One Hundred Not Out
 
Travelling from the Wirral to Ormskirk the other night to celebrate, Ormskirk Mark Lodge No 734 the Lodge’s centenary, I wondered what the journey would have been like 100 years ago.   I came to the conclusion that 100 years ago I would not have attempted that trip. 
On arrival at Ormskirk Masonic Hall on 29th September, I did what always do and that is to have a pot of tea and a slice of cake. Upstairs in the Lodge room, acting Provincial Director of Ceremonies WBro David Emmerson, PGSD, was drilling his new Provincial Team with military precision. It is worth it when you see the West Lancs. Mark Team enter and leave a lodge room. (Not so much fun when you have to do the practice I seem to recall.)  With everyone duly attired it was time for the Worshipful Master, WBro Frank Umbers to open the lodge.
This done, WBro Frank Umbers was proclaimed Worshipful Master and then the officers were appointed and invested. It was now time to receive the Provincial DC WBro David Emmerson, who announced the Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Keith Beardmore, Grand Officers, and the Provincial Team. WBro Umbers welcomed the Provincial Grand Master and offered him the gavel of the lodge, which on this occasion the PGM accepted. Once all were seated RWBro Keith Beardmore, introduced his team and the assembled Grand Officers. These introductions are always done with fun and respect and are always enjoyable. When the Worshipful Master was back in the chair the lodge celebrated its Centenary Anniversary.
The celebration got underway with a short history of the Lodge, which had been co-authored by Worshipful Brothers, Bob Povall and Peter Smith and was presented by Bro Allan Gray.   The following are some of the highlights. ‘The main meeting place for Craft Masons in Ormskirk in the 1900’s was the Wheat Sheaf Hotel, and it was from here that the petition for a regular Lodge of Mark Master Masons was sent. And on 5th April 1921 a Warrant was granted under the title of Ormskirk Mark Lodge No734    With the consecration and first Installation of this new Mark Lodge taking place on 29th July 1921 at the Exchange Hotel, Liverpool.
During the 1930’s there was such a demand for membership that it was not unusual for new members to be advanced on Installation night. Over the next decade the Lodge grew in strength and flourished with 51 new members.   With the advent of war, the Lodge’s Warrant was stored in the vaults of the Westminster Bank in, Ormskirk. In the mid 1940’s the Lodge and the Mark Degree was so popular that another Mark Lodge was needed in Ormskirk and on 30th June 1945, Ormskirk Priory Mark Lodge No 1019 was consecrated. A note for any treasurers who may be reading this article the annual subscriptions in 1950 were £2. 2S. (Or approximately £70 in today’s money.)’  
On completion of Bro Allan Gray’s talk; all the subscribing members of Ormskirk Mark Lodge were lined up and the WM and PGM presented each member with a commemorative centenary jewel. At the end of the celebrations the Worshipful Master WBro Frank Umbers presented RWBro Keith Beardmore with a cheque for the Mark Charities of £1000. RWBro Keith Beardmore thanked the WM and the members of the Lodge for this most generous donation. There was still more excitement to come when the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Giles Berkley, PGJD, presented Bro Adam Woods with his Grand Lodge Certificate. Now it was time for the Provincial Team to depart, which was done with the same precision as the entrance. Later after an excellent festive board, the PGM informed the members and visitors that VWBro Maurice Evans, PGJO the PGM’s Special Representative had received R.A.M Grand Rank.
The Provincial Grand Master went on to say that the provinces 61 lodges had each nominated a local Hospice to receive £1000 from the Charities; a total of £61,000 across the Mark Provence of West Lancashire.   Ormskirk Mark Lodge No 734 was founded in the aftermath of the horrors of the Great War and the 1918 Pandemic and survived a Second World War and now another Pandemic. A hundred years has seen *’good men and masons enrich their lives and the lives of others by being members of this Lodge and its wider fraternity.’ 
All who attended this memorable evening will wish Ormskirk Mark Lodge No 734 all the very best for the future and hopefully another 100 years.
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell. *A quote from history compiled by Bob Povall and Peter Smith