The stormy weather played havoc with many best laid plans, but none more than current WM Roy Williams of Harmonic Lodge No 216, who works in the North Sea off the coast of Shetland. The weather making it far too dangerous for helicopter transfer to the mainland meant that Roy was stuck on board, and so the planned installation meeting had to be postponed until Roy could set foot on terra firma once again.
The following month, all was set and with Roy back in the chair of King Solomon, he welcomed the brethren and guests to Harmonic Lodge at the Britannia Adelphi Hotel Liverpool and hoped that they would all enjoy the installation meeting. Roy assisted by senior warden, Ian Elsby, and stand-in junior warden Paul Shirley, opened the lodge in fine form in the first degree. Secretary Eric O’Callaghan then read out a dispensation to hold the installation meeting following the postponement of the earlier meeting. All formalities completed, the lodge swiftly moved to the second and third degrees.
Director of ceremonies John Donnelly then requested the brethren to stand to receive Ian Sanderson, the representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, accompanied by Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar and grand officer Ken Pyre, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon John Reynolds and other distinguished brethren as they entered the lodge.
Ian was conducted to master Roy Williams and formally introduced. After the necessary salutations had been attended to, DC John Donnelly then arose, and proclaimed to all present that for the ensuing year and until a successor had been duly elected in his stead that Roy Williams was the WM of Harmonic Lodge. Having assembled master Masons, Phil Marshall led the master Masons around the lodge and saluted Roy in the correct manner of that degree, Harry Kinney gave the working tools of a master Mason. The lodge was then closed in the third degree and resumed labour in the second degree.
Again, Phil Marshall led the fellow craft Masons around the lodge ensuring that master Roy was saluted in the correct manner of that degree, this time it was the turn of Ian Elsby to perform the working tools of a fellow craft Freemason. In time honoured fashion, the lodge was closed in the second degree and labour resumed in the first degree, with entered apprentices admitted. Phil Marshall instructed the entered apprentices with the proper salutations of that degree and finished off a great display of ritual prowess, by delivering the working tools of an entered apprentice Freemason. During the appointment of officers, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon John Reynolds was called on to perform the address to the deacons.
Principal guest Ian Sanderson delivered the address to the brethren of the lodge. Roy responded by asking Ian to receive cheques to honour the charities. Ian thanked the lodge for their extremely generous contributions to many charities, totalling a magnificent sum of £1,750 in total.
At the conclusion of the installation ceremony, Ian again rose and this time as well as bringing the congratulations of Mark Matthews, also brought his own, thanking Roy for continuing as master for another year, the brethren who had performed the working tools and John Donnelly for his hard work as director of ceremonies.
The brethren and visitors then retired to the festive board after the lodge had been called off, and as is lodge custom, the festive board is attended in Masonic aprons. Harmonic Lodge is known for its hospitality and this meeting was no exception. After all had been called to their seats, the various toasts and unique responses were given, it was a pleasure to observe again.
Principal guest Ian in response to the toast to his health, again congratulated Roy on his proclamation and also in relation to the recent announcement of Provincial ranks which had been awarded to two members of Harmonic Lodge to be invested at Provincial Grand Lodge, Blackpool, congratulating Roy again for his first appointment as Past Provincial Junior Grand Deacon and John Donnelly, for a prestigious acting rank, Provincial Junior Grand Deacon, very well deserved and congratulations to both.
It was then the turn of John Donnelly to rise again, who said a director of ceremonies job was easy, and without further ado, encouraged the lodge to join with him and sing a toast to the master, with the lodge brethren, visitors and guests all singing ‘The Master’s Song’ in a toast to Roy Williams, WM of Harmonic Lodge.
