PGM keeps his promise
Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker kept a promise he made last year when he visited the Lodge of Charity No 2651.
Peter should have attended the lodge’s installation meeting last year but because his wife, Julie, was ill he had to miss the meeting. He made a promise then that he would visit the lodge as soon as his diary permitted.
He said it had been a splendid choice of meeting to attend as there had been a “lovely, lovely ceremony of initiation”.
The ceremony was performed by Charlie Appleton who had to stand in for the WM who was away on a special celebration holiday. The Provincial Grand Master should have been at the meeting to see Ted Tipton installed as WM. Ted was obviously disappointed that Peter was not in attendance but knew that the PGM would visit the lodge during his time in the chair. However, diaries clashed and Ted had arranged to take his wife Doreen to Tenerife to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary and miss the February meeting – the one Peter attended.
At the social board Peter welcomed the initiate, retired engineer Stuart Ainsworth, into Freemasonry on behalf of the Province. He did, however, warn him that it was unlikely that the Provincial Grand Master would be able to attend his future ceremonies. He said he hoped he had many happy years in Freemasonry.
Peter said he could not have wished to attend a better ceremony and congratulated Charlie for the perfect way he performed the ceremony for his candidate.
Peter also congratulated Derek Bird who delivered the Ancient Charge. Derek had learned the previous month that he is to be promoted to the rank of PPrGSuptWrk and Peter said that he deserved that promotion just for the way he delivered the address.
The toast to the Provincial Grand Master’s health was proposed by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd who congratulated him on being awarded the OBE in the New Year Honours List. He said Peter had not only brought honour on himself and his family but also on the Province of West Lancashire.
Peter was awarded the OBE for his services to the community in Preston and in his response to the toast encouraged Freemasons to take an active role in the community. He said that the more service given to the community by members of the Craft “the more we will promote the good name of Freemasonry”.
He revealed that at the latest count a total of £4.7million had been donated to the 2010 Festival. He said that in the last five years more than £1million had been given by the Samaritan Fund to help 147 recipients in the Province and that in 2009 a total of 25 had benefitted by more than £127,000.
During the meeting he heard that the lodge is to donate a further £750 to 2010 Festival which will make it a Grand Patron.
Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker congratulates Stuart Ainsworth after his initiation into Freemasonry watched by (left to right) Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd, Charlie Appleton who acted as WM and Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Mark Dimelow.
Lodge’s gifts total £3,150
The Lodge of Lights No 148 handed over £3,150 to Masonic and non-Masonic charities at its installation meeting in Warrington Masonic Hall.
The largest donation of £1,600 was for the 2010 Festival and there was £350 for Ecclesholme.
The lodge’s donations to non-Masonic charities were: Brookfield School for handicapped children, £200; Warrington Disabled Living Centre, £150; St Rocco’s Hospice, £150; Hope House Children’s Hospice, £250; Rheumatology Unit at Hope Hospital, £100; Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, £100; Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, £100; Guide Dogs for the Blind, £100; Breast Cancer charity, £50.
200 ATTEND CAROL SERVICE
More than 200 attended the Warrington Group Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols.
The service at St Thomas’s Church, Stockton Heath was conducted by the vicar, the Rev Michael Ridley.
The first eight lessons were read by Master Masons, Paul Chadwick (True Light Lodge of Friendship), Paul Brown (Ashmole Lodge), Philip Kilgour (Travellers Lodge), John Pether (Lodge of Charity), Michael Delooze (Academy Lodge), Christopher Todd (Warrington Lodge of Concord), Paul Hunt (St Oswald Lodge), and Robert Main (Academy Lodge). The ninth lesson was read by the Rev Ridley.
Conductor of the choir was Alan Griffiths and soloists were Mrs Julia Hatcher, Peter Whalley (Lodge of Charity), Mrs Joyce Hambleton and George Warburton (St Oswald Lodge). Organist was Peter Blease (Academy Lodge).
Among the congregation was Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd and his wife Doreen.
Following the service refreshments were served in the church hall and the Group Christmas Draw took place, the draw raised the sum of £1,020.24.
Early Christmas gifts for St Rocco’s
Christmas arrived early for St Rocco’s and other hospices throughout the country thanks to Freemasons.
And the latest donations mean that in the nine years the Warrington Group of Masonic Lodges has been supporting the hospice more than £50,700 has been handed over.
Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd today presented a cheque for £2,232 to the hospice from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity. Many lodges in the Warrington Group regularly support the hospice and the latest such donation was for £100 from the Warrington Lodge of Concord.
Dennis said: “I am delighted to have been able once again to present a substantial cheque to the hospice from our Grand Charity. This money is an important contribution towards the millions of pounds needed each and every year to ensure this extremely respected service can continue for the benefit of the people of the Warrington area.”
