Members and visitors of Heaton Moor Lodge No 4530 were honoured and delighted to welcome Sylvester During, the Trafford Group Assistant Secretary as representative of the Provincial Grand Master mark Matthews, to their installation meeting to witness Alan Kennedy being installed as master of the lodge for the forthcoming year. Sylvester During was accompanied by Trafford Group Chairman Patrick Walsh and various visiting brethren.
As is usual for Heaton Moor lodge, the meeting, held at the Grange Club, Edgeley Road in Stockport, was well attended. The lodge was opened in memoriam for the death of former WM Allen Wildsmith and in due form by the WM John-Paul (JP) Mccann and the usual business of the lodge was dealt with quickly and efficiently. Alan was then obligated as master elect and JP then opened the lodge in the third degree and then as a board of installed masters.
Heaton Moor Lodge had celebrated its centenary in 2023 and back in 2021, it had been planned to have their youngest member, JP Mccann as WM until their centenary and then follow this up for next milestone, the 101st year of the lodge, by installing its oldest member, Alan Kennedy as the first master to start off the next 100 yrs. Thankfully, the plan came to fruition and the lodge members are now all looking forward to a successful future.
The installation was thus carried out with JP installing Alan into the chair in a most exemplary and sincere manner. Having been placed in the chair of King Solomon, Alan took stock for a few moments to soak up the atmosphere and come to terms with the fact that he had become WM once more! Following the installation, Sylvester presented a very warm and heartfelt address to the brethren of the lodge.
On completion of the ceremony, Sylvester rose and brought the congratulations and good wishes for a happy and healthy year from the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews. Sylvester said that had Mark been present, he would have witnessed a most excellent installation ceremony and similarly, on Mark’s behalf, congratulated the immediate past and installing master, JP for his most excellent work.
Alan rose to respond to Sylvester and thanked him for conveying those very kind wishes, he said he was most proud to be installed as WM and looked forward to his year ahead and then presented Sylvester with charitable donations by way of cheques for £50 made out to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, £50 to Dementia Support and £25 to Papyrus. Sylvester thanked Alan and the brethren of the lodge on behalf of the recipients for their donations.
The evening continued with a most enjoyable festive board and in Sylvester’s response to the toast to his health, he passed on his own good wishes for a happy and healthy year to all the brethren present and to Alan in particular. He then referred to a number if issues, including; the continuation of the Masonic journey into the Royal Arch which should be considered by all master Masons, the recruitment drive which was proving very successful and how we should be ensuring that we continue to use and promote our Masonic halls otherwise we may lose them. In closing, Sylvester thanked the lodge for their warm hospitality and a very enjoyable evening drew to a close in peace and harmony.