Conventional wisdom suggests that a compass should always point due north, which is magnetic north, the vagaries of compass directions notwithstanding, in this instance the compass was headed south.
The reason for this oxymoron, Compass Lodge No 7052, previously a member of the Gladstone Group, was transferring from the Province of West Lancashire to the Province of Shropshire. This came about after the lodge secretary, Bill Culshaw, along with other members of the lodge, successfully petitioned the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Kent, for the lodge to be relocated from West Lancashire to Shropshire. The petition was approved and signed by the Grand Master in March 2024. However, in preparation for this change, Compass Lodge has been meeting in the Masonic Hall, Roft Street, Oswestry during the last three years.
The transfer of a lodge between Provinces is an extremely rare event, one that has not occurred for some time, even perhaps within living memory, and a large contingent of brethren and visitors descended upon Oswestry Masonic Hall for this unique occasion. The lodge was honoured to welcome, two Provincial Grand Masters, Mark Matthews, Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire and Roger Pemberton, Provincial Grand Master of Shropshire.
An impressive gathering of grand and Provincial grand officers from both Provinces were in attendance. From the Province of Shropshire, Assistant Provincial Grand Master Stephen Rogers was accompanied by Provincial Junior Grand Warden Steve Casbolt, Provincial Grand Treasurer Jim Tucker, Provincial Grand Registrar Richard Lloyd, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies Phil Addicot, Provincial Grand Sword Bearer Kevin Fowler, Provincial Grand Superintendent of Works Steve West-Wynn, Provincial Grand Charity Steward Andy Clarke, Provincial Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies Dean Rickerby, Provincial Grand Standard Bearer Scott Smith, accompanied by Provincial Grand Stewards, Chris Jones, Jim King and Mike Swanson.
For the province of West Lancashire, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master Frank Umbers, Assistant Provincial Grand Master Andrew Whittle, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals Ian Sanderson, Provincial Grand Secretary Peter Taylor, Gladstone Group Chairman Paul Storrar and Provincial Grand Steward Mike Fox. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire, His Honour Simon Medland KC was present together with many grand and Provincial grand officers and brethren.
The lodge was opened by the master Jim Hawkins, assisted by his senior and junior wardens, Keith Arscott and John Sage, respectively. Jim extending a warm welcome to everyone attending the meeting. The Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies for the Province of Shropshire, Phil Addicot, then called the salutations to Provincial Grand Masters and Roger Pemberton responded graciously on behalf of Mark Matthews and himself.
The first item of business was for Jim to present, in a metaphorical sense, the warrant of the lodge to the Provincial Grand Master of West Lancashire, Mark Matthews. Mark received the warrant and after thanking Jim for the presentation returned the warrant. Jim, then offered the gavel of the lodge to the Provincial Grand Master of Shropshire, Roger Pemberton, who accepted the honour and occupied the chair of King Solomon.
Jim then offered the warrant of the lodge to Roger, which he received and at the same time expressed his delight at being able to welcome Compass Lodge and all its members, into the Province of Shropshire. This metaphorical handover or transfer of the warrant to the Provincial Grand Master of Shropshire was the moment of confirmation of formal transfer of the lodge between the provinces. There was loud acclamation by all.
Roger continued to occupy the chair and announced, after being asked by the lodge secretary Bill Culshaw, would he be pleased to appoint those members of Compass Lodge, who held Provincial rank in other Provinces, with their equivalent rank within the Province of Shropshire, to which Roger affirmed. Calling Jim Hawkins, Mike Hilton, John Sage and David Culshaw by name, they stood and gave a court bow to confirm their new appointments.
Roger then announced, he had some very interesting and pleasing news to share with all present. A paper which had been prepared by Mike Radcliffe and Bill Culshaw explaining a method by which members of Compass Lodge could hold joint meetings of the Craft and Royal Arch, had been presented to the Chairman of the Board of General Purposes in February. The paper had been received favourably by the Board and approval had in fact been given in June by the Pro Grand Master Jonathan Spence, for Compass Lodge to run a pilot to achieve this objective.
Perhaps a ‘pilot’ always needs a ‘compass’ and of course a ‘steering committee’ will be appointed to make sure the ‘pilot’ arrives safely at its destination. Roger then requested would WM Jim please resume his rightful place and returned the gavel, to Jim who resumed the chair. The next order of business was to pass Adam Davies to the second degree.
Senior and junior deacons, Mike Hilton and Robbie Gray conducted Adam around the lodge superbly, and having been obligated was duly passed to the degree of a fellow craft. The working tools were presented by lodge secretary Bill Culshaw and senior warden Keith Arscott completed this memorable ceremony with an exemplary recital and explanation of the tracing board of the second degree.
At the conclusion of the business of the lodge, Jim called off the lodge and the assembled brethren retired to dinner. The hall dining room is an amazing venue and was made even more pleasurable by the practice of dining by candlelight. After pre-dinner drinks had been served, all were called to take their allotted places.
A fine meal then ensued with accompanying music played by organist Jonathan Greatorex, providing a unique ambience to the proceedings. Compass Lodge has interesting traditions and the dining experience is punctuated with many calls ‘to the pleasure of wine’ between the brethren and guests.
Adorning the wall of the dining room is a framed banner within which are the words of the ‘guest song’ to be sung to the tune of Waltzing Matilda from the Lodge of Saint Oswald No 1124, which is dated 1921. In this instance, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals Ian Sanderson arose and in a very fine voice sang ‘God Bless the Prince of Wales’, at the refrain the brethren joining in hearty response.
The response to the toast to the visitors fell to Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire Simon Medland, who responded to that toast with a witty, humorous and sincere speech with a wish that Compass Lodge goes from strength to strength within the Province of Shropshire and he was sure that all present, shared and supported that wish.
Compass Lodge may have headed south; however, it is a very welcoming lodge and with unique traditions and the prospect of joint Craft and Royal Arch Masonry meetings will continue to cement its reputation as a fine lodge and well worthy of a visit. The brethren of the lodge are always pleased to welcome visitors and are looking forward to an exciting future, we wish them well.
Many thanks to Bill Culshaw and Mike Radcliffe for their assistance with this article.