Liverpool Masonic Hall Hope Street was the venue for the installation of Ashley Marsden into the chair of Commercial Travellers’ Lodge No 2631. This was the first time that Ashley had been installed into the chair of King Solomon.
The ceremony and proceedings prior to the lodge opening was under the control and directing influence of the lodge DC Jason Hengler, assisted by Andy Ambrose as the assistant DC. Jason was also stepping in as the installing master for the ceremony, being requested to do so at short notice. 24 brethren attended the installation and festive board.
Jason opened the lodge through the first degree to the third degree. The lodge minutes were dealt with and then the principal guests were announced by Andy and admitted. Assistant Provincial Grand Master John James and he was accompanied by Dave Johnson Liverpool Group Chairman, Roy Pine (a member of Commercial Travellers’ Lodge), Ormskirk and Bootle Chairman Graham Chambers, acting Provincial Grand Steward Martin Stewart, and on this occasion two Past Provincial Grand Stewards, Ray Parr and Eddie Thompson.
The lodge also had several other Liverpool Group officers present; Bob Paterson Liverpool Group vice- chairman, Geoff Green group secretary for Royal Arch, Peter Fay group membership officer, Eddie Thompson group visiting volunteer and Ray Parr group publicity officer.
After been greeted and welcomed into the lodge, the gavel was offered to John, who politely explained that he would not wish to spoil the brethren’s evening and therefore returned it to Jason. Salutations were given and returned with thanks.
The lodge resumed in the second degree and the WM Jason Hengler was assisted by Ciaron Murphy who took the seat of the junior warden and Patrick Keane taking the chair of senior warden, for the purposes of installation. Ken Granby then presented the master elect Ashley Marsden to the installing master. Ashley affirmed his obligations and the lodge was resumed in the third degree.
There then followed an exemplary ceremony of installation, completed by Jason. The newly installed master Ashley was proclaimed by Jason to master Masons, fellow craft and entered apprentices. The working tools were explained by light blue lodge members; John Keane presenting the third-degree tools, Liam Dean the second degree tools and Mal McFarlane the first degree tools.
Patrick Keane had great pleasure in giving the placement address to his son John as the senior warden for the forthcoming year. Ciaron Murphy gave the placement address to the junior warden. Ken Granby gave the address to the newly installed WM Patrick Keane, and again had great pleasure in giving the address to the wardens. John James then gave the address to the brethren of the lodge.
The WM having been informed that the ceremony of his installation had been completed, saw John James rising to bring the congratulations of Mark Matthews to the WM, wishing him a happy and successful year. John then thanked the installing master Jason, congratulating him for the exemplary fashion in which he had conducted the ceremony, his leadership and for his numerous jobs during the evening. John then ensured that the brethren who had conducted the explanation of the working tools were given special congratulations.
The newly installed master then presented lodge donations to John totalling £1,200. £300 to the Masonic Widows Fund, £100 each to; a foodbank, Guide Dogs, West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, Hope Street Hall Building Fund and £500 to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Following the ceremony, the brethren retired for a magnificent festive board consisting of black pudding tower, braised steak with onions mashed potato, vegetables served with a red wine jus, (the word jus being discussed amongst those amateur chef’s present) followed by fruit sponge pudding and custard, tea or coffee.
The visiting brethren were also pleased but somewhat suspicious of the winners of the raffle, being the group charman, lodge SW, JW, DC, and treasurer. Andy Ambrose, being a Blood Bike rider for the past 5 years in Ireland, appreciated the previous donations that the Liverpool Group had made to their own blood bike.
John, in responding to the toast to grand officers, thanked the brethren for the toast, to himself and other grand officers. John brought his personal best wishes to the WM for a happy year. John thanked the other grand officers for their support, recalling the moving moments he experienced when last visiting and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Roy Pine, and the appearance of his daughter Emma from Australia, being the first time, he has seen Roy stuck for words. The topics from Grand Lodge were communicated, up and coming dates were communicated and John once again thanked the lodge for their warm welcome and a fantastic evening that he had enjoyed, saying that the lodge had come together for a ceremony that could not be faulted.
Jason proposed the toast to the newly installed WM Ashley, explaining how Ashley had progressed diligently through the lodge, and the lodge had a good team around them with a very good mix of youth and experience. Roy and Jason then led the brethren in the song to the WM, before Ashley stood to make the response to his toast. Ashley thanked the visiting brethren and those members of the lodge that had stepped in at the last minute, Andy as DC and Jason as the installing master. Ashley thanked his proposer Ken, and Roy as his seconder. Ashley toasted the brethren stating that he is looking forward to a great year.
John then rose again to apologise for not thanking the lodge for the lovely flowers that his wife had received, which prompted a ‘air guitar’ type presentation of the flowers. The proceedings were brought to an ending with the tyler’s toast.