Saturday May the fourth was a very special day for the District of East Lancashire and for Graham Newton in particular.
150 Allied masons, representing 17 different Districts, attended Rochdale Masonic Hall to share the day with Graham along with the Most Worshipful Brother Thomas Firth Jackson, our Grand Master.
As the Grand and Provincial teams rehearsed upstairs, brethren were arriving on mass and partaking in the traditional breakfast sandwich and coffee in the bar.
With ceremonies practiced it was time for the real thing and the district meeting was opened in due form by the Presiding officer and Past District Grand Prefect Alexander Sillars McLaren. The district was constituted in 2001 and Alex had been the second District Grand Prefect: Graham was about to become its fourth.
The knock signified that The Grand Master, Tom Jackson was waiting to enter, and he was escorted to the chair by the Grand Director of Ceremonies. He quickly relieved Alex of the Gavel and things got under way.
Each of the District’s councils had been well represented and the Masters of each formed an escort to accompany Graham to be presented to The Grand Master.
In a most sincere manner Tom proceeded to obligate, invest and install Graham as the new District Grand Prefect for East Lancashire and in so doing so he becomes a Right Worshipful Brother in our order.
Graham was warmly saluted and applauded before turning to his part of the proceedings to invest his Deputy District Grand Prefect.
The escort formed up once more and presented Mark William Davis to Graham for investiture. This was done with splendour and warm greetings were given to Mark on the completion of his investiture.
The Grand Master and his team of Grand Officers retired following which Graham closed the district meeting and likewise retired.
Graham and Mark were warmly congratulated by everyone leaving the lodge room. We all wish them well in their new roles with exciting and enjoyable Allied Freemasonry for many years to come!
Following the meeting the brethren retired to the well-presented dining room for some traditional Lancashire fayre. During the festive proceedings the Grand Master took wine with three non-Allied members, being suitably impressed with the friendly atmosphere they all signed up to join.
The Allied Masonic Degrees -East Lancashire 