A First Class Installation at Red Rose Mark
 
23rd November 2015
 
Red Rose Mark No 1594 meets at Hindley and although not a large lodge by any standards it nevertheless has members who are very capable of delivering a very high standard of ritual.
The new Master Chris Baxendale is congratulated by Rick Wolley.
Such was the case when Christopher J Baxendale was Installed into the Chair of Adoniram by Rick Wooley the outgoing Master. Before the ceremony began Rick thanked all his officers and members of the Lodge for their support during his term of office.
 
Rick then delivered an absolutely faultless ceremony and as David Rotherham, representing the Provincial Grand Master, said ‘That was a fantastic ceremony’ praise indeed. David had stepped in at the last moment in place of Ernest Waite, who was not well.
 
Two members of the Lodge who had received promotions during the summer were attending the Lodge for the first time since their preferment. Ray Pye, who had been promoted to Grand Rank as Past Assistant Grand Sword Bearer and Peter Coates who had received the highest Past Provincial Grand Rank as Past Provincial Grand Senior Warden. Both were congratulated by David Rotherham at the festive board.
The WM and IPM with the principal guests, Geoff Catterall, Malcolm Currie,
David Rotherham, Ken Alker, Bob McMillan and Ray Pye
During the ceremony W.Bro. Phil Stansby acted as Installing Senior Warden. W Brother John Brownlow as Installing Junior Warden and W.Bro. Geoff Catterall as Installing Inner Guard.
 
The remainder of the ceremony went very well with excellent addresses from Geoff Catterall, to the Worshipful Master. To the Wardens by W.Bro. Chris Reeman and to the Overseers by W.Bro. Colin Sharples. The address to the Brethren was given of course by the representative of the Provincial Grand Master, David Rotherham.
 
The various collarets were presented to the Worshipful Master.
 
At the conclusion of the ceremony the new Worshipful Master presented a cheque for £200 for Mark Charities. A good sum from a small Lodge like Red Rose.
 
The festive board had a great atmosphere which is typical of this very likeable Lodge and long may it continue.
Article and Photographs courtesy of Fred Lomax.