Wilbraham Lodge No.523 of Mark Master Masons |
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Installation Meeting |
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The Masonic Temple, Kingsway, Widnes. Thursday 10th April 2025 |
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| Here we go another Mark Meeting to look forward to, not far to travel today but as usual the M60 nightmare started at the on ramp which is just before the high-level bridge over the ship canal, it used to be easier when I had flashing blue lights on the car! | |
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| Still never mind crawled as usual over the bridge and on to the M62 where the traffic started flowing again, got to Junction 7 then it was easy from there on soon arrived, plenty of parking space and the usual friendly welcome, this time it was from the Kitchen staff who let me in through a side entrance, but don’t tell anyone. | |
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| Made our way to the robing room dropped off the cases then it was on to the bar/lounge area where there was already lots of Happy chat from the Mark Masons who had travelled from all over the Province to be present at this special Installation Meeting being attended by our own. | |
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| PGM R.W. Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore G.M.R.A.C. and members of the Provincial Team. | |
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| There are not many who have attained such a wonderful title, we are all very proud of his achievements. | |
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| The meeting opened on time at 6 p.m. and following several housekeeping items it was time for the PGM and the Provincial Team to enter, Keith was offered the Gavel as is his right and on this occasion he said he would accept it for a short time so as to introduce the members of the team to everyone present. | |
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| Once this was done the Installing W.M. Bro. Lewis Redhead assisted by members of the Lodge carried out a wonderful Installation ceremony to place Bro. Paul Smith into the Chair of Adoniram. The Keystone Jewel and the Charity Jewel were presented by W. Bro. Alan Lowe and following on from that the Working Tools were presented and explained in fine style by W.Bro. David Redhead PPrGJO. The address to the W.M. was given by W.Bro. Brian Horabin PPrJGW. Address to the Wardens was given by W.Bro. Dave Atkinson PrJGW and following on was the Address to the Overseers by W.Bro. Mark Taylor PGJW. The Address to all was given in fine style and with genuine sincerity as always by our PGM Keith who then gave his personal congratulations to the newly installed W.M. and to all the officers who had taken part and wished them all a happy and healthy year ahead with perhaps a few Candidates along the way. In return the W.M. was pleased to hand over a couple of cheque’s which the now IPM W.Bro. Lewis Redhead had passed to him for presentation. Keith said what a wonderful amount for the charities, £250 to Zoe’s Place and £250 to the West Lancs Benevolent Fund. | |
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| It was then time for the Team to retire and they were played out to the Brilliant music played throughout the proceedings by W.Bro. David Tattersall. | |
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| On closing everyone returned to the Temple for the usual pictures to be taken to record the event before making their way to the dining room, charging their glasses and taking up their allotted seats for the Festive Board. A first-class meal was served to all by the friendly and very efficient Hall Staff, everyone then settled back with lots of shared happy chat before the usual Toasts and responses were delivered along with the much-awaited joke from our PGM, how many out of 10, I’d rather not say! | |
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| Then all too soon that was it all over again, another great meeting enjoyed by all, everyone said their goodbyes with the genuine handshakes of friendship we share in this “The Magic of the Mark.” | |
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Here’s to the next one to see old friends and those we have yet to meet, two meetings to make note of: Provincial Grand Mark Lodge, Thursday 8th May. |
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The Royal Arkriners Provincial Grand Assembly, Tuesday 16th Sept. Brookfield Masonic Hall, Peel Street, Peel Street, Westhoughton. BL5 3SP |
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| Words and pictures by W.Bro. A. N. Fletcher PGJD. FSE 1173 | |
