Wednesday 10th April 2024 and the Installation meeting for Fearnley at Mirfield Masonic Hall. Mark to be installed 21 years after first taking the chair of this fine Lodge. It’s always a great meeting at Fearnley and fun too. If you like your food, then Mirfield Masonic Hall is the place. They are a generous lot down in Mirfield. Pork pies etc all served prior to the meeting. After the meeting well, as much Soup as you can eat, Steak and Kidney or Steak Pie the choice is yours followed by Jam Sponge and Custard. The meeting is of course very important, but the food has to be mentioned as they are all very proud of what they serve. Some call it the Superior Lodge, others know it as the Pie Lodge! Either way it’s always a super meeting and the welcome warm.
It was great to see the newly appointed Prov.G.J.W. W.Bro. Kevin Lloyd accompanied by the newly appointed Prov. G.J.O. W.Bro. Steven Hides in attendance. They obviously couldn’t wait to get cracking and enjoy their year in office. Also great to see V.W. Bro. Alan Oldfield Deputy Provincial Grand Master out and about again. This is of course his own Lodge. He was at Eland Mark Lodge just a few weeks ago and at the Provincial meeting only a week ago. You just can’t keep a good man down.
On duty for the Province was the Assistant Provincial Grand Master W.Bro. Andrew J. Brown and W.Bro. Richard Stone Elected Representative of the Charity Committee.
The meeting was opened and the salutations many. W.Bro. Edward Wilkinson the Prov. A.G.D.C. for the night together with W.Bro. Rod Dyer the Lodge D.C. ensuring the meeting went well and, it did. The Worshipful Master W.Bro. Keith Cockerham trying to wriggle out of it by offering the gavel to both Alan and Andrew but with no luck. He needn’t have worried as he did a great job in installing Mark into the chair and he should be proud of his work.
I have already mentioned the food, but the Festive board was really first class. Great company adding to the super atmosphere.
W.Bro. Gary Burden spoke highly of the Province and thanked them for all they do for us. The list of what the Provincial officers do was endless and shows what hard work goes on both behind the scenes and at front of house. In his response Andrew thanked Gary for his kind words and for saving him the job of telling us just how good the Provincial officers were! It was to be a great year and the changes many.
W.Bro. Keith Bradley spoke of the fantastic things the Mark Benevolent Fund and the Cleeves and Whitehead Trust do and, presenting a very generous donation to W.Bro. Richard Stone. Richard thanked Keith for the donation and went on to say the Cleeves and Whitehead Trust really is the jewel in the crown and had given generously to the Festival and, that it was now time with the help of the Brethren to build up funds so their good work can continue. Raffle money is always appreciated but, there are other ways such as standing orders and even legacy’s a difficult subject he said but one to be considered. The W.M. Mark spoke of how proud he was to take the chair again after twenty one years but, perhaps it was his way of getting out of the D.C. job! Going on to say W.Bro. Rod Dyer was getting there as D.C. and could only improve! Rod spoke up from his seat saying ‘gi us a brek Mark ave teken sum reet clog toneet!’ Rod had taken some clog but had run a good meeting and a well organised Festive board.
Bro. John Plachcinski J.W. thanked the visitors for their support tonight and said they would be welcome back anytime. Responding W.Bro. David Pilgrim of Halifax M.M.M. no. 706 said it had been a great meeting and a great night. Promising to come back soon.
Thank you Fearnley Lodge of M.M.M. No. 58 and you, W.Bro. Rod Dyer Lodge D.C. for a super night.
Andrew Johnson
Communications Manager