On Thursday 13th November, Western Area Members of the East Lancashire Level Club were warmly welcomed at Lodge Of St John No.191 for an evening designed to open the doors a little wider on what Freemasonry looks like in practice.

The Lodge hosted a special informative meeting, giving visitors a chance to see parts of the Craft that are rarely witnessed outside of formal ceremonies.

One of the highlights was a full demonstration of the Opening and Closing of a Lodge. This isn’t something often seen, and it offered brethren – Light Blues in particular – a valuable look at the structure, precision, and rhythm of Lodge workings.

The evening continued with two short presentations:

“The Organist in Freemasonry”, delivered by Lodge organist WBro John Oversby, explored the role music plays in shaping the atmosphere and flow of our meetings. WBro Oversby shared how thoughtful musical choices can elevate both ritual and reflection.

This was followed by “The Aprons We Wear”, an accessible and good-humoured talk by WBro Jeremy Aston, guiding the audience through the traditions, symbolism, and evolution of Masonic aprons. It struck the right balance between education and light-hearted storytelling, making it ideal for brethren at all stages of their journey.

The visit offered Light Blues a relaxed but meaningful opportunity to experience the character of Lodge Of St John, connect with other Western Area brethren, and deepen their understanding of the Craft.