A very good attendance at The Provincial Grand Lodge meeting in Leighinmohr House, Ballymena last night. Our Provincial Grand Master, Rt Wor Bro John McLernon chaired the meeting with all his senior officers in support. Rt Wor bro John Edens, Provincial Grand Master Designate was present and Rt Wor Bro Bill Balmer, a Past Provincial Assistant Grand Master was also in attendance.
The evening began with an act of Remembrance to the Passing of Wor Bro Paddy MacDonnell, a past Provincial Grand Inner Guard who died a fortnight ago. His service of Remembrance was held in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Church in Whitehead and was well attended by Provincial Grand Lodge officers and members. At our meeting last night, a salute and moments silence was held before one of our chaplain’s said a prayer in his memory.
The main event of the evening was the Installation of Wor Bro Graeme R.W. Ferguson, current Secretary of St John’s Lodge No 162 Islandmagee as the new Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary of the Province of Antrim. Our Rt Wor Provincial Grand Master then spoke on the sequence of events that will be taking place in Grand Lodge. Our new Grand Master will be confirmed at an emergency meeting of Grand Lodge down in Molesworth Street on Saturday the 12th April 2025. A further emergency meeting will be held on the 4th June 2025 to install the new Grand Master, so he is in place for the Stated Ter-Centenary Meeting of Grand Lodge on the 24th June 2025. We also learned that the venue for the Northern Provinces meeting of Grand Lodge will now take place in the Europa Hotel and work is currently underway to hold the banquet that night in The City Hall. Dates and final details will be confirmed later.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable meeting, and our new Provincial Grand Secretary David R. Martin had his first full meeting as Provincial Secretary after is Installation back in March. As usual we all had the opportunity both before and after the meeting to spend time with friends old and new.
Robert Bashford