WBro John Lloyd PAGDC MBE

W Bro John Lloyd has been honoured by the Queen in her Birthday list.

A member of the Liverpool Cathedral choir since 1938, John was awarded the MBE for voluntary service to the Cathedral.

John says, “I joined the choir in 1938, aged 10.  At the cathedral, when  boys leave the choir after their voices break, they can join what is called the ‘Cross Guild’ which is an association founded by Dean Dwelly, the first Dean of Liverpool. The aim is to maintain contact with the ex choristers and for them to continue to take part in the ceremonial and processional parts of the religious services, mainly on Sundays.   It is a unique organisation.   I have been a member since I left the choir, an association going back 72 years.  I act as the Beadle, who carries the mace and leads the processions.”

The Cathedral remains a big part of John’s life.

In his time, John has seen six Deans pass through the role.

He was married to his first wife, Nancy there – she sadly passed away in 1983.

His two daughters Heather and Wendy were christened and married there along with his grandchildren.

Latterly John and his new wife Mo were married there five years ago this month.

John has been fortunate to see many large services taking place including participation by eminent and interesting people including royalty.

John met and chatted with the Queen at the Maundy Service a few years ago and on another occassion spoke to Prince Charles.

John was initiated into Liverpool Mercantile Lodge in 1977 and was WM in 1983. He was appointed PrGSuptWks in 1992 and in 1998 was promoted to be a Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.

John joined the Chapter of Perseverance in 1987 and served as its First Principal in 1994. His first Provincial appointment in the Royal Arch was in 2001 as a PPrAGDC and he was promoted to be PPrAGSoj in 2009

Congratulation to WBro John Lloyd PAGDC MBE for the recognition of his dedication.

Prof. Jim Alty together with Roy and the second candidate, Matt Casson

The photograph shows the WM, Prof. Jim Alty together with Roy and the second candidate, Matt Casson in the lodge room at Liverpool Medical Institution.

In March in an event without precedent in West Lancashire and by special dispensation 5 candidates were initiated in a single ceremony.

Two were undergraduates at the University of Liverpool and Hope University, and the others part-time students or recent graduates.

Various pictures where taken and this is one of them.

The Brethren in the picture are:-

Back row L to R: -  W/Bro. Alan Dean, Bro. John Killmurry, W/Bro. John Marshall, W/Bro. Stan Shwenn,

W/Bro. Arand Van Duyvenbode, W/Bro. Tom Brown, W/Bro Trevor Horne.

Front row L to R :- W/Bro Dave Everett, W/Bro. Bill Culshaw, Worshipful Master Bro. Ron Davies,

W/Bro. Peter Evans and Bro. Howard Minns.

The purpose of the visit was to work a demonstration of the First Degree ceremony, but with a little extra information included – a commentary explaining the background to the critical elements of the ceremony, researched and compiled by nationally renowned Masonic historian, the Rev Neville Barker.

After the lodge was opened and the domestic business was completed, the members of the PMSC demonstration team exchanged places with the officers of Lathom Lodge to work the ceremony. During the course of the ceremony the five narrators made timely and appropriate interjections at 17 points, providing information, which explained and illuminated the text of the ritual and artefacts used during the process.

There were more than 70 brethren present, including four Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, the Provincial Grand Secretary and Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. There were several Entered Apprentice Freemasons who were guests of the lodge. They were to remark later how very helpful, informative and thoroughly enjoyable they had found the demonstration. Having only recently experienced the First Degree for themselves, they had the opportunity to see what they had gone through but with the bonus of having the origins and significance of the ceremony clearly displayed and relayed to them.

At the end of the demonstration, the brethren assembled showed their spontaneous appreciation and Terry Hudson expressed thanks and congratulations on behalf of himself and all present.

The team was complemented by, and grateful to, the Rev Harry E Ross who acted as chaplain, and sorry not to have the company of Bro Alan Whittle (343) who had worked on the demonstration but had to withdraw at short notice due to a family bereavement.

Assistant Provincial Grand Master Terry Hudson who is WM of Lathom Lodge is pictured at the special meeting when Preston Masonic Study Circle gave a demonstration of the First Degree ceremony.

The first “Gentlemen to Dine” will give professional non masons the opportunity to come and dine with the brethren after their lodge meeting.

Members of the lodge are also being invited to bring along someone who they think will enjoy the spectacle of dinner at the club.

If you are interested in joining us then please drop our secretary Bill Culshaw an email using the form below.

To avoid any possibility of offence prospective applicants should please be aware that we dine in Dinner Jackets. The lodge membership is selective and reserved primarily for professional people.

The evening starts at approximately 18:30 and is held on the 18th March 2010

cforms contact form by delicious:days

After discussions about the Bible at a lodge committee meeting Eric Edwards decided to undertake some research.

The Bible states that it was “imprinted” in 1589, ie during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, The Virgin Queen.

He took the Bible to Stothert Old Books in Chester where it was confirm that the contents of the Bible were authentic 16th century though it had been rebound in genuine leather at the start of the 19th century. He was advised to take the Bible to Bloomsbury Auctions, London, a company, which is the authority on antiquarian books.

