Blind Freemason becomes Master of his Lodge

The Grand Master Mark Winger attend the Installation of Brother Mark Luxon as the Master of The Avon Shirley Lodge No 185 in Christchurch on Thursday 14 September 2017.

Mark was initiated into The Millennium 2000 Lodge No 465 in 2004, so with 13 years in the Craft, he was installed as Master by Graham Wrigley, Deputy Grand Master. Mark is blind from birth so the installation ceremony had to be adapted to communicate aspects of the workings in a tactile fashion as well as verbally. Dep GM did the ceremony with dignity and decorum – explaining the signs and the ceremony as it proceeded – and the new Master ended the night on an absolute high – and we all made an advancement in masonic knowledge!

A strong attendance of some 90 Brethren from the top of the South Island (Havelock Lodge) and from the Midland District made this a memorable night. Some 17 Masters attended on the night, as well as the District Grand Master, South Island, New Zealand English Constitution accompanied by their District Grand Lodge members. With a new Candidate to Initiate in November and plus two Fellow Crafts awaiting Raising, W Bro Luxon is going to have a busy year.

Earlier in the day, the Grand Master met with the Board of the Shirley Freemasons Centre complex, and had a constructive discussion with them about their building, giving them my support for Freemasonry in the Canterbury region and commenting on the important role the Shirley building played in that future.

The Grand Master also took the opportunity to visit the historic Lodge of Unanimity Sumner Lodge Building at Ferrymead Heritage Park, and the construction site in Ferry Road of the new boutique Lodgerooms envisioned by the members of The Canterbury Kilwinning Lodge.