Rose Croix Installation

Say the words ‘Knight of the Pelican and Eagle’ to most people and they may imagine several heroic hours spent in a quaint, dusty pub hidden in the shadowy back streets of a large city. There would almost certainly be a roaring fire, a suspicious landlord, and at least one bearded local who has occupied the same stool since decimalisation.

In fact, the title also belongs to the Masonic Order of Rose Croix of Heredom, and last night it was very much in evidence at the Installation Meeting of Fides et Justicia No. 294. The ceremony took place at Albion Place Masonic Hall in Southampton, a building known locally as ‘Forty Steps’. This is not, as visitors sometimes suppose, the number of paces from the front door to the bar—although several Brethren have independently conducted field trials.

The ‘Forty Steps’, formally Albion Stairs, are a historic flight of stone steps built in 1853 to connect Albion Place, at the top of Southampton’s medieval town walls, with the lower level of Western Esplanade. They remain an impressive piece of local history—and, after a long ceremony followed by an equally long dinner, they become a practical examination in Masonic resolve, balance and the success of an elder brother’s recent knee surgery.

The Inspector General of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, V. Ill. Bro. David Hannan, was present. The Chapter was duly opened by MWS Ash, who respectfully handed the baton to the Inspector General, who promptly handed it straight back again in an impressive display of ceremonial authority! The meeting then commenced, and Ex. & P. Phillip Wedgbrow was enthroned as MWS. The Address to the Princes was given by Ill. Bro. Simon Lancaster, and the two Supreme Grand Council Certificates were presented (at length to make them more interesting…) by Ill. Bro. Jeff Southwick to Bro’s Tom and David.

After the customary Ritz crackers and pretend sip of wine - Masonic fine dining in its most concentrated form - all was nearly done. The closing hymn was forgotten, presumably on the sound theological principle that everyone already knew how it ended, and the Princes retired for dinner. (reviewed under A Square Meal)

Surprisingly, nobody dressed as either a pelican or an eagle. This was probably for the best: feathers are notoriously difficult to arrange beneath Masonic regalia and a ceremonial beak can be hazardous when turning your head to chat to the pelican sat next to you. Thus ended an excellent evening of ritual and fellowship, leaving only the brave to attempt the successful descent of all Forty Steps.