Surprise Guest at Prince Setanta Mark lodge’s Installation
 
11th February 2016
 
Prince Setanta Lodge of MMM No 1446 is the smallest in membership on the Fylde Coast, only 13 members and some living many miles away, so arriving and finding over 40 Mark Masons present was a great start to the evening.
Grand Officers before the surprise visitor
The Deputy PGM W. Bro. Geoffrey Lee was the attending officer; he had looking after him W. Bro. Arthur Robinson Prov.DGDC. W. Bro. Ken Boon a Past Prov.DGDC. and W. Bro. Brian Gregson Prov.Ass.GDC., after processing in with 15 Grand Officers, plus a good number of acting Provincial Officers and being offered the gavel of the Lodge, salutations given, the Lodge Banner was then paraded into the Lodge Room and we settled down to witness the Installation ceremony.
Grand Officers after the surprise visitor
Just as the Installing Officers were being placed in their positions there was a report at the door, unknown to all but the Deputy PGM, the Provincial Grand Master stood without and demanded admission, to say the least there were some very surprised faces in the room.
The Lodge senior man John Clarke PGJO congratulates the organist Keith Jackson PAGSwdB
It seems that the Deputy and the PGM had been talking on the phone at 10 pm the night before and the surprise visit had been planned.
The Master and IPM.
After the formalities had been dealt with, the Installation continued, and W. Bro. Phillip Watson P.Prov.GJW. Installed his successor in a splendid manner, even with the extra pressure of having our leader present.
The Master, IPM with the Wardens Peter Walker and Bill Farrington. 
W. Bro. Allan Gould P.Prov.G.Ins.Wks.(Derby) was Installed some 4 years after having previously being Installed into that chair, the Keystone Jewel was explained by the now IPM, the working tools by W.Bro. Bill Farrington Prov.GJD., V.W.Bro. Colin Moxey PGJO. delivered the address to the new Master and W.Bro. Tony Cross Prov.GJW and W.Bro. John Forster PGJD gave the addresses to the Wardens and Overseers respectively, the Deputy gave the address to the Brethren to complete the Installation. The Deputy then rose to give the greetings of the PGM, who was sat right next to him! 
The Master, IPM, Deputy and PGM.
A cheque for £500-00 was presented for the charities, a great amount from such a small Lodge. At that point W.Bro. Lee asked if he if he might be offered the gavel again this time he accepted it, the PGM W. Bro. Keith Beardmore then rose and asked for the new Master W. Bro. Allen Gould to be placed before him, to receive a field promotion to match his new rank in Derbyshire, that of Past Provincial Grand Senior Overseer, to the delight of all present.
The Master with visiting Masters Glenn O'Brien 1276, Abdul Benashour 880, Bill Snell 296.
The Festive Board was full of the banter and good fellowship we expect at Mark meetings, in the Deputy’s speech Adoniram Lodge’s next meeting on the 16th of March, hosting the Somerset Ancient Mark Masons was mentioned as well as Provincial Grand Lodge on the 4th of May, the new tea party to be held at Leyland on the 26th of June, the children’s Xmas party and the work of the Special Representative.
The Master with his acting D.C. Rowland Alderton. PProvGStwd.
R.W.Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore responding to his toast, spoke about looking after Lodge widows, the need for Mark Masons to join the Royal Ark Mariners Degree and to make Mark Masonry enjoyable, he also thanked all present for making his “night off” so memorable.
 And Lastly, but not least, with the Prov JW Tony Cross.  
The IPM gave an excellent toast to the Master, who replied by thanking the Deputy and the PGM for not only being there but also for his appointment to Provincial Grand Rank in West Lancashire. The Master was then “fired” in Prince Setanta’s unique manner, and a super evening of Mark Masonry was over, leaving memories of the meeting full of Surprise’s.  
 
Words John Forster photo's Tony Cross