Southport Lodge of Mark Master Masons. No.473 |
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Installation Ceremony and 125 Years Lodge Celebration Meeting |
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The Masonic Hall, Duke Street, Southport. Thursday 7th March 2019 |
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| Another great evening to look forward to a Mark Meeting and on this occasion a really special one, not too far to travel either or so I thought, my nephew was doing the driving due to me not being in the greatest of health, now I wonder how many of you would have gone from Manchester to Southport via Blackpool, yes Blackpool. On and on we went down tiny one lane roads, at one point we seemed to be in a farmyard amongst a herd of cows who had come in for milking, still never mind we got there in the end, and you thought it was only me who can get lost in a car park! | |
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The Hall |
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| SW Wicket | |
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Lets Practise |
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| Lets Practise | |
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Lets Practise |
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| I’m trying to remember
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Now Ive got it |
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| Practise was well advanced when we eventually arrived at the Hall and as usual it was under the watchful eye of our wonderful Provincial DC, W.Bro. David (“Don’t leave your wands in the Lodge room”) Emmerson, the members of the Team now seem to be really getting the hang of escorting the PGM on these visits around the Province. | |
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More Practise |
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| Prov DC | |
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Your Friend & Mine |
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| A smiling G Steward | |
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The wonderful Organist |
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| The WM is Ready |
More Practise
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| A quick cup of coffee and a chat then we all made our way up to the Temple, I must mention here what a really great Masonic Hall Southport really is, a credit to all its members and those who must put many hours in to keeping it up to such a high standard. The meeting opened on at time at 6 pm, and once all the Lodge housekeeping was taken care of the PGM RW Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore entered accompanied by Acting Grand Officers, Prov Grand Officers and Distinguished Guests. The WM welcomed all and offered the gavel to the PGM which he said he would accept on this occasion for a short time so as to introduce the members of his Team this is always appreciated by both the Lodge members and those who are part of the team for this year, Keith then quickly handed the gavel back to the WM as he could tell how much he was looking forward to carrying out this evenings ceremony. | |
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View from the WM’s chair |
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| The JW Chair | |
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The SW Chair |
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| The WM Chair | |
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The Founders Notice
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| Always ready to Listen | |
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The Special chairs at the entrance |
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| Bro Tony Baker was then Installed into the chair of Adoniram in one of the finest ceremonies you could ever wish to see by W.Bro. Norman Jones who also presented to the new WM the Working Tools of the degree, the Warrant of the Lodge, the Book of Constitutions and Regulations and the Bye Laws of the Lodge. The Keystone Jewel was presented and explained by W.Bro. John Ryan PAGDC, the following addresses came next, to the WM by W.Bro. Maurice Evans PGSD, to the Wardens by W.Bro. Malcolm Serjeant ProvSW, to the Overseers by W.Bro. L.R.Kelly Prov JW and the one we all look forward to the address to all the Brethren given by our PGM. | |
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Notice regarding the chairs |
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| Cheers | |
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Chat around the bar |
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| The Festive Board | |
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A Group of DC’s |
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PGM & New WM |
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PGM, Dep PGM Asst PGM WM & IPM |
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| On conclusion of the Installation Ceremony the PGM congratulated the Installing W.M. Norman on his wonderful ritual which was a fine example to all the younger members of the Lodge to follow, he also gave special mention to the DC W.Bro. Christopher Hamilton and indeed to all the officers who had taken part. The W.M. Tony was then pleased to present to Keith on behalf of the Lodge members two cheques one for the Spiral Unit the other for Southport Hall Fund, which were in total the same as the Lodge number £473, the PGM thanked him for such a generous amount saying that he was sure both donations would well received and put to very good use. | |
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WM & IPM |
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| Festive Board |
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Festive Board
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| This meeting also marked a milestone of the Lodge on reaching 125 years since it was founded, we were all pleased to hear something of its history since that first meeting and its first W.M. W.Bro. William Platt, a Re-Dedication Blessing was given and all present wished for it to continue for at least another 125 years. | |
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Group Picture |
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| The PGM then retired form the Lodge accompanied by members of the Prov Team, Acting Grand and Grand Officers and on the Meeting closing everyone returned for the usual photo shoot before retiring to the cosy bar area for some liquid refreshment and lots of chat from around the Province and beyond, even East Lancs !! | |
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Always has a smile |
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| Likewise |
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I think I had better pay
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| The welcoming dining room was laid out in fine style and soon everyone took up their allotted seats for the Festive Board, an excellent meal was served up by the efficient and friendly staff before we were treated to the usual Toasts and responses, W.Bro. Ian Nairn Asst PGM is always a delight to listen to, very witty and full of fun, then it was time for our PGM who always gets some great points across to us all about Freemasonry, Charity and life in general, of course he usually finishes with, yes you’ve guessed a joke, this time it was about well I won’t spoil it for you because there’s a chance you may hear it again somewhere but it involved a Mexican, a Golf gun and a hole in one, wonder if you can connect it together.!! | |
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Cheers |
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The Tylers Toast |
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Friends
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| Here’s looking forward to my next Mark meeting, to see old friends and those I have yet to meet, not a Royal Ark Mariner come and join us in this wonderful interesting and colourful Degree, | |
| Mark Well | |
| Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher. GStwd. | |
| Flixton Shepherd Eastwood. No. 1173 | |
