The Masonic Hall in Accrington on Adelaide Street is the home of many lodges and chapters, plus the ever popular Allied Masonic Degree Lodge of Constitution Council No 183.
The hall is well maintained with excellent catering and masonic facilities and on Tuesday 19th May at 7:00 pm it was occupied by the Allied brethren conducting their Installation meeting and installing a new Worshipful Master for the coming year ahead. The Senior Warden Stephen Gregory PGJD was willing and able to take the post.
In attendance was the Deputy District Grand Prefect W.Bro Trevor Parvin accompanied by the Deputy District Grand Director of Ceremonies W.Bro Shaun Higson who as sharp as ever kept everyone on track and in their place for the ceremony.
The current Worshipful Master V.W.Bro Adrian Hunter PGReg opened the Lodge of St Lawrence the Marty and welcomed the Deputy District Grand Prefect to the meeting, who responded to the honours and greeted everyone in attendance.
The Worshipful Master conducted the business on the summons and went on to Install his successor W.Bro Stephen Gregory into the Chair. Stephen being a past master received the shortened version of the Installation ceremony which deals with the necessary ritual pertaining to a brother who is already in possession of the necessary knowledge needed to be in the Masters Chair.
A full set of officers were invested including a steward. All said and done Adrian did a splendid job of the ceremony and everyone in attendance witnessed a fine ceremony of Installation.
W.Bro Stephen Gregory went on to propose a ballot for a Brother Tony Hall, a past member of Lawrence Council No 147 in the Province of West Lancashire to become a joining member of Constitution Council, this was seconded by V.W.Bro Adrian Hunter PGReg. You couldn’t ask for better proposers than that. The ballot was successful and Bro Tony was Welcomed to Constitution Council.
The meeting was closed after all other business was concluded in the Lodge.
The brethren went on to enjoy a very pleasant dinner during which the toasts and responses were directed by the Deputy District DC. Somehow several bottles were distributed in support of Charitable purposes and No 9 was the main winner. No idea who that was?
It really does lend an air of officialdom when you have senior officers in attendance enjoying the meeting and social board with the brethren. If you haven’t paid a visit to Constitution Council in Accrington I can heartily recommend it. There is a pleasant camaraderie amongst the brethren and always lively conversation in the social board.
Thanks to WBro Stewart Mills for the pictures.