The evening’s convocation was a very special occasion for the companions of Earl of Lathom Chapter No 730, but it was also a very sad moment for the companions following the passing of Allan Scott PPGSN. Allan was a very active member of the chapter and was a past first principal of the chapter. He was also the seconder for the two new candidates, and he would have been very proud that they are now companions of his chapter. The chapter held a minute silence before the exaltation started.
Earl of Lathom Chapter companions were honoured by the presence of the Grand Superintendent of the Province of West Lancashire, Mark Matthews. Mark was accompanied by Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals Ian Stirling, group chairman David Bishop and several distinguished grand, acting Provincial grand and past Provincial grand officers.
Candidates for exaltation were; Colin Pickup and Ewan Farquhar, both are members of Carnarvon Lodge No 2376, of which Allan was also a member, and five Carnarvon Chapter No 2376 members came along to give their support, including their proposer and Earl of Lathom Chapter second principal Christan Upton.
The ceremony was delivered in an impressive and sincere way by the chapters first principal George Askins with his two sojourners, David Moss and John Askew, and scribe Nehemiah, Maurice Sewter. Mark was very pleased with the level of ritual in the chapter and that the Royal Arch had gained two new members. The evening was further marked by generosity, with over £450 raised in support of both Masonic and non-Masonic charities, a testament to the charitable values that remain central to both Craft and Royal Arch Masonry.
The convocation concluded with a heartfelt reply of thanks from Colin Pickup on behalf of both himself and Ewan, with Colin again mentioning the sad loss of Allan but also that he was happy to have joined Earl of Lathom Chapter as it was his dad’s chapter and that it was Allan that had exalted his father into the chapter all those years ago.