It’s always a special evening whenever the Provincial Grand Master visits the Lodge, He brings along an atmosphere of leadership and importance to the occasion. This is how the members of Temperance Mark Lodge must feel at almost every Mark meeting they hold, seeing as the PGM is one of their own members.   Alex S McLaren is listed on the Temperance Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 56 Summons as having been in the chair of his lodge in 1992 

A deputation of 10 officers of the year including the S.W. and J.W. accompanied the P.G.M. The meeting was the Installation of Bro. Andrew Marsh SW by Bro Bernard Percy, and it must be said that the installation ceremony was first class. It was delivered in such a relaxed and succinct manner you would have been hard-pressed to realise it was a regularly scripted set of words, the performance unfolded before our eyes just as if we were listening to a story, and the teller was making it up as he went along. It really was that good.

A Cheque for £1000.00 towards the 2021 Festival and two further cheques for East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund for £100.00 and another for £50.00 towards the cost of the Provincial Grand Lodge Mark Meeting were presented to the PGM. A further proposal to donate £50.00 to the Todmorden Masonic Association was also made. Quite a busy financial order of business.   

Two newly made Mark Brothers Stephen Newman and William Marsh received their Mark Master Mason Certificates, and the PGM took the opportunity to explain the meaning of the symbols and the history behind the document. BRo. Marsh W.M. then presented the certificates; one of the recipients being his own son.  

The social board was as always a lot of fun and enjoyed by all in attendance. To be honest, I can’t remember what we had but it must have been agreeable as the raffle raised the princely sum of £160.00. They certainly know how to have a good time with the by-product from it being charity. 

The Masonic Hall in Todmorden is reputedly the first purpose-built building as a Masonic Hall. You could quite easily believe that as all the rooms seemed to be fit for purpose and in the right order of use, unlike many buildings that have been converted for Masonic use. I’m sure readers of this will respond and confirm if this is actually the case with the building.