At the close of his third term as WM of his lodge, in a Masonic career spanning over 40 years, Carl McWhan was proclaimed for a further year as WM of Barrow Lodge No 3928. 57 brethren attended the delightful, but necessary and brief ceremony, including six visiting masters, four grand officers and three acting Provincial grand officers.
Carl has taken his duties as WM very seriously this past year and has been a regular and prolific visitor to the lodges of the Furness and South Lakeland Group, enjoying the chance to make new friends and pick up again with old acquaintances.
Principal guest Barrie Crossley, representative of Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, was accompanied by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master David Grainger and Past Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland Norman Thompson. Along with grand officers Rowley Saunders and John Quiggin.
Acting Provincial grand officers were; Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Hallatt and Provincial Grand Steward Stephen Renney. The Furness and South Lakeland Group was represented by group chairman Chris Gray, vice chairman Harry Chatfield and group secretary Tony Jackson.
Barrie was admitted to the lodge accompanied by a distinguished escort and was welcomed by Carl. After the salutations to the grand and Provincial grand officers had been given, the ceremony of proclamation began. Director of ceremonies David Ingham then proclaimed Carl McWhan as WM of Barrow Lodge for the ensuing year.
Once Carl had been proclaimed as WM, Mike Cosgrove, the immediate past master of Barrow Lodge, presented and explained the working tools of a master Mason, in a very fine manner. After the lodge was closed by virtue down to the second degree, the working tools of a fellow craft Freemason were presented and explained by Paul Walker in a most excellent manner. The lodge was then closed by virtue down to the first degree and the working tools of an entered apprentice Freemason were presented and explained by Mort Richardson, in a very fluent and accurate fashion.
During the appointment and investiture of the lodge officers, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg gave the address to the deacons. John Quiggin gave the address to the wardens, Provincial Grand Steward Stephen Renney gave the address to the stewards of the lodge, and Barrie Crossley gave the address to the brethren of Barrow Lodge. Ian Thompson of Hartington Lodge No 1021 had stood in as senior warden until the investiture of the officers. It was at the investiture of the lodge treasurer, Derek Worrall, that Carl paid tribute to outgoing treasurer John Quiggin, thanking him for 14 years of diligence and service to the lodge.
At the conclusion of the proclamation ceremony, as Carl was about to revert to the summons, Barrie rose and brought the greetings of Mark Matthews, offering congratulations to the WM Carl, lodge secretary Tony Cassells and director of ceremonies David Ingham for their work during the year and in the ceremony. He also praised the three brethren who had presented and explained the working tools of the three degrees. Barrie was handed a note detailing charitable giving to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity of £400 and £250 to the Barrow Masonic Hall building fund. Barrie thanked the members of the lodge for their generous donations.
The greetings from United Grand Lodge were given by David Grainger, who echoed Barrie’s congratulations and pointed out to the assembly that director of ceremonies David Ingham had worked without an assistant all afternoon.
At the festive board, many of the more junior brethren were astounded to hear that Carl has been a Freemason for 45 years, having been initiated in 1979 and installed as WM of the lodge in both 1989 and 1998. John Quiggin gave a superb ‘a cappella’ rendition of the Master’s Song, and the raffle raised £480, augmented by a further £12 from the ‘masters’ swindle’. Alms collected in the lodge room amounted to £157.50. Musical interludes were provided by visiting director of music Norman Thomas, further enhancing the ceremony.
