Service of Celebration
We had originally planned to hold this service at Liverpool Cathedral and it was publicised as such. However, after two discussions with the Vice Dean, it became ever more apparent that they were only willing to “fit us in “ to Choral Evensong. Our service, designed and intended to confirm and celebrate 300 years of Grand Lodge, would not sit easily with traditional Choral Evensong. It was felt by myself and the Provincial Grand Chaplain, who accompanied me, that the Brethren, who would attend this service together with their wives/partners, would be left feeling that their expectations of this Celebration would be unfulfilled. Equally, members of the public present for evensong may well feel nonplussed at the Masonic references in that service.
Consequently, alternative arrangements have been made and, following extensive discussions over many weeks, there are now to be two Services of Celebration to be held on consecutive Sundays as follows:-
Sunday 26 February 2017 at the Priory, Lancaster at 3.00 pm
Sunday 5 March 2017 at St Elphin’s Church, Warrington at 3.00 pm
As can be seen from the venues, we have taken travelling into account by organising the services to cater for the northern and the southern parts of the Province; given the time of the year, the services will permit a greater number of Masons to travel a shorter distance to support this element of our celebrations.Brethren, there is one item concerning these services which I must draw to everyone’s attention and that is the question of regalia. Since the services are to be arranged to celebrate 300 years of Grand Lodge, it is the express wish of the Provincial Grand Master that only Craft regalia is to be worn and that Grand and Provincial Grand Officers wear full dress regalia.
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