If you want the best installation ceremony for your new WM, asking a preceptor of the Fylde Group Lodge of Instruction No 65 to perform the ritual is a very good starting point. St Anne’s Lodge No 2457 were pleased that Ian Ward was that key man for the installation of Randal Boyd at St Annes Palace.
Representing the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison, was another time-honoured supporter of the Lodge of Instruction, Roger Perry. He was supported on this occasion by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Steven Reid, Past Assistant Grand Chaplain Godfrey Hirst and South Fylde Group Chairman John Robbie Porter. They were accompanied on this occasion by Mike Hornby Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, with Kevin Byrne Provincial Grand Steward and several other Provincial grand officers.
Having dealt with the items of administration on the agenda and admitted the principal guest, Bill Hembrow presented Randal for installation. Ian gave an excellent opening address then invited Randal to step forward and recite his obligation. After this, Ian continued the installation ceremony with the assistance of the other past masters present.
On their return to the lodge room the other brethren saluted the new WM in the three degrees. The third degree tools were presented by Ian Ward in his own inimitable fashion. The second degree tools were presented by Howard Monk with some style and the first degree tools were presented nicely by David Whyman.
Randal then appointed and invested his officers for the ensuing year and this was followed by remarkable addresses to the wardens by John Robbie Porter, to the deacons by Bill Hembrow and to the brethren of the lodge by Roger Perry.
The WM presented Roger Perry with cheques on behalf of charity as follows: MCF 2021 Festival £1,200, West Lancs Freemasons Charity £250, Brain Tumour Charity, £250, Swallows (head and neck cancer) £250, Blue Skies – prostate cancer £250, Doherty’s Destiny (support group for people bereaved by suicide) £250. To begin the new master’s list, alms were collected during this meeting which raised £72.
The lodge was closed soon after and the brethren retired to John Nicholl’s well stocked bar before sitting down to an excellent meal provided by Lee Munro and his catering team. After the meal the customary toasts were observed and responding to the toast to the grand officers, Roger Perry gave his own congratulations to Randal and spoke on such subjects as the final sum raised from the MCF 2021 Festival and the need to now direct charitable donations to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity.
Roger also discussed the roles of the lodge almoner and mentor in the recruitment and retention process. He added that there is so much guidance for lodge officers in the words of the ‘charge after initiation’ to help them to encourage members, new and old, in maintaining their interest in Masonry.
Further toasts were proposed and that to the WM was given by the immediate past master Peter Rowan to which an eloquent response was delivered by Randal Boyd. The final toast was proposed by the tyler, Vinnie Carte. In between these toasts a raffle was held which raised £130, which will be donated to the lodge widows.
