Brethren of Bootle Pilgrim Lodge No 1473 were pleased to have the company of Roy Ashley as the representative of the ProvGM mark Matthews and their principal guest to their installation ceremony at Litherland Masonic Hall. The evening was a special night for the incoming WM Nicholas MacKarel, as it was the first time he has taken the WM chair in Bootle Pilgrim Lodge.
The lodge was first opened in due form by the installing master Graham Daly and on completing the opening and the lodge business the lodge admitted Roy Ashley, Roy was accompanied by the Ormskirk and Bootle Group Vice Chairman Malcolm Sandywell. Unfortunately, the Ormskirk and Bootle Group Chairman Stephen Dunn was delayed due to traffic, but did arrive before the start of the installation.
Graham warmly welcomed Roy to the evening’s ceremony, before proceeding with the evening’s ceremony. Graham asked Gordon Martin to honour the lodge by occupying the senior warden’s chair and Keith Rushton to occupy the junior warden’s chair and visitor Gordon Vericombe, to occupy the inner guard’s position. Graham then thanked the officers of the lodge for their support during his term of office as master and he knew the same support would be offered to the incoming master, Nicholas MacKarel.
Master elect, Nicholas MacKarel, was then presented by Simon Gray and Stephen Oliver before being installed in the chair of King Solomon in fine style. The working tools of each degree were presented in an exemplary manner, with those of a master Mason given by Keith Rushton, the tools of a fellow craft were given by Jonathan Kinnear and the tools of an entered apprentice were given by Allan Hore
After the officers for the forthcoming year had been installed, the address to the master was delivered in superb style by Simon Gray, the address to the wardens was given by Malcolm Sandywell and the address to the brethren of the lodge was given by Roy Ashley.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Roy brought greetings from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, congratulating the WM Nicholas, the installing master Graham and all the brethren of the lodge for their excellent work and for their very enjoyable ceremony. Nicholas’s first duty as master was a pleasant one, as he presented charity cheques to Roy on behalf of the lodge,
Charity donations went to; £200 to Bootle Bucks Inclusion FC which was set up in April 2018 with a view to offering football coaching to local, challenged children who had little or no access to organised football sessions or a place to train, keep fit and enjoy socialising with other youngsters with similar challenges. Nominated by our outgoing WM and a charity support by several brethren in the lodge. £400.00 to West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity.
£200 went to KidsCan Children’s Cancer Research, which is a Salford-based charity that funds and manages research into new and improved treatments for children with cancer. This is also close to several members of the lodge whose nephew Archie is currently in hospital undergoing treatment and has been for the last 18 weeks. This charity gave Archie a 3D printer for Christmas.
£200 went to Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, formed in 1980, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation is the only UK charity dedicated to fighting all childhood liver diseases and also nominated by our incoming WM Nicholas MacKarel. A Grand total of £1,000. Roy thanked the brethren on behalf of the recipients for their very kind and generous donations.
After closing the lodge, the brethren moved into the dining room to toast the health of the new master before enjoying the festive board, as to be expected it was a lively and convivial affair. During the festive board, a raffle was held which raised £120 to be given to charities at a later date.
