It was third time lucky for Arthur White when he was installed into the chair of King Solomon in City Lodge No 2514 which meets in the Geoffrey Hirst Masonic suite within Woolton Golf Club. Arthur was elected by the brethren to become master on two previous occasions but due to COVID and ill health he was unable to be present for the ceremony.
WM Andrew Prowse opened the lodge in the first degree and the regular business was quickly dealt with so that the lodge could be opened in the second and third degrees and then adjourned to the first degree.
The acting Provincial deacons, Geoffrey and Peter Johnston, along with the lodge director of ceremonies, Stephen Joseph Riley retired from the lodge. On his return, the director of ceremonies announced that Christopher Taylor, the representative of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, stood outside and asked permission to enter.
Christopher Taylor and Mersey Valley Group Chairman David Atkinson entered the lodge and were warmly welcomed by WM Andrew Prowse. Once they had taken their seats the lodge was adjourned to the third degree and salutations were offered to Christopher Taylor and Provincial grand officers.
Andrew adjourned the lodge to the second degree and thanked the officers of the lodge for their assistance during his time in office and then proceeded to request Phillip Summers to take the position of junior warden for the rest of the ceremony and requested Stephen James Riley and Tom Arnold to remain in their positions.
Geoffrey Johnston had the pleasure of presenting master elect Arthur White for installation. Arthur answered the usual questions and accented to the Ancient Charges and Regulations and then took his obligation. All below the rank of an installed master were requested to retire from the lodge whilst Andrew installed Arthur who received an excellent presentation of the tools of an installed master from Stephen James Riley.
The ceremony continued with the explanation of the working tools in the third degree by Alan Owens; the tools in the second degree delivered the long way faultlessly by Eric Shepherd and Stephen Joseph Riley delivered the tools in the first degree.
New WM then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year and the address to him was given by the installing and immediate past master Andrew Prowse. Peter Johnston gave the address to the deacons and Christopher Taylor the address to the brethren of the lodge.
With the ceremony of installation being concluded, Christopher Taylor rose to congratulate Arthur on behalf of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and went on to congratulate all who had taken part in the ceremony, especially those brethren who had delivered an explanation of the four sets of working tools with special thanks and congratulations to Andrew Prowse for a wonderful ceremony.
Before Christopher resumed his seat, Arthur was pleased to present him with two cheques; the first for £250 for the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity and £200 for the Alzheimer’s trust which were gratefully received, and Christopher said they would be faithfully applied.
A collection for charity was taken and the secretary reported the communications from Grand Lodge and then Provincial Grand Lodge, after which the DC formed the procession to retire. After further communications, the lodge was closed in due form and the brethren retired to the dining room to continue the celebrations. At the festive board a raffle was held which raised £93.
Christopher Taylor, in response to the toast to his health, responded in a humorous way causing much hilarity among the brethren, although there was a serious side to the response in communicating notices from the Province. The most important toast, that to the newly installed master, was given by Andrew Prowse, after which all the brethren joined in the song to the master. It had been an excellent evening especially being able to witness an outstanding ceremony and the final toast of the evening was given by tyler Tommy Lunt.
Article by Colin Roberts.