On Saturday past, the Brethren of Moyarget Masonic Lodge No 280, and their guests assembled in the Masonic Hall, Moyarget, to Install their new Master for the year 2023-4 and invest the Lodge Officers accordingly. This in fact was our 202nd Installation since the Lodge was Constituted in the year 1821. We were joined by Rt Wor Bro John S. McLernon, Provincial Grand Master of Antrim, who had come along specially to present a 70 year certificate and jewel to Bro James Huey, our oldest surviving member. Bro Huey actually lives in Pennsylvania, but attends twice a year, every year at our Lodge Installation in January and our annual closing meeting in June, every year. He has an outstanding attendance record, rarely missing these two meetings every year, and his attendance is much better than many of our other members, who only live a few miles from our Hall.
Wor Bro Gordon Johnston, our outgoing Master invited Rt Wor Bro McLernon to present the certificate and jewel to Brother Huey, a Brother that our P.G.M. has known for most of his life, who once lived in Stranocum, close to the McLernon family, before he headed off to make his fortune in the United States of America.
Wor Bro Johnston, concluded his part of the ceremony and then invited Wor Bro John McAllister to take the Chair and conduct the Installation of Wor Bro Leonard Quigg BEM as Master of Moyarget for the year 2023-24. On Installation, Wor Bro Quigg efficiently and confidently installed his Officers and conducted the remainder of the business with great aplomb. One of his final duties was to welcome the many visitors present from throughout the Province of Antrim and indeed one Provincial Grand Lodge of Londonderry & Donegal Charity Stewart, Wor Bro Michael Magee from Lodge 404 Portstewart.
The Lodge closed just after 5.00PM and the Brethren made their way to the Lodge Hotel, in Coleraine where they received an excellent Installation Dinner served promptly to all 50 members and guests present. We in Moyarget then had our first formal opportunity to toast the King and then lift some £ 765.00 of a Charity collection to the benefit of our Northern Masonic Charities. A great time was enjoyed by all with many speeches and yarns. All our official duties were complete by 9.15PM, leaving us all free to enjoy the social relaxing side of Freemasonry in the company of our friends and Brethren.
