Hot on the heels of the Furness Chapter No 995 installation, Lodge of Furness No 995, its counterpart in the Craft and the oldest lodge in the Furness and South Lakeland Group has installed its newest WM, Gary Grieve. In the presence of Grand Lodge Officer Rowley Saunders, the representative of Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews, 65 brethren witnessed a sparkling ceremony, packed with wonderful ritual, right out of the top drawer. Rowley was accompanied by seven grand lodge officers, three acting Provincial grand lodge officers, the whole of the Furness and South Lakeland Group Executive and nine visiting masters, all adding to the splendour of the proceedings.
WM Mark Hornby opened the lodge in due and ancient form impeccably with his wardens, Gary Grieve and Matthew Griffiths. First business was to make Howard Stephenson an honorary member of the lodge. Having completed the regular business before the lodge, director of ceremonies Tony Nevinson retired from the lodge, returning to announce that the representative of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews stood without and requested admission.
Rowley Saunders was admitted, accompanied by grand and acting Provincial grand officers, including: Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Grainger, grand officers Chris Band, Alan Jones. Barrie Crossley, David Kellet and Phil Preston accompanied by Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Barry Fitzgerald and Furness and South Lakeland Group Chairman Chris Gray.
Rowley was welcomed by WM Mark, intimating how pleased and honoured he was to be representing Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, both in his own lodge and at the installation of a man he had proposed into the Craft. The lodge was adjourned in the third degree and the chairs of senior warden, junior warden and the position of inner guard were occupied respectively by Ronnie Jackson, Russ Greenhow and Jim Richards. The brethren of the lodge assembled in the North, Mark thanked them all for their hard work and support throughout his year as master and expressed a hope that they would offer the same to incoming master Gary.
Gary Grieve, senior warden and master elect was then presented to Mark to receive at his hand the benefit of installation. Gary gave his assent to the ancient charges and regulations read by secretary David Jennings, (incidentally David’s ‘Swansong’ as secretary after five years of service to the lodge), was duly obligated in a most dignified manner by Mark. The lodge was re-opened in the third degree, all below the rank of installed master retired and a Board of Installed Masters opened. Gary was led through his second obligation by Mark, who then installed Gary into the chair of King Solomon in a most satisfying manner, with great fluency and attention to detail. Having saluted Gary himself, installing master Mark called on the brethren of Lodge of Furness and visiting masters to perambulate around the lodge and in passing the chair of King Solomon salute the newly installed master Gary Grieve. The senior warden, junior warden and inner guard saluted from their places. The Board of Installed Masters was closed and master Masons were admitted.
As the lodge closed down through the three degrees, the working tools of each degree were presented and explained respectively. Bert Chambers presented the third degree tools, Tony Nevinson presented the second degree tools and Keith Lancaster presented the first degree tools, all three brethren performing their duties in a most excellent manner.
After immediate past master Mark Hornby had presented the warrant, book of constitutions and by-laws to him, Gary was invested with a Hall Stone Jewel, which was presented and explained in a most dignified manner by Russ Greenhow.
The officers of the lodge were then appointed and invested by Gary. Senior warden Matthew Griffiths was informed of his duties by Ronnie Jackson and presented with the gavel and column of his office. Junior warden Jonathan Walsh was also presented with the gavel and column of his office and informed of his duties by Russ Greenhow. Keith Lancaster was appointed treasurer, Tom Irving took the reins of secretary from David Jennings and Tony Nevinson handed over as director of ceremonies to Chris Angell, Tony stepping to assistant director of ceremonies. Fond memories were evoked as Chris’s late father Ronnie Angell was mentioned, a stalwart of the Lodge of Furness and sadly missed. Bert Chambers was appointed senior deacon and addressed individually by Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg. Albert Saunders was appointed and invested as inner guard at his place inside the door by WM Gary, a very nice touch from the master.
Rowley Saunders addressed the WM Alan Pattinson, the wardens and then Rowley was again on his feet to address the brethren of the lodge. At the conclusion of the installation ceremony, as Gary reverted to the circular, Rowley rose again, to bring the greetings of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and congratulated immediate past master Mark Hornby, the three brethren who delivered the presentations of the working tools and all those who had taken part in the ceremony. Gary presented a cheque in the sum of £995 for the West Lancashire Freemasons Charity, Rowley quipping that he was glad the lodge’s number wasn’t 9950!
At this point, the lodge honoured the charities, collecting £202.65 in alms.
At the first rising, Alan Jones brought the greetings of the grand lodge officers, echoing Rowley’s praise of the standard of work in the lodge. Peter Quirk brought the greetings of the provincial grand lodge officers and was full of praise for all those who had taken part in the ceremony.
At the Festival of St John, an atmosphere of joy and jubilation pervaded the proceedings. £411 was raised by the raffle. During his reply to the toast to the grand officers, Rowley mentioned that Tony Nevinson had broached the subject of retirement as lodge director of ceremonies and wondered what the pension would be. Rowley quipped back stating that he would pay twice the amount he gets! Gary Grieve expressed his great pleasure at what had been a wonderful afternoon and evening of Freemasonry, expressing a hope to live up to the high standards set on the day and in the past year by Mark Hornby, his predecessor.
Russ Greenhow sang a marvellous heartfelt Master’s Song a cappella, to great approval from the assembled company.
