Members and visitors of Hand and Heart Lodge No 4109 were most honoured and delighted to welcome Mike Adams, as representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, to their installation meeting to witness master elect Ken Harding being installed as master of the lodge for the ensuing year.
Mike was accompanied by fellow grand officers Brian Hayes and Brian Mayoh, together with Eddie Wilkinson, Vice Chairman of the Trafford Group, acting Provincial Junior Grand Deacon Phil Burrow, acting Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and lodge member Ray Lord, along with various group and other Provincial grand officers.
In front of a very full lodge room, WM Shaun Brookhouse opened the lodge in his usual, inimitable style and efficiently conducted the initial business as per the summons, there then came the expected knock on the door and Mike was admitted accompanied by the other grand and acting Provincial grand officers.
Shaun welcomed Mike and asked if he would like to conduct the ceremony. Mike of course accepted, but then politely declined to conduct the ceremony. Shaun shrugged his shoulders and carried on as before. Shaun then invited three senior members of the lodge to act as installing officers; Rod Higgins as installing senior warden, Steve Masters as installing junior warden and David Scase as installing inner guard. Ken then nervously stepped forward, solemnly expressed his obligation, and was then installed into the chair of King Solomon for the first time, by installing master Shaun in a boisterous but exceptional manner.
The working tools of an installed master were then presented to Ken by Ian Wood, followed by the closing of the board of installed masters. The various brethren were then reintroduced into the lodge room according to degree and the working tools were all exceptionally well presented, initially by Mike Berrisford in the third degree followed by Peter Stockton in the second degree and by Malcolm Whittle in the first degree.
Ken, having been thoroughly well installed, there then followed an excellent address to the master, warmly presented by Peter Stockton, followed by similarly excellent addresses to the wardens by Steve Masters and of course, and in excellent fashion, to the brethren of Hand and Heart Lodge by Mike Adams.
On completion of the installation ceremony, Mike rose to bring the sincere greetings, best wishes and congratulations from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, saying that Mark was aware that Ken was taking the master’s chair for the first time and wished him and the members of the lodge a very happy, healthy and enjoyable year ahead. And also, on Mark’s behalf congratulated installing master Shaun, DC Ezra McGowan and all the officers and brethren who had taken part in producing a really excellent ceremony.
In response, Ken rose and thanked Mike for the good wishes he had conveyed and then with considerable pleasure presented him with a cheque for £410.90 (representing the lodge number 4109) made out in favour of the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity. Mike commented on the generosity of the lodge and thanked the brethren on behalf of all those who we may never know, that would eventually benefit.
At the first rising, Brian Hayes rose to congratulate Ken and added his thanks to those of Mike (and Mark), commending the lodge brethren for an excellent ceremony, following which, the grand officers retired from the lodge room.
During the festive board, Mike gave an energetic response to his toast, offering his own congratulations to the lodge members, saying he thoroughly enjoyed the installation meeting and hoped that the master and brethren would have a happy and fruitful year.
Mike went on mention the natural progression of taking Masonry to the next level by joining the Royal Arch and also the ‘Young and new Masons Forum’ which was being started up in the area and the high hopes he had for such a good and positive step. He ended by thanking Hand and Heart Lodge brethren for making him an honorary member of the lodge. Finally, after a fine meal in a relaxed atmosphere, the evening drew to a close in peace and harmony.