Demo at Corinthian Mark Lodge
 
Looking at the calendar it was time for Corinthian Mark Lodge No1052 to have their February meeting and then I heard that there was going to be a demo at the meeting? I wondered what is this all about and so on the 28 February off I went across to Hope Street and Liverpool Masonic Hall to find out. Could the demo be because, Temperance Mark Lodge are hosting the Liverpool Mark Festival on16 April called ‘Why the Mark?’  at Woolton Golf Club, (see website for details)? 
Or could it possibly be that there only sixty odd tickets left for The Mark Grand Ball to be held at, Foxfields Country Hotel, Blackburn on Saturday 26th October. (See website for details.) Or that Provincial Grand Lodge was to be held on May Day (1st May) at the Floral Hall, Southport and they all wanted to go dancing around the May Pole on that day? Or was it something much more mundane like, the price of fish, or, how will Brexit affect Mark Masonry in West Lancs?
Everything was very friendly in the bar upstairs at Hope Street and it was particularly busy as there were two craft meetings on that night as well as Corinthian Mark and all the lodge rooms were in use.  And so after a chat and a drink it was time to go down to the basement to the Tuscan lodge room, (the smallest of the lodge rooms at Hope Street) and find out what was a miss. The greeting was very friendly and the Worshipful Master, WBro Jason Hengler seemed very calm seeing this was his first meeting since the Installation meeting in October. Everyone was friendly and even found me a seat and said they had put a stick next to the chair in case my leg hurt; mind you the stick looked a lot like a deacon’s wand to me.  Then we were off.  It did not take long to realise I had got the job of Senior Deacon and the IPM, WBro Chris Walls, PrGIG was acting as Master Overseer. The Worshipful Master worked his way through the summons and finally got the item of business I interested in, there was to be a demonstration of the advancement ceremony!
It was not a demo but a demonstration, isn’t the English language great? Thankfully there was not a candidate for the night until someone shouted, ”Roger” and WBro Roger Kilshaw was volunteered for the role of candidate. Off we went with WBro Steve Walls, PAGDC in several roles. I was somewhat disappointed with the wages supplied by the SW, WBro Dave Crowley, one Polo mint between three and I was the last in line! I thought that was a bit mean. The Junior Warden, WBro Dave Johnson was enthusiastic when it came to carrying out his special duty.
WBro Steve and I got out of the way when the Master Overseer WBro Chris Walls reprimanded the candidate; a bit too realistic, The demonstration was good practice for when the lodge gets a new candidate. In the second rising the secretary WBro Stew Hyde, PrGJD announced that WBro Chris Walls was to be promoted to Prov GMO at Provincial Grand Lodge and the news was met with applause. During the propositions WBro Chris proposed a candidate for the lodge, who could be advanced at the next meeting.   With the meeting closed it was time for another fine dinner at Hope Street, which rounded off an enjoyable evening.
Words and pictures by Derek Gaskell