East Lancashire Provincial Grand Stewards' Lodge, No. 8408 - 14th September 2009

The Festive Board after the 8408 Lodge Meeting

The Provincial Grand Stewards, Past Provincial Grand Stewards and their guests enjoyed an excellent evening at the half yearly meeting of the East Lancashire Provincial Grand Stewards' Lodge held at Bolton Masonic Hall. The Festive Board meal was excellently presented and tasted as good as it looked!

The guest speaker was Bro Rod G Taylor, PProvSGW, ProvGOrator (W. Yorks) who gave a fascinating presentation, illustrated with slides, entitled: 'The Naming and Numbering of Lodges'. He covered the numbering of Lodges from 1717 in the Premier Grand Lodge and that of the Grand Lodge of the Antients from 1751, including the naming and numbering system adopted by UGLE from 1813. A focus on some of the older Lodges gave great insight into their origins and why some don't have numbers. Other historical content helped understanding of the impact that the French Revolution had on the system, the place of the Grand Stewards Lodge, which Lodge has the shortest name ('Wa' in Ghana) and which the longest (the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Provincial Grand Stewards' Lodge).

During the meeting tribute was paid to three brethren - WBro Albert Brookes who for many years has done the Lodge's printing, WBro Arthur Renshaw, QPM and the Partner of Phillip Conn - all lost to the Grand Lodge above since the last meeting. The tributes were followed by a period of silence.

The atmoshere during the entire evening was relaxed, informal, warm and gave an excellent start to the new Masonic Season for many. This of course included WBro R Kelvin Matterson, PJGD and WBro Thomas Vernon Young, PProvSGW (both seen to the right with the Master, Bro Francis R Baxendale, PProvJGW, and the Past Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Paul JE Rink, OBE. Bro Matterson, at 90, is one of the Founder Members of the Lodge, and Bro Young was celebrating his 90th Birthday the following day - and the brethren all sang happy birthday to celebrate.