West Lancashire Lodge of Mark Master Masons.  No.65
 
Liverpool Masonic Hall, Hope Street, Liverpool.  Weds 7th March 2018
 
Liverpool Mark Festival
 
First let me apologise to all who were present for the delay in publishing this report, somebody, somewhere kindly gave me a really nasty virus which I am only just starting to get over.
The Masonic Hall
The Main Entrance
The View up Hope Street
The Long Passage inside
Plaque to the Fallen
The Masonic Bar Sign
Looking forward as always to these Mark Annual Festivals wherever they are being presented, if you haven’t attended one yet make the effort and get along to the next one. The old Opel refused to come out of the garage probably due to the damage it received last week, plan B, my wife’s Fiat which makes my old car feel like an antique. Off we went up the ramp M60 no problem, on to the M62 no problem in fact not much traffic all the way to Hope Street, of course I was very early and as you know if you have been to Hope Street parking is scarce, no worse than that very scarce, anyway I managed to get in one of those slots on the street itself which are great, only one problem maximum stay is 2 hours until six when the fees don’t apply.  I sat there for forty minutes until the clock came round to 4pm, got out of the car to see some bloke physically attacking the pay point, being street wise quick as a flash I thought I’ll walk to the next one, like a good citizen I put my £4.40 in to cover me to 6pm, ticket came out saying 5.37pm !! Ah well I gave up & went to the Hall.
View inside the bar
As you enter now on your left is The Masonic Bar, a private enterprise and really nicely kitted out, I am told however that it’s quite pricey (probably to keep the riff raff like me out). A long wide corridor goes on past the bar entrance with the Hall office on the left, lots of interesting items to view along here and well worth taking some time to have a good look around. The Lodge room being used for this special meeting was at the far end through a couple of doors then turn right, annexed to it is a small anti room and left through another door you find yourself in a large well-appointed room which could if needed be set up as yet another lodge room, here is where we all got changed for the meeting to come.
Wall Plaque
A fitting Lodge Banner for Steve Walls
The Egyptian Chapter Room in the basement
The Three Principals Chairs
The View from the SW’s wicket
Is my name on that list?
The first person I came across was as usual Dave Emmerson PSGD, the Provincial DC, it’s always a pleasure to have a chat with him, his knowledge regarding Mark Masonry and probably every other degree is outstanding and of course when it comes to Ritual he is the best.  Following on close behind were some members of Liverpool Lodge namely the hard working Secretary and Treasurer to set up their normal lodge equipment and the hard working Ernie Gavan Prov Grand Tyler who travels the Province with all the equipment for Team Visits. 
At least Make sure my name is on it
The WM is ready to go
The Lodge Room
Two Happy Mark Masons
Now Lets Practise
Phew! Thanks Goodness I Found His Name at Least 
Once enough members of the Prov Team had arrived it was practise time, now this never ends, every single meeting Dave puts them through his stringent routines until he is satisfied that they will put on a good show and be a credit to the province when they accompany the RW PGM in to the Lodge. Lots of friendly chat all around and you could feel the tension building with everyone looking forward to this special evening.
Attention, W.Bro. Dave Emmerson PGSD Prov GDC.
The Hard working Lodge Secretary and Treasurer
The Festival in Full Swing
The meeting opened on time at 6pm, usual housekeeping items such as confirmation of the minutes and passing of the Lodge accounts were dealt with then it was time for the PGM RW Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore to enter the Lodge accompanied by Acting Grand and Provincial Grand Officers, the WM Bro. Mark Lawrence said how pleased he was to welcome the PGM and all the officers, before offering the Gavel, usually at this point the PGM does accept it for a short time which enables him to introduce the Team members, on this occasion however he declined the offer saying that he was looking forward along with all present to a relaxing evening and didn’t want to delay the proceedings, and was happy to hand the gavel back.
 
The Hope Street Academy Players
The Visitors Soon to be Mark Masons Just sign here!
Prov Tyler and Inner Guard

Special Plaque made & presented to the PGM by Bro.John Smith the Liverpool Lodge JO.
Prov DC’s Always Smart
The Lodge was now called off which to any who may not have seen this before means in simple terms that everyone is still present but not under the strict rules of an actual Lodge meeting, in fact this enabled four non Mark Masons to enter so that they too could witness proceedings, which for this 2018 Liverpool Festival revolved around the establishment of “The Grand Mark Lodge of Master Masons” in June 1856. Three different tables were set up representing London, Liverpool and Aberdeen where these very important talks and decisions actually took place, a number of Brethren or shall we say in loose terms “actors” sat at each to play out this tale of abandonment, struggle and then success. Of major interest tonight is the fact than one of the main players in these talks and decisions was the very Lodge we were sat in tonight, West Lancashire Lodge of Mark Master Masons No.65 Founded in 1854.
PGM, Dep PGM, Asst PGM, PProvPGM & WM
The Above plus Prov Wardens
West Lancs Mark Lodge No 65
The Dining Room Awaits
At its conclusion there was loud acclaim from everyone present, the PGM stood and offered congratulations to everyone who had taken part, including the narrators, researchers and of course the Hope Street Acting Academy members. Before the Lodge was called back on to order, a quick photo shoot took place which included the non-mark Masons. In total there were 61 officers in attendance 12 Grand Lodge officers which included as a member of the Festival Team the Illustrious PProv.G.M. Bro. Peter Connolly, 29 Prov Team members, 15 Lodge members and four soon to be Mark Masons. A collection for the Charities was taken then it was time for the PGM to retire accompanied by his Provincial Team members and Distinguished Grand officers, the Lodge continued with its usual business and on closing there was the usual photo shoot to record the occasion. There was much happy banter as members packed away their regalia before making their way to the bar and on to their seats at the Festive Board.
PGM and WM Toast
PGM and Dep PGM.  
Peter and Ian
An excellent meal was served up by a very pleasant and efficient staff then it was time for the Toasts and Responses, of note on this special evening was a brilliant and funny description of the joys of skiing presented by the Asst PGM Bro. Ian Nairn and directed in part at our Olympic hopeful the PGM, who himself came up with a very funny new joke. (yes I guarantee it was a new one) about his recent birthday celebration, before leaving this part of the evenings events mention must also be made of the informative and again very funny response given by Dep PGM’s Geoffrey Lee, in some other degrees you can hear sighs going round the tables at this point of proceedings, not so the Mark Degree, we always look forward to this part of meeting.
The Famous Painting of HRH the Grand Master
The Hard working Arthur Robinson and the Prov Wardens
The Famous Prov Tyler Ernie Gavan
As always good things must come to an end, one of our visitors signed up to join us in this the “Happy Friendly Degree”, a wise choice, then it was time to say goodbye, everyone shaking hands and looking forward to the next meeting, out into the night air, not too cold, no rain and no ticket on my car !!
I as always am looking forward to seeing friends I know and those I have yet to meet at Cleveleys next week,
 
Mark Well
Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher.
Flixton Shepherd Eastwood. No.1173
Not a Member of the Colourful Royal Ark Mariner Degree,
Join us Now, details can be found on the West Lancs Mark Web Site.