Eric Edwards with the Lodge of Perseverance Volume of the Sacred Law which was printed in 1589.

Eric then visited the books and manuscripts department of Bloomsbury Auctions where it was seen by Hannah Hills who also showed it to the head of department Simon Luterbacher. They both agreed that the Bible is authentic 16th century. The Bible was said to be in a very good condition considering its age though the 1800’s binding had been neglected. “Stained” pages and hand written notes in the Bible add to its authenticity.

The contents of the Bible are composed of two sections. The first section originally contained 555 pages, but pages 358 to 440 – the Books called Apocrypha – are missing. There are distinct differences between the Protestant and Catholic Bibles with the former usually lacking so-called Apocryphal books. The Apocrypha books may have been excluded to conform to Protestant ideals when it was rebound. The books of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible appear to be present. The second section of 92 pages contains a Book of Psalms.

Eric was told that two copies of the 1589 Bible had passed through the auctions since 2000. Its value is believed to be between £800 and £1,200.

The Bible was acquired by the founders of the Lodge of Perseverance when it came into existence in the early 1800’s. It is possible that a family or families held the Bible for many years as was usual in those days. It was gifted to George Carmen (born 1686) by his Godfather.

Eric said: “The Lodge is very fortunate to possess such a treasure, which will continue to be a focal point during the ceremonies.”

Freemasons amongst the first to pledge help to Haiti

14th January 2010

A major earthquake took place in Haiti on 12th January 2010. The 7.3-magnitude quake, Haiti’s worst in two centuries, struck at 1653 local time (2153 GMT) toppling buildings in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and burying many of the residents in rubble. At least 50,000 people are feared dead, and up to 3 million have been affected.

The President of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has approved a grant of £20,000 to the British Red Cross, who have already begun working on an emergency response in Haiti. Red Cross volunteers are currently assisting the injured and supporting hospitals who do not have enough capacity to deal with this emergency. A group of experts in disaster response, health in emergency and logistics have been sent to support the Haitian Red Cross in the relief efforts and to begin to coordinate international assistance from members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as well as other organisations. In addition, a Red Cross team will lead a damage assessment together with the Humanitarian Aid Office of the European Union.

£10,000 has also been awarded to Plan International in support of their efforts in dealing with the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Plan International’s priorities are assisting children and their families and getting people into safe accommodation wherever possible, as well as working with survivors to help ease their psychological trauma.

Donations through the Grand Charity are now possible from this web site by clicking on the image to the right

It was the turn of the Gladstone Group to host this bi-annual event, which was very well supported by the members of both groups, with 16 Worshipful Masters, Five First Principals, six IPMs and three IPZs.

The evening started in the Doric Suite with Deputy Provincial Grand Master Brian Gillbanks meeting with those, both Craft and Royal Arch, who had taken office for the first time either as WM or MEZ  during last year or this.  Brian was accompanied by Assistant Provincial Grand Master Michael H Hill, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals Ian A Fisher, Provincial Grand Secretary Geoffrey Lee, the two Provincial Wardens, Barry Jameson, and Derek Durling, and the two group chairmen, Paul Shepherd and John Wreyford.

The meeting allowed a great degree of informality and the brethren could express their thoughts quite freely and ask any questions of the Provincial Officers.  Indeed it was not all one sided, with Brian and his officers also using this opportunity to ask those present of how they thought the Province was progressing.

In due time the party left the Doric to enter the Corinthian Suite where they joined with the general members of the Gladstone and Sandon Groups in open forum, with a Question and Answer session.  Brian began by welcoming everyone present and thanking them for their attendance, particularly those present for the first time.  The first question was about the Provincial Honours system, and the mystique which sometimes surrounded it.  The Provincial Officers gave enlightening and reassuring answers, explaining how the system worked in quite some detail and of the guidelines used to ensure it was as fair and equitable as could be possible.

The next topic raised was of the success of the Mentoring initiative in looking after new members and retaining their interest.  This talk expanded to cover methods of recruitment, and it was generally agreed that most interest these days came through the various web sites and not through “open days” or advertising in professional magazines.  Brian mentioned that the new and improved Provincial website would hopefully be up and running sometime in May, and was to a very high standard.  In this day and age it has to be recognized that electronic communication is becoming the preferred method of the majority as their time is becoming more precious as more call is put upon it.  It was mentioned that an official advice leaflet had been circulated around the Province explaining how time could be saved both in lodge and at the festive board if needed by following some of the advice within the leaflet.

Royal Arch Masonry and its inextricable links to the Craft were expounded on by Ian Fisher, giving the percentage of members in both.  Every Craft lodge has now got a Royal Arch contact whose name should be printed on every lodge summons, and the advantage of this is now starting to be seen.  This concluded the forum, with the members making their way to the main banqueting hall for the festive board. All proceedings throughout the evening were under the exemplary control of Sam Robinson.

The 2010 Group forum for new masters to air their views