Quingenti Lodge No 8516 was honoured and delighted to welcome Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, on an official visit to Quingenti Lodge, meeting at Bryn Masonic Hall to invest Michael Tax as Assistant Provincial Grand Master. The evening marked a significant moment in the lodge’s history and was attended by a strong delegation of Provincial grand officers and visitors.
After the lodge had been duly opened in the third degree, the atmosphere within the temple grew expectant. The door was then knocked and Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Barry Fitzgerald, entered the lodge in full ceremonial dress. He announced that Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews, stood without and demanded admission.
In response, Nick Delaney, WM of Quingenti Lodge, declared that the lodge would be pleased to receive him. Barry asked the brethren to rise and receive the Provincial Grand Master, accompanied by his wardens, grand and acting Provincial grand officers.
The entrance of Mark and his team into the lodge was very impressive. Mark was warmly welcomed by the WM Nick, who offered Mark the gavel as was his right. Mark graciously accepted it for the purpose of conducting the formal investiture of Michael Tax.
A fitting and heartfelt address followed, during which Mark spoke of the qualities, dedication, and long-standing service of Michael. He highlighted Michael’s steadfast commitment to Freemasonry, his loyalty to the Province, and the high regard in which he is held by his peers. He then proceeded to formally invest Michael Tax as Assistant Provincial Grand Master, to the applause of the assembled brethren. It was great to see a light blue, Matthew Baldwin, present Michael’s chain of office to Mark for the investment.
The ceremony was carried out with dignity and precision, reflecting both the importance of the office and the esteem of the recipient. The brethren expressed their warmest congratulations to the newly invested Assistant Provincial Grand Master, wishing him every success in his new role.
Before concluding the Provincial Grand Lodge meeting, Mark had the pleasure of carrying out a field promotion for Quingenti Lodge Director of Ceremonies, Paul Shirley. Mark was thrilled to promote Paul to the esteemed rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden of the Province of West Lancashire. This promotion brought joy to all the members and visitors of Quingenti Lodge, as they all recognised it as a well-deserved honour. Following this, Mark officially closed Provincial Grand Lodge and invited WM Nick to take his rightful place.
With the Provincial investiture complete, the lodge resumed its regular business. The next important item was the installation of the new WM. Nick Delaney, having completed a successful and distinguished year in the chair, proceeded with great skill and assurance to install his successor, David Paton, into the chair of King Solomon.
The ceremony was conducted with solemnity and respect, honouring the ancient traditions of the Craft and the significance of the position. David Paton accepted the honour with humility and gratitude, recognising the trust that had been placed in him by the brethren of such a respected lodge. It is important to note that installing master Nick Delaney installed David in an exemplary manner, earning high praise from Mark Matthews
At the conclusion of the ceremony of installation, warm congratulations were extended to the newly invested Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Michael Tax, newly installed WM David Paton and Paul Shirley on his well-earned field promotion. The lodge expressed its best wishes to the brethren as they embark upon their new responsibilities.
The evening concluded with a convivial and well-attended festive board, where the spirit of fellowship, unity, and good humour—hallmarks of Quingenti Lodge—were evident throughout.
After the festive board, which was of a very high standard, which has become the norm at Bryn, it was time for the toasts. The toast to the grand officers was elegantly given by the senior warden, who associated the name of Malcolm Bell with the toast to grand officers.
Malcolm stood and began by congratulating everyone involved in making the evening such a fantastic success. He went on to express how fortunate the Province was to have a strong and determined leader in Mark Matthews—someone unafraid to push boundaries and bold enough to implement the changes necessary for the great Province of West Lancashire to thrive.
Mark thanked Malcolm for his kind words and emphasised the importance of the Royal Arch. He was pleased to report that membership had begun to rise, with the Province now at 43%, though he noted that a Province of our size should be closer to 50%.
He also highlighted the need to actively promote the use of Portal, encouraging everyone to take ownership of their data and assist those who may be struggling to access it.
Above all, Mark urged everyone to support their lodges by attending social events—such as Ladies’ Evenings and Christmas parties—remaining active within their lodges and most importantly, enjoying their Freemasonry.
The response to the toast to the Provincial grand officers was delivered with confidence and warmth by Michael Tax. He began with a light-hearted apology for ‘hijacking’ the Quingenti installation meeting with his investiture, which was met with good humour. Michael then reflected on his Masonic journey, sharing how his father had introduced him to the Craft and had even presented him with the rarely heard Lewis Address—an experience he clearly cherishes. He concluded by expressing his sincere thanks to everyone for their generous toast to the Provincial grand officers.
WM David Paton had the great pleasure of proposing the toast to the health of the visitors. He warmly thanked them all for their attendance, expressing genuine appreciation for the support, friendship and good humour they brought to the evening. David remarked that the presence of visiting brethren not only enriches the occasion but also strengthens the bonds of companionship that lie at the heart of Freemasonry. He concluded by inviting everyone to join him in raising a glass to their honoured guests, whose contribution helped make the evening truly memorable.
Senior warden John Reynolds responded on behalf of the visitors with warmth and sincerity. He expressed their collective gratitude for the generous hospitality shown throughout the evening and remarked on the genuine friendship and camaraderie they had enjoyed. John noted that occasions such as this remind visitors why returning is always such a pleasure. He concluded by thanking the brethren for a wonderful evening and for making every guest feel truly welcome.
Toasts were warmly given, friendships strengthened, and reflections shared on what had been a truly memorable evening for the lodge.