Ian McParlin was installed in the chair of King Solomon at St Peter’s Lodge No 4324 for the second time. The ceremony was held at the Liverpool Masonic Hall, Hope Street in the company of 24 brethren. The WM and installing master was Joe Williams of Croxteth United Services lodge No 786, who opened the lodge in due form.
The director of ceremonies Stuart Kidd announced and admitted the principal guest, Steven Kayne the representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, Steven was accompanied by Neil Francis Vice Chairman of the Liverpool Group.
Prior to the commencement of the installation, Christopher Doherty, the grandson of Malcolm Myers and a member of Lodge of Charity No 2651, delivered an excellent explanation of the traditional history of the tracing board, to Yunis Ugur as well as the working tools of a master Mason, during the installation.
Ian McParlin was presented by Stuart Kidd, as master elect and installed into the WM’s chair for the ensuing year by Joe Williams. Malcolm Myers assisted Joe by taking up the position of senior warden, Eddie O’Hare took the position as junior warden, and Brian Smith acted as the inner guard.
The address to the newly installed WM was delivered by Peter Fay and this was followed by the address to the lodge brethren by Steven Kayne. Steven brought personal greetings from Mark Matthews to Ian and a special mention to the installing master Joe for conducting an excellent ceremony and the brethren acting as principal officers.
Steven was pleased to accept the charitable donations made by the lodge during the year to; Zoe’s Place £250, British Heart Foundation £250, Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK £250 and the Alzheimer’s Research UK £250. A magnificent sum of £1,000 was an outstanding sum, including £250 raised from the charity plate and raffle. Steven stated that it would be greatly appreciated by all the recipients and thanked the brethren of the lodge for their very generous donations.
After the lodge was closed, all the brethren then retired to the dining room for a splendid four course festive board of mushroom and tarragon soup, black pudding stack and Cumberland sausage, followed by sticky toffee pudding. In his response to the toast, Steven spoke about membership, retention and the importance of enjoying Freemasonry. He gave mention to the excellent work carried out by everyone taking part in the ceremony.
Report by Bob Patterson.