmy Stait was given a script (that had been written by W Bro. Brigadier A.C.F.Jackson) by the late WBro. Harry Carr and Jimmy decided this was ideal for his meeting. He persuaded other members of the Association to join in and the event was on its way.

The custom of the Association is that officers wear dinner jackets at the annual meeting and this was how the original team dressed. As it was intended to be a "one off" improvisation was the name of the game, with none of the props now used in demonstrations. Home made wine was drunk from pewter tankards filled by soup ladles. If one fires (brings the tankard forcibly down on the table) with a tankard that has not been completely emptied - one is splashed with the contents. Not recommended treatment for your DJ! We are told the demonstration was not completed and indeed the Senior Warden felt so unwell he went home without staying for his dinner!

Lack of success was a spur to our worthy originals so they decided to repeat the demonstration to show it could be done. They learned from their previous experience, props were fabricated by W Bro Frank Bredemeier and costumes made by wives and girlfriends. Most of the props and some of the costumes are still in use twenty-odd years later. More modest ladles were used and less intoxicating wine served. This time the demonstration was a great success. A visitor to the meeting asked if the demonstration could be given to his lodge. This was done and the practice has continued ever since, currently about ten lodges a year are hosts to the team. The team has visited nearly 250 lodges and raised tens of thousands of pound for charity.

There are two aims of the team, firstly to provide an advancement in Masonic knowledge in an entertaining manner and secondly to raise money for charity. In the process of achieving these aims the team members manage to enjoy themselves.

With regard to the charity, the team stipulate a minimum sum to be donated. The stipulation is that the greater of either a minimum sum from Lodge charitable funds or the broken column (collection on the evening), should be donated to a charity of the lodge’s choice. The donation should be made in the name of the Team. Both Masonic and occasional non-Masonic charities have benefited and in recent years the New Masonic Samaritan Fund has been the charity mostly nominated. It is only fair to point out that the parent Association also makes annual donations to charity, hence the proud heading on our notepaper.

The enquiries for the services of the team usually result from brethren attending a demonstration and taking their enthusiasm back to their own lodges. This was the case in London in 1994, with the difference that the visiting brethren were from Italy.

The Italians invited the team to perform in Italy and in June 1995 the demonstration was given in the Villa Ponti in Varese, Northern Italy. Despite some difficulties the demonstration was greatly enjoyed and received with enthusiasm and cordiality. Attending that meeting were the Grand Master and Grand Secretary of the Italian Grand Lodge. As a token of their gratitude the Italian Lodge, La Nuova Atlantide No 75, made two of the team members Honorary members of their Lodge. W Bros Frank Bredemeier and Dave Barton were very proud of this honour.

Thanks are due to W. Bro. Dave Barton for the content of this page. As Secretary of the Team you can direct further enquiries to him at: Dave Barton