Blackpool Lodge of Loyalty No 7332
Worshipful Master W. Bro. J. T. Booth
Senior Warden Bro. E. C.Heron
Junior Warden Bro. A. F. Duignan
Secretary W. Bro. Bill Dickie, P.Pr.D.G.Supt. Wks.
The Lodge was consecrated on Tuesday October 26th 1954 at the Palatine Hotel, Blackpool. The Mother Lodge. St John's had grown in number to such an extent that is was taking a minimum of 22 years for a brother to attain the Chair of King Solomon, and it was felt that to maintain an active interest both in the Lodge and in Freemasonry, progress for the junior brethren should be accelerated. Therefore, as soon as St John's Lodge had given its blessing to the formation of a new Lodge a list of founders was compiled. At an initial meeting W.Bro. A.J.S Bowden, P.Pr.G.D.C. was elected Chairman and Bro. H. Moore undertook the duties of secretary. There were 19 founders present and it was decided that this was an adequate number, so the list was closed. It was the unanimous opinion at this meeting that every encouragement be given to the Initiates to take an active part in the Lodge by allocating to them such part of the Ceremonies as could be conveniently arranged. The design of the emblem of the Lodge was undertaken by Bro. Harry Sainsbury of St John's Lodge with the co-operation of Bro. Norman Nicholson.
The consecration was conducted by Right Worshipful Provincial
Grand Master, Bro W.S. Hannay,
and the Installation of W.Bro. A.J.S. Bowden,
P.Pr.G.D.C. was performed by W.Bro. L.E. Rutherford, P.G.D., Deputy Provincial
Grand Master. Thus the Blackpool Lodge of Loyalty No 7332 was given a
firm foundation.
The first Master, W.Bro. W.S. Bowden, P.Pr.G.D.C. was an outstanding Mason. He was a member of Symphony Lodge No 4924 of which Lodge he had been in continuous office as Director of Ceremonies for 21 years. He was a devoted Master and subsequently served as Director of Ceremonies for this Lodge for some 20 years.
The first initiation took place on Wednesday 3rd November 1954, the candidate being Mr. Box, (a Lewis), who was proposed by his father W.Bro. Alex. Box and seconded by by his uncle W.Bro. George Box, both of who were founders of the Lodge. It was also at this meeting that Bro. Norman Wilson became our first joining member, it being of interest that he was on the original list of founders but owing to him not having been a Master Mason for the required period was unable to qualify for that privilege. W.Bro. George Nicholson was in the Chair, Bro Norman Nicholson Junior Deacon, Bro. Ernest Nicholson Inner Guard, and Bro Tom Nicholson presented the working tools.
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