The Devonshire Demonstration Team                                                  See also The Three Companions Demonstration Team
 
In 2001 a small number of Brethren from the Province of Devonshire came together with the intention of forming a demonstration team depicting life in an 18th Century lodge. As a result, on Friday 28th June 2002, the team took to the stage of Davie Masonic Hall, Plymouth, showing what a typical lodge night could have been like in September 1759. Why September 1759? It could in fact have been any month but the news that would have arrived from overseas, at about that particular time, was very interesting, so September was selected. The cast came from various lodges in the Province of Devonshire and no two Brethren came from the same lodge. The enactment took some 6 months to write and receive authorization from the Province of Devonshire, and another 6 months to rehearsal. The rehearsals were not easy to arrange due to the Masonic commitments of many of the Brethren and it was on only one occasion that all the “actors” were present, but progress was made.
Once the script was authorised and cast assembled, the hunt for costumes began in earnest, and eventually, leggings, jackets, tricorn hats, etc., were obtained and many alterations were made to ensure that everyone looked the part. Swords, quill pens, clay pipes, pistols, tankards, etc., were the next things on the list of “wants” and many were loaned, purchased or acquired over a period of time. Neck cloths and the Aprons of the period were also made, lace attached to the sleeves, gaudy buttons attached to jackets, etc. All in all quite a task.
How accurate was the story line? All the many lodges mentioned by name, number or location were as they appeared in Masonic records and lodge histories. The various items of news arriving at lodge, what today we would call local, national or international, were also correct for the period. Much additional information was gleaned from a number of Masonic compendiums, encyclopaedias, minute books, lodge by-laws, etc., etc. Was there any fiction? Yes, the lodge that we represented did not exist so we had no name or number, but it was deliberately allied to Marine Lodge No. 237, whose warrant was issued on the 2nd January 1759. Marine Lodge, today being The Fortitude No. 105, initially met at the Red Lion in Plymouth, and later that year moved into the Three Crowns, a tavern situated at Sutton Harbour, and still there today. We therefore gave the impression that our lodge meeting was also taking place in a room in the Three Crowns, as used by Marine Lodge. The presentation has been performed extensively in Devonshire and Cornwall with one presentation in Birmingham.
In 2004 the then Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire, R.W.Bro. R.O. Osborn gave permission for the team to have an official name – The Devonshire Demonstration Team, and we were particularly grateful to him for this gesture.
 
The Lodge Opens  
A visitor's credentials are examined  The visitor is greeted and admitted
By the Spring 2006 a First Degree Ceremony, from the year 1761, was being rehearsed and since then it has been performed in Devonshire, Cornwall and Dorset.  Bookings are full up and including 2010, we are at present preparing the script etc., for a second degree, which will be introduced in 2011. If you are interested in becoming a member of the team we do keep a short list of Brethren who may like to join us, so please contact our secretary, see details below.
We hope that should you see our presentation that it may assist you in making a “daily advancement in Masonic Knowledge” with this insight into life in the early days of Freemasonry in Devonshire.
The picture below was taken at a resent enactment in July 2008 at The King Arthur Lodge No. 7134. photo taken by W. Bro. Tony Wilkins.
What of the future ? The Devonshire Demonstration Team are fully booked until the end of 2010, by which time the team will be learning their new scripts for an 18th Century 2nd Degree. The first presentation of this will be ready at the beginning of 2011, and for the information of those lodges that have already had our 1st Degree from the year 1761, we are now taking bookings for 2011. If your lodge is interested in making a booking please contact the team secretary: Keith Vallance on 01626 205748 or e-mail: kavallance@blueyonder.co.uk
 

Programme 2010. First Degree Ceremony.
February 22nd Obedience Lodge No.1753 Okehampton.
April 15th Vastern lodge No. 8977 Lydiard Millicent Wilts.
May 25th Penhellaz Lodge No.7680 Cornwall.
October 12th Peace & Harmony Lodge No. 496 Cornwall.
November 2nd , Perseverance Lodge No. 164, Sidmouth Devon
November 17th, Brotherly Love No. 329, Yeovil, Somerset

Programme 2011 Second Degree Ceremony.
March 9th  The Lodge of Harmony No. 372. Budleigh Salterton
April 25th, Manadon Lodge No. 3033, Plymouth
June 2nd Tuesday, Victory Lodge No. 4189, Plymouth
November 2nd Lodge of Perseverance No. 164 Sidmouth

Programme 2012. Second Degree Ceremony.
12th January Lodge of St. Peter in Exeter No. 5806

Programme 2013. Second Degree Ceremony.

Mount Sinai Lodge No. 121 Cornwall.