It was a packed room at Ormskirk Masonic Hall when 82 brethren gathered to see Louis Spencer installed as master of Aughton Lodge No 7996. The principal guest for the evening was Provincial Grand Master Mark Mathews. Mark was accompanied by two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, David Thomas and Malcolm Bell and Provincial Senior Grand Warden Alan Ledger and Provincial Junior Grand Warden Paul Wharton, along with a plethora of grand and acting Provincial grand officers.
Once the lodge had been opened by WM, Jim Carrie, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, Barry Fitzgerald announced that Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews stood without and demanded admission.
Jim formally welcomed Mark to the meeting and hoped he would have an enjoyable evening. After the salutations, Jim asked Alan Ledger and Paul Wharton to occupy their respective warden’s chairs.
Master elect, Louis Spencer, was presented by Lee Birchall to Jim, who then continued with the installation ceremony and subsequently installed Louis into the chair of King Solomon with gusto.
An explanation of the third degree working tools was given by Karl Hughes, the second degree tools were explained by Jack Finch and the first degree tools were explained by James Rogers. All three presented word perfectly by the younger light blue brethren.
The address to the master was given by Stewart Cranage, the address to the wardens by Paul Wharton, the address to the stewards by Stuart Flynn and the address to the brethren was delivered very eloquently by Alan Ledger.
Following the completion of his installation ceremony, Louis presented Mark with a list of donations that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities to the value of £4,000. The donations were: £1,000 to the West Lancashire 2032 Festival, £1,000 to the Ormskirk Masonic Hall Association, £500 to Northern Lights Parkinson’s Support Group, £500 to the 29th Ormskirk Scouts, £500 to Woodlands Animal Sanctuary, £500 to Southport Offshore Rescue Trust.
In addition to this amount, a sum of £1,385 had already been donated earlier in the year to Masonic and non-Masonic charities.
Mark thanked the brethren of the lodge for their most generous donations and congratulated Louis on attaining the master’s chair. Mark said that he had closely followed his progression in Freemasonry over the last five years and he looked forward to what Louis would achieve in the future.
After the installation ceremony had been completed, everyone retired to the dining room where a sumptuous three-course meal of prawn cocktail, beef bourguignon followed by cherry Bakewell tart was served, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
A rousing rendition of the Master’s Song was delivered by Ian Tupling
A raffle was held which raised the magnificent sum of £355, as well as an additional £210 from the alms plate collection in the lodge room, which would be distributed to Masonic and non-Masonic Charities.
After the distinguished guests had all retired, the brethren who remained continued to celebrate enthusiastically into the early hours.