Worshipful Brother Dennis Onslow P.G.J.D.
Celebrates 50 years of Mark Masonry
 
The Lawrence Lodge of Mark Master Masons hold their meetings at the Masonic Hall Chorley and on 21st. March some seventy Mark Masons attended Lawrence Lodge to join Worshipful Brother Denis Onslow P.G.J.D. in celebrating 50 years in Mark Masonry. The Lodge was honoured by the attendance of Right Worshipful Brother Keith Alan Beardmore and his Provincial Team, amongst the other distinguished guests were Right Worshipful Brother Thomas Firth Jackson Past Grand Junior Warden of The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons (Grand Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees), Worshipful Brother John Stewart Seddon Past Provincial Grand Registrar (Past Grand Senior Deacon of United Grand Lodge,  Assistant Provincial Grand Master for the Leyland and Chorley Group of Lodges and Chapters), Very Worshipful Brother Graham Paul Snape Past Grand Junior Overseer of The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons (District Grand Prefect for West Lancashire Allied Mason Degrees) and Worshipful Brother John Charles Bicknell Past Grand Junior Deacon of The Grand Lodge Of Mark Master Masons, Provincial Secretary (Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler in the Order of Secret Monitor).
VWBro G.P. Snape PGJO, WBro. D. Onslow PGJD, Acting WM Don Hesketh
Due to the indisposition of the Worshipful Master  Worshipful Brother Don Hesketh the Immediate Past Master took the master’s Chair and opened the Lodge at 6:30 pm. and concluded the administrative items on the agenda. On a report the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremony Worshipful Brother Dave Emmerson Past Grand Senior Deacon announced that The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master was outside the Lodge and he required admission. The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master entered the Lodge accompanied by Grand and Provincial Grand Officers and was introduced to the acting Worshipful Master who invited the Provincial Grand Master to occupy the master’s Chair.
WBro R. Howarth PProvGJO, VWBro Snape, WBro Onslow, WM, WBro A. Newman PProvGSW
After the usual salutations the Provincial Grand Master directed the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremony to present Worshipful Brother Onslow to him. The Provincial Grand Master vacated the Master Chair and was escorted to the West where he delivered a very Interesting and informative history of the life and times of the Celebrant over the last 50 years Two congratulatory certificates one from The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons and one from the Province of West Lancashire were read by the Provincial Grand Secretary and presented to Worshipful Brother Onslow which he received to acclimation. The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master returned to the master’s Chair and invited the acting Worshipful Master to re-occupy the chair to complete the remainder of the business.
W.Bro. Onslow, Rt.W.Prov G.M. Keith Alan Beardmore
RtWBro T.F.Jackson PGJW, VWBro Snape, VWBro G.H.Lee PGJO, DepProvGM,
WBro Onslow, RtWProvGM, WBro G.F. Berkley PGStwd, AssProvGM
Celebrant WBro Dennis Onslow PGJD
WBro R. Howarth & WBro Onslow '(Rovers Fan's) Webman'
DC's on parade WBro's. D. Emmerson and S. Walls
When a collection for worthy causes had been taken the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremony formed a procession and The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master and the Grand and Provincial Grand Officers retired. The acting Worshipful Master completed the agenda, closed the Lodge and retired in processional order. After the now usual and popular photo shoot we repaired to the bar for an aperitif before being called to the dining room where we partook of a delicious three course meal. When the usual toasts were proposed and responses given Right Worshipful Brother Thomas Firth Jackson rose to propose a splendid toast, full of anecdotes, as only a lifelong friend could, Worshipful Brother Onslow suitably responded which was received with rapturous applause. What an excellent evening of Mark Masonry at its very best.       
Words and pictures by Ernie Gavan