On a bitterly cold and windswept evening, members of New Sanctuary Lodge No 6604 gathered at the Park Club Masonic Hall in Cleveleys for a warm and uplifting meeting under the direction of WM John Laughton. There were 10 members and seven visiting brethren were in attendance, creating a lively and fraternal atmosphere.
The evening featured excellent ritual work, delivered with precision and enriched by a series of Solomon nuggets, short, insightful pieces designed to deepen understanding of Masonic symbolism and practice. Lodge secretary Del Hernen opened the educational portion of the evening with a reflection on the deeper meaning behind opening a lodge. He posed a simple but often overlooked question: Do we truly consider what this act represents?
Del explored the symbolic roles of the three principal officers: The junior warden, representing the instinctive man, refined by the moral teachings of the first degree. The senior warden, representing the thinking man, shaped by education and reason. The WM, representing the spiritual man, elevated through contemplation and inner development. This layered interpretation offered a fresh perspective on a familiar ceremony.
Senior warden Ian Fell presented the next nugget, examining the well-known instruction: “Step off with the left foot.” This direction appears not only in the first degree but also in the fellow craft, master Mason and Royal Arch ceremonies.
Ian explained how the initial left foot pace forms the first part of the first degree step, followed by the right foot. The question he explored, why the left foot and not the right? He invited brethren to reflect on the symbolism embedded in even the smallest ritual movements.
The final nugget, again delivered by Del, focused on the closing ode, written by Yorkshireman Walter Clegg, a member of Harmony Lodge No 272 in Lincolnshire and later a Provincial grand officer. Clegg’s words evoke the close of day, ‘evening is closing in; the shadows are gathering’, signalling the end of labour and the move to refreshment. The ode reminds brethren to keep Masonic secrets secure within the ‘repository” of the heart’, with fidelity and reverence. The immediate past master’s familiar words clearly influenced Clegg’s imagery, reinforcing the themes of rest, trust, and sacred duty.
Solomon nuggets provide short, accessible insights that help brethren expand their Masonic knowledge. They are ideal for lodge or chapter meetings and are equally valuable for private study. They can be explored further via the Solomon learning platform and can be accessed via the following link. Home | Solomon
The festive board featured a hearty and well received menu prepared by Yes Chef Catering, comprising of garlic mushroom starter, Cumberland sausage with mash, gravy, cabbage and peas followed by spotted dick with custard. A Chorley raffle, enthusiastically conducted by the lodge tyler Dave Boswelll, raised a generous £170, which, combined with the alms collection, brought the total to £255 raised for charitable causes.