The purpose of a university is to serve as a place of learning and to cultivate innovation, critical inquiry and the creation of new knowledge through research. As we are all informed as entered apprentices that Freemasonry is a progressive science and that we should all make a daily advancement in Masonic knowledge, what better place to do so than in the company of the brethren of the University Lodge of Liverpool No 4274.
University Lodge of Liverpool is always well visited and this evening was no exception as brethren and visitors gathered at the League of Welldoers Hall, Liverpool for the installation of a new WM. The League of Welldoers Hall is a new meeting places for several lodges and chapters in the Gladstone Group and everyone gathered upstairs in the robing room, ready to enter the lodge room which is very well decorated and set out in a pleasing arrangement with the brethren sat in chairs either side of the lodge room waiting for the main event.
WM Adam Lindop, accompanied by his wardens, Cameron Molyneux as senior warden and Shaun Brookhouse standing in for Adam McQuire, as junior warden, welcomed everyone to the lodge, particularly the visiting brethren who had come from far and wide and asked all present to assist him to open the lodge.
Having worked through the degrees, the lodge arrived at the third degree, when a knock on the door heralded the announcement that principal guest John Reynolds, Provincial Senior Grand Warden of the Province of West Lancashire, accompanied by a cornucopia of acting, Provincial and grand officers stood without and requested admission.
A veritable procession then entered the lodge room with the crimson red aprons and collars of acting Provincial Grand Stewards, Ian Edge and Colin Higginson, leading the way. Followed by Assistant Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies David Boyes, Provincial Assistant Grand Standard Bearer Dave Douglas, Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar and vice chairman Matthew Casson with Provincial Junior Grand Warden Ezra McGowan and Provincial Senior Grand Warden John Reynolds entering the lodge.
Lodge director of ceremonies, Krisjan Cooper, conducted principal guest John Reynolds to WM Adam and having been formally welcomed to the lodge, he was then seated in a prominent position to observe proceedings. The installation of master elect Cameron Molyneux then began with the presentation of Cameron by Krisjan to WM Adam.
Cameron’s obligation as master elect was faultless and Adam conducted the installation of Cameron into the chair of King Solomon in very fine fashion and after all of the salutations had been attended to, Cameron became the first ‘Molyneux’ to be installed as WM of this fine lodge since it’s consecration. Director of ceremonies, Krisjan, called for master Masons to be admitted and after the requisite salutations, immediate past master Adam delivered the tools of a master Mason.
The lodge resumed labour in the second degree and Krisjan called for the admission of fellow crafts and after salutations of that degree, Geoff Eastmond, himself master of the lodge 53 years ago in 1972, delivered the working tools of a fellow craft Freemason. Again, resuming labour in the first degree, entered apprentices were admitted with the working tools of that degree, delivered superbly by George Sillcock.
The installation of lodge officers then took place, with immediate past master, Adam Lindop being appointed junior warden as his reward for an excellent installation. The installation ceremony was concluded and this was the cue for John Reynolds to rise and give the address to the brethren which he delivered with sincerity and confidence.
WM Cameron asked John to accept donations on behalf of the charities and John read the list of recipients to all assembled, with the lodge donating £200 to West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, £200 to the Tithebarn and £100 to Sahir House, a local HIV charity. John thanked the lodge for their very generous donations and afterward gave his congratulations to the lodge for all involved in a superb ceremony.
At dinner the celebration of the installation of a new WM continued, with Provincial Junior Grand Warden Ezra McGowan, congratulating the lodge on a splendid installation ceremony and echoing John Reynolds earlier comments about what a fantastic evening it had been. The last words should be left to secretary Shaun Brookhouse who led the toast to WM Cameron, explaining to all present, that Cameron had been initiated with 11 candidates at the same time in University Lodge of Liverpool and had never thought that one day he may become master of the lodge himself, Cameron is also WM of the Lodge of Equity and Appleton Lodge No 1384 and a large contingent from that lodge had attended this evening to support Cameron, a very educational evening indeed.
