Ormskirk Centenary

Ormskirk Mark Lodge No.374. Masonic Hall, Park Road, Ormskirk. 29th Sept 2021

Austin’s Visit to Celebrate the Centenary Anniversary of the Lodge

Well on my last couple of trips I spoke too soon, I left at 3pm to be sure I would arrive on time, the ramp onto the M60 was blocked then it was twenty minutes to get to the M62, soon I was flying along at 50 MPH, eventually it went all the way up to 60 mph. Maybe it was the time of day, but I had no more holdups and arrived in good time, I even managed to park behind the Hall. They say we have a lot of secrets well Ormskirk Masonic Hall is well disguised on the main road where it appears to be O’Brien’s Tea Rooms. The way in is just around the corner, on the right you will then go up a flight of stairs where you enter a bar area with some comfy chairs, directly opposite is a large sliding door, pull it back and there it is a really well-appointed Temple. Several more rooms are on that floor which are used for committee meetings and as robing rooms especially welcome when a large meeting is taking place.

Yes Go Inside It’s Great

Let’s get Changed

The Cosy Bar

Wall Plaque

Now let’s get to the meeting, it opened on time at 6pm, after a dispensation and summons had been read, the R.W. Bro. Keith Alan Beardmore PGM for West Lancashire then entered the Lodge Meeting accompanied by Acting Grand and Prov Grand Officers.

The Lodge Room

Ornate WM’sChair

JW’s Chair

Keith was welcomed by the W.M. Bro. Francis Umbers and offered the gavel which he said that on this occasion he would be pleased to accept to give him the opportunity to introduce the members of the Provincial Team. The W.M. was Proclaimed as W.M. for the ensuing year and all the officers of the Lodge were continuing in their respective positions as is happening in many Lodges following on from the terrible Pandemic which we have all gone through.

SW’s Chair

Lets Practise

Web Master takes a break

Wher we place our trust

Now it was time to Celebrate the Lodge reaching it’s 100 years milestone, the W.M. assisted by the PGM and the hard-working Lodge Secretary W.Bro. Bob Povall PPrJGW to issue special commemorative jewels to all subscribing members of the Lodge. The W.M. thanked Keith for his help and had much pleasure in presenting him with a cheque for the West Lancs Mark Charities, as usual Keith checked that it was signed which always brings a smile to everyone, he thanked the Lodge for their very generous donation and made mention of the recent donations given to the many Hospices around the Province which totalled in the region of £61,000.

Practice Practice Practice

Dave is ready to go!

Great Music from Shaun Haynes

Bro. Adam Woods who had joined Ormskirk just before the shutdown then stood at the dais and presented an excellent shortened version of the Lodge History which must have taken many hours to compose, this was well received by everyone present. The W.M. then asked if he would consent to presenting a Grand Lodge Certificate to one of the members, he did of course say he would be delighted but with that twinkle in his eye said he would pass the honour on to his Asst PGM W.Bro. Giles Berkley PGJD, who having looked to his left realised that he was the last in line and didn’t have V.W.Bro Asst PGM John Bicknell PGJO by his side, of course he then said he always has much pleasure in presenting Mark Grand Lodge Certificates. (much laughter)

Allan Gray

The Hard Working Secretary

and Treasurer

The Charities were honoured and then it was time for the PGM to retire from the Lodge, he thanked everyone present for their warm welcome and a memorable meeting, accompanied by the Acting Grand and Prov Grand Officers they left in fine style before returning once the meeting had closed for the usual photo session.

PGM, WM and Asst PGM

Giles presents a certificate to Adam Woods

Hall Logo

Everyone made their way downstairs to the dining room which was laid out in fine style complete with silver table candelabra and lighted candles, it was impressive. Once all the glasses were charged and everyone had taken up their allotted seats a really excellent meal was served up by the very efficient and friendly staff, it was a delight to be present. The usual Toasts and Responses followed all of which were well received, unfortunately I had to retire from proceedings early due to a small emergency at home so I missed Keith’s joke for the evening, (but I’m sure I will hear it again, only kidding of course)

A Grand Assembly

Cheers everyone

Andrew and David

Eric Hart Prov. JW

All in all, what a great evening that was and well worth the trip from the South of the Province, if you get chance to attend a similar Centenary Meeting which really are special occasions make the effort, I somehow don’t think we will be around for the 200th.

A Bother of DC's

Maurice and Giles

Gary and the Kithcen staff

The Bar staff await

Here’s looking forward to my next Mark Meeting, the Magic, Friendly and Happy Degree to see all the friends I have made and those I have yet to meet. Keep Safe Out There It’s not over yet.

Austin N Fletcher. PGJD. Flixton Shepherd Eastwood Mark Lodge. No.1173

A Brief History of Ormskirk Mark Lodge No. 734. The First 100 Years

In the early 1900’s the Wheat Sheaf Hotel in Ormskirk was the meeting place for the local Craft Masons, in 1920 V.W.Bro. George A. Harradon was appointed as the Prov Grand Mark Master, a petition was made to the Grand Mark Lodge to form a regular Lodge of Mark Master Masons.

