Having been thwarted by the illness of the master elect in October, fingers and knees were crossed at the November meeting for the installation of Mark Barton, especially as his dad was in attendance.
County Palatine Lodge No 2505 was then opened by the WM Roger Dunlop, who had missed the October meeting due to illness, and after the minutes were read, the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews accompanied by Kevin Poynton, who was his representative for the evening, and grand lodge officers were admitted.
Bryan Henshaw then took the chair as the installing master to install Mark Barton and offered the gavel of the lodge to the Mark Matthews, who politely refused it. The ceremony of installation then started and Trevor Rimmer presented Mark Barton for installation and the necessary questions were answered, and having already previously been installed in to the chair of King Solomon, the obligation was recited and Mark was duly placed in the chair.
The addresses were performed by Bryan Henshaw and Morris Evans and the officers were then installed in their new roles. Kevin Poynton then gave the address the brethren of the lodge. It must be his party piece because it was faultless!
With Mark Barton installed as master, the lodge was closed in the second and third degrees and salutations were completed, the warrant of the lodge and the bylaws were presented to Mark. The lodge was then under Mark’s control and once all the business had been completed, he closed the lodge in perfect harmony.
At the festive board the Masters Song was performed with dignity and aplomb by Roy Bell to which the master duly replied. The principal speech was given by Kevin Poynton, which he gave in his usual witty manner, but included some very serious parts. As everything came to an end, the festive board was closed and everyone agreed it had been a very fine night.
