St. Michael Update

This page contains information for members about up and coming meetings at the Lodge of St. Michael No 7833 as well as news about, and achievements of, the Lodge and it's members.

Next Meeting - Thursday February 19th 2009 at 6.15pm (rehearsal Mon. 16th at 7.00pm)

Congratulations to W.Bro. Ling Faang Yu on his first appointment to the active rank of Provincial Grand Pursuivant, W. Bro. John Haigh on being appointed to the active rank of Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, W. Bro. Clive Learmonth MBE on his first promotion to the rank of (PPSGD), W.Bro Peter Frost on his first appointment (PPGstB) and W.Bro. Steve Longthorp on his first appointment to (PPJGD). All these appointments and promotions were made at the Provincial Meeting held at York on Saturday May 17th.

Congratulations to Comp. Robert High on being appointed PPAGDC and to E. Comp's Malcolm S. Ladd and Edwin R. Wildman both promoted to PPScN.

W. Bro. Tom Myers Palframan

Died 29th July 2008 aged 76 years

In Memoriam

Elsie Barrett

Died 4th December 2007 aged 94 years

In Memoriam

Leonora Jacketts

Died 22nd July 2007 aged 92 years

In Memoriam

Margaret Broughton

Died 10th June 2007 aged 66 years

W. Bro John Broughton wishes to thank the many Brethren and their Ladies for the cards of sympathy and letters of condolence following the sudden death of his dear wife Margaret.

John said, "Margaret was my wife, sweetheart and soul mate and, as you know, supported me in all my Masonic endeavors. My thanks also to those who were able to attend at the crematorium, you were a great comfort in my time of need.

The collection, held after the service for the neurosurgical ward at Hull Royal Infirmary, raised the magnificent sum of £750 which I presented to the Matron and two nurses who watched over Margaret."

In February 2007 W. Bro. John Alexander Harrison PPJGW celebrated 50 years in Freemasonry. W. Bro. Harrison was initiated into the Lodge of St. Andrew No.149 in the Scottish Constitution, of which he is a life member, in February 1957. Moving around the country with his work, firstly to Nelson in Lancashire and then to Barnsley in South Yorkshire, W. Bro. Harrison considered himself as more of a visiting Mason. This changed when John moved to the Hull area in 1970.

A Freemason from Barnsley had given John the telephone number of W. Bro. Charles Curtis Wilkinson a founder member of the Lodge of St. Michael No.7833. John made the call and became a joining member of the Lodge of St. Michael. He took an active role in Lodge proceedings becoming Worshipful Master in 1981 and serving as Lodge Treasurer for 16 years.

John became a member of the Royal Arch Chapter in the Scottish Constitution of which he is also a life member. On moving to the Hull area he became a member of the Brough Chapter No.5464 where he became the MEZ. In 1992 the Chapter of St. Michael was consecrated with John as one of its Founder members. John is also a member of the Mark, the Knights Templar and the Rose Croix.

W. Bro. Dr Clifford L. Jones representing the R. W. Provincial Grand Master presented John with a certificate for 50 years service as well as a 50 years service jewel.

L to R - W. Bro. Dr Clifford L. Jones PAGDC, W. Bro. John A. Harrison PPJGW & Worshipful Master W. Bro. David T. Whittall.

On Friday 12th January 2007 eleven members of the Lodge of St. Michael no.7833 made the journey from Hull and the surrounding area to the Anchor Lodge no. 1337 in Northallerton for the passing of the Lodge of St. Michael's Bro. Phillip Clark.

