A History 1892 -2012

WINESLAI LODGE No2435

Barrie J Mellars

Prov Grand Sword Bearer

In the Registry of the

Grand Lodge of England

A Hallstone Lodge

~ 1 ~

Whilst writing this history, I was struck by the sheer depth of detail recorded

in Lodge Minutes by succeeding generations of Lodge Secretaries. Not one

single meeting has gone unrecorded and those records depict the events

without fear or favour.

It has proved a more mammoth task than I at first envisaged not the least to

decipher the copperplate writing of the past.

However, I hope I have been able to describe most of the relevant periods of

the Lodge and it’s many and varied members.

Whilst I am very grateful to those who have assisted me in this undertaking, I

must stress that any mistakes are mine and mine alone.

I hope you have as fun reading this as I did in researching and writing it.

Barrie Mellars – Secretary Wineslai Lodge No2435, 2007-2012

Acknowledgments

W Bro Ian Nicholson and Bro Kevin Tongs for their help and patience in

providing advice and for checking and proofing this history

The Staff of the Library of United Grand Lodge Great Queen Street

W Bro Derek Watts Provincial Grand Secretary for his patience in answering

all my inane questions

W Bro Roger Perry for his advice on production of Lodge Histories

W Bro Roy Serle for his help and advice

The Brethren of Wineslai Lodge for their invaluable knowledge

And lastly

To my wife Gill for her support and patience whilst looking for endless hours

at my back bent over a keyboard.

~ 2 ~

Wineslai Lodge No2435 History

“Ask counsel of the Ancients, what is best; but of the Moderns,

what is fittest”

Thomas Fuller 1731

“There is this wonderful shibboleth that Freemasonry never

changes. As somebody who for 28 years made a daily

advancement in the Grand Lodge library, researching for myself,

helping others with their researches, I know the greatest myth in

Freemasonry is this one: that nothing has ever changed.”

John Hamill - Librarian of the United Grand Lodge of England

The Beginnings

The Lodge was founded on a cold and windy Monday in October 1892, the

3rd to be precise. It had been a particularly wet summer with severe

flooding in parts of the country. In East Yorkshire the eminent Victorian

meteorologist and rainfall expert, G.J. Symons reported that at least 100

inches of rain fell on the hillsides in just a half hour period, a prodigious

figure indeed.

It is worth noting that the Lodge was founded only 27 months after the

Grand Master HRH the Prince of Wales had ordered the division of

~ 3 ~

V Rev Dean J Studholme Brownrigg

DepPGM

Buckinghamshire and Berkshire and in the same year that the town of

Winslow Arizona USA was founded.

That year also saw the founding of Liverpool FC and Notts Forest FC,

Gladstone becoming Prime Minister, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle publishing

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and Grover Cleveland elected the 24th

President of the USA.

1892 also saw the births of J R R Tolkien, author of Lord of the Rings, Hal

Roach the film maker, Eddie Cantor, Mary Pickford, Manfred Von

Richthoven and Charles Atlas.

These together with the deaths of The Duke of Clarence, Walt Whitman,

Louis Vuitton and Alfred Lord Tennyson marked some of the memorable

events of the year.

Sponsored by Grenville

Lodge No1787, Wineslai

Lodge was consecrated at the

Bell Hotel on the 26th of October 1892 by

VW Bro Rev J S Brownrigg, PGdChap and

Deputy Provincial Grand Master. Why

the PGM Rt Hon Lord Carrington did not

consecrate the Lodge was unclear but

during his short term of office (1890-95)

Rev Brownrigg consecrated all six new

Lodges formed.

~ 4 ~

However, there were also present the Prov Senior and Junior Grand

Wardens as well as the Prov DC and the Prov Gd Chaplain so no shortage

of brass for the occasion.

There were 14 Founders including Bro Lord Addington who was the 1st

Senior Warden and Bro G D E Wigley the founding Treasurer who

remained in office until his death 14 years later in 1906. There were 18

visitors present, a tiny number compared to that which would be expected

at a present day Consecration!

