The West Lancashire Light Blues Club Forum was held at the Widnes Masonic Hall. Members began arriving at 10am to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and catch up with one another. Before the meeting started, Mark Matthews, the Provincial Grand Master, took the opportunity to speak with the younger members about how their Masonry experience was progressing.
The meeting was formally opened at 10:25am by Neil Ward, the Provincial Grand Membership Officer, who introduced the speakers. First up was Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews, who addressed the challenges facing Freemasons in West Lancashire. He emphasized that, due to declining membership numbers, it is essential for everyone to take on the responsibility of introducing new candidates. We should reach out to friends, work colleagues and neighbours. As a membership organisation, we cannot survive without attracting new members.
Mark emphasised the significance of the Royal Arch and encouraged every Craft member to join it to complete their Masonic journey. He urged everyone to approach any brother not wearing a Royal Arch jewel and discuss the importance of taking this next step.
Following Mark’s presentation, Peter Mason, Deputy Grand Superintendent of Cumberland and Westmorland was introduced to give a more detailed talk about the Royal Arch. Peter started by inviting Mark Humphrey to join him on stage. Mark, who looked splendid in his Royal Arch regalia, assisted Peter as he explained the differences between the Craft and Royal Arch regalia. Peter went on to give an in-depth talk about ‘Why should I join the Royal Arch?’
Peter discussed the history and origins of the Royal Arch, which, like many other aspects of Freemasonry, is quite obscure. During the 18th century, when two rival Grand Lodges existed, the Ancients were significantly more enthusiastic and dedicated to promoting the Royal Arch than the Moderns were. When the two Grand Lodges merged in 1813, the situation changed.
There was some compromise and ambiguity regarding the idea that the Royal Arch serves as the completion of the third degree in Craft Masonry. However, revisions made in 2004 clarified this position: the Royal Arch is not the completion of the third degree but rather the completion of Craft Masonry itself.
Peter concluded by saying, perhaps now you can appreciate the importance of continuing your Craft education beyond the third degree. By becoming a member of the Royal Arch, you will discover that; ‘that which was lost’, was not the end of the story. The word of a master Mason was found, albeit several 100 years later. With its rediscovery, the Craft story and its moral teachings are now fully completed. After Peter’s talk, he held a Q&A session which started a lively debate among the brethren. To read Peter’s transcript in full, 
Next, it was Jonathan Edwards turn to speak. He gave a talk entitled ‘Why I became a Freemason’. Jonathan is a young light blue Mason from Hardshaw Lodge No 8722, which is part of the Mersey Valley Group. Jonathan was introduced to Freemasonry by his uncle, Sandy Kean. He had been a member for quite some time, although he had been more active in another Masonic Order than in the Craft. Once Sandy joined Hardshaw Lodge, Jonathan’s fate and that of his son-in-law Gareth were sealed, though they had no idea at the time.
Sandy was the perfect mentor for Jonathan, a would-be suitor of Freemasonry, Sandy would explain all questions that Jonathan had while also advising caution, not to seek out anything on the internet that would spoil the experience, and that Freemasonry needs to fit around his life and that the order must always be family, work and then Freemasonry.
Jonathan was initiated on 9 December 2021 by his uncle Sandy, who took the chair of King Solomon for his initiation which added to the sentimentality of Jonathan’s ceremony. Having attended a couple of initiations since then, Jonathan confidently said that it was performed in an exemplary manner.
During the ceremony, Jonathan was already feeling confused, and after the blessing of light was restored to him and while he was being led around the temple, he noticed his dad’s face among the crowd. Jonathan was thrilled to discover that, unbeknownst to him, his dad was not only a Freemason, but had also been secretly invited to his initiation. Shortly after, Jonathan’s dad joined Hardshaw Lodge and returned to Freemasonry after his previous lodge, the Lodge of Stability, had surrendered their charter in the early 1990s.
In closing, Jonathan expressed his delight in joining Freemasonry. Along with his dad Tim, and his uncle Sandy, now his brothers, he was eager to continue learning. Most importantly, he wanted to have fun and be seen enjoying himself while spending quality time with all his new brothers, fully embracing the fraternity.
Jonathan expressed his thanks to everyone for attending his talk and mentioned that he would be happy to answer any questions. To read Jonathan’s talk in full,
Mick Southern, the Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary, took to the floor for a questions for Mick session. He answered inquiries on a wide range of topics, including the Book of Constitutions, the do’s and don’ts of Freemasonry, and even who makes the best brew at the Provincial office and of course, that would be Mick himself. Some of the questions posed to Mick were light-hearted, but it demonstrated that if you need an answer, Mick is your man.
In closing the light blues meeting, Neil Ward thanked the guest speakers for their very enjoyable and enlightening talks and thanked everyone for attending what had been a very productive meeting.
