Grassendale Alliance Lodge No 667 has been formed from the amalgamation of two old and honourable Masonic lodges both meeting at the Masonic Hall in Hope Street, Liverpool; they were members of the Liverpool Trafalgar Group.
Alliance Lodge No 667 was founded in 1856 at Roby near Liverpool and its original registration number was 965. Grassendale Lodge No 4808 was founded in 1926 in Hope Street, Liverpool. The amalgamation and the new name for the lodge was ratified by Grand Lodge on 9 December 2009 and in April 2024 the lodge moved to Woolton Golf Club to become a member of the Mersey Valley Group.
On this occasion Grassendale Alliance lodge was to install Emlyn Williams. WM Alan Dowd, with military procession, stood and requested the brethren to sing the opening Ode and they were accompanied with Colin Porter on the organ. Colin is the Provisional Grand Organist for Cheshire and played at this lodge for many years. The lodge was opened in the first degree and the usual opening business was conducted swiftly.
Alan Dowd thanked his officers for the assistance they had given him during his year in office and moved onto the next item on the summons, at which point he requested Colin Porter to withdraw for a short while. In Colin’s absence the brethren unanimously voted for him to become an honorary member of the lodge. Colin was readmitted and in formed by Alan of the result of the ballot and Colin responded by thanking all the brethren.
Alan opened the lodge to the third degree and the director of ceremonies announced that Andrew Whittle Assistant Provincial Grand Master demanded admission. Andrew entered the lodge accompanied by the deacons and John Gibbon Deputy Group Chairman. Salutations were offered to Andrew and then John Gibbon and Colin Roberts.
The past masters who were going to assist in the ceremony were appointed so that Keith Reid could present the master elect Emlyn Williams who assented to all the Ancient Charges and took his obligation. After the master Masons had been requested to retire, Alan installed his successor in fine form. Master Masons were readmitted and saluted the newly installed WM. Fellow craft Freemasons were readmitted and saluted the Master in due form, and this was followed by the entered apprentice Freemasons who were readmitted and saluted the WM.
Emelyn Williams was requested to appoint and invest his officers after which Jonathan Foulkes provided the address to the wardens and Michael Molyneux provided and excellent address to the WM.
Once the ceremony of installation was completed Andrew Whittle rose to convey the greetings of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews who hoped that Emely would have a good and busy year in office and then thanked the installing master, Alan Dowd.
Emelyn then had the pleasant duty of presenting a cheque for £250 for the Masonic Charity Fund and a further donation of £250 to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity, both of which were gratefully received and would be faithfully applied to those less fortunate than us and whom we would never know. The procession to retire was formed and Andrew accompanied by John Gibbon and Colin Roberts retired.
The closing business of the lodge was conducted so the brethren could continue the festivities in the dining room. In response to the toast to Grand Lodge, Andrew gave his personal congratulations to Emelyn and then talked to the brethren about the importance of the membership, recruitment and retention saying that retention within the province had improved but there was room for improvement regarding recruitment. “Have you all asked everyone you can think of as being a suitable candidate?”, said Andrew and he then recounted a story to illustrate the importance of not forgetting those nearest to us.
After an excellent evening the lodge presented Andrew and John with flowers and the secretary Filip-Ionut Nastasie proposed the last toast of the evening.
Story and pictures by Colin Roberts.