The main business of the evening at Garston Masonic Hall, Island Road, Liverpool was to receive talks from Admin Support Officer Elaine Hansen regarding the Freemasons’ Charity and Provincial Grand Almoner Alan Riley on the West Lancashire Masonic Foundation (formerly the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity) which was also attended by lodge almoners from other lodges.
WM Guy Story opened Old Lerpoolian Lodge No 9270 in due form and when the domestic business of the lodge had been completed, the lodge was then called off.
Elaine Hansen and Alan Riley gave a presentation centred on a core Freemasonry principle: looking after our own. They highlighted the West Lancashire Masonic Foundation, stressing the importance of ensuring that brethren and widows know support is available and should feel able to ask for it. The foundation’s principal purpose is to provide financial assistance to Freemasons in the Province, as well as their widows, children and dependants, when they face need, hardship or distress.
The West Lancashire Masonic Foundation (WLMF) can assist with financial emergencies, essential household repairs, education and other needs that may arise when someone’s finances become difficult. No one should assume that a person is not ‘badly off enough’ to qualify; assessing individual circumstances is the foundation’s responsibility.
Lodge almoners play a vital role because they are often the first to notice when someone’s circumstances have changed. A brother may stop attending the lodge, face illness in the family, retire or suffer a bereavement; he may also mention a broken boiler or difficulty meeting a major household expense. Almoners should be informed of such situations. The WLMF can advise and support them and when an application is needed, arrange for a care officer to visit.
The WLMF has been helping Freemasons and their families for generations; it exists for people in need, hardship, or distress; it deals with applications sympathetically and confidentially; and its message is clear it wants to help and, most importantly let’s make sure they actually ask!
WM Guy Story and Mersey Valley Group Chairman David Atkinson thanked Elaine Hansen and Alan Riley for their excellent and thoughtful presentation.
After the completion of the presentation, the lodge was called on after Elaine and Alan had retired from the lodge room. Rick Thompson announced there would be an initiation ceremony at the lodge’s next meeting in November 2026 and a proposal for three joining members. Afterwards, the brethren retired to the festive board where the candidate for initiation attended a white table event.
Story by Alan McCluskey.