Subsequently on the 5th April 1921 a warrant was granted under the title of Ormskirk Lodge No.734
The consecration and first Installation of the new Mark Lodge was held on Friday 29th July 1921 at the Exchange Station Hotel in Liverpool. According to the Warrant W.Bro Cecil E. Maples Grand Junior Deacon of England was first Worshipful Master.

Unfortunately, the first minute book cannot be located and so reliance has been placed on the Lodge Reg of Marks for information of the early years of the Lodge. (like so many) In the 1930’s such was the demand for membership, it was not unusual for new members to be Advanced even on Installation evenings. In the first decade the Lodge grew in strength and flourished with 51 new members, mostly from Ormskirk Priory Lodge No 4007 and Harmony Lodge No 580.

In the 1940’s It was common for meetings to be held much earlier than usual and in most cases no festive board to allow members to get home safely before the imposed blackout due to the air raids on the docklands of Liverpool and the Wirral.

In the mid 1940’s the popularity of the Lodge and the Mark degree had increased so much that another Mark Lodge in Ormskirk was needed, a petition was made to Grand Lodge for a warrant by 7 members of this Lodge and 10 others. A new warrant was granted on the 4th May 1945, on the 30th June that same year Ormskirk Priory Mark Lodge No.1019 was consecrated. 1950 the Lodge by-laws were amended to reflect a change of Annual subscriptions from £1.11.6p to £2.2.0p.The number of joining and new members increased to 22 during this post war period, the 1960’s was similar to the previous decade with 21 new members being Advanced into the Lodge.

In 1965 parts of Ormskirk were to be redeveloped including the Wheat Sheaf Hotel which would be demolished. A vacant property on Park Road was purchased with financial help from W.Bro Thomas Caunce and several others, including the renovation of premises for use as a Masonic Hall.

In January 1965 Ormskirk Masonic Hall was opened for all the Masons who had met at the Wheat Sheaf hotel, the only thing left today as a reminder of the past is a depiction of a sheaf of wheat set into the pavement. A total of 23 new members were brought into the Lodge between 1971 and 1980.

On 9th November 1995 Bro William (Bill) Goulden of Lodge of Chivalry 3974 was Advanced, Bill became a stalwart of the Lodge, serving as W.M. for 2 consecutive years 2003/4 and later as Treasurer for 14 years. Sadly, he passed away in 2020. The 1990’s saw a drop in the number of new members as only 14 were Advanced .

On 8th Nov 2001 Bro Stuart H Cunningham of Park Hall Lodge, No 8375 was Advanced, over many years he has helped with improvements and maintenance of the Hall, he was elected as the President of the Ormskirk Masonic Hall Assoc. Sadly he can’t be here tonight as he is recovering from a heart operation, we all wish him well.

16 new members were recruited into the Lodge during 2001 and 2010. 0n the 12th March W. Bro Ronald Goodyear celebrated his Golden Jubilee in the presence of the then Dep. PGM Bro Keith Alan Beardmore PGJO who delivered an oration on his personal and Masonic life with special reference to his Mark Masonry and congratulated him on the contribution he had made during that time and took great pleasure in promoting him to the high rank of PPrGSW. Likewise on the 8th March 2018 W.Bro. Thomas Newton PPrGJW celebrated his Golden Jubilee in the presence of V.W Bro. Ian Nairn PGJO who had the pleasure of awarding Thomas with the high Rank of PPrGSW.

As we all know the Covid -19 virus caused over 130,000 people to lose their lives in the UK, with a worldwide death toll of 30 million. Fortunately, so far no members of this Lodge or their close family members are known to have lost their lives through the virus.

Many changes have occurred during the past 100 years. The development of modern technology has greatly improved communications, engineering, design and development throughout the world. Treatment and eradication of once considered incurable diseases has made great strides and prolonged or saved the lives of many sufferers. Mark Masonry has embraced the changes that have occurred, but the tenets and principles of the Order remain as valid today as they always have.

Since its Consecration this Lodge has fully upheld the obligation made by the Founders in giving support to the Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of West Lancs and succeeding Provincial Grand Masters. Good men and masons have enriched their lives and the lives of others by being members of this Lodge and Mark Masonry.

We look forward to the future, confident that the present members will, by precept and practice, continue to build on the foundations which were so well and truly laid on 26th July 1921.
The co-authors of this history are W.Bro. Peter G Smith who was advanced on 13th March 1986, and our current Secretary W.Bro. Bob Povall who was advanced on 13th Nov 1986, this is a very short peek into a long established and well-respected Mark Lodge, a complete book of its history has been painstakingly completed which may be available from Secretary.

Permission was granted to make this shortened pocket-sized history for the Mark Web Site.

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