MORE than 700 Freemasons are expected to take part in a service at Blackburn Cathedral this evening to commemorate the new millennium.

Blackburn with Darwen, Accrington and Clitheroe Masonic Districts, which donated £5,000 towards a window in the Cathedral's new Lantern Tower dedicated by the Princess Royal earlier this year, are taking part in the service, to be conducted by the Provost, the Very Rev David Frayne.

Other Masonic donations during the past 12 months have included more than £500,000 to the Hospice Movement throughout the country with grants amounting to £5,000 from the Blackburn with Darwen and Accrington districts to the East Lancashire Hospice.

There was £446,000 for the Sargent Cancer Care for Children scheme among massive non-Masonic donations from the Grand Charity last year and charitable work will again be top of the list tonight among blessings for the next millennium.

The singing will be led by the choir of St Cuthbert's Church, Darwen, directed by Anthony B. Tattersall.

The lessons will be read by the District Chairmen, Derek Day and Derek Thornhill of Accrington and Blackburn with Darwen respectively. Following the lighting of the Cathedral Millennium Candle, the congregation will read aloud together the Millennium Resolution: Let there be respect for the Earth, peace for its people, love in our lives, delight in the good, forgiveness for past wrongs and, from now on, a new start.

This will be followed by an address from the Provost and prayers for the new millennium.

The head of the area's 400-plus lodges in East Lancashire from Clitheroe to Manchester, Peter Walthall, will give thanks before the service concludes.

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