Croxteth United Service Lodge No 786 meets at The Artists Club, Liverpool and is a member of the Gladstone Group. The lodge was delighted to welcome Ian Sanderson, the representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, for their installation meeting.
The lodge was opened by the Master Peter Wall and his wardens, senior warden Roy Carey and junior warden William Culshaw. The first order of business was to ballot for a joining member, David Crossley, which proved favourable, and he was admitted and welcomed as a new member to the lodge.
A procession was then led into the lodge by the acting director of ceremonies Arend van Duyvenborde. Ian Sanderson, Ian Gee, Peter Connolly, John Gibson and John Reynolds were all formally welcomed by Peter to the lodge.
Three salutes were given to the principal guest Ian Sanderson by the brethren to which Ian Gee responded. Three salutes were also given to John Reynolds to which he responded. After everyone had been seated, the installation ceremony then proceeded with efficiency and dedication.
John Walker was presented to Peter Wall for installation; John then recited his obligation. The lodge was opened in the third degree by Peter Wall. Peter then installed John Walker into the Chair of King Soloman with sincerity and flair.
John Walker then had great delight in installing his immediate past master, Peter Wall. The past masters of the lodge saluted the newly installed master. The master Masons were then readmitted to the lodge, followed by the admittance of fellow craft and entered apprentices in turn who gave salutes in the second and first degree.
Master John Walker then appointed and invested his officers. The master’s and warden’s addresses are to be given at a future ceremony. Ian Sanderson then rose and gave an excellent address to the brethren of the lodge and the congratulations of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to John.
Ian Sanderson accepted three cheques for charity on behalf of the Croxteth United Service Lodge and congratulated the lodge on their generosity of a £400 donation to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, £100 to scouting and £286 to a charity to be announced.
The director of ceremonies then organised the procession for the principal guest to retire from the lodge to allow the master to complete the business of the lodge. Following the completion of lodge business, the master closed the lodge.
Brethren and guests of Croxteth United Service Lodge then retired to the dining room for the festive board where an excellent meal was enjoyed by the brethren after the chaplain Terry Forsyth said grace. At the end of the meal, John then rose and gave the first toast to His Majesty the King.