Keeping the torch burning brightly for 100 years

The members of Stanley of Bickerstaffe Lodge No 3511 celebrated 100 years of Freemasonry at the Ormskirk Masonic Hall with an impressive ceremony.

The lodge was honoured and privileged to have in attendance the Provincial Grand Master Peter Hosker who was accompanied by distinguished Grand and Provincial Grand Officers.

Having accepted the gavel from the WM Malcolm Sandywell, Peter said he was delighted to be present with his Provincial team at this centenary celebration meeting. He went on to say that the lodge was consecrated in January 1912 in the presence of the then Provincial Grand Master the Honourable Sir Arthur Stanley, who was the younger brother of the Earl of Derby, both of them founders of the lodge. The Earl of Derby was the principal consecration officer, Bro Stanley became the first Master of the lodge.

100 years later Peter said he was privileged in his capacity as the Provincial Grand Master for West Lancashire to be attending the lodge to lead the centenary celebration. He pointed out that there was a happy coincidence here that his mother lodge, Stanley of Preston No 2600, was privileged to have the Earl of Derby as a founder of the lodge and also it’s first Master.

Peter said in Freemasonry we all hand on the torch one to another, one Provincial Grand Master to the next Provincial Grand Master and from one generation of lodge members to the next generation of lodge members. Stanley of Bickerstaffe  has kept that torch burning brightly for 100 years and all the members of the lodge over the years should be justly proud of what they have achieved and he hoped that the founders of the lodge were looking down from the grand lodge above with pride and with pleasure.

Pictured from left to right, are: Ray Tompsett (ADC), Keith Kemp (PrGDC), Ian Sanderson (PrJGW), Peter Hosker (PGM), Malcolm Sandywell (WM), Howard Jones (DepPGM), Paul Renton (PrSGW) and Frank Umbers (Ormskirk and District Group Chairman).

The Provincial Grand Secretary Geoffrey Lee then read the Centenary Warrant. Peter then presented the Warrant to Malcolm saying that this was a very important time, date and year in the life of the lodge and has to be justly treasured because it has certainly been well earned. 

The Provincial Grand Chaplin Rev Graham Halsall then delivered an oration celebrating the past and looking to what lies ahead in this new century of the lodge’s life. Graham then led the brethren in a Prayer of re-dedication.

There then followed a short history of the lodge presented by John Price, in it he  stated that at a regular meeting of the Lodge of Harmony No 580 in February 1911 the Rev John Hulley, reported that there was an effort being made to form a Masonic lodge in Skelmersdale and requested that the WM and wardens should render the necessary assistance in signing the required petition to the United Grand Lodge of England. This led to the formation of the Stanley of Bickerstaffe Lodge No 3511 receiving its Warrant in January 1912.

At the end of his presentation John was pleased to announce that Fred Lomax (secretary of the Wigan Association for Masonic Research) had presented to the lodge the Rev John Hulley’s original founders jewel, which the lodge has now had restored. He then presented this to Malcolm to wear with pride through his year in office and pass it on to his successor.

At the conclusion of the ceremony Malcolm presented two cheques to Peter. The first cheque for £2,012 to the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity (reflecting the centenary year) and the second for £1,499 to the Ormskirk Masonic Hall Building Fund, which Peter accepted with great pleasure on behalf of the worthy recipients. The total donation of £3,511 being a highly appropriate figure significant given the number of the lodge.

At the closing of the lodge after a most moving and sincere ceremony, 91 brethren retired to the festive board to continue the centenary celebrations.

Members of Stanley of Bickerstaffe Lodge No 3511.