Garston Masonic Hall Island Road, Liverpool was the venue for the installation of James (Jim) Gwyther at Harthill Lodge No 8443. This was the sixth time Jim has been in the chair and on this occasion, it was to be a proclamation.
The WM Jim Gwyther opened the lodge in due form and completed all the domestic business of the lodge. The director of ceremonies of the lodge Brian McNulty left the lodge and re-entered the lodge and announced that Stephen Walls, the representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, accompanied by David Atkinson the Mersey Valley Group Chairman and other distinguished brethren. Brian called for the brethren to be upstanding to receive them.
Jim formally welcomed Stephen Walls to the lodge installation, Brian McNulty then proclaimed James Gwyher as WM for the forthcoming Masonic season. Brian then went on to giving an explanation of the working tools in the various degrees. Stephen Walls then carried out the address to the brethren of Harthill Lodge which completed the installation.
Stephen brought the congratulations of Mark Matthews to the WM; Stephen then brought his own personnel congratulation to Jim and to Brian McNulty and to Mark Richardson on his forthcoming promotion to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer.
WM Jim Gwyhter then presented information on the donations given; £100 to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, £100 donation to Air Ambulance Northwest and £100 donation to RNLI Northwest these were thankfully received by Stephen. The WM then closed the lodge in due form after receiving correspondence and the brethren retired for a drink’s reception followed by a festive board.
At the festive in response to his toast, Stephen Walls praised the lodge for its generosity to the charities which had to be admired in the way they support them. Stephen also mentioned that there is a possibility of a candidate for initiation at the September meeting. Stephen also thanked the DC, secretary and treasurer for their support, Stephen went onto promote Royal Arch, which is the next step in Freemasonry to complete the journey.
In a response from the lodge secretary Ken Bullen, WM Jim Gwyther explained that he was in the chair in 1999 and this will be the sixth time, which is no less than an honour, as the lodge has gone through some bad times and is now going from strength to strength with the possibility of a candidate. The lodge is a closeknit lodge and Jim thanked Ken for his support, who has now been secretary for 14 years, and to other members of the lodge for their continued support.