Charity by name, Charity by nature
   
The Lodge of Charity of Mark Master Masons No 935 is based in Bryn and their installation meeting attracted one of the biggest team gatherings of Acting Provincial Officers for the visit of the Provincial Grand Master, Peter Connolly, his Deputy Provincial Grand Master Keith Beardmore and Assistant Provincial Grand Master Ian Nairn. No less than 30 attended the meeting together with a 16 strong galaxy of Grand Officers. The total attendance was over 80 which made for a very enjoyable evening.
Provincial Team before the meeting
Evan Walsh was proclaimed Worshipful Master for the second year running. Evan had a somewhat mixed year during his first term of office, with illness interrupting his plans for his year and with the agreement of the lodge he has continued in office.
The PGM with Evan Walsh (WM) and Special Representative Ken Alker
For the installation ceremony Brian Deitz took the office of Senior Warden, Graham Corday Junior Warden and Alan Jones as Inner Guard.
WM’s of other Lodge L-R Cyril Phelps (Red Rose) Evan Walsh, Gordon Turner, (Murray Mark) Ken Alker,
Ken Bowdler (Leigh Mark) and Derek Easton (Westhoughton Mark)
The ceremony was outstanding with the working tools very ably given by Mark Master Mason, Andy Hall, followed by the Address to the Master being given faultlessly by Director of ceremonies, Bob Heyes.
 
After the appointment of the lodge officers the Provincial Wardens, Giles Barkley and Peter Hegarty gave the respective address to the Wardens.
The PGM with some of his team
Then came a very special part of the evening when the Provincial Grand Master asked the Provincial Grand Wardens to occupy the chairs of the Senior and Junior Wardens and to the surprise of many he opened a special Provincial Grand Lodge and called out the name of Graham Corday.
 
Peter described how it had been Graham’s original idea to suggest that De-fibrillators be installed in every Masonic Hall throughout the Province. Graham who works in the medical profession has trained many, many people in the use of these vital pieces of equipment and his idea came to fruition with the donation of no less than 20 brand new de-fibs to various halls at a cost of £21,000 by West Lancashire Mark Charities. Peter thanked Graham for his brilliant idea and promoted Graham in open lodge to the rank of Past Grand Master Overseer very much to the delight of everyone present.
The PGM greets Philip Watson National Development Officer for Brass Bands who is DC of Preston RAM and Philadelphia RAM Lodges
 
Peter also commented that during the training sessions which had been held for the de-fibs no less than 350 Masons had attended and remarkably 200 of those were not Mark Masons,
 
The Mark degree clearly took the initiative on this occasion which could not have failed to impress upon those who are not members the value of this delightful degree.
 
Present At the meeting was Philip Watson a Preston Mason who is the National Development Officer for Brass Bands which is funded by the Arts Council, much to the delight of the PGM who is a great Brass band fan. Philip is DC of Preston RAM and Philadelphia RAM.
 
The usual lively festive board followed with much banter and good humour so typical of Mark Masonry. A better Masonic evening you couldn’t have had anywhere.
 
Story and Pictures Courtesy of Fred Lomax