Lathom Mark Lodge No268. 2019
 
Lathom Mark Lodge No268, hold their meetings at Southport Masonic Hall and so on Monday 28th October members and visitors met at the Hall for the Installation meeting. 
 
There was a good turn out to see Bro John Karran take the chair for the first time.   John should have gone into the Lodge chair last year but postponed it as he had been honoured by being made Senior Warden of the West Lancs Province in the Craft. 
Geoff Gill & John Karran
The Lodge was honoured by the presence of VWBro Ian Nairn, PGJO, Assistant Provincial Grand Master; who was accompanied by VWBro Maurice Evans the PGM’s Special Representative for Southport and Ormskirk area.   WBro Tony Farrar, PAGDC; PrAGDC was the attending DC.
 
The lodge was opened by WBro Geoff Gill, PPrGSO on time and the usual business of the lodge was attended to.  On this occasion there was an extra item as WBro Alan Foster, (a lodge member), was presented to the Master on having received his first Grand Appointment as Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies; WBro Foster was then greeted by the Lodge members and visitors.   WBro Foster then retired from the lodge to make his big entrance with VWBro Nairn and the other Grand Officers.   It was then up to WBro Farrar to announce that APGM stood outside and demanded admission.
Ian Nairn, John Karran, Geoff Gill
Once in, WBro Gill offered VWBro Nairn the Gavel which was swiftly handed back.   On the completion of the salutations, WBro Gill called the In Memoriam of WBro Kevin Collins, PPrGJW, who had been the treasurer of the lodge for many years and had also been the PGM’s special Rep for the area.   A very moving eulogy was given by WBro Colin Sherman, PPrGMO.    A group Masons had recently taken WBro Kevin ashes to their final resting place at the East Lanc’s Steam Railway Station at Rawtenstall where Kevin had volunteered in the ticket office.    A moment of silence followed the eulogy.
WM and Grand Officers
It was now time to move on to the installation ceremony.   WBro John Dixon, PGJD presented Bro John Karran to the Worshipful Master for the purpose of Installation.  WBro Gill went through questions and then asked all those below the rank of an Installed Master in the Mark degree to retire.   When the ceremony moved into the inner workings, WBro Geoff Gill installed Bro Karren into the chair in fine style.  Once the brethren had been readmitted into the lodge, WBro John Karren was proclaimed Worshipful Master and duly greeted.   WBro Gill presented the working tools.  This was followed by WBro Alan Foster presenting the Master with the Keystone Jewel. 
Alan Foster
It was then the turn of WBro John Dixon to give an excellent address to the Master.  The new Wardens received their address from WBro Peter Adshead.     After a short sit down, WBro Gill was back on his feet to deliver the address to the Overseers, and this was also done in fine style.  With the appointment of officers complete it was time for VWBro Ian Nairn to address the brethren. 
Karl Breannan, Jim Molly, Laurie Scott
Now it must not be easy to be on top form all the time and to impress after such an excellent ceremony, but VWBro Nairn never fails to impress and whatever he does is done with flare.  With the installation ceremony over it was now time for the APGM to bring the PGM’s congratulations to the Worshipful Master.  VWBro Nairn then congratulated   WBro Geoff Gill on behalf of RWBro Keith Beardmore on an excellent ceremony and this was echoed by all present. 
John Dixon
Time now for WBro John Karran to give away some of the lodge’s money to charity by presenting a cheque to VWBro Nairn and this was gratefully received.   During the risings there was a Grand Lodge certificate to present to Bro Steve Marshall and Worshipful Master passed this honour into the very capable hands of the APGM, which VWBro Ian did with aplomb.
 
There was also a proposition for a new member to join the Lodge.  With the lodge closed and photos taken it was time for dinner.  Responding to the toast to Grand Lodge, VWBro Ian Nairn congratulated WBro Alan Foster on his Grand appointment to AGDC.
Ian Nairn, Steve Marshall
VWBro Ian then extolled the virtues of the Royal Ark Mariners degree and encouraged members to get any members of the Mark lodges not yet Royal Ark Mariners to join the degree.      VWBro Ian also thanked the secretary Bro Jim Molly for all his hard work in setting up the meeting.   We wish WBro John Karran and Lathom Lodge a happy and successful year.
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell