In what can only be described as a feast of good ritual and charitable giving, Hindpool Lodge No 1225 returned to labour after the summer recess to proclaim Gary Gibson as WM for a second term.
Grand Lodge Officer Phil Preston, representing the Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews, was there to witness the spectacle, in the company of two other grand lodge officers, Rowley Saunders and Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Barry Fitzgerald. Also attending were nine visiting masters in office, as were the Furness and South Lakeland Group Chairman Chris Gray, group vice-chairman Harry Chatfield and group secretary Tony Jackson, a total of 59 brethren in attendance.
After the lodge was opened, the brethren stood to order in respect of departed merit for Malcolm Sharp, who had recently been called to higher service. Malcolm had celebrated 50 years as a Freemason in 2023.
Doug Smith temporarily occupied the position of director of ceremonies and retired from the lodge and shortly thereafter, Phil Preston was admitted, accompanied by grand and Provincial grand lodge officers and duly received a warm welcome from WM Gary Gibson.
Although a proclamation ceremony is of necessity shorter than a regular installation, there was much to admire in terms of the ritual. One such highlight was IPM Paul Musgrave who presented the working tools of a master Mason in an excellent and faultless manner.
The lodge was closed in the third degree and work continued in the second. The working tools of a fellowcraft Freemason were presented and explained in full by lodge secretary Derek Forrest, in an impressive and excellent manner. The lodge was closed in the second degree and work continued in the first. Tom Shankland presented the working tools of an entered apprentice Freemason in a superb manner.
The officers of the lodge were then appointed and invested. Newly appointed Tom Shankland was addressed by Kevin Rigg. Phil Preston delivered the address to the brethren with his customary dignity and precision.
As Gary reverted back to the summons, Phil again rose to bring the congratulations of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and he was effusive in his praise for all who had taken part in the proceedings. Phil received a cheque from Gary in the sum of £1225 from Hindpool Lodge for deserving charities.
Also noted were those donations that had been made throughout the year of a further £250 to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, £40 to group boxing, £25 to group bowling, a donation to group funds of £50, £250 to group food bank appeal, £1500 each to the Croft Care Trust and the Children’s Air Ambulance and Cardiac Risk in the Young, £1000 each to Care Support Furness and Furness Prostate Cancer Support Group, Sophie Oliver, in conjunction with the Rotary Clubs of Furness and Ulverston Inshore Rescue.
Further sums of £500 each went to the British Disabled Angling Association and Team Jake, giving totals of Masonic donations of £1840 and non-Masonic donations of £9500, a grand total of £11340. Phil naturally thanked the lodge and the WM for their generosity on behalf of the recipients.
At the risings, Barry Fitzgerald brought the greetings of grand lodge officers and congratulated the lodge for the hard work that had gone into the day, particularly Doug Smith who had to stand in as director of ceremonies at such short notice. Richard Wilcock brought the greetings of the Provincial grand lodge officers and later at the festive banquet, Richard exercised his vocal cords to raise £326 in a ‘Chorley raffle’. The traditional ‘masters’ swindle’ raised a further £20 and alms collected in the temple amounted to £129.69.
Gary Gibson (WM), Paul Musgrave, Barry Fitzgerald, Chris Gray, and Kevin Rigg.