The Primus Master was W Bro William Weston PPAGDC who was an

energetic and active member of the Lodge until his death some 35 years

later on the 12th of August 1927. At that founding meeting there was

proposed the first Initiate, Mr Thomas Frederick Vaisey, a surgeon of

Winslow and 4 joining members including Bro the Hon Evelyn Hubbard,

Lord Addingtons younger brother and an MP for the City of London who

became Master in 1896.

William Warne

seen here in 1890

with the pupils of

Winslow

Classical and

Commercial

School (courtesy

of Terry Foley

and Julian Hunt)

~ 5 ~

Also of note are the thanks of the Lodge to the brethren of Grenville Lodge

(the Sponsoring Lodge) who having bought a new carpet, graciously

donated their old one to Wineslai.

The Lodge badge was formed using the crown of King Offa who is said to

have had a camp at Winslow and a gridiron representing the burning of St

Lawrence.

Founders

William

Weston

1892

Lord

Addington

1893

John

King

1894

Herbert

Bullock

1895

John

Hedges

1897 C

Colgrove

1898/1902

Rev W

Myers

1899

C A

Bennett

1900

John

Marshall

G D E

Wigley

W J Neal William

Warne

Edwin

Kibble

Henry

Dancer

Red= Became Masters of the Lodge Blue= Did not go through the Chair

Records show that everyone present dined at the Bell following the meeting

‚when a very pleasant and truly Masonic evening was spent” and although we

have no record of the menu, the Alms raised £3.13s.6d (collected at the Festive

Board).

The first regular meeting took place on Thursday the 26th of October at the Bell

Hotel, some 23 days post consecration.

~ 6 ~

The Lodge continued to meet at the Bell Hotel until 1920.

Interestingly, the proprietor of the Bell Hotel was also one of the founders,

Bro W S Neal who was paid 3 guineas a year for the rent of the Lodge and

ante-rooms and such sum was to include heat and light. In the Minutes is a

Dispensation dated 1902 that allowed Bro Neal to take the office of Inner

Guard under Rule 193. There are dispensations for each office he held as

there are for another publican Mr Tredgold Bratton of the Bull Inn,

Hardwicke. Rule 193 is no longer extant. Rule 193 was a precursor to the

current Rule 170 whereby a Tyler may be paid. This is not a commonly

known category of membership called Serving Brethren; it is a survivor of

bygone days and is now virtually non-existent.

Serving Brethren

In the eighteenth century when much of a Lodge's work was carried on at

a table, with the Lodge being called on and off as the occasion demanded,

it was necessary to ensure that, besides the meeting, the meal was fully

The Bell circa 1908 and the modern Bell

~ 7 ~

tyled throughout. This meant that it was desirable that, besides the Tyler,

the waiters should also be Masons so that they could discreetly carry out

their duties without any interruption to the Lodge. In 1753 Grand Lodge

adopted a regulation for their initiation. It empowered every Lodge to

initiate without charge a brother to serve at table. These Serving Brethren

as they were called were not full members of the Lodge, could not advance

beyond the First Degree and did not attend the main meeting. In the

military private soldiers were often initiated as Serving Brethren.

The initiation fee in those days was usually a guinea or more, as were

subscription fees, and was far beyond the means of those employed as

Tylers and waiters in the inns and taverns where Lodges met, and so it

became the practice to make them Serving Brethren without the need of

paying a fee, serving not only the Lodge which initiated them but others

meeting at the same premises.

In 1787 HRH, George, Prince of Wales, later to become George IV and

Grand Master of the Moderns from 1790 to 1813, instituted the formation

of The Prince of Wales Lodge (now) No. 259 to meet at The Thatched

House Tavern, St James’s Street, London. The history of this Lodge records

" His Royal Highness, having no doubt a strong belief and reliance on the

efficacy of the mystic tie, desired to be surrounded and served by members

of the Craft; this may be inferred from the fact that amongst the earliest

initiated in this Lodge were twenty of HRH's footmen and household

~ 8 ~

servants. They were not admitted as members, but were initiated by order

of HRH as serving Brethren without payment of fees."

