Lodge of Perseverance No 155 meets at The Adelphi Hotel, Ranelagh Street, Liverpool and is unusual in that every member and visitor wears no regalia, adorned only by a simple entered apprentice’s apron, and only those who are lodge officers wear a collar.
With no procession, all took their allotted seats and waited for ‘The Master’, Christopher Hamilton, who having welcomed all to the lodge on a warm and sunny June afternoon, proceeded to open the lodge in fine form, assisted by his senior warden, Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews and junior warden Mark Holloway. Christopher then requested the director of ceremonies, Bryan Henshaw, to assist him and proffer the gavel of the lodge to the Provincial Grand Master. Mark commented that on this occasion, he was content to watch proceedings for the time being!
Once confirmed that the minutes had been circulated, a ballot was held for a joining member, which proving unanimous, Robin Paul Andrews-Morris was admitted and welcomed to the lodge as a member and brother. The lodge was then opened in the second degree. Christopher, signalled for a change in personnel, Mike Collins occupied the senior warden’s chair, accompanied by Ken Bradshaw who occupied the junior warden’s chair, and finally, Alan Lamont who occupied the position of inner guard.
John Moore then rose, collected Mark Matthews and presented him in fine and commanding voice as master elect of Lodge of Perseverance to receive the benefit of installation. Mark recited his obligation perfectly and was seated in the southwest corner of the lodge.
The lodge was opened in the third degree and Christopher declared a board of installed masters. Master elect Mark, having re-affirmed his obligation as master, Christopher proceeded to install Mark into the chair of King Solomon in time honoured fashion. Christopher, attended to the necessary salutations and in turn Mark invested Christopher as immediate past master of the lodge, furnishing him with the jewel of a past master.
A board of installed masters having been closed, director of ceremonies Bryan Henshaw requested that master Masons be admitted and presented the working tools of a master Mason. Master Mark then closed the lodge in the third degree and opened in the second. Again, Bryan requested that fellow crafts be admitted and in a similar fashion, delivered the working tools of a fellow craft Freemason.
After the necessary salutations had been attended to again, Mark, closed the lodge in the second degree and opened in the first. Bryan rose to request that entered apprentices be admitted and proceeded to deliver the working tools of an entered apprentice Freemason. Christopher Hamilton presented the book of constitutions, by-laws and warrant of the lodge, followed by an impressive Hall Stone Jewel address by David Hilliard at the culmination of which the jewel was presented to Mark.
The address to the master was delivered in perfect form by Ken Bradley and was followed by a series of impressive addresses as the brethren of the lodge were invested in their respective offices. Mark Barton gave the address to the wardens, Mark Holloway and Ken Bradley, senior and junior warden respectively. Phil Gunning gave the address to the brethren of the lodge in a sincere and meaningful way.
Following the completion of the ceremony of installation, Phil arose again, and in a humorous comment, stated that normally at this moment he would bring the congratulations of the Provincial Grand Master to a newly installed master, but on this occasion, he was content that Mark could bring his own congratulations to himself!
Lodge of Perseverance has some history with respect to masters of the lodge, going on to be invested as Provincial Grand Master. John Hearn Burrell was a timber broker and a member of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board was installed as master of the lodge in 1920. Sadly, this comes just five years after the death of his oldest son John S Burrell, who was killed in action in the First World War at Sulva Bay, Dardanelles in 1915.
In 1922, two years after becoming master of the lodge, investiture as Provincial Grand Master in 1922, followed with a tenure until 1929. This was followed by then Deputy Provincial Grand Master Llewellyn C Bailey, who was installed as master of the lodge in 1928 and then invested as Provincial Grand Master in 1929 with his tenure until 1933. However, it is the first time in the lodge history, that a current Provincial Grand Master has been installed as master of the lodge.
The lodge was duly closed and all retired to the Crosby Suite at the Adelphi Hotel to enjoy a fine meal and good company at the festive board. The lodge honours just three toasts at the festive board, to the King, Grand Master, and of course to the Provincial Grand Master. The toast to the Provincial Grand Master, was met with much applause and congratulations to ‘The Master’.