Kirk Mulhearn was installed as master of Scorton Lodge No 5791 in the presence of Assistant Provincial Grand Master John Murphy. Kirk has enjoyed rapid promotion having only just been admitted as a joining member from the Province of East Lancashire just over two years ago. John was accompanied by East Lancashire grand officer Peter Faulkner, Chairman of the Lancaster and District Group Chris Larder, group secretary and Provincial Grand Steward Lee Fisher, Provincial Senior Grand Deacon Kevin Rigg and Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy McClements.
As WM Colin Preston was not able to attend the meeting, immediate past master Ken Parker stood in as WM and opened the lodge in the first degree and conducted the business of the lodge before opening the lodge in the second and third degrees, after which John Murphy accompanied by Peter Faulkner, acting Provincial officers and the group chairman were admitted. The lodge was adjourned in the third degree and re-opened in the second degree.
Ken Parker invited Chris Yates to occupy the chair of installing senior warden, Richard Parker as installing junior warden and Ian Henderson from Pilling Lodge No 7879 as installing inner guard. Master elect Kirk Mulhearn was presented for installation by Arthur Ashcroft. All those below the rank of an installed master were requested to leave the lodge for a short while during which a board of installed masters was convened and the master elect installed into the chair of King Solomon.
The third degree working tools were presented by Chris Yates, the second and third degree working tools were presented by Harry Parker and Brian Clark respectively. New WM Kirk Mulhearn appointed James Newhouse as senior warden and Ken Parker as junior warden. James Newhouse was absent and will be invested at a later date. The address to the master was given by the installed master’s son Callum from St Peter’s Deane lodge No 6521 in the Province of East Lancashire. There was addresses to the wardens. John Murphy gave the address to the brethren of Scorton Lodge and the address to the deacons was given by Kevin Rigg.
Ken Parker asked the secretary to record thanks to immediate past master Colin Preston for the two years he served as WM prior to his resignation to join another lodge.
On completion of the installation ceremony John Murphy brought greetings from Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to the WM and wished him a successful, busy, happy and healthy year. He congratulated Ken on a superb ceremony. John was presented with a list of donations that the lodge had made to Masonic and non-Masonic charities totalling £2,000. John thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
Organist for the evening was David Wood and a total of 46 brethren attended the festive board, where the toast to the WM was given by Ken Parker. The raffle raised £435.
Newly installed WM Kirk is originally an East Lancs Mason, having lived in Bolton for 30 years where he ran his own business for over 40 years, which had to close down due to the Covid lockdown. Due to circumstances, the business didn’t reopen when restrictions were lifted and it was sold off. Kirk now works full time (but not for much longer) in logistics for a leading supermarket company.
Kirk and his partner Georgia moved to Garstang around 15 years ago. This involved long commutes back to East Lancashire to carry out various duties in Province, lodge and chapter. As his Provincial commitments came to an end and with advancing years, these commutes became increasingly challenging. Kirk then decided to enjoy Freemasonry on his doorstep in Garstang and joined Scorton Lodge just under two years ago. Due to unforeseeable circumstances in the lodge progression he has been catapulted with rapid promotion into the chair of King Solomon, something he certainly hadn’t expected, but never the less, it is an opportunity he is looking forward to.
Kirk has two adult children, both of whom live in the Manchester area. His daughter is a civil servant and his son works in events management.
Apart from Freemasonry, Kirk’s other passion in life is football, which he played at amateur level in his youth. He is a life-long Manchester United supporter, although he has kept that to himself of late!
Kirk was initiated into Deane Lodge No 6521 meeting at Bolton in September 2005, becoming WM in October 2011.This was re-named St Peters Deane Lodge 6521 following amalgamation with St Peters Lodge. Kirk was also installed as WM of Euclid Lodge of Installed Masters No 9468 in November 2015. He was exalted into Concord Deane Chapter No 37 and was first principal in 2015.
Kirk received his first Provincial honours in 2013 when he was appointed acting Provincial grand steward. He was promoted in 2015 to past Provincial senior grand deacon, past Provincial deputy grand director of ceremonies in 2016, Provincial grand charity steward in 2017 and past Provincial grand sword bearer in 2021.
In Royal Arch, Kirk was first appointed to acting Provincial second assistant sojourner in 2017, promoted to Provincial grand charity steward in 2018 and assistant to the Provincial grand principals in 2019. He was appointed to Supreme Grand Chapter as past grand standard bearer in 2022.
Kirk is a member of Scorton Chapter No 5791 and Great Eccleston Chapter No 8348.
He has remained a member of East Lancashire Provincial Grand Officers Lodge No 3747 and East Lancashire Provincial Grand Officers Chapter 3747, but rarely attends.