These Serving Brethren in Craft Masonry should not, however, be

confused with those of the same title in Knights Templar. These comprised

two classes: Servants at Arms and Artificers.

The former were highly esteemed members of the order although not

Knights and held important posts and were permitted to vote. The latter

were deemed an inferior class.

Serving Brethren were common in England and Europe but were never

introduced in the New World. In France they were called Frères Servants

and in Germany Dienenden Brüder

All of which explains why the landlord of the Bull needed the dispensation

which is in the Minutes. There was also a Dispensation citing Rule 138

which stated that no manager or proprietor of a tavern or hotel where the

Lodge meets shall hold an office in that Lodge without prior Dispensation.

The first Tyler of Wineslai Lodge, J Ray, was paid an annual sum of 2

Guineas.

The First Meetings

For the first meeting on the 26th of October 1892, DC W Bro Bennet took the

Chair as the Master had suffered a family bereavement. There was no

ceremony as such at that first meeting but a number of joining members

were proposed and an initiate, Thomas Vaisey who was balloted and was

~ 9 ~

subsequently Initiated, Passed and Raised at successive meetings, a pattern

that was to be repeated many times.

It is interesting to note that to book in for the meeting and meal, one had to

send a postcard to the Secretary.

At the second regular meeting in November the Rev Myers donated a Bible

and the thanks were recorded of the donation of the three pedestals by the

Junior Deacon Bro John King. The Lodge Founding Secretary William

Warne, was directed to insure the Lodge Furniture against fire for the sum

of £100, a considerable sum in those days roughly equivalent to about

£11000 in today’s values.

The rent for the Lodge is shown as three guineas per annum and the Tyler

was paid two guineas per annum. There does not appear to be a record of

the amount payable for members dues. What is recorded is that in 1897 the

Lodge funds were £13 2s 4d in the red and all the founders were requested

to pay the next years subscriptions immediately (amount unspecified).

For the first few years, there was, however, little growth in the Lodge and

there were often no visitors present at meetings. Indeed it was two years

after the first candidate that the second, Frederick Richard Kitts, was

initiated.

~ 10 ~

The second Master was Egerton Hubbard, the

2nd Baron Addington (always referred to in the

Minutes as The Lord Addington).

Colonel Egerton Hubbard, 2nd Baron

Addington VD (29 December 1842 – 14 June

1915) was a British Peer. He was Member of

Parliament for Buckinghamshire for

Buckinghamshire from 1874 to 1880 and from

1886 to 1889.

The son of John Gellibrand Hubbard, 1st

Baron Addington, he succeeded the Baronetcy on the death of his father.

He held the office of High Steward of Buckingham.

He graduated from Christ Church, Oxford, with a First B.A. in 1865, and

with an M.A. in 1866. In 1863 (date unconfirmed), he was commissioned

into the 3rd Buckinghamshire Rifle Volunteer Corps (after 1875

amalgamated into the 1st Buckinghamshire Rifle Volunteers).

He was promoted Lieutenant in 1871, Captain in 1887, Major and

Lieutenant-Colonel in 1890, and Colonel in 1895.

Masonically, pressure of commitments prevented him from attending all

but one meeting and he was not able to install his successor. However, in

1895 he became Provincial Grand Master which was obviously a source of

great pride to Lodge who sent him a congratulatory letter. He was an

infrequent visitor to the Lodge but did present the Charge after Initiation

in February 1897. He also attended the meeting in January 1904 at which

Egerton Hubbard,

2nd

Baron Addington

~ 11 ~

there were an Initiation followed by a raising followed by two further

Initiations!! The only concession appeared to be that the Charge was

presented to all three together.

