Furness Mark reaches 150 years
 
Furness Mark Lodge No 36 welcomed PGM Keith Beardmore and grand deputy secretary Daniel Heath, together with a host of grand and acting provincial grand officers, to a special meeting called to celebrate the 150th year of the oldest lodge in the province.
Centre foreground are; Daniel Heath, Graham Benson and Keith Beardmore
with some of the lodge members who have not yet ascended the chair

At the meeting in Barrow Masonic Hall lodge stalwart Brian Davey was called upon to give a brief history of the lodge. That was not an easy job as unfortunately most of the lodge records have proved untraceable. However, Brian with his 50 years membership of the lodge, was able to deliver an entertaining insight into some of its  early history and several of the characters who helped shape Furness Mark.
 
The original incarnation of the lodge had been in 1870 when it was granted a warrant under the auspices of the Scottish Supreme Grand Chapter when it bore the number 24. In 1872 it became a member of the English constitution and the number was changed to its present 36.
Pictured from left to right, Harry Moore and Brian Davey
Daniel read out the sesquicentenary warrant signed by the Grand Master prior to Keith presenting it to WM Graham Benson.
 
One of the highlights of the evening was the PGM requesting long time lodge member Harry Moore to be placed before him. There was rapturous applause when the PGM gave Harry a field promotion to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Junior Warden. An honour well deserved for a gentleman who has always been ready to deliver ritual or stand in for absentees at short notice.
Some of those lodge members with gold braid join the photo
The lodge is obviously named after the peninsula wherein it sits. The Furness peninsula extends from the estuary of the River Leven, along the west shore of Lake Windermere up to Brathay and then across via Wrynose Pass to the River Duddon and its estuary.
 
But why is it called Furness? Many think it is something to do with the fiery furnaces of the now long-gone  iron and steel mills of the area. But in fact it pre-dates that by several centuries. It derives from the Old Norse Futhernessa which translates as the headland by the rump shaped island. That island could be Piel Island where the remains of the castle built by the monks of Furness Abbey still stand, or alternatively it may have been the Isle of Walney prior to changes in it features due to centuries of coastal erosion.
 
The meal following was enjoyed by over 70 diners with two out of the three candidates awaiting advancement amongst those at the tables. Hopefully some of the junior members will be able to enjoy the lodge hitting the double century mark in fifty years time.
 
Words and pictures by Dave Sear