Temperance Mark Lodge Installation 19 Feb 2019
 
Tuesday 19 February was a warm spring like day. The golfers had been out enjoying the weather and I suppose the golf at Woolton Golf Club. As the evening started to draw in and the light began to fade, the remaining golfers retired to the bar either to celebrate or drown their sorrows. They were soon joined by members and visitors who were arriving for Temperance Mark Lodge No 774 installation meeting; which was to be held in the Masonic suite at the Club House. 
Mike Cunliffe, & Derek Gaskell
At 6.00pm prompt the Installing Master, opened the Lodge and the business of the lodge was dealt with.   This had included adopting the New By-Laws for the Lodge. It was then time for the DC accompanied by the Deacons to retire to form a procession.  On his return the Director of Ceremonies announced that the representative of the Provincial Grand Master was without and had requested admission, and after the customary pondering by the Master the request was granted.
Graham Sinden,SW +WM + Doug Lace, JW
The DC then announced WBro John Bicknell, PGJD, Prov Grand Secretary the Representative of the Provincial Grand Master; WBro Mike Winterbottom, PGSD the PGM’s Special Rep for the Liverpool area and VWBro Eric Hughes, PGJO and other Grand Officers. WBro Bicknell and the other Grand Officers were then welcomed to the Lodge by the Installing Master WBro Derek Gaskell, PPrGJD, who hoped that they would all have an enjoyable evening. WBro Gaskell pointed out that the Master elect was the first Brother to go into the chair of Temperance Mark Lodge since the Lodge moved to Woolton Golf Club.
The Team
In fact it had been very many years since the Lodge had in fact had a Brother go into the chair. WBro Bicknell said he had last visited Temperance Mark Lodge at the inaugural meeting at Woolton Golf Club three years previously. With the Salutations over WBro Gaskell asked WBro Winterbottom to assist him and to occupy the Senior Wardens Chair, WBro Fred Hulse, PPrGSD to occupy the Chair of the Junior Warden and WBro Brian Humphries, PAGStB  to take the place of the inner guard. The Master elect Bro Mike Cunliffe   was then presented by WBro Arthur Robinson, PGStwd and the ceremony was underway.
John Bicknell and Mike Cunliffe
Once the questions had been done, all those below the rank of Worshipful Brother retired. With it being a brother being installed it was the full inner workings, which was fun. Once the Master was in the chair he was greeted by all the worshipful brethren. Then the brethren returned and they also saluted the Master, and then WBro Mike Cunliffe was proclaimed Master. The Installing Master then presented the working tools; warrant and book of constitutions with the by-laws. To finish off the Installing Master presented the Keystone Jewel before delivering the address to the Master. It was now time for Installing Master to go for a lay down in a darkened room. WBro Andy Whittle, PAGDC, the lodge DC then helped the Master to appoint and invest his officers for the year.
Mike Winterbottom and Eric Hughes join John and Mike
With the Wardens and overseers in place, WBro Whittle did the Wardens address faultlessly; followed by WBro Graham Sinden, PGStB, who gave an equally impressive address to the Overseers. Now came WBro John Charles Bicknell’s big moment with the address to the brethren. (John said that he was nervous), but there was no sign of it in the measured and faultless manner in which he delivered the address.    It was then time for those magical words, “this ends the ceremony of your installation”.  At which point WBro John Charles Bicknell’s leapt to his feet, (well almost), to bring the Provincial Grand Master’s congratulations to WBro Mike Cunliffe and wished him a happy and successful year.
"All yours now son"
WBro Bicknell then offered the PGM‘s congratulations to WBro Derek Gaskell for the ceremony and John said “it had been done in Derek’s own inimitable style.” WBro Bicknell then brought the PGM’s best wishes to all the brethren and wished the Lodge a good year.  The most pleasant duty there is for a new Worshipful Master is to present the charity cheque to the Representative and WBro Cunliffe took delight in doing so on this occasion. During the first rising there was a Grand Lodge certificate to present to Bro Kevin Birchall and this was done in fine style by WBro Mike Winterbottom. It was then time for the Rep and Grand officers to retire which they did and straight to the bar.
With the risings complete the Worshipful Master closed the lodge for the first time.   Down in the bar it was time for everyone to relax and have a drink before dinner. In response to the toast to the Grand Officers, WBro Bicknell again congratulated WBro Mike Cunliffe on taking the chair and informed him that he would now be expected to attend the Provincial Grand Meeting at Southport on May 1st as Master of Temperance Mark Lodge, and he also pointed out that as many of the members of the Lodge who wished to attend the meeting could. On another theme WBro Bicknell mentioned how pleasing it was to see how the lodge had grown since moving to Woolton and then in line with current policy he also promoted joining the Royal Ark Mariner Degree to the newer members. 
WBro Bicknell went on to congratulate a member of the lodge who will be promoted at the Provincial Meeting; WBro Craige Southern is going to be promoted to Past Provincial Grand Senior Deacon. John also congratulated WBro Graham Radford a guest of the IPM who will be promoted to PPrGSO. In his toast to the Worshipful Master, WBro Derek Gaskell thanked Mike for all his hard work and for the new members that he had brought into the lodge. And pointed out the WM’s first full meeting in charge will be the Liverpool Mark Festival meeting to be held on 16 April and is called, “Why the Mark?”  (See website for details.)
Now it is not my place to name names when it comes to winning the raffle, so I will not mention any names other than to say it was not the IPM who won the bottle of Bombay Sapphire, thank goodness, he only won the bottle of white wine; but the person who did win the gin, should share it with the PGM as he was there on his behalf. It was an enjoyable night for all. We wish WBro Mike Cunliffe and his team an exciting and busy year.
Words by Derek Gaskell  Photos by Tony Cross and Derek Gaskell