Box Opening 27th May 2014
The annual Box Opening event took place on 27th May. The history of the Box Opening goes back beyond living memory and no one knows when or why the tradition of the Deacon placing items in the box to represent his/her year began.
The Box that we still use was built in 1684 and requires two keys to open the box. This was to ensure that no one person could steal the treasures or money of the Incorporation. We still have two key keepers who are the Late Deacon and Late Collector. This year as our Late Collector was unavailable, the Collector acted as key keeper.
Part of the ceremony consists of these two key keepers opening the box with feigned difficulty. This year the Deacon placed some items from the Worshipful Company of Masons of London, in the box, a book and DVD which he had compiled which contained the names of most of the members of the Incorporation since 1574. The book also held the following information:
a. Names of most of the members of the Incorporation from 1574 to 2013.
b. Deacon Convenors from 1612 to 2014.
c. Deacons of the Incorporation since 1600 to 2013.
d. Clerks of the Incorporation from 1615 to 2012.
e. Contents of the Incorporation's Box from 2000 to 2014.
f. Photographs of the Incorporation's Regalia.
g. Photographs of the Incorporation's Silver.
A copy was also placed in the Trades House library and the clerk was also given a copy.
Anyone wishing to peruse the book may do so by downloading by clicking here.
After the Box Opening all present enjoyed a super meal and entertainment by a young button accordionist from the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.
The annual Box Opening event took place on 27th May. The history of the Box Opening goes back beyond living memory and no one knows when or why the tradition of the Deacon placing items in the box to represent his/her year began.
The Box that we still use was built in 1684 and requires two keys to open the box. This was to ensure that no one person could steal the treasures or money of the Incorporation. We still have two key keepers who are the Late Deacon and Late Collector. This year as our Late Collector was unavailable, the Collector acted as key keeper.
Part of the ceremony consists of these two key keepers opening the box with feigned difficulty. This year the Deacon placed some items from the Worshipful Company of Masons of London, in the box, a book and DVD which he had compiled which contained the names of most of the members of the Incorporation since 1574. The book also held the following information:
a. Names of most of the members of the Incorporation from 1574 to 2013.
b. Deacon Convenors from 1612 to 2014.
c. Deacons of the Incorporation since 1600 to 2013.
d. Clerks of the Incorporation from 1615 to 2012.
e. Contents of the Incorporation's Box from 2000 to 2014.
f. Photographs of the Incorporation's Regalia.
g. Photographs of the Incorporation's Silver.
A copy was also placed in the Trades House library and the clerk was also given a copy.
Anyone wishing to peruse the book may do so by downloading by clicking here.
After the Box Opening all present enjoyed a super meal and entertainment by a young button accordionist from the Royal Scottish Conservatoire.
