Aeon Mark Installation and Team Visit |
25th October 2018 |
| On a damp and dreary afternoon, the members of Aeon Mark No 1312, made their way to Leyland Masonic Hall, Leyland for their Installation Meeting. |
| The Lodge was to be honoured by the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro, Keith Alan Beardmore and the Provincial Team. |
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WM Gordon McKay with Dave Stewart Installing Master and IPM |
| On arriving at the Hall, Dave Emmerson, the Provincial DC, was setting about, ‘knocking the Provincial Team into order’, this was only their second outing of the season and protocols are still being learnt. |
| In no time at all the PGM was in attendance having struggled through the heavy Motorway traffic with the Provincial Tyler, Ernie Gavan. |
| Fortunately, the Lodge DC, Jim Hustler and ADC, Stewart Seddon had set the Lodge room up an all was good to go. |
| A short break was taken in the proceeding for a few photographs, and then ‘we were off’. |
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| Giles Berkley, APGM. Geoff Lee, D.PGM, Gordon McKay WM 1312 |
Dave Stewart, IPM and Installing Master and Keith Beardmore PGM. |
| The Lodge discharged its domestic business and then the PGM, escorted by his officers and around 17 Grand Officers entered the Lodge. |
| The PGM occupied the chair and introduced the team in attendance and then went on to introduce all the Grand Officers, personalising each intro with a ‘potted history’ of the officer. |
| The Master elect, Gordon McKay, was presented by Jim Hustler to the Worshipful Master, Dave Stewart for the purpose of Installation. |
| What followed, was a treat to behold. |
| I, as a Past Master, and Past DC of the Lodge, have officiated at many Lodge Ceremonies and I have to say that in those offices, I have seen many excellent ceremonies, where I have been proud to have taken some part. But Dave Stewart left us breathless with a perfect delivery from start to finish. Now this may leave you asking why was is worthy of such praise. |
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| Giles Berkley, APGM. Lucas Kelly Prov. JW. Keith Beardmore PGM |
Malcolm Serjeant, Prov SW. David Rotheram G.Snr Deacon |
Geoff Lee, D.PGM and Graham Corday, Grand Steward |
| In short, Dave is registered as blind. When moving about the Lodge room alone, he needs to use his long stick to check his way is clear. Brethren that brings it home to you! We take our senses so much for granted! In the 80’s Dave and I worked on the same Police firearms team for a short while, and I know how good a shot he was. To watch him work tonight produced a tear in the corner of my eye, such a professional and genuine mason. |
| All that said, the Star of the evening must be our new WMM, Gordon McKay, who having been Installed set about the work in hand, as though he had done it all before. Investing his officers and he was soon into the risings, was he really wanting to get us out of the way? |
| The PGM retired and took us all down to a superb Festive Board, with over 60 Mark Masons joining in the enjoyment of the Evening. |
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The Provincial DC's in attendance |
| The toasts were short, the thanks expressed were genuine. A Raffle enhanced the Lodge collection by an amount that must have raised over £500 for the Charities on the night. |
| Whilst Mentioning Charites, in Lodge £500 was donated to the Provincial Mark Charities and at the Festive Board another £250 was donated to Galloways for the blind Charity. |
| Well done, Aeon Mark, another superb advancement in Masonry. Damp and dreay to a wonderful day out! |
| Report and Photographs by Mike Beesley PGJD |
| Webmaster and Lodge Almoner |
