To see a well delivered installation ceremony is undoubtedly a great joy. When the recipient of the highest honour a lodge can confer and his installing master have known each other since schooldays, it becomes very special indeed.
Ulverston Lodge No 7872 installed its newest ruler in the craft, Kevan Cassley, in a ceremony packed with dignity, humour and excellent ritual. Chief witness to these delights and the lodge’s principal guest was Provincial Junior Grand Warden Ezra McGowan. Ezra was accompanied Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Grainger accompanied by grand officers Andy Wiltshire and Phil Preston. Supported by Furness and South Lakeland Group Chairman Chris Gray, vice-chairman Harry Chatfield and group secretary Tony Jackson. Acting Provincial grand officers attending were Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Hallatt and Provincial Grand Stewards Lee Fisher and Stephen Renney. Nine masters of other lodges were also present, a great testament to Lee’s busy year, flying the flag and visiting around the group.
The lodge was opened by WM Lee Parkinson, senior warden Craig McNicol and junior warden Micky Flitcroft in due and ancient form and at that point, Kevan was still lodge secretary. An unusual transition to the chair, possibly, but Kevan almost made that transition some ten years ago, but for a change in his working pattern, which took him south and away from his lodge for a while.
Having opened the lodge to the third degree, Lee gave his permission to director of ceremonies Stuart Allison to retire from the lodge for a short time. On his return, Stuart announced that Provincial Junior Grand Warden Ezra McGowan stood without and sought admission. Ezra was admitted with his retinue of grand and acting Provincial grand officers and was warmly welcomed by Lee. Once the salutations were completed, the lodge was adjourned in the third degree and work continued in the second degree. Installing officers took their respective chairs; Peter Gardiner as installing senior warden, Peter Quirk as installing junior warden, David Stoller as installing inner guard and John McArthur as tyler.
WM Lee asked the brethren of the lodge to assemble in the north, where he expressed his sincerest gratitude and thanks for their hard work in supporting him during the last year.
Master elect Kevan Cassley was then presented to WM Lee Parkinson by Craig McNicol, to receive at his hand the benefit of installation. The necessary qualifications were recited by Lee, then assistant secretary Ben Cauldwell read the Ancient Charges and Regulations of the Order with perfect composure and clarity, to which Kevan gave his unqualified assent.
The fellowcraft lodge was adjourned and work continued in the third degree. All below the rank of an installed master retired from the lodge for a short time and a Board of Installed Masters was opened. Kevan was installed into the chair of King Solomon with great care and sincerity by Lee, after a faltering start with footwork, which by no means detracted from the personal nature of the installation and indeed brought a smile at what can be a tense moment. Kevan wasted no time in investing Lee as immediate past master of the lodge with the collar and jewel of his office and was saluted by all present. Alan Tomlinson of Semper Sursum Lodge No 5622 delivered a faultless and dignified presentation of the working tools of an installed master. WM Kevan gavelled and the Board of Installed Masters was closed.
Visiting master Masons were re-admitted, then the master Masons of Ulverston Lodge, who all assembled in the North. Director of ceremonies Stuart Allison proclaimed Kevan Cassley as WM of Ulverston Lodge for the first time and from the east. Kevan was greeted and saluted with all due ceremonial and Walt Nayman presented and explained the working tools of a master Mason in a most excellent manner. The lodge was closed in the third degree and work continued in the second degree.
Brethren of Ulverston Lodge assembled in the north and director of ceremonies Stuart Allison proclaimed Kevan Cassley as WM of Ulverston Lodge for the second time and from the west. Kevan was greeted and saluted with all due ceremonial and Vin Linnane presented and explained the working tools of a fellowcraft Freemason impeccably. The lodge was closed in the second degree and work continued in the first degree.
Master Masons of Ulverston Lodge assembled in the north and director of ceremonies Stuart Allison proclaimed Kevan Cassley as WM of Ulverston Lodge for the third time and from the south. Kevan was greeted and saluted with all due ceremonial and Bobby Taylor, the lodge’s newest and youngest master Mason, who was raised in November, presented and explained the working tools of an entered apprentice Freemason faultlessly.
Kevan was presented with the warrant of the lodge, Book of Constitutions of the Order and Ulverston Lodge by-laws by immediate past master Lee, in return investing Lee with his past master jewel.
At the appointment of officers, Micky Flitcroft was invested as senior warden and Walt Nayman as junior warden. The wardens were addressed by Gary Rogerson in an excellent manner. Vin Linnane and David Lamb were invested as senior and junior deacons respectively and addressed with great humility by Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg. Craig McNicol was a new appointee as secretary. David McKendry and Bobby Taylor were invested as stewards and addressed superbly by Provincial Grand Steward Stephen Renney. A further new appointee was Nick Smith as tyler.
Assistant director of ceremonies Alan Hilton gave the address to WM Kevan with precision and great sincerity. At this juncture, Ezra McGowan rose and addressed the brethren of Ulverston Lodge with immense dignity, authority and accuracy. Having re-taken his seat, he almost immediately rose again, to bring the greetings of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, congratulating all who had taken part and organised the event. Saying what such a slick, well learned and rehearsed ceremony it was. Expressing his gratitude that it was half term and Bobby Taylor was therefore able to attend, such are his youthful looks and in particular, singling out and crossing the lodge to shake the hands of the four brethren who had delivered the explanations of the working tools.
As he was about to once again take his seat, Kevan presented him with a list of the lodge’s charitable giving over the past year, which covered Masonic and non-Masonic giving and amounted to a total of £2324.21. Beneficiaries were: West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity £1000.00, St Mary’s Hospice £663.49, £267.00 Sandside School, £110.00 Church Walk Nursery, £135.00 Andy’s Man Club, Furness and South Lakeland Group Masonic Fellowship £78.72, Furness and South Lakeland Group Dinner £50.00, Furness and South Lakeland Group Boxing £40.00, West Lancashire Masonic Bowling Society £25.00 and West Lancashire Masonic Clay Pigeon Shooting Society £15.00. The next agenda item after this was, aptly, to honour the charities.
At the second rising, Richard Green Wilcock, brought greetings from Provincial grand officers in attendance, alluding to Lee’s comments earlier by saying that they could all feel the love. At the third rising, Stuart Brackstone gave greetings on behalf of all the lodge visitors, wishing Ulverston Lodge, it’s WM, officers and brethren health, happiness and a busy year ahead. 84 brethren attended the feast of St John and the evening was rounded off by Peter Gardiner’s superb a Cappella rendition of the Master’s Song.
