Terry is faultless at Murray Mark
2nd April 2013
Worshipful Brother Terry Dickinson carried out a faultless installation at Murray Mark Lodge No 490 at Pemberton when he installed Gordon David Turner into the Chair of Adoniram.
The principal guest and representing the Provincial Grand Master, was Ian H Taylor, Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, he was accompanied by Wigan’s own Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Danny Jones and Special Representative Ken Alker and other Grand and Provincial Grand Officers. Worshipful Brother Taylor complimented Terry on an immaculate installation which had been a joy to witness and was a credit to the Lodge. He was presented with a cheque for £200 for West Lancashire Mark Charities.
Above: Left to right before the ceremony. Danny Jones, Terry Dickinson, Ian Taylor,
along with Gordon Turner and Ken Alker
Murray Mark lodge is named after Colonel James D Murray, who was a very prominent Mason in the Wigan area during the 1800s and early 20th century. He was a Past Grand Treasurer of England in the Craft and held very high rank in several other Orders including the Mark. The Lodge is named after him when it was consecrated in 1896 but he didn’t become the Master till 1918, possibly because he had been involved with the recovery to the fold of United Grand Lodge of the Craft Lodge of Sincerity, which had been independent under the revived Antients Grand Lodge since 1823 and was the leading lodge under the Grand Lodge in Wigan, before it returned to the fold as Sincerity Lodge No 3677 in the 1913.
But Murray lodge also has tentative connections with a different form of rebellion. It is the daughter lodge of Rose and Thistle Lodge No 158 and in whose name there is a clue.
Above: Terry congratulates Gordon after the ceremony
Following the failure of the United Grand Lodge of England to adopt the Mark Degree in the 1850s it was in something of a limbo until Grand Mark Lodge was formed; but even though that body had assume control of the Mark Degree in England, all was not plain sailing. The Grand Chapter of Scotland decided that England was open territory and constituted several lodges including St John’s Mark Lodge of Bolton and eventually formed a Provincial Grand Lodge of Lancashire under the Scottish Grand Chapter. Grand Mark Lodge followed quickly by forming a Provincial Mark Lodge of Lancashire of its own. So uniquely Lancashire was the only Province ever to have two Provincial Mark lodges. Eventually matters were settled and as an indication of that St John’s daughter lodge and the mother lodge of Murray Mark, took the name Rose and Thistle to show the reconciliation of the two constitutions.
Following the festive board everyone enjoyed and excellent meal with obvious good banter. Ian was presented with a bouquet of flowers and the traditional tin of Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls, something which he re-called his father used to love.
Article and photographs courtest of Fred Lomax

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