Old Masonians West Lancashire Lodge No 7702, meeting at Liverpool Masonic Hall, Hope Street, has had a busy year with numerous celebrations, and their April 2026 ceremony was by no means an understatement to their year.
At this meeting, the order of the business was to raise three fellow crafts, Nicholas Metcalfe, Gavin Roberts and Gregory Jennings to the sublime degree of a master Mason. Assistant Provincial Grand Master John James and Dave Johnson, the Liverpool Group Chairman had both taken their seats prior to the lodge opening, John and Dave were making private visits.
The lodge was opened in its usual manner to the first degree by the WM Alan Flavell who took the opportunity to welcome John and Dave to the Lodge. The minutes were dealt with and approved, by the brethren of the lodge.
Alan then opened the lodge into the second degree, and prior to opening to the third degree asked all those below the rank of a Master Mason to retire, apart from Nicholas, Gavin and Gregory. Each of the candidates answered their questions to a very satisfactory level
To ensure the ceremony was completed in a sincere manner, the WM was assisted in the third degree ceremony by his deacons, James Metcalf and Louis Clegg, his wardens Jamie Flavell and Keith Cole, together with the lodge secretary Karl Brennan and the lodge DC Andrew Ridal. Each pair of lodge officers assisting a candidate, ensuring that the questions and answers, signs and signals were sufficiently given, and testing for raising could be applied.
After the raisings had been completed, the newly raised brethren retired to restore themselves to their personal comforts and returned to receive the traditional history and signs of a master Mason, which was delightfully provided by Paul Grainger. Keith gave an impressive explanation of the working tools of a master Mason, to all three newly raised brethren.
When the ceremony was complete, John rose to congratulate the newly raised brethren and encouraged them to discover the substituted secrets of a master Mason through membership of the Royal Arch. Congratulations were also expressed to the newly raised brethren for the manner in which they had conducted themselves, and thanks to those brethren of the lodge who had performed so well, especially with assisting the three candidates and also delivering the working tools.
The brethren then retired to enjoy the festive board during which Nicholas, Gavin, and Gregory were each presented with the individual volumes of the sacred law on which they had taken their obligations on being admitted to Freemasonry.
A toast to the health of the three newly raised brethren was given by Alan, who was pleased to have seen the candidates having achieved their raisings. Alan also thanked his officers who had taken part in the ceremony, who had greatly assisted in ensuring the newly raised brethren had had a rememberable time. The tyler’s toast was given to conclude what was a most enjoyable triple raising ceremony, and festive board.