Beth Eccles, Matron of St Rocco’s Hospice, said: “The support we receive from Freemasons is incredible. It was only in April that we received £3,000 which had been raised by Warrington Freemasons at a Gentlemen’s Evening and there have been many other cheques from local lodges.
“For one organisation to have donated more than £50,000 to the hospice in just nine years is magnificent. Without such support we would not be able to work as we do.
“I just want to say a big thank you to all Freemasons for their generosity.”
Since The Freemasons’ Grand Charity Hospice Programme started more than £8 million has been donated to hospices in England and Wales.
Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd is pictured presenting the cheque to Johanne Sutton (Day Unit Sister), was by appeals manager Claire Maddock and Barry Jameson (vice-chairman of the Warrington Group of Lodges).
Ceremony was special for Dennis
It was a very special night for Assistant Provincial Grand Master Dennis Rudd when he dedicated a banner for the True Light Lodge of Friendship No 2963.
Dennis has participated in many banner dedication ceremonies but what made this one special for him was that it was in his own lodge.
True Light Lodge of Friendship was formed in 2006 with the amalgamation of True Light Lodge No 7323, Hillcliffe Lodge No 8812 and the Lodge of Friendship No 2963. Dennis was initiated into True Light Lodge in 1963 and was involved in the amalgamation of the three lodges.
After accepting the gavel to lead the dedication ceremony Dennis told the meeting at Warrington that he considered it a “privilege and a pleasure” to be involved in the proceedings which were very special for him.
Each of the three original lodges had their own banners but members of the amalgamated lodge thought the new lodge should have its own.
All three original banners will be displayed at all meetings of the True Light Lodge of Friendship in addition to the new banner which Dennis said he hopes will be paraded into the lodge on every Masonic occasion.
The new banner was received from Dennis on behalf of the lodge by the WM Clive Leigh.
An oration was delivered by the Provincial Grand Chaplain, the Rev Graham Halsall, who praised the work of banner designer Alan Griffiths for the symbolism contained in the banner. Alan was a founder of Hillcliffe Lodge and designed the original banner for that lodge.
The new banner combines the images in the previous banners. Towards the bottom of the banner the “true light” from above is depicted by the Volume of the Sacred Law surmounted by the square and compasses and above that the design illustrates the historical geographical aspects of the Hillcliffe area of south Warrington. This includes the Lychgate which gave access to the Hillcliffe chapel (and artistic licence provides two Masonic pillars on either side of the gate). The Latin inscription “levavi oculos” means “I will lift up my eyes”…whence cometh my help, Above this is the insignia of the prevailing lodge showing the clasped hands of Friendship.
The banner is surmounted by a flag showing the red rose of Lancashire and the wheat sheaf of Cheshire while the black helmet is a reminder of the Black Prince under whom men of the Hillcliffe area fought in the 14th century.
During the ceremony there were items by the Provincial choir, Gerald Bullough, Arthur Ford-Giltrap and John W Hindle, who were accompanied by organist Stephen Derringer.
For the ceremony Dennis was assisted by the Provincial Grand Senior and Junior Wardens, Barry Jameson and David Durling; Provincial Deputy Grand Directors of Ceremony Sam Robinson and Robert Wright; Norman Prichard and Les Ashcroft as deacons and Dennis Pearson as Inner Guard.
The honour of carrying the new banner into the lodge was given to Fellowcraft Ricardo Stephen and other members of the banner deputation were David Petley, Eddie Smythe, Adrian Wood and Paul Chadwick.
Warrington Group Chairman Ian Boswell described the banner as “a powerful symbol of the unity of the three amalgamated lodges”.
Pictured, left to right, with the new banner, are: Robert Wright, Barry Jameson, Dennis Rudd, Clive Leigh, David Dunning and Sam Robinson.
Banner bearer Richardo Stephen and Provincial Grand Chaplain the Rev Graham Halsall.
WM Clive Leigh with the original banners of the three lodges which amalgamated to form the True Light Lodge of Friendship.
INVITATION
The Provincial Grand Master visits Warrington
On Tuesday 10th November the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Bro Peter John Hosker visited Warrington Lodge of Concord of which WBro Barry Jameson, PrSGW is a member. He was accompanied by his PrJGW, WBro David Durling, Provincial Assistant Grand Master's, WBro H Dennis Rudd and WBro John Clipsham.
Peter Hosker, Ian Boswell (Group Chairman), Eric Drinkwater PPrDGSupt Wks (Ashmole Lodge 5128 also Chairman Warrington Masonic Hall Co), Les Smallman PPrAGDC (W Lodge of Concord 1250)
Chris Eyres PPrGSupt Wks (Lodge of Charity 2651 and Secretary of Mersey Valley Lodge of IM’s 9057) & Peter Hosker
(I wonder what caught their eye, they seem to be looking above the camera)