An emergency meeting was held by Anfield Lodge No 2215, which meets at the Geoffrey Hirst Masonic Suite within Woolton Golf Club, to conduct its installation ceremony.
The lodge was opened and the secretary read the dispensation convening the meeting after which the WM Eric Carroll opened the lodge to the second and third degrees. The director of ceremonies Phil Lyons informed the Eric that Assistant Provincial Grand Master Andrew Whittle stood outside and demanded admission.
Andrew, accompanied by group chairman John Murphy, the two vice chairmen Mike Cunliffe and David Atkinson, together with two Provincial Grand Stewards Alan Ledger and Barry Corcoran processed into the lodge where Eric warmly welcomed Andy and offered him the gavel of the lodge. Andy replied that it was always an honour to receive the gavel and, on this occasion, accepted it and informed Eric that for the time being he would retain it so that he could occupy the chair of King Solomon.
Andy informed the brethren that it was in agreement with Eric that he would conduct the installation of Gary Devlin as Gary had proposed Andy into the lodge in 1993.
The ceremony of installation continued with salutations offered to Andy, John Murphy and Vic Albin and then past masters were requested to assist Andy for the next part of the proceedings. The lodge was adjourned to the second degree so that Phil Lyons could present the master elect Gary Devlin.
Gary having been in the chair in 1996 and 2002 reaffirmed his obligation and was then placed into the chair of King Solomon according to ancient custom by Andy, whilst Eric Carroll conducted the floor work along with Phil Lyons.
Once all the officers for the coming year had been invested, Vic Albin delivered the address to the master; David Dutton provided the address to the wardens and Andy Whittle the address to the brethren of the lodge.
It was a fine ceremony with everyone playing their respective parts well and Eric Carroll informed the newly installed master that the ceremony of installation was concluded, which was a cue for Andy to rise and convey the best wishes from the Provincial Grand Master and also congratulated Eric Carroll on his stewardship of the lodge during lockdown.
Gary presented Andy with three cheques; the first for £1,000 which had been pledged to the Masonic Charitable Foundation 2021 Festival; the second for £330 for prostate cancer and a third for £330 to Wigan Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The lodge was closed in due form and the brethren retired to the dining room which had been arranged to accommodate social distancing. In his response to the toast to his health, Andy thanked Gary for taking the chair again saying that it had been a real pleasure to install him; he also thanked the acting officers for accompanying him. Mike Tattersall provided the rendition of the master’s song which everyone joined with gusto. Prior to closing of the evening Andy was presented with flowers for his wife Amanda.
Article and photographs by Colin Roberts.
