Members and visitors of Foundation Lodge No 5394 were most honoured and delighted in welcoming Brian Hayes, representing the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison, as principal guest to their installation meeting to witness master elect Jeffrey Newbrook being installed for the third time, as WM for the ensuing year.
Brian was in good company being accompanied by grand officers David Durling, group chairman Gareth Jones and Provincial Grand Steward Ian Wood.
The WM Phillip Holland opened the lodge and conducted the initial business as per the summons, there then came the expected knock on the door and the representative of the Provincial Grand Master stood without and requested admission, where upon Brian entered in ceremonial procession accompanied by the grand and acting Provincial grand officers.
Installing master Terry Howard welcomed Brian and, in an attempt, to escape responsibility for the forthcoming proceedings, offered him the gavel and asked if he would carry out the ceremony. Brian accepted the gavel but politely declined to carry out the ceremony and handed it back to Terry. Then Terry, in a deft and easy manner, carried out the ceremony and installed the incoming WM Jeffrey in an excellent fashion.
Jeffrey having been installed, there then followed excellent presentations of the working tools, firstly the master’s tools given in fine style by Eddie Wilkinson, followed by the third degree tools by Noel Grubb, the second degree tools by Alan Tuft and the first degree tools by John Newall. The address to the master was given by John Ludlow, followed by Eddie Wilkinson giving the address to the wardens and that to the brethren of the lodge was given in an excellent manner by Brian Hayes.
At the completion of the installation ceremony, Brian rose to bring the sincere greetings, best wishes and congratulations from the Provincial Grand Master, saying that Tony was aware that Jeffrey was taking the master’s chair once more and wished him and the members of the lodge a very happy, healthy and enjoyable year ahead and also, on Tony’s behalf congratulated installing master Terry and those officers and brethren who had taken part in producing an excellent ceremony.
In response, Jeffrey rose and thanked Brian for the good wishes he had conveyed and then with considerable pleasure
presented him with a series of charitable donations by way of cheques for £500 made in favour of the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity and £250 to Reuben’s Retreat. Brian, impressed by the contributions, commented on the remarkable generosity of the lodge and thanked them on behalf of all those who we may never know, that would eventually benefit.
On the first rising Gareth responded on behalf of the grand officers and said he and they were pleased to see such an excellent ceremony. He welcomed Jeffrey as a ruler in the Craft once more and wished him and the brethren a happy and healthy year.
During the festive board, Brian gave the response to his toast, offering his own congratulations to the lodge members, saying he thoroughly enjoyed the installation meeting. Brian, giving both the ProvGM Tony Harrison’s thoughts and his own made reference to the recently completed 2021 MCF, which had raised in excess of £3.500,000, how we should follow a natural progression taking our Masonry to the next level by joining the Royal Arch and exhorting everyone to support our Masonic halls. Rounding off his response, Brian reminded everyone about the forthcoming Provincial Grand Ball on 4 March.
Thus, what had been a thoroughly enjoyable and memorable evening was brought to a close and all parted in good spirits.