Following the prompt opening of Bootle Pilgrim Lodge No 1573 and completion of the ordinary business, the master Steven Payne instructed that visitor’s be admitted and the lodge was then raised to the third degree.
Director of ceremonies Stephen Oliver then retired and, on his return, announced that Andrew Whittle, Assistant Provincial Grand Master demanded admission, Andrew was accompanied by the group chairman Graham Chambers, vice chairman Stephen Dunn and other grand, acting Provincial grand and Provincial grand officers.
Andrew then processed into the lodge and was welcomed by the Steven who then, as is the custom, offered the Gavel to Andrew who replied that he would decline the kind offer since on this occasion he was intending to enjoy himself.
Greetings and salutations to the dignitaries being completed the lodge resumed labour in the second degree and the installation of Graham Daly was begun with his presentation at the master’s pedestal by presenting officers George McDonald and Stephen Oliver, where he gave a perfect recitation of his obligation. The Lodge then returned to the third degree and the master elect was installed into the chair of King Solomon following which he invested his immediate past master who led the lodge in proclaiming and saluting the master in the three degrees with the help of the DC Stephen Oliver. The working tools were consecutively presented by Keith Rushton, Allan Hore and Philip Lawton all in a flawless manner. Steven then continued by presenting the lodge warrant and book of constitutions to the master.
The director of ceremonies then invited Graham to invest his officers and instructed those who were remaining in office to only stand and give a court bow rather than having their collars represented by the master. However, with six brethren on the ladder towards becoming master themselves, there was ample opportunity for promotion. Roger Gordon was invested as senior warden and Philip Lawton as junior warden. Paul Johnston is to be invested at the next regular meeting as senior deacon and Kieran Owen was invested as junior deacon, with Chris Jones invested as inner guard.
Addresses to officers were all presented in a perfect manner with the address to the master being given by the chaplain George McDonald, followed by the address to the brethren of the lodge, expertly given by Andrew Whittle. He went on to bring the sincere best wishes of Mark Matthews and enthused about the quality of the ceremony especially mentioning the master and installing master and recognised the amount of organisation, preparation and rehearsal it must have required.
Prior to his sitting, the master rose to present Andrew with a series of cheques to the value of £1,500 to the benefit of six local organisations consisting of; Zoe’s place £150, Food Bank £200, Elsie’s Story £150, Bootle Bucks £100, Litherland Youth Club £50, Ju-Jitsu UK £200. Monies were also donated for WLFC £500, Tithebarn £50 and Litherland Masonic Hall £100. The Elsie’s story Charity commemorates the loss of seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe in the Southport tragedy by providing secure entry systems for community spaces and is a favoured charity of Graham Chambers. Andrew said he was pleased to accept such a large and useful sum from the lodge on behalf of the eventual recipients
Following the first rising, alms were collected and the Provincial team regressed from the lodge to be joined shortly after by all the brethren, following the completion of lodge business. The new master and guests were then applauded into the dining hall where all were treated to an excellent festive board.
In response to his toast, Andrew rose and spoke warmly of the enjoyable atmosphere of their chattering lodge of laughter as well as noting the number of brethren on the ladder and the skills they displayed in the ritual. He then congratulated the master and installing master and invited them both to join him and the Provincial Grand Master at Provincial Grand Lodge in Blackpool on Friday 9 May.
Andrew went on to speak of the almoner’s role and encouraged the maintenance of contact through visits at the very least once a year, as well as by phone, to enable a more accurate assessment of need since the charity fund is receiving fewer applications which are now simplified into a single phone call followed by an assessment of resources and needs. He went on to note the generous charitable donations which are considerable for such a small lodge. The selection for donations mostly going to local groups and divided equally between Masonic and Non-Masonic organisations reflecting the impact of the Craft upon local communities
Honours were given followed by the toast to the master by immediate past master Steven Payne, followed by the Master’s song sung in his usual entertaining style by Don Fraser and joined in the chorus by all who then greeted each other in the customary and lively manner. In response the master thanked all for their attendance and hard work in preparing for the installation. He said they had a busy year ahead beginning with the raising of Kieran Owen. He thanked Steven for the toast, honours were given and bouquets of flowers were presented to Andrew and Graham for their lady wives.
Before the evening ended, Graham thanked Russell Skidmore, the secretary of the lodge, who could not attend due to illness, Keith Rushton and Stephen Oliver for all the hard work they had put in to make the evening so special. The evening drawing to a close the tyler’s toast was given by Don Fraser and all then departed in harmony and peace.