The following month the three Initiates were Passed and then in the March

all three were raised together.

What a three months they must have been for the Lodge.

The ceremonies were clearly much shorter in those days and records

shows that the Installation meeting of 1894 commenced at 4.45pm and

finished at 5.30pm. At that time Province did not send a representative to

Installation meetings and the Charge to the Master was given by a past

Master.

1896 saw a financial crisis when it was discovered that there was a

discrepancy of 12/- between the charity collection and what was recorded

in the bank book. For whatever reason, the Treasurer made good the

amount from his own pocket. It should be realised that 12/- in 1896 is

equivalent to around £200 in terms of today’s wages.

Also in February 1896 one meeting was cancelled as only 4 members could

attend yet Minutes were kept even for this non-meeting.

~ 12 ~

In March 1906 we see the Lodge conducting an Initiation, a Passing and a

Raising all on the same evening. With no record of the Lodge being called

off in any of these meeting, one is left to wonder at the constitution of our

illustrious forefathers.

Meeting dates were fairly fluid in those days and although the Installation

meeting was due in October, dispensations were often sought to rearrange

the dates to suit members.

For instance, in 1900 it was moved to the fifth Wednesday to suit the WM

W Bro C A Bennett who was also the Mayor of Buckingham and had an

important municipal engagement for the original date.

It is also notable that at this time Grand Lodge Quarterly Communications

were a high priority and extracts were often recorded in the Minutes.

Indeed in 1898, several pages were devoted to a decision of Grand Lodge

to withdraw recognition from the Grand Lodge of Peru who had decided

to replace the VSL with their Book of Constitutions. Peru ‚recanted‛(sic) in

1899 and was readmitted into the fold.

The early 1900s saw the lodge become far busier and as we have seen,

multiple ceremonies became common even on Installation nights. It is

worth noting that it seems to have been a Lodge custom for the ballot for

the Initiate to take place on the same night as his Initiation.

~ 13 ~

January 1901 saw a very poignant meeting with the death of the old

Queen, Victoria, who had died on the previous evening. Most members at

that time would have only known the one Monarch and this marked the

end of the Victorian Age which saw more changes in the UK than probably

any other period in history up until that time. The British Empire was at its

height, British Sovereignty ruled the globe and Freemasonry was evident

throughout.

In October 1901 the Minutes show a somewhat pithy entry:

“The DC called attention to the custom amongst some of the officers of the Lodge

of writing at the last moment to be excused attendance at the Lodge. He thought it

should be a rule, even if an unwritten one that every officer of the Lodge, if unable

to attend, should see that some other Brother capable and willing to do his work

should be present in his place‛. Some things never change!

1907 saw the Lodge agreeing to send a representative to the Provincial

Grand Master to discuss forming a Masters Lodge in the Province even

though the current Secretary W Bro Bullock was of the opinion that that it

would not prove a success. For whatever divine reason, he died before the

next meeting and the Bucks Masters Lodge was consecrated in 1908.

In the pre-first war years, the Lodge continued to meet at the Bell Hotel

and subscriptions remained at 1 guinea (£1.10p). There was a steady

stream of candidates and a number of joining members but unfortunately

~ 14 ~

the Lodge Minutes of this period are very disjointed and untidy making

for very difficult reading.

In 1907 Masonic Emblems (sic) for the Third Degree were obtained and

silver doves added to the Deacons Wands.

However, on November the 12th 1910, an intriguing typewritten note

addressed to Dr Vaisey of Winslow, the Secretary of the Lodge, is in the

Minute book and reads:

Dear Brother Vasey (sic),

The resolution which I want you to put on the Minutes in reference to the P.G.T.

should read as follows:

“That it is the opinion of this Lodge the time has now arrived that the P.G.T. for

the ensuing year should be appointed from the Northern part of the Province & in

future after this appointment the rotation of that office should be in the following

order – 1st South, 2nd Mid, 3rd South, 4th North

Yours fraternally

Frank Higgins

One can only presume that P.G.T. is Provincial Grand Treasurer but it

seems slightly odd given that Frank Higgins was at that time Junior

Deacon of the Lodge. There appears to be no reference to this note in the

handwritten Minutes of the meeting but it shows that even in 1910 there

were concerns about North vs South Provincial appointments!

