Installation Meeting of Warrington Mark Lodge No. 1178 
 
Wednesday 6th November 2013
 
Looking forward to today’s visit another Hall I haven’t been to before, shouldn’t take too long to get there with the help of the famous two, Tom and Snoopy, (or not, as usually is the case). Pleasant enough afternoon, cold, no sun but no rain either, as always I spoke too soon, by the time I reached that mill thing on the M62 it was pouring !! No matter came off at the correct junction, yes all seems fine went passed the Halliwell Jones Stadium home of the Warrington Wolves, before turning into I think it was Lidl’s car park, thanks Tom right on target again, as I was now needing a rest room (American term) it sounds a bit more gentile, I thought never mind jump out and use the toilet, couldn’t find one!!  Back to the car, oh and by now it wasn’t raining it was more like a Tropical Storm!!
Lodge Room
Lodge Room
After queuing for 5/10 minutes finally got back on to the main road heading for the hall, great, now I was getting desperate, pulled into Winmarleigh Street pulled onto the front of the first building I could see with a parking space and Bingo it was the Hall, success, rushed inside straight to the Gents, ahhh. The pressure off I spoke to one of the staff and asked where/if there was a car park, yes he said go out, turn right, first left and its on your right, how easy was that. Pulled into a narrow opening, yes I thought this must be it, found a spot, great, climbed out into the pouring rain and headed for one of the meters, looking through the gloom I read, Private Parking until 5.30pm then payment as below!! Now this doesn’t sound right, back to the car, out onto the road which had some one hour parking slots, parked up and set off for the Hall once again, by now I’m wet through, tried the door and whereas before it opened not so now, needed a code!! Eventually the same person who had given me the car park directions opened it, oh he said you don’t have to take any notice of the signs we own the car park and should really have given you a ticket for your window!!
Arthur Robinson & WM Ellect Neville Hodson

W.Bro.George Irving PPrDGSwdB Hard Working Sec.

Hey Ho, off we go back to the car, back to the car park, back to the Hall, happy days, oh no after all this traipsing about in the lovely rain, where’s my camera?? Yes, back to the car park, pick up camera, back to the Hall!!       
Now if your still with me lets have a look around the Hall, first impression really nice well kept/maintained and spotless especially the Lodge room with its many Lodge Record Boards showing Past Masters and Past Z’s, all of which were gleaming.
W.Bro.John Walsh Proud of his Hall & Museum
The supurb new lift.
A very kind W.Bro. John Walsh took charge of me as I looked a bit bedraggled and showed me all around the building including the Museum Room which he was very proud of, this was full of many wonderful artefacts both old and new, one star item is a 1599 Bible which was printed definitely before 1630, yes 1630, it is believed to have been rebound in the late 19th Century!! (Not that long ago really!!).  I made my way to an anti room which contained in one corner a very modern lift for the use of disabled Brethren which I thought was excellent, by now it was buzzing with many Brethren gathering, the attendance book was open on the table so as a good Mason I duly signed in, it wasn’t till later after taking some photo’s in the Lodge room and having a good chat with one the hardest working Lodge officers, the Secretary W.Bro. George Irving that I realised I had signed in to a Craft Meeting taking place in another Temple, all those Brethren had disappeared along with their book and had been replaced now with Mark Masons and an attendance book for Warrington MM Lodge. whoops. Who says you can’t be in two places at once….
One of the many showcases
The 1599 Bible
The Lodge was opened in due form on time at 6pm and after all the usual housekeeping had been dealt with VW Bro. Michael John Clarke APGM entered accompanied by Grand and Prov Grand Officers, he was greeted by the WM W.Bro.Chris Cullen PPrGMO and as his right offered the gavel which on this occasion he kindly declined, several Salutations followed which were well received.
The new WM (left) Bro Neville Hodson & IPM W.Bro.Chris Cullen PPrGMO.
The Lodge now settled down to the main business of the evening the Installation of Bro. Neville David Hodson by the WM assisted by SW W.Bro. John Walsh, JW W.Bro. Gordon Archer and W.Bro. George Irving as IG. What an excellent Ceremony you would be hard pressed to find one done with such sincerity, warmth and in such fine style, Chris Cullen now the IPM gave the address to the new WM, W.Bro. John Walsh address to the Wardens,  W.Bro. Jack Forsyth from St Austin’s Lodge gave the address to the Overseers, with the Asst PGM giving a splendid address to all the Brethen. (What an excellent piece of Ritual that truly is)
General Views of the Dining Room
At the conclusion of the Ceremony congratulations and best wishes were given to the new WM on behalf of the PGM Peter Connolly by AsstPGM Michael Clarke who then also congratulated all the officers who had taken part to such a high standard. 
 
On thanking Michael for his kind words the WM had much pleasure in presenting him with not one but three cheques for various causes including the WL Mark Charity, these of course were well received and acclaimed by all present.
 
Now it was time for the Asst PGM to retire from the Lodge accompanied by his Prov Team and Grand Officers,  the evenings business being concluded the meeting was closed shortly after and all made their way to the cosy bar area, for the usual warm greetings and friendly chat which is always shared amongst Mark Masons. Before too long all made their way to the dining room which was set up in fine style for the Festive Board, an excellent meal was provided which included a choice of wines. 
 
Eventually all good things must come to an end and following the Tyler’s Toast it was time to say our goodbyes, here’s to our next Merry Meeting.  Out into the cold night air for the trip back to Urmston, happy as always to have seen a great ceremony and met some new friends which is after all what the Mark Degree is all about, being happy together in great genuine company.
 

No it wasn’t raining, yet!!  (But when I got home my road was flooded, blocked drain Again!!)    
MARK WELL.      W.Bro. Austin N.Fletcher. PPrAGDC.  Flixton Shepherd Eastwood MM Lodge. No1173.