Wyre Mark Lodge welcomes Tom as a new member
 
21st October 2015
 
Wyre Mark Lodge No 754 had a busy meeting for their first since their installation evening and the ‘newbies’ did a grand job, according to the PGM’s special representative John Forster and other distinguished brethren who responded in lodge, in the Advancement Ceremony of candidate Tom Egan as the newest member of the lodge.
 
There were a few gaps in the ranks on the evening which skilled lodge veterans and a couple of visiting brethren filled which perhaps helped still first night nerves.
Bob Boal welcomes new Mark Master Mason Tom Egan to Wyre Mark Lodge.
One very distinguished brother who, when he was collared as junior overseer for the year - none other than Captain Walter Porter PGJO - was quick to point out in response to a remark made by Wyre’s WM Bob Boal, that he was not ‘going round again’ through the ranks...
 
ADC Jeff Smith stood in as the irascible MO for the evening and visitors Steve Clark, Roland Alderton and Tony Blundell acted as Tyler, IG and JD.
 
Lodge secretary Jimmy Rogers left the comparative safety of his desk in the north to act as SD for the evening.
 
It has to be said that all these brethren did a sterling job showing that they had lost none of their hard earned skills.
Pictured with John Forster, second left, are team Wyre Mark members Brian Dicks,
Tom Egan, Bob Boal, Jimmy Rogers and Stephen Leach.
After Bob despatched the earlier business of the evening the main business began and Tom was admitted to the lodge.
 
He proved to be a very able candidate as he was conducted round the lodge by Jimmy and he soon got into the spirit of the happiest of Masonic degrees taking it in good part when his work was initially rejected. Jeers came the way of the overseers who shirked their responsibilities and played the blame game in traditional manner.
 
Bob shared his work with his predecessor IPM Brian Dicks who, excellent ritualist that he is, superbly explained the mysteries of the signs of the degree. Chaplain Stephen Leach read the portions of Holy Writ which accompanied Brian’s presentation.
 
Joe O’Brian, SW, delivered what has become his party piece; delivering the explanation of the working tools of the Mark degree.
Pictured are JW Mike Brown, WM Bob Boal and
SW Joe O’Brian who all played roles in the advancement ceremony.
All ended happily and the brethren retired to a very fine meal at festive board at which thanks to the excellence of the fare on offer in several cases second helpings were gratefully received and faithfully consumed.
 
John Forster in his ‘parish notes’ invited brethren to attend and have their say at the Fylde Advisory Group meeting to be held at Poulton Masonic Hall. He also invited brethren and their families to the free Children’s Christmas party to be held at Leyland on 13 December.
 
John told the brethren that on Remembrance Sunday eight wreaths were being laid by Mark Masons at cenotaphs throughout the Fylde; two of which were being laid by Bob Boal and lodge DC Dennis Smith at Fleetwood and Preesall cenotaphs.
 
John also reminded brethren of the wealth of information and news stories which were to be had on the Mark Masonry website and encouraged brethren to get snapping and writing in with their stories.
 
As Masons meeting at Fleetwood have many associations with the sea and ships it was very apt that the evening marked the bicentenary of Trafalgar Day and following a text from past PGM Peter Connolly to remind them of the significance of the date Steve Clark led the brethren in a toast to the day.
Article by Bob Boal Photographs courtesy of Joe O'Brian