Junior Wardens visit to Poulton le Fylde
 
Thursday 8th. February 2018 found the Provincial Grand Junior Warden Victor Henry Norris in the quaint town of Poulton Le Fylde representing The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master. Poulton le Fylde is situated on the Fylde Coast between the river Ribble and the river Wyre, the Masonic Hall is in the town centre on the Market Place. Some thirty Mark Masons made their way there, in atrocious weather, to attend the Installation meeting of Prince Setanta Lodge.
Grand Officers Supporting Provoincial Grand Junior Warden
The weather outside might have been awful, but the visitors were warmly greeted by our hosts as we arrived at the Hall. Supporting the Provincial Junior Warden were seven Grand Officers and five masters’ in office. The Grand Officers along with the Representative waited patiently outside the Lodge whilst the Worshipful Master of Prince Setanta Worshipful Brother Peter Walker Past Provincial Grand Inspector of Works opened his Lodge and conducted the items of a domestic nature.
That will teach John to forget the password
On a report the Lodge Director of Ceremonies Worshipful Brother Roland Alderton Past Provincial Grand Steward announced the representative of The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master was seeking admission, with the assent of the Worshipful Master the procession entered the lodge room and the Provincial Junior Grand Warden was introduced to the Worshipful Master who bid him welcome. The Representative and Grand Officers took their places in the lodge and the Director of Ceremony conducted the usual salutations.
Four of the Seven Masters on the Fylde
The next item of business was to Install Worshipful Brother William Farrington Past Provincial Grand Junior Deacon Lodge Senior Warden and Master Elect, and for the purpose of Installation Worshipful Brothers Brian Ogden, Mike Glover and Alan Davies, the Worshipful Masters of Fylde Lodge, Imperial Lodge and a Past Master of Semper Fidelis Lodge assisted as Installing Officers. The Master Elect was presented to the Worshipful Master by the Lodge Director of Ceremonies. and the Worshipful Master conducted a delightful ceremony of Installation. The members of the lodge acknowledged and greeted their New Worshipful Master and resumed their seats.
W.M. with I.P.M.
Worshipful Bother Philip A. Watson Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden presented and explained the Keystone Jewel and the Charity Jewel. The Worshipful Master then Appointed and Invested the Officers for the ensuing year. W.Bro. Watson delivered the address to the Worshipful Master, the address to the Wardens by the Provincial Junior Warden and the address to the overseers by Worshipful Brother D. John Forster Past Grand Junior Deacon / P.G.M. Special Representative. The address to the brethren was given by the Representative of The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master W. Bro. V. H. Norris Prov. J.W.
W.M. with Rep.(Prov.G.J.W.)
On the announcement of the conclusion of the Installation W.Bro. Norris gave greetings of the Right Worshipful Grand Master. On the first rising W.Bro. Forster gave greetings of the Grand Officers. After the second rising the Lodge Director of Ceremonies formed a procession and W.Bro. Norris and the Grand Officers retired. Whilst waiting for the Lodge business to be finished Photographs of the Representative and Grand Officers were taken. With the Lodge closed and the Worshipful Master and his officers having processed out of the lodge room the usual photo shoot got underway.
Rep., W.M. & Spec.Rep. W.Bro. John Forster
After an aperitif we sat down to a tasty three course dinner, what's better than a good meal with convivial company after an excellent meeting of Installation. In response to the toast to his health W. Bro. Norris brought all the latest new on the Mark Degree reminding the brethren of the important upcoming dates. In Prince Setanta Lodge the toast to the Worshipful is followed by 'fire' a ritual not many lodges perform these days. After the Tyler’s toast we said our goodbyes and set out on our homeward journeys, another excellent night of Mark Masonry over.
W.Bro. Norris gives response to toast
 
Words and pictures by Ernie Gavan