~ 15 ~

As stated previously, it was the Lodge custom was to ballot for candidates

on the night of initiation but in September 1908 it was agreed that they

should be balloted the month previously begging the question what had

caused the problem, answer unrecorded.

In 1911 the Summonses began to be printed and the cost of the postage was

one penny.

By 1913 the Lodge was becoming larger and it felt necessary to form an

Advisory Committee which usually met after Lodge meetings.

Then on the 4th of August 1914, the world changed forever.

The World at War – The Great War

There has been much written about WW1 and it’s causes but this I think

probably sums it up best of all:

Germany, Austria and Italy are standing together in the middle of a pub when

Serbia bumps into Austria and spills Austria’s pint.

Austria demands Serbia buy it a complete new suit because there are splashes on

its trouser leg.

Germany expresses its support for Austria’s point of view.

Britain recommends that everyone calm down a bit.

~ 16 ~

Serbia points out that it can’t afford a whole suit, but offers to pay for the cleaning

of Austria’s trousers.

Russia and Serbia look at Austria.

Austria asks Serbia who it’s looking at.

Russia suggests that Austria should leave its little brother alone.

Austria inquires as to whose army will assist Russia in compelling it to do so.

Germany appeals to Britain that France has been looking at it, and that this is

sufficiently out of order that Britain should not intervene.

Britain replies that France can look at who it wants to, that Britain is looking at

Germany too, and what is Germany going to do about it?

Germany tells Russia to stop looking at Austria, or Germany will render Russia

incapable of such action.

Britain and France ask Germany whether it’s looking at Belgium.

Turkey and Germany go off into a corner and whisper. When they come back,

Turkey makes a show of not looking at anyone.

Germany rolls up its sleeves, looks at France, and punches Belgium.

France and Britain punch Germany. Austria punches Russia. Germany punches

Britain and France with one hand and Russia with the other.

Russia throws a punch at Germany, but misses and nearly falls over. Japan calls

over from the other side of the room that it’s on Britain’s side, but stays there. Italy

surprises everyone by punching Austria.

~ 17 ~

Australia punches Turkey, and gets punched back. There are no hard feelings

because Britain made Australia do it.

France gets thrown through a plate glass window, but gets back up and carries on

fighting. Russia gets thrown through another one, gets knocked out, suffers brain

damage, and wakes up with a complete personality change.

Italy throws a punch at Austria and misses, but Austria falls over anyway. Italy

raises both fists in the air and runs round the room chanting.

America waits till Germany is about to fall over from sustained punching from

Britain and France, then walks over and smashes it with a barstool, then pretends

it won the fight all by itself.

By now all the chairs are broken and the big mirror over the bar is shattered.

Britain, France and America agree that Germany threw the first punch, so the

whole thing is Germany’s fault. While Germany is still unconscious, they go

through its pockets, steal its wallet, and buy drinks for all their friends.

This may seem trite and trivialising a very serious affair but it does sum up

well the ludicrous politics of the time.

In Britain at first life pretty much went on as before with plenty of

jingoistic statements being made in the press and parliament. No one

really believed it would escalate and become the bloodbath it finally

became.

Britain was a country where most of it’s citizens had never ventured

beyond their own towns and villages let alone gone abroad and in whom

the class system was deeply engrained.

~ 18 ~

Accordingly, the import of the event does not seem to have impinged on

Wineslai Lodge as the Minutes of 20th September 1914 contains no

reference to the outbreak of war at all. Amazing!

By the next meeting in October still no mention of the war but an entry

appears signalling that members in the Army should pay no subscriptions

but the rate for the rest would be raised to £2 a year.

