It was all change at the top when the lodge assembled for the installation meeting of Imperial Sefton Lodge No 680, at the Artists Club, Liverpool. Unfortunately, current WM Andrew Thompson was unable to attend and so at short notice the director of ceremonies Steve Kayne stepped in as WM for the evening.
Several very distinguished brethren were in attendance and an air of excitement pervaded the hall, as the various guests and brethren thronged in the anteroom adjoining the main lodge room. Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Robb Fitzsimmons called all to order and the brethren filed into the lodge room.
WM Steve Kayne welcomed all to the lodge and explained that he would be standing-in for Andrew and that he hoped that we all enjoyed the installation ceremony that was to come. The lodge was then opened in very fine form, and having attended to the necessary business, a knock on the door signified the entrance of Robb Fitzsimmons who announced that the deputy Provincial Grand Master Philip Gunning stood outside of the lodge and demanded admission.
Steve, having stated that he would be delighted to receive them, a large procession began to form and file their way into the lodge. Leading the way were two acting Provincial Grand Stewards, Raymond Parr, and Keith Lindsay, resplendent in their striking red aprons. Swiftly followed by Provincial Senior Grand Deacon John Reynolds, Provincial Grand Almoner Paul Broadley, Provincial Junior Grand Warden David Rigby and Deputy Provincial Grand Master Philip Gunning. Accompanied by several grand officers, Provincial grand officers, Ormskirk and Bootle Group Chairman Graham Chambers, accompanied by Gladstone Group Secretary Patrick Kent, who on this occasion was also deputising as senior deacon.
After the necessary salutations were given, the lodge resumed labour in the second degree and after fellow crafts had been admitted, Steve, requested would Alan Riley, please occupy the chair of senior warden for the remainder of the ceremony. This was the cue for David Hawkes to collect master elect David Boyes and present him.
David Boyes having been conducted to the pedestal was faultless in his obligation and once seated as master elect, Steve requested all officers of the lodge to line up in the north and thanked them all on behalf of the current WM Andrew Thompson for their help and support that they had given him in his year as WM. A board of installed masters was then convened and Steve installed David into the chair of King Solomon in an exemplary manner.
Having closed the board of installed masters, Steve requested that master Masons be admitted and process around the lodge saluting newly installed master David. Steve then attended to the necessary salutations of a master Mason, collecting lodge secretary Mark Crawford who delivered the working tools.
The lodge was then closed in the third degree and Steve requested admission of fellow crafts and instructed them in the correct salutation of that degree. It was then turn of Patrick Kent to deliver the working tools of a fellow craft Freemason. Finally, the lodge was closed in the second degree, entered apprentices admitted, and Steve once again instructed the brethren in the correct salutations and then collected past master James Turnbull who delivered the working tools of an entered apprentice Freemason.
All three brethren delivered excellent renditions of the working tools, under the very expert eye of Steve Kayne, who in turn led by example, demonstrating how a perfect installation ceremony should be conducted.
It was then time to invest the officers of the lodge for the ensuing year, Steve Kayne was rightfully invested as director of ceremonies, with the collar addresses being given by WM David in each case. It was pleasant to observe visiting brethren being involved in the ceremony, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon John Reynolds gave the address to the deacons, David Newland, who was standing in as inner guard, gave the address to inner guard Suvi Rakesh, with acting Provincial Grand Steward Raymond Parr giving the address to newly invested steward John McDade.
Junior warden Tim Burgess gave the address to the master, Provincial Junior Grand Warden David Rigby, having requested would the wardens of the lodge stand, delivered the address to the wardens. With the deputy Provincial Grand Master Philip Gunning delivering the address to the brethren of the lodge signalled the end of the formal installation ceremony. Philip then congratulated David on a wonderful ceremony, and in turn also congratulated Steve Kayne on a wonderful installation and the many, many brethren who had played a part that evening.
David requested would Philip accept a cheque on behalf of the charities and having requested permission to read that out, announced to the brethren that the lodge had donated the magnificent sum of £680 to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity.
After the first rising a tremendous procession was formed as described earlier and the attending dignitaries and guests retired and the lodge business was duly concluded in fine form. The dining rooms at the Artist Club, are a treat for the senses with the small bar perfectly sized and the consummate place for catching up, the room was abuzz with praise for the installation ceremony which had just taken place.
At the festive board amongst the many toasts, Deputy Provincial Grand Master Philip Gunning, brought his personal congratulations to David Boyes and particularly Steve Kayne for standing in at short notice, on a ceremony superbly conducted. Philip implored those present to continue to enjoy their Freemasonry and said how delighted he was to see guest Kevin Poynton looking so well. Thanking all acting officers who had attended in support of the evening, as well as the grand officers and Provincial grand officers in attendance, the lodge firing glasses were used to maximum effect in applause to Philip’s toast.
It was then turn of grand officer David Hawkes, who gave the toast to David, explaining that he had first observed the potential in David when he himself was a vice chairman, and that it was a pleasure and an honour in proposing and giving this toast, congratulating him on his recent appointment to acting rank of Deputy Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies to be appointed in May at Provincial Grand Lodge.
In return, David thanked all of the many guests and brethren for attending the installation, and also recognised the work that Deputy Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Robb Fitzsimmons, as well as Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Gregory Pinnington had played throughout the evening in ensuring that the ceremony and festive board ran so well.
The last words should be left to Steve Kayne who led the brethren in a rousing rendition of the Master’s Song – ‘And here’s to his health, here’s to his health, And here’s to his health in a song.’ A stand-in masterclass of an installation was duly observed.