Garston Masonic Hall was the venue for the installation of Ian Niven for the sixth time into King David Lodge No 7256. The master of the lodge Steven Kayne opened the lodge in due form and completed the domestic business of the lodge including electing board members for the Fund of Benevolence and lodge auditors.
Lodge director of ceremonies Malcolm Povlo retired from lodge with the deacons and on his return announced that Neil Pedder, the representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, accompanied by John Gibbon Mersey Valley Vice Chairman and other distinguished brethren requested admission. Malcolm requested that the brethren be upstanding to receive them. Neil was formally welcomed by Steven Kayne.
The installation began with Ian Niven being presented and he then confirmed his previous obligation and was installed into the chair of King Solomon. The working tools of the third degree were presented by Malcolm Povlo, the second degree tools by Ariel Abel and the first degree tools by Michael Rosen. When the officers of the lodge had been appointed, Steven Kayne gave the address to the newly installed master Ian Niven, and Neil Pedder gave the address to the brethren of the lodge. The installation had been carried out in a sincere and light-hearted manner but with due formality.
On completion of the installation, Neil Pedder congratulated the WM and the members of the lodge that had participated in the ceremony. The WM then rose to present two cheques to Neil; £200 for the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity and £200 for the Jewish Welfare Charity. Neil thanked the brethren of the lodge for their generous donations.
The brethren retired from lodge after it had been closed in due form to a customary bumper kiddush followed by a three-course supper. Neil Pedder, in response to his toast, discussed the membership challenge since 2008 in West Lancashire as there had been a decrease in membership, but the number of resignations has now slowed. He said that we need to be approaching friends, family members and work colleagues, and inviting them to different events to increase membership. He added that Craft members should be encouraged to join Royal Arch before any other Masonic Order for the completion of their Masonic journey.
Continuing, Neil mentioned that the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity is underused and he encourages members in need to contact the office to discuss financial support. Neil also mentioned the different events which taking place within the Province of West Lancashire; the 164 Grand Ball at the Bolton Stadium on 7 March, Third Annual Mersey Valley Group Ball at the DCBL Stadium in Widnes on 5 April, West Lancashire Provincial Craft meeting at Blackpool on 9 May.