The Lodge continued to meet regularly during the war years but the Lodge

of Instruction was suspended pro tem.

There were few ceremonies conducted with no new candidates but in

February 1916 W Bro Webster gave a lecture on Masonic Funerals

presumably as at this time these were a not infrequent occurrence. At such

a funeral members would attend with a sprig of Acacia which was left in

the grave and the hymn O Rest in the Lord was sung in the Lodge after the

death of a Brother. In September 1916 it was recorded that a letter of

condolence was to be sent to W Bro Vaisey on the death of his son in battle.

In October 1916, W Bro Vaisey resigned as Secretary due to advancing

years and it was noted in the Minutes that he had been the first candidate

to be initiated into the Lodge in 1892.

Further references to the war are infrequent in the Minutes but in

September 1917 it was noted that Bro S P Wigley had lost his brother Lt

Herbert Wigley in France, that Bro J W Whitehorne who was serving in

~ 19 ~

Salonika had lost his mother and his brother who had been seriously

wounded was captured and was a prisoner of war in Germany. Bro

William Whitehorne was himself killed on the 18th of September 1918, less

than two months before the Armistice. He served on the often ignored

Salonika front and was killed in the Second Battle of Doiran. Records give

the following description:

'The brigade's third battalion, 7/SWB (South Wales Borderers), was given the

most ambitious task, namely an assault on Bulgarian positions on the Grande

Couronne. In this they would be assisted by the 3rd Greek Regiment attached to

22nd Division, who were to clear enemy defences up to a strongpoint known as the

Feather. Initially all went well, the Greeks taking Sugar Loaf and then pushing on

to secure both The Tongue and The Maze. Although few Greek infantry remained

to tackle either The Feather or The Warren, the 7/South Wales Borderers were able

to secure the former position as their approach was hidden by a dense cloud of dust

and smoke. The battalion then moved on to assault Grand Couronne, making it as

far as part of the lower slopes known as The Rockies. The battalions on the flanks

were unable to advance, and the Battalion was forced to retire after suffering very

heavy losses from machine guns on three sides. The remnants of the battalion (55

OR's (Other Ranks)) were collected together by 2/Lt Stephenson (slightly

wounded) and occupied. Due to enemy fire the 7/SWB were unable to retrieve

their wounded from the field. These included the battalions CO Lt Col Daniel

Burgess who was awarded the VC for his part in the attack. In all a heroic attack

with no lasting gains as the Bulgarians retook The Tongue and The Sugar Loaf

~ 20 ~

during the afternoon of 18th September. W J WHITEHORN was one of those

killed in this attack.” Source: Great Masonic War Project

He was 36 years old at the time of his death.

In addition mention is made that Bro Leslie Hawley who was on active

service in France had lost his infant son.

In November 1917 it was recorded that W Bro W S Neal one of the

Founders had died and was buried in Winslow.

The same minute also records that royalty had applied for membership in

the person of Sao On Kya, the Crown Prince of Burma who was at the time

living in Swanbourne. The Prince was subsequently initiated at the

following meeting in January 1918.

It is interesting to speculate just why the Lodge minutes seem to contain

little reference to such a world-changing event as the Great War as it came

to be known. It is almost as if the Lodge felt that by carrying on as before it

was not going to let the outside world change the English way of life, a

praiseworthy but ultimately futile gesture.

Post War Years

The years from 1918 to 1930 saw dramatic changes in the lives of the

British people and Winslow was certainly not exempt.

~ 21 ~

Past Masters Jewel

W Bro W Wise 1919

presented to Great

Queen Street by his son

son W G Wise 13/3/33

The Great War swept away many social barriers and opened opportunities

not dreamed of in pre-war society.

War and major disasters have always speeded up change dramatically

and created acceptance of cultural changes once unthinkable. During the

Great War of 1914-18, fashion came to a standstill. It was a time of

uniforms and drab functional clothes even though Paris fashion

continued.

