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The Mersey Valley Lodge of Installed Masters meets three times a year and rotates the meetings around the
Masonic Halls in Widnes, Warrington, Leigh and St Helens. Except for the Installation meeting in September, meetings generally
consist of lectures and demonstrations from eminent and experienced Freemasons, which help brethren to increase their knowledge
of Freemasonry in general. Although the majority of members are from lodges meeting at the above mentioned Masonic Halls,
Membership is open to any Installed Master, but for most meetings any Brother may attend as a visitor. Installed Masters interested
in becoming a member should contact any of the Group Executive for details, or e-mail the Lodge Secretary direct.
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Prestonian Lecture at
Widnes
A recent meeting of Mersey Valley Lodge of
Installed Masters No. 9057, held at Widnes Masonic Hall, at which eight new joining members saw a large number of Brethren,
both old and young, being educated and at times amused, by Bob Sillett, as he gave his 2008 Prestonian Lecture, “The
Language of the Ritual”. By giving the lecture in this manner Bob fulfilled the directive given by William Preston two
centuries ago that the Prestonian Lectures should not only educate but should also entertain.
This lecture, which was
developed by Bob after many months of research in the Grand Lodge Library and searching the internet, takes us on a very interesting
journey through the centuries, from as far back as possibly 2000BC and the origins of the English language to the origins
of Freemasonry and origins of the ritual and the language of the ritual used today. It was most enlightening to fine that
some of the words we use today in our ritual can be found in one of the oldest Chinese Classics, ‘The Great Learning’
which was written around 500BC. Along with the Bible, words we use can be found in works by Shakespeare, Milton and Chaucer
to name but a few.
Bob has delivered this lecture many times in countries all over the world and raised over £45,000
for the Downs Syndrome Educational Trust, from whom his grandson, Samuel Thomas Berryman Sillett and many more children like
Samuel, are deriving great benefit and help.
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