The University Lodge of Liverpool No 4274 has a long and distinguished history having celebrated its own centenary anniversary in 2021. On this occasion, the members and visitors were gathered to celebrate the golden jubilee of Steven Freedman, who has been a member of the University Lodge of Liverpool since his initiation 50 years prior.
The impressive setting of the Athenaeum Newsroom was the gathering place where lodge members greet each other and visitors, before climbing the circular staircase to the impressive library room which forms the lodge room for the forthcoming ceremony.
Assistant to the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Gregory Pinnington was on hand and corralled the acting officers, lodge deacons and rehearsed them in the correct manner to enter and retire from the lodge, whilst the lodge members were busy setting up the room for the proceedings to begin.
Once all was in place, the WM Adam Lindop, called all to order and the acting officers, deacons and distinguished guests stood without the panelled door of the lodge room waiting to be admitted. The lodge having been opened and progressing through the degrees to the third degree, Gregory Pinnington was admitted to the lodge and announced that Assistant Provincial Grand Master John James stood without the door of the lodge and demanded admission.
The procession moved forward, consisting of Provincial Grand Steward Mike Fox, Provincial Junior Grand Deacon John Donnelly, Provincial Assistant Grand Sword Bearer William Thompson, Provincial Grand Registrar John Gibson, Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar and John James. Greg conducted John to formally introduce him to the WM Adam.
Once all were seated and appropriate salutations attended to, Adam again rose and as is his right offered the gavel of the lodge to John. On this occasion, John accepted the gavel and occupied the chair of King Solomon. John then called for the celebrant Steven Freedman to be made comfortable and two chairs were placed on the chequered pavement, with Steven sat in one and John in the other.
John explained that Steven had been born in Crumpsall, Manchester in 1940 to parents, Charles and Lilley. Steven’s father was a baker and confectioner of some repute, and Steven grew up with the familiar smell of freshly baked bread. Steven was schooled in Crumpsall Lane Primary School, progressing on to Manchester Grammar School.
Part way through secondary school, the family moved to Blackpool when Steven’s father opened a new bakery. The family joke being that they had plenty of dough but no money! Steven completed his secondary education at Blackpool Grammar, obtaining first O levels and then A levels. Steven had already decided that his future career lay in pharmaceuticals and enrolled on a three-year course at Bradford Institute of Technology, followed by two years at Timothy Whites, passing his course with flying colours. Newly qualified Steven moved to Manchester and took up employment as a locum.
Steven had only been working as a locum for three days, when he set eyes on Heddy, the person he would spend the rest of his life with. As Heddy lived in Liverpool, Steven soon relocated down the East Lancs Road and took a job as a locum in Liverpool. Steven and Heddy were married in 1967 and moved to Woolton, Liverpool, with his house backing onto Cyril McGibbon’s house. Continuing his work as a locum, Steven was ambitious and soon opened his first chemist shop in Earle Road, Liverpool. With others to follow, in Netherton, Garston, Crosby and Allerton Road.
He continued to work in the Allerton Road branch until his retirement and he finally divested all the shops and business. Thanks to shrewd investing in property in Atlanta and Florida, Steven was soon spending five months at a time in the sunshine state. Steven could now pursue his love of cruising and having been on more than 40 cruises, Steven and Heddy have widely travelled the world.
Masonically, Steven was initiated into the University Lodge of Liverpool in 1974, going on to become master of the lodge in 1987. He joined three other lodges, King David Lodge No 7256, Imperial Lodge No 680 and later Imperial Sefton Lodge No 680, when Imperial Lodge and Sefton Lodge merged. Steven becoming master of both King David Lodge and Imperial Lodge.
His first Provincial appointment was awarded in 1993 with the prestigious acting rank of Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, with a subsequent promotion in 2000 to the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon.
Having been exalted in Royal Arch in 1977 in University Chapter of Liverpool No 4274 he has remained a member for 47 years. Steven was installed as first principal in 1989 and having joined Menorah Chapter No 4513 he remained a member for 24 years until its sad closure in 2016. Steven was appointed to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Sojourner in 1997.
John congratulated Steven on his amazing contribution to Freemasonry and his long and distinguished career. Expanding on his community involvement, John commended Steven on his involvement with the Jewish community, in particular the Jewish Blind Society where Steven is a life governor and Stapely Hospital.
John then requested Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar to read a celebratory certificate which had been raised by command of the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews to Steven Freedman. Which on the completion of, John presented the certificate to Steven and congratulated him on his landmark achievement.
The fine dining rooms of the Athenaeum are the perfect accompaniment to a celebration and the members and guests took their places to continue the evening. Lodge member, Geoff Eastmond, who is himself celebrating 65 years to the day of being a member of the lodge, reminisced about the initiation of Steven Freedman, remembering that at the time Steven’s admission was breaking new ground as it was the first time that a member of the lodge who was not a member of the university had ever been admitted and the first pharmacist to be admitted.
It was a trend to be continued with many pharmacists following suit and becoming members of this fine lodge. The final words were left to Steven, who regaled everyone with humorous tales of his time as a locum and thanked all those who had attended this celebration with him. He said he was looking forward to welcoming everyone again in five years’ time for the celebration of Geoff Eastmond’s 70th celebration of Freemasonry.
