The members of Quingenti Lodge No 8516 – The Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge, welcomed eight acting Provincial Grand Stewards as joining members at their installation meeting. The principal guest at the meeting was the Provincial Grand Master, Tony Harrison.
Pictured from left to right, are: Tony Harrison, David Edwards and David Coulson.
Tony was accompanied by Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, Ray Martland and David Grainger, Mike Threlfall (Provincial Senior Grand Warden) and Peter Schofield (Provincial Junior Grand Warden), Keith Kemp (Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies), Malcolm Bell and Mark Barton both of whom are Deputy Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, together many other grand and Provincial grand officers.
Amongst the visitors the newly invested WM of the Provincial Stewards Lodge of the Province of Cheshire Graham Whitehouse, and a member of the recently consecrated Provincial Stewards Lodge of the Province of the Isle of Man, Mel McFarland. There was also a large attendance of other visitors from across the Province who attended the meeting for two reasons. The first was to watch the newly appointed steward’s parade into the lodge room after their application to join the lodge had been voted on by the members.
The eight Provincial Stewards who were welcomed by David as joining members of the lodge.
The second was to witness the installation of the ‘Steward’ (master elect) David Edwards. David was installed into the chair of King Solomon by David Coulson, in what Tony described as: “distinguished and unique manner.”
After being installed in the Chair of King Solomon David invested the lodge officers which included Mark Holloway as JW and Ron Pearson as SW.
More than 100 brethren retired to the main dining room to enjoy the festive board after the meeting was closed. They enjoyed a fine meal and listened as Tony responded to the toast to his health, he paid tribute to the excellent work in the lodge by the installing master David Coulson and all the officers who took part in the ceremony.
Pictured center, are: Tony Harrison and David Edwards surrounded by the APrGMs, group chairman and the acting Provincial grand officers.
Tony described Quingenti Lodge as the jewel in the Provincial crown. He continued by saying: “Congratulations to you David on being installed as WM of this very important lodge within our Province. Important it is accepted to be, as the Province is very much reliant upon and greatly indebted to, the members of Quingenti Lodge for the assistance which is so readily given on the occasions of our Provincial meetings.
Tony responds to the toast to his health as Ray and David look on.
On behalf of the Province, the Provincial Grand Sectary and myself, may I say how grateful we are for that help and assistance that the brethren of the lodge give, under your direction. I congratulate you David Coulson for the work you have undertaken during your year as master and for the excellent work in lodge this evening.”
He then spoke about the successful implementation of the new care structure under the Provincial Grand Almoner, Ernie Greenhalgh.
Tony then spoke about the membership focus group that has been started in the Province, which is looking at ways of improving the recruitment, retention and retrieval processes in the Province and he spoke about the use of gift aid envelopes for donations to the WLFC.
He also spoke about the Masonic Charitable Foundation Festival saying: “The Province of West Lancashire has been privileged to have been chosen to host the festival. We have, as you are aware, an enviable heritage of charitable giving across the entire spectrum of charitable need and I have no doubt that this festival will show, once again, that this Province is at the forefront of everything that is good about Freemasonry.
Brethren I am sure that like me you are proud to be Freemasons in this great Province of West Lancashire. We all have a lot to look forward to and we have a wonderful opportunity ahead of us with the coming of the tercentenary and the Masonic Festival. I trust that we will have some good fun, supporting and enjoying the many activities that will be planned, together with being able to fulfil our obligations as Freemasons in supporting our Masonic ideals. My visions of the future of the Province are that our new care system will benefit everyone and be the cornerstone of care in West Lancs, membership of the Craft and Royal Arch will increase significantly, that we all have fun and enjoyment in supporting the celebratory events for the tercentenary and that everyone endeavours to support the ‘Festival’ to the best of their ability. What-ever we do and however we do it, we must always enjoy it.”
He then wished David Edwards well in the coming years, he said: “You lead a most important body of men. Once again I have greatly enjoyed my visit to your very fine lodge.
As the festive season is now approaching may I extend to you and your families a very merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year.”
The toast to the visitors was proposed by the new steward of the lodge Philip Gambrell. Peter Schofield replied on behalf of the visitors, saying he had greatly enjoyed the ceremony and he congratulated David Edwards on attaining the chair of lodge and David Coulson for the excellent way he installed David.
The final toast of the evening was in the hands of the tyler Keith Lang who gave the tyler’s toast.