Last meeting of the season for West Lancs 65
 
West Lancs 65 Mark Lodge; which holds its meetings at Liverpool Masonic Hall held their last meeting of the season on Wednesday 1st March.   The main item of the meeting was a demonstration of the Advancement Ceremony.   At 18.00, with a mix of members and visitors filling the officer’s chairs, WBro Brian O’Hare asked his acting Junior Warden, Bro Tom Grimes, (visitor), what is the first care and the meeting was underway.
After the minutes had been approved, the Master invested those officers who were not present at the Installation.  These included WBro Jack Poller, IPM; WBro Mark Lawrence, Chaplain and Bro Alan Ray, MO.  Now it was time for the demonstration.  WBro Colin Mills had volunteered to be the candidate.  The candidate was announced and met by the acting Inner Guard, WBro Eric Poole in the traditional manner.  WBro Mills was then placed into the safe hands of Bro Tony Fennell, SD for the rest of the ceremony.  When the workmen entered the Lodge, they visited the Overseers in turn; Bro Connor Grimes; WBro David Richards, (visitor) and Bro Alan Ray; all of whom seemed picky, especially with WBro Colin.  Bro Paul Green arrived at the meeting just in time to join the procession for the wages, which was led by WBro Derek Gaskell, (visitor), who was filling in the gaps of the missing officers.
 
Acting SW, WBro Billy Skinner seemed in a practically blood thirst mood, but Bro Fennell managed to save the candidate.  It all turned out alright and WBro Mills got his reward.  Once the Worshipfully Master had completed the ceremony, there was spontaneous applause by all present for WBro Brian O’Hare on his faultless ritual.  Congratulations must also go to Bro Tony Fennell on his excellent ceremony as the SD.   With WBro Colin restored to being a Grand Officer, it was back to his normal secretarial duties, which came to the fore when he read a letter from the PGM during the risings.
In the letter the PGM emphasizes the importance of this year’s Provincial Grand Meeting, at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on Thursday, 27th April.  This meeting will not only see the appointment and promotions,  of Provincial Officers, but,  the investiture of the a new Deputy Provincial Grand Master, and two new Assistant Provincial Grand Master’s.  All Mark Master Masons can attend the meeting and the summons and invitation letter are now out and being circulated.
 
WBro Steve Walls, the PGM’s Special Rep for the Liverpool Mark Lodges; also got in on the act during the risings when he presented the new Royal Ark Mariners Ambassador collar Jewel to WBro Eric Poole.  This is a new innovation to try and encourage those not yet members Royal Ark Mariner degree join.  In ten years that I have reported on Mark meetings, this is the first time that I have included every name of those attending.  The reason that I have on this occasion is that everyone there contributed to making the meeting special; this was another practical example of the Magic of the Mark.
 
Congratulations again to WBro Brian O’Hare; Bro Tony Fennell and all who took part in the ceremony.  We wish a happy summer and a successful2023/2024 season to West Lancs 65 Mark Lodge.
 
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell