Yes, we do like to be beside the seaside! This year’s Provincial Grand Lodge, one of, if not the major event of the Province’s year, was a wonderful day by the seaside. Blackpool, and the Winter Gardens venue, was bathed in sunshine to welcome Mark Matthews and 1,150 fellow Freemasons. Mark presided over only his second Provincial Grand Lodge meeting at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool since his official installation as leader of West Lancashire Freemasons, and what a special event it turned out to be. It was meant to be special, and different!
How was it different? You may well ask. Well, firstly, it is necessary to understand the focus of this year’s programme, the ‘light blues’. The term ‘light blues’ is generally given to those members of a lodge who are relatively new to Freemasonry and are yet to receive appointment to Provincial Grand Lodge. Members in Provincial Grand Lodge wear dark blue aprons and regalia, whereas the newer members in local lodges, on attaining the status of master Mason, wear a light blue apron as they join in the activities and progress through the offices in their respective lodges.
In West Lancashire, the term ‘light blue’ has also come to encapsulate those very new members who are still working towards becoming master Masons and wear white aprons during their journey and education as ‘entered apprentice’ and ‘fellow craft’ Freemasons. Current rules and regulations prevent those white aprons from attending Provincial Grand Lodge. It was the wish of Mark, Provincial Grand Master and leader of West Lancashire Freemasons, to include all these newer Freemasons at this special meeting so that they could experience the grandeur of the occasion in a fully inclusive way. They were to see the pageantry of the event, and witness those from their lodges who were receiving appointment and promotion in Provincial Grand Lodge, not to mention the lavish banquet which traditionally follows the event. The Province decided to fund 50 light blues, and the lucky ones were drawn and announced at a recent forum.
Some adjustments were required to facilitate the attendance of the newer light blues, to ensure that all the official regulations and protocols were followed. This meant that the day started early for some, with senior members of the Province commencing the opening of the lodge at 9:30 in the morning, unusually not in the main hall, but in camera. In a small room at the side of the stage, it was then ‘called off’ to be re-instated later, at 2pm, in a way that allowed the junior brethren to attend. The stewards and volunteers from the Mersey Valley Group were also there bright and early to organise things and get set up for the meeting.
These events do not become a success by chance. A lot of preparation goes on behind the scenes and Provincial Grand Secretary Peter Taylor and his team worked hard on the logistics and practicalities to ensure that everything went smoothly. It all went swimmingly. On the day there were practices with all those to be involved in the upcoming spectacle, so that under the watchful eye of Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Barry Fitzgerald, they could rehearse and iron out any issues.
It was a busy time for Mark and his team, but they did make room to mingle with the arriving members and have a chat, introduce themselves to new friends and catch up with old. Mark was delighted to be introduced to several new members, and among those he got to spend some time chatting to were young fellow craft Luke Brown, 19 years of age and a member of Astley and Ellesmere Lodge No 730, and entered apprentice Martin Aldred, aged 30 years who was initiated into Tyldesley Lodge No 2572 in March 2024. It was really nice for Mark to hear about their thoughts and experiences in joining the organisation, and was really pleased when both, independently, spoke of how they had found it an overwhelming experience, highlighted by the welcome they had received from their respective lodges, both through the application process and the experience of joining. Now safely ensconced in their respective lodges the welcoming they get continues contributing to their sense of belonging.
Practice does make perfect. The entrance of the Provincial team and distinguished guests was really impressive, with that military precision and pomp and circumstance for which the team is renowned. It was further enhanced by the rousing music from Stephen Derringer on the organ, the procession being accompanied by his own composition of the processional march, and by appropriate music at every stage of the proceedings. The first to enter were the leaders of the Royal Arch in West Lancashire, which proudly champions the one organisation philosophy, followed by the distinguished guests from other Provinces, as well as senior past dignitaries of West Lancashire. What made this extra special were the columns of ‘light blues’ who were invited to parade in at the front of the Provincial officers to the applause of all attending.
After welcoming his distinguished guests and formalities completed, there was some special appointments to be made. Following the retirement of Phil Gunning after decades of dedicated service, Frank Umbers was invested as Deputy Provincial Grand Master. Following his promotion and the retirement of Assistant Provincial Grand Master Barry Jameson, who also has served the Province in high office for decades. Both in Craft and Royal Arch, David Thomas and Sturt Boyd respectively were then invested as Assistant Provincial Grand Masters. His senior team now complete, Mark then appointed and invested the rest of his team, commencing with his two wardens. Mark Humphrey was appointed as senior warden and Mike Silver as junior warden and both took their chairs, replacing Leon Tax and David Rigby. The rest of the acting officers were then invested followed by those receiving first appointments. All ran smoothly with military precision, and on completion Mark gave his address to the Province, a full transcript of which can be seen below:
“Brethren, I commence my address by thanking you all for your attendance. This is one of the most important dates in our Provincial diary.
The Strategic Road Map for Freemasonry launched by the Pro Grand Master in December 2022, and the associated Membership Challenge continues to develop and grow. In February 2023, we were set a challenge from the United Grand Lodge of England to increase initiates by an extra 82%, which equated to 211 new Masons. By the end of December 2023, that Challenge had reduced significantly to increase by 32%, which was 98 new members.
As we work through 2024, I am pleased to report that our membership status is described by UGLE as ‘stabilised and growing’, with over 350 candidates being initiated between February 2023 and May 2024. Most pleasingly, our losses due to resignations are significantly low at only 3%. Your efforts have been outstanding in addressing our declining numbers. I thank you for holding multiple ceremonies and for arranging additional meetings to initiate new members. I have asked you to speak to your family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues about joining Freemasonry.