By the 1920s many young people had been made old by

the horrors of war. Young men of 18 had seen the reality

of trench warfare. Women who had acted as nurses had

seen horrific injuries and shocking mental suffering. Ironically out of the

war came medical progress in the field of cosmetic and plastic surgery. It

made for a general feeling that life was short and should be enjoyed. The

war also began the breakdown of longstanding class barriers. The break

was subtle, but the erosion had begun.

Winslow was, as with most rural communities slow to react to the

changes in the outside world but for Wineslai Lodge it was a busy time.

~ 22 ~

The immediate effect, however, was to deal with an influx of Candidates

necessitating numerous multiple ceremonies:

1918 November double 1st Second

1919 January double 2nd

February 2nd double 3rd

March double 2nd

April double 2nd double 3rd

May double 2nd double 3rd

September double 3rd

October Installation Double 1st

As hostilities ended in November 1918, the Lodge Initiated two members

in a double First - W.E.Billing and H Y Lambourne. Following this

double an Entered Apprentice Bro M Z Griffin was Passed and this

included an explanation of the Second Degree Tracing Board! The

Minutes do not record the duration of this meeting but it must have been

a long one. Also missing from the Minutes of November 1918 was any

reference to the signing of the Armistice ending the war.

However, the following month December saw an Emergency meeting

convened in order to Initiate Mr Ralph Probyn.

Ceremonies then followed thick and fast as can be seen from the table

above.

~ 23 ~

Also members returned from service as can be seen in the handwritten

extra note in September 1919 that reads that Bro Leslie Hawley had

returned from active service and should now be offered immediate office

as if he had not been away.

All of this though pales into insignificance when one considers the

October Installation meeting of 1919.

Not only is the new Master (W Bro W Wise) and Officers installed but then

a double Third Degree was conducted FOLLOWED by the presentation of

a new Lodge banner! As we have already seen in 1918 a member of the

Burmese royal family Crown Prince Sao On Kya had been initiated into the

Lodge and in October 1919 the Banner that he presented to

the Lodge was dedicated. Little seems to be known about

Sao On Kya but we do know he studied agriculture at Wye

in Kent before gaining an MA at Brasenose College Oxford.

Born in 1894 he ruled the Hsipaw state in Shan Burma

(modern day Myanmar) from 1928 to 1938, was married in 1922 and died

in July 1938. The banner he presented in his absence in 1919 still stands

proudly in the Eliot Hall in accordance with the Princes wishes that ‚it

might be handed down, as is the case of the Warrant, pure and unsullied to their

successor until it would hang together no longer, as an emblem of the purity,

honour and integrity in the Lodge”

A memorial stone is incorporated in the East wall of the Eliot Hall temple

commemorating this event (see page 35 for details).

~ 24 ~

As with many Lodges not affiliated to a particular Institution, Wineslai

drew its members from all walks of life and indeed still does. Over the

years we have had stockbrokers, schoolmasters, publicans, millers,

corndealers and farmers in large numbers. In 1908, however, a rather

unique member was initiated, the Winslow Workhouse Master. In recent

years ex-Arsenal professional footballer, Dave Bowen was also a member.

Bro Bowen represented Wales at the 1958 World Cup and managed Wales

for seven years after finishing his career at Northampton Town.

It has also been a custom for the local clergyman to be the Lodge Chaplain,

a practice that has sadly fallen by the wayside.

In consequence of the changes in modern society, members are now drawn

less from agricultural and traditional professional backgrounds and more

from business, high tech and service industries with the usual smattering

of law enforcement.

