The earliest memories that Jamie Lindsay has of Dalton Masonic Hall is accompanying his grandfather along to the building as he turned on the heating to warm the rooms up prior to a lodge meeting being held later that evening.
Some 42 years after his grandfather Jack Lindsay, had ascended to the chair of Dalton-in-Furness Lodge No 6828, Jamie made the same journey. However due to the numbers attending the installation meeting it was moved from its home in the ancient capital of Furness to Barrow Masonic Hall.
Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison and his team of Provincial officers graced the meeting with their presence. They were able to watch David Wilson install Jamie as his successor in a delightful manner. David can reflect on an outstanding year as an ambassador of his lodge, being a frequent visitor to all the lodges within the Furness and South Lakeland Group.
In a unique and quite moving departure from the normal course of things, David invested Jamie with the lodge WM’s apron, after first investing him with his grandfather’s past master’s apron. As Tony later observed, “Grandfather Jack would have been a proud man.”
Others too played their part in delivering some excellent Masonic ritual. The Provincial wardens David Edwards and Paul Storrar took on the roles of installing wardens and were made to sing for their suppers not only in directing the newly appointed wardens as to their responsibilities but having, for the first time in their present roles, to close down the long way from the third degree. It has to be said that these duties did not present much of a challenge to them as they both went about their work with great aplomb. Paul also gave the address to the wardens.
Acting Provincial grand officers Paul Mason and David Ingham, respectively, addressed the deacons and stewards as to their duties. Tony also added to the enjoyment of the occasion as he orated the address to the brethren.
Jamie’s proposer into Freemasonry was Brian Coward. Brian not only presented Jamie for installation but also delivered the address to the WM and later sang the Master’s Song.
The working tools of the three degrees were presented and explained by junior members Matty Bolton, Ferdinand Paule and David Baker, for which they were highly praised.
To mark the occasion Tony was presented with two cheques. The first for £500 MCF 2021 Festival and the second for £200 West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity. The former made the lodge a Grand Patron of the Festival and group charity steward Richard Wilcock was on hand to present a certificate confirming this achievement.
In a break with what has happened in previous years, the installation meal was a simple two courses affair. Steak pie followed by sticky toffee pudding which resulted in the food being quickly served with the speeches and toasts being completed at an earlier hour than usual. This meant that those who wished to get away, particularly those that had travelled some distance, could do so whilst those who wanted to continue the companionship could do so in the bar. It was not only a great success as regards time management but also had the added benefit that it kept the cost of dining down especially for those who had invited guests along to the event.
