It was a well-attended installation held at Litherland Masonic Hall for Formby Lodge No 5659, which is a daylight lodge and has seen a growing membership over the past year due to the greater convenience found by many brethren because of the earlier 11:00am starts.
Brethren of the lodge were honoured by the attendance of Past Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison, accompanied by grand officers Roy Pine, Brian Cunliffe, Stewart Cranage and also Graham Chambers the Group Chairman of Ormskirk and Bootle Group, who has it happens, was the installing master. All under the watch full eyes of the Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Peter Littlehales.
The initial business of the lodge was completed by Graham, who expressed his great thanks to his officers and the brethren for their loyalty and support over his past year as master. He especially also mentioned and offered thanks to all of the wives who support their husbands in their many attendances at Masonic events.
Peter was then excused and returned to announce that the PProvGM was without and sought admission following which greetings were exchanged and Tony passed on his own and the sincere best wishes of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, wishing for all present to thoroughly enjoy the afternoon’s ceremony, the festive board and also their Freemasonry.
Following salutations, Stephen Dunn, who is the Vice Chairman of the Ormskirk and Bootle Group was installed into the chair of Formby Lodge as its master for the following Year and he was honoured appropriately by the brethren. The third, second and first degree working tools were perfectly presented by senior warden Ronnie Christer, junior warden Don Fraser and the installing master Graham respectively, whilst the address to the master was given by Martin Davies. The master’s elected and selected officers were then installed.
The address to the brethren of the lodge was eloquently given by Tony who complimented the officers on the style and skill of their presentation. He said, to much merriment, that he knew of Bottomley, Emulation and Scottish Rite but was now also impressed by the style and finesse of the new Formby Lodge ritual. He acknowledged the hard work and practice that must have been undertaken to perfect the installation and congratulated Philip Baines, the lodge DC, on his organisation of the event.
Upon Tony leaving the floor, Stephen rose to present him with a series of cheques to the total value of £500 consisting of; £200 for the benefit of Derrian House, £100 for the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity and £200 for The Rainbow Hub Maudsley, which offers therapeutic support for children and young people. He sincerely thanked the brethren on behalf of himself and Mark Matthews for the eventual benefit these donations would give to the recipients.
The business of the lodge continued with the first rising and the honouring of the charities which raised £73.75. following which the dignitaries regressed for refreshments prior to the festive board and were then joined by the brethren following the completion of the ordinary business of the lodge.
Tony Harrison then led an impromptu toast to congratulate Stephen Dunn, the new master of Formby Lodge, wishing him great success and enjoyment in his forthcoming year and mentioned also the installing team who he said must have worked so hard to present such a fine installation. The master and dignitaries were then applauded to their places and grace was said to give thanks and in consideration of those in difficulty or who have less during these challenging times.
In response to his toast, Tony commented that he was glad to be back again at Litherland Masonic Hall and to be meeting up with friends both old and new. David Burgess was mentioned who is soon to celebrate his 50 years in Freemasonry and also Trevor Martin who is to be promoted at Provincial Grand Lodge on Wednesday 8 May at Blackpool Winter Gardens, to the well-earned rank of PPJGW. Tony went on to acknowledge the many group officers including Gary Thornhill, Graham Chambers Stephen Dunn, Stewart Cranage and other grand officers in attendance who all give freely of their time and resources to the Craft and its charitable objectives.
Tony thanked the lodge brethren for their very generous history of donations complimented by tonight’s £500 plus the respectable £125 raised from the raffle and the alms collection of £73.75 which are considerable amounts from such a small, but increasingly popular daylight lodge. The Master’s Song was then led by Don Fraser and sung with enthusiasm by all. Finally, the tyler’s toast was given with all departing in harmony and peace by 2:00pm.
