When the Provincial team turned up for the installation of Malcolm Irvine Bell PAGDC, ProvGDC, it was apparent that they meant business. They were there to support Malcolm and Sincerity Lodge No 3677 on the start of a new era in Freemasonry.
Last time the by-laws had changed significantly was in 1913 and now Malcolm was leading the lodge forward to ensure its position in the Province of West Lancashire.
The team don’t just turn up and perform the ritual. It takes a considerable amount of practice to ensure that everybody is in the right place at the right time and on the left foot. Past Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies Ian Halsall, took everybody through their paces, more than once and by the end of the final rehearsal, 15 minutes before the start, everybody was good to go.
Neil Haddock, the installing master, and all his officers were in place to open the lodge and after signing off the approved minutes Neil requested David Stuart Thomas PAGDC to assist him with the rest of the ceremony.
With those below the rank of fellow craft retired, David opened in the second degree before requesting fellow crafts to retire themselves to allow the lodge to be opened in the third degree. It was only a few moments before the acting DC was demanding the entrance of the Provincial Grand Master Tony Harrison, accompanied by his assistants, David Ogden and Andy Whittle, Past Assistant Grand Masters, Stanley Oldfield and Tony Bent, acting Provincial Grand Stewards, acting Provincial Officers and the Wigan Group Chairman Geoffrey Malcolm Porter.
When they were comfortable, salutes were led by the acting DC. Firstly to Tony and followed by David and Andy. Acting ADC Peter Littlehales who led the salutes firstly to Peter Taylor Provincial Grand Secretary, Malcolm Porter Wigan Group Chairman and other grand officers and then to Provincial Senior Grand Warden Dan Crossley and the rest of the Provincial grand officers present.
The installing master, David Thomas, thanked Neil Haddock for allowing him to conduct the ceremony of installation for his very close Provincial colleague and personal friend and continued by thanking Dan Crossley, Ben Gorry and Ryan Modlin for standing in as installing senior warden, junior warden and inner guard respectively during the ceremony.
Malcolm’s father, Malcolm I Bell Snr. introduced his son Malcolm to the installing master who requested him to kneel and recite an obligation before agreeing to accept the chair of King Solomon. With all but installed masters retiring from the lodge a board of installed masters was opened and Malcolm was duly installed into the WM’s chair by David.
At this point, Malcolm was pleased to invest a long-term friend of his as immediate past master, Neil Haddock, before the acting DC lead the lodge in salutes to the WM. Because Malcolm had been in the chair a previous three times the working tools were not given which appeared to amuse Tony Harrison and to which he would comment at the festive board.
Labour eventually opened again in the first degree and Malcolm Snr. gave the address to the WM, Dan Crossley, gave the address to the wardens and Paul Brunskill gave the address to the stewards. With the members of Sincerity Lodge standing, David Thomas gave an excellent rendition of the address to the brethren of the lodge.
Tony Harrison then rose to congratulate the WM on being placed into the chair of King Solomon, wishing him health and happiness during his tenure. He congratulated the installing team for an excellent and flawless ceremony.
After a collection for Masonic charities, at the first rising Tony Harrison retired with the grand officers and Provincial team and after the second and third risings the lodge closed in peace and harmony to retire to the festive board.
At the festive board the room was full. The top table stretched from wall to wall and there was the sort of atmosphere only felt on this type of occasion. As usual, what could be described as a relatively plain meal of soup, steak pie, chips and vegetables, followed by cheese was turned into a banquet by Christine, Phil and their staff. Their hard work in preparing the room and serving almost 70 Freemasons provided the perfect venue for this memorable occasion.
Exceptional speeches were given by Tony Harrison, David Ogden and David Thomas who reminded those present of the unending work carried out by Malcolm in his role as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. He also praised Malcolm as a personal friend for his fortitude during the last few months of Emma, his wife’s life.
Ben Gory, ProvJGW, responded to Gary Smith’s toast to the visitors and Malcolm rounded off the speeches by thanking everybody for their hard work, especially the secretary, and was looking forward to the next 12 months as master but also as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The festive board closed with a raffle which raised £460 to be shared between Rocco’s Hospice and Christies in memory of Emma Bell ne Powell.
By Ian K Dawson, Wigan Group Publicity Officer.