Garston Masonic Hall was the venue for the installation of John Kelly into the WM’s chair of Excelsior Lodge No 3580. John had a serious road traffic accident several years ago and it has taken a long time to recover sufficiently to be installed as WM.
David Ullathorne was the WM for the evening and opened the lodge in due form and after completing the domestic business of the lodge, director of ceremonies Gary Jones announced that Andrew Whittle Assistant Provincial Grand Master was outside the door of the lodge and demanded admission. Gary asked the brethren to be upstanding while Andy was admitted into the lodge with other grand and Provincial grand officers.
Andy was welcomed by David who offered him the gavel of the lodge, which was accepted but quickly returned. The installation ceremony commenced with Sam Robinson presenting master elect John Kelly to be installed as WM. John was directed to the secretary Robert Jones who read the ancient charge regulations of the office, which John accepted. John took his obligation delivered by David and then Philip Brown replaced David as WM to complete the ceremony of installing John into the chair of King Solomon.
The third degree working tools were delivered by Robert Jones and the second and first degree working tools were delivered by Ralph Whittaker all completed in a competent excellent manner. Philip completed the installation by carrying out the address to the WM, after which, Sam Robinson had addressed the wardens.
Andy congratulated everyone for carrying out the installation in difficult circumstances. WM John rose and presented Andy with three cheques; £300 to the Brain Cancer Charity, £250 to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity and £250 for the Northwest Air Ambulance. Andy thanked John and the brethren of the lodge for their generous donations.
At the well-attended festive board, and in response to the toast to his health, Andy responded by discussing recruitment as there has been lost several people in the last number of years, we must discover why they have genuinely resigned. Recruitment is now important, sometimes a person has not joined for the simple reason they have not been asked, invite them to various social functions such as ladies’ nights where they can have a good evening’s entertainment.
In concluding, Andy mentioned that Air Ambulance receives no government funding and through Masonic donations, including funding new helicopters, we support this valuable organisation. WLFC has a healthy bank balance, but some of that is from legacies through wills, and we need to take advantage of this to support older Masons and their dependents and other Masons who may be in difficulty.
To complete an enjoyable an emotional evening, especially with the WM’s father John Kelly Senior attending and is recovering from a stroke, David Massim sang the Masters Song to John, to which everyone joined in the festivities.