Garston Masonic Hall was the venue for the installation of Eirwyn Jones as WM of the Lodge of Harmony No 220 after first being installed as WM of the Lodge in 1992.
WM Ken Bradley opened the lodge and completed all domestic business and then opened the lodge up to the third-degree. Director of ceremonies Geoff Ireland announced that Assistant Provincial Grand Master Frank Umbers was outside the lodge and demanded admission. Frank was accompanied by John Gibbon the Vice Chairman of the Mersey Valley Group and other distinguished masons.
Ken welcomed Frank into the lodge for the installation and the ceremony began with Eirwyn confirming his previous obligation. Eirwyn was installed into the chair of King Solomon by Ken who then presented the working tools in the three degrees and the address to the WM Eirwyn Jones. Mick Southern carried out the address to the stewards who were new members of the lodge.
Frank then stood and addressed the brethren of Lodge of Harmony and then he congratulated Eirwyn as WM followed by congratulations to the installing master Ken Bradley on an excellent ceremony and brought the best wishes of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews.
Eirwyn stood and presented Frank with a donation to West Lancs Freemasons’ Charity for £2,200 which would be electronically sent. Frank thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donation. The brethren then retired for pre-dinner drinks and the festive board which was well attended.
At the festive board, Frank responded to the toast to his health by thanking everyone for the warm welcome and how pleased he was with the charity donation. He went onto discuss membership as we are losing to many members and we need to encourage new men, our friends and colleagues, to become Masons.
Frank continued by commenting that the marketing campaign was increasing membership with new members coming through into one organisation, Craft into Royal Arch. New Members need to be looked after and nurtured and become Craft and Royal Arch combined membership.
Eirwyn responded to the toast to his health by thanking Ken Bradley and that he had 100% confidence in the officers he had appointed as it will be a busy year. Since his installation on 28 October 1992 there had been three festivals and the lodge had achieved all its targets for charitable donations There’s also been the bi-centenary of the lodge at which donations were given to several deserving organisations. This had also been a successful year with several initiations into the lodge with younger brethren being admitted.