You have responded magnificently to my request. I don’t need to tell you that our organisation has successfully existed for over 300 years, but we also need to ensure our existence for the long-term future. As we are a Province without the Hermes Electronic Membership Registration System, and we are still operating on paper forms. I have asked our lodge and chapter secretaries to ensure the accurate completion of Forms P, together with their timely submission to the Provincial Office, for them to process and forward to UGLE. Your focus on bringing in new Masons and the associated enhanced administration, has resulted in a most positive outcome. Thank you for all of your efforts in responding to the Membership Challenge.
Further exceptional work has been conducted in respect of forming 15 light blue clubs to assist and develop our newer Masons. If you are in a group that does not yet have a club, and I realise that for the two groups without a club, it’s work in progress, but I would strongly urge you to complete the process of establishing a club in time for the start of next season. I warmly welcome the light blue club members who have joined our meeting. I’m delighted to have you with us. Please enjoy the ceremonial atmosphere here in the lodge room, and also later at the celebratory banquet.
Brethren I have also asked you to focus on membership of the Royal Arch. After all we are one organisation. Membership really does complete your journey in pure ancient Freemasonry. As the Grand Superintendent responsible for the Royal Arch, I have written to every brother in the province who is unattached from or who has yet to join the Royal Arch. As a result, I must thank all of those Craft Masons who have either returned to or have joined the Order.
I also thank all of those Craft Masons who have dates organised to join before the end of this season or in the early stages of the next. All aspects of Craft and Royal Arch membership, together with effective lodge and chapter planning are covered in the Membership Pathway and Archway Guidance. If you haven’t done so already, please familiarise yourself with these important initiatives.
Brethren in your groups, lodges and chapters, consider how you can contribute to Masonic community engagement. If you need any advice on this subject, speak to your group chairmen or the Community Engagement Advisory Group, who can be contacted via the Provincial Office. If we are effectively involved with our local communities, we will benefit in terms of an enhanced public reputation and in attracting future Masonic prospects.
Brethren, the Group System has been in place in one form or another since the mid-1930s. In order to complement that system and to align it with Adelphi, a small team consisting of Frank Umbers, David Barr and Peter Taylor have modified and adapted the Adelphi Senior Visiting Officer and Visiting Officer structure, to seamlessly integrate with our Group System. The Visiting Officer will be a Provincial Appointment.
This addition of the Visiting Officer will improve the interaction and communication between lodges, chapters and the group executive and will work both ways, by keeping you, the membership, informed of the many developments that are taking place in this very large Province. Watch this space brethren.
Please keep supporting our West Lancashire Freemasons Charity. If you are a tax payer you can utilise the yellow envelopes to get an extra 25% benefit. It is your charity, if you are in distress or if you are aware of others in distress, please contact the office at Huyton for free and confidential advice. Do not suffer in silence or allow others to suffer in silence.
Brethren this event has taken a lot of organising and commitment. I thank Peter Taylor, Mick Southern, Diana, Violet and all of the Provincial Office Volunteers for their work in that regard.
I thank our Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and all of his deputies for keeping us on track and ensuring that everything has run so smoothly. I also thank the Mersey Valley Group for providing our stewards, who have marshalled the day so well and safely for us. I thank the Cabinet and the Group Chairmen and their teams for all that they do on behalf of our Province, your hard work and commitment is much appreciated.
Please maintain the habit of routinely visiting other lodges and chapters, particularly if you are a new master or first principal. Keep organising and supporting lodge, chapter, group and provincial social events, and bring your non-Masonic family and friends along to those occasions.
To all of those brethren who are today receiving acting offices, first appointments and promotions, I thank you for all the work that you have done to date for our Province, and for the work which I know you will continue to perform in the future. To those who are dining later, I look forward to your company at the banquet. I trust that you will all have a safe journey home. In conclusion Brethren, my primary wish and objective is for you to enjoy your Freemasonry. Please ensure that you do that and……. May The Red Rose Continue to Bloom!
Following on from the address all those receiving promotion were conducted by the stewards and congratulated individually by Mark. The importance of this recognition cannot be overstated. Those being appointed and promoted are recognised for the contribution they make to their lodges, the charities, the Province and work in the wider community, and Mark is proud of all those who contribute in different ways to enhancing the reputation of our fine institution. Retiring junior warden David Rigby was delighted to be promoted to the rank of senior warden following his dedication and effort during a very successful year.
All the business being concluded, the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed and the parade out, with the same pomp and precision, was expertly orchestrated by the reappointed Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Barry Fitzgerald. There was time for liquid refreshment and a good ‘catchup’ with friends, old and new, before the formal banquet in the Exhibition Centre Hall.
The banquet was, and always is, a lavish affair, and this was no exception. The senior officers of the Province, together with distinguished guests from other Provinces, joined Mark on the top table. Mark welcomed all the attendees, and in a series of formal wine takings and toasts, conducted proceedings under the watchful eye of Barry Fitzgerald. It was a delightful way to end what had been a memorable day for all present.
After such a wonderful day, the last word goes to our Provincial Grand Master.
“Today has been very special, for the first time in the history of our Province, we have opened Provincial Grand Lodge in another part of the building and then called off, entered the lodge room and called back on. The reason for this, was to allow entered apprentices, fellow crafts and light blue club members to be a part of the procession and to experience an entire Provincial Grand Lodge meeting.
There has been a lot to celebrate today, not only for the recipients of acting rank, first appointments and promotions, but also in respect of acknowledging the hard work, dedication and commitment of our brethren. I sincerely thank them for all that they do, but above all I trust that they will continue to enjoy their Freemasonry.
See you all in September at Provincial Grand Chapter!”