On a very warm late summer evening, the brethren and visitors to Croxteth United Services Lodge No 786, were summoned to the Artist Club, Eberle Street, Liverpool. The last of the summer rays dappling on the diamond shaped black and grey granite mosaic which leads to the blue door of the Artists Club, paving the way to an emergency meeting of the lodge.
The business of the lodge for the evening was to raise brother Tom Dinsdale to the third degree. The brethren and visitors were well met, and having had a quick catch up in the foyer and bar, it was time for the meeting to begin. WM Peter Wall welcomed everyone to the lodge and thanked Mick Clarke of Abercromby Lodge No 3699 for standing in as inner guard on this occasion.
Peter Wall opened the lodge in the first degree and then to the second degree and the administrative business of the lodge was completed. Peter then requested Andy Clarke, a member of Stanley of Bickerstaffe Lodge No 3511, to please assist him and occupy the chair of King Solomon for the next part of the ceremony.
Andy was superb in conducting the ceremony of raising brother Tom to the third degree, assisted by his junior warden Bill Culshaw and senior warden Roy Carey. Tom is the son of Howie Dinsdale, who was watching proudly as Tom was conducted around the lodge.
t the culmination of the splendid ceremony, Joe Williams delivered the working tools of a master Mason to Tom. Andy then requested the WM Peter Wall, to resume his rightful place and Peter formally welcomed Tom as a master Mason of Croxteth United Services Lodge.
Earlier on in the evening several non-Masons had been met in the bar with a view to attend a white table event within the very impressive surroundings of the Halliday Room, which houses the club’s current and past president’s portraits as well as their permanent arts collection. There the members and visitors could welcome their guests to the white table event and educate and inform them about Freemasonry and answer any questions they may have.
Over a delightful meal, conversations were punctuated by laughter and congratulations for Tom in recognition of his hard work and progress in becoming a master Mason. The guests were very interested in the Artists Club, Freemasonry in general and in the ceremony which had just taken place, with all on hand to answer questions and to extend the warm hand of friendship.
The brethren of Croxteth United Services Lodge hope that the white table event may hopefully field some new candidates for the lodge.