Departing from Hull at 16:00 hours we made our way to Willerby to collect W. Bro. John Broughton before heading out to Market Weighton to pick up the Clan McAllister (Alex snr & Alex jnr). To the accompaniment of W. Bro. John Stead's bawdy singing and the numerous suggestions regarding the best route, firstly around York and subsequently to avoid an accident on the A1(take the Alpha one - nine), W. Bro. Allan Hemmings valiantly attempted to get us to our destination by the appointed hour. He failed. We were late. We had however telephoned ahead to inform of our predicament and as we were bringing W. Bro. Andy Lowthorpe, who was representing the Provincial Grand Master, and Bro. Clark, the candidate for the evening we felt confident that the members of the Anchor lodge would wait for us. By the time we arrived the Lodge had been opened and so at a convenient moment we paraded in and took our seats. The representative of the PGM was admitted and the passing of Bro. Clark began. All the ritual was carried out by the Brethren of the Anchor lodge. The ceremony was excellent and all those taking part had obviously put in a tremendous amount of work to make the evening such a success. Following the ceremony we enjoyed a very friendly festive board where a first class meal was served. With the time passed 23:00 hours it was time to head back home. The journey home was much quicker but much noisier. W. Bro. John Stead had manfully stayed awake on the outward journey but on the return he quickly submitted and was soon rattling the windows. We arrived back in Hull around 01:00 hours after a thoroughly enjoyable evening which I am sure will live long in the memories of all those who attended.

L to R Bro. John Wheeldon, Bro. Simon Clark, W.Bro. John Stead, W.Bro. John Broughton, Bro. Phillip Clark, W.Bro. Andy Lowthorpe,

Bro. David Proudley, W.Bro. Allan Hemmings, W.Bro David Whittall, Bro. Alex McAllister Jnr, Bro Alex McAllister Snr.

On Tuesday 21st August 2006 19 members of the LOSM travelled to the Lion lodge no. 312 in Whitby for the passing of the Lodge of St. Michael’s Bro. Alex McAllister senior to the second degree. In a spirit of cooperation between lodges, members of the Lion lodge were to perform the ceremony on behalf of the LOSM. As an added bonus W.Bro. Andy Lowthorpe PJGW was performing his first official visit as representative of the Provincial Grand Master.

Setting off from Hull at 4.15pm the minibus, driven by W.Bro. Allan Hemmings, made a few scheduled stops in the more affluent west Hull villages to pick up some of the senior brethren of the lodge plus Grand Lodge officer, W.Bro. Mike Graham of the Lodge of St. Andrew 4863. With all on board we headed off and by the outskirts of Driffield W.Bro. John “sleepy” Stead was doing his best impression of an asthmatic bull elephant seal, apart from this the journey was trouble free and we arrived in good time for the 7pm start.

We were all impressed by the buildings fine exterior which was matched by the well appointed interior with walls bedecked with lodge artefacts, pictures and portraits of some of the lodges illustrious figures of the past. The Temple is a fine room of a similar size to the red room at Dagger Lane and is dominated by three free standing pillars and a large brass chandelier with Masonic symbols and still retaining it’s original gas taps. Behind the Master’s chair there’s a magnificent stained glass window, whilst behind the Senior Warden’s chair an illuminated wall painting of Faith, Hope and Charity extends toward the ceiling. The remaining walls contain the lodge’s colourful honours boards.

The ceremony itself was well delivered by the members of the Lion lodge as the Worshipful Master, W.Bro. Ted Noble and his team passed Bro McAllister to the second degree using ritual developed over the last 200 years or more W.Bro. Maurice Hatton informed us afterwards at the festive board. The dining room has a distinct sea faring theme.

With Whitby’s nautical heritage many of the lodge’s members over the years have been sea farers, the most notable being Robert Moorsom , a naval captain, who distinguished himself at the Battle of Trafalgar, was later knighted and made an Admiral. Four bells were rung at 10 o’clock for sick and absent brethren and at the end of a memorable evening we all joined hands for the singing of Auld Lang Syne. After a thoroughly enjoyable evening we said our goodbyes and climbed back aboard the minibus for the journey back home accompanied of course by John Stead’s snoring!

L to R (* denotes W.Bro) Alex McAllister jnr, *Peter Wright, *Clive Learmonth, John Wheeldon, *Norman Green,

*Andy Lowthorpe, *Tom Palframan,*David Whittall, Darryl Wedgner, *John Harrison, *Allan Hemmings,