1919 saw the beginning of a new Festival for the Boys Institution. This

caused some dissention in the Lodge. The Secretary, W Bro Sanderson

proposed that a sum of 30 guineas be given but after earnest discussion a

compromise was reached in the form of a 20 guinea donation, prudence

has always been the watchword of Wineslai Lodge! At the March 1919

meeting, it was also proposed to reinstate the Lodge of Instruction

meetings. There is a cryptic note in the Minutes:

.. calling attention to those Brethren absent from the rehearsal that the proposition

carried unanimously at a meeting held to discuss the reviving of the Instruction

~ 25 ~

Lodge or otherwise rendering themselves liable to fines to be devoted to the

Benevolent Association Funds.

No mention is made if these fines were imposed.

There is also reference at this meeting of a proposed Masonic Celebration

of peace to be held at the Royal Albert Hall on June 27th1919.

In these days when Festivals seem to come round quickly, spare a thought

for the Brethren in November 1919 when the Lodge received requests for

funds from three Festivals at once:

132nd Anniversary Festival

78th Annual Festival for the RMBI for Aged

Freemasons and Widows of Freemasons

122nd Anniversary Festival of the RMBI for Boys

In part no doubt in response to these and other demands on the Lodge

finances, it was agreed to raise the joining fee to 2 guineas. However, a

proposition to raise the Lodge fees to one and half guineas was ‚defeated by

a considerable margin”

However, Buckinghamshire Masons charitable response was

overwhelming contributing £10,000, the biggest donation of any Province.

Wineslai’s contribution was equally substantial averaging £70 per member.

This contrasted with London Lodges who contributed an average of

£14:14:0 per member. Indeed Wineslai’s sum was second only to one other

Lodge in the Province.

~ 26 ~

It was at this meeting too that the Lodge meeting day was changed from a

Monday to a Wednesday to accommodate Winslow Market Day. With so

many men returning from active duty membership applications increased

but it seems that there was concern that these memberships were for

convenience only, the applicants being largely transient, referred to as

‘Birds of Passage’. There was an attempt made to amend the Bylaws to

prevent this but after heated debate, this was defeated.

For some time the Lodge had been aware that the continued use of the Bell

for meetings was not likely to be a long term arrangement and in February

1920, there is the first reference to the possibility of acquiring suitable

premises for the exclusive use of Wineslai Lodge.

Consequently an Emergency Meeting was convened in the April at which

members were invited to ‘ventilate(sic)’ their views freely. Unfortunately it

would appear that although the membership was, in general, in favour of

such a move, it was realised that there were too few details available to

make such a decision and it was decided to adjourn and call a further

meeting in May (some things never change; when in doubt don’t decide,

have another meeting!). However, it was decided was to approach every

member and any other interested party to enquire if they would be in

favour of raising funds through a debenture share issue of £5 shares of

which any number could be bought and the sums repaid by ballot at the

start of every new year.

~ 27 ~

Sure enough the May meeting was held and surprise surprise, they

decided to appoint a committee to look at the project!

But in June a further Emergency meeting did decide to proceed with the

purchase after ascertaining that sufficient funds could be raised by

subscription and that any shortfall would be raised through a mortgage on

the property. There was certainly now momentum for the move as the

records show that it was hoped to start the forthcoming Masonic season in

the new premises. All went ahead and the premises, the Old Infant School

was duly purchased albeit with a last minute hitch as on the completion

day the Lodge was short £183 of the purchase price of £400 but as is their

nature, the Secretary came to rescue and made up the difference.

~ 28 ~

What happened next is somewhat difficult to comprehend. What is certain

is that without ever occupying the new premises, they were resold at the

same cost to the Winslow War Memorial Institute Committee. The reason

has never been made clear but obviously some sort of pressure was

brought to bear which for whatever reason the Lodge was unable to resist,

but it seems likely that said pressure came from the local church.

The position of the school is today commemorated by a plaque set in the

wall in Church Walk.

In the Minutes is a typewritten report of the meeting between the newly

appointed Lodge Trustees and the aforesaid War Memorial committee

requesting that the new premises be resold but no specific reason is given.

A lady by the name of Mrs Greaves offered the use of her ‘Iron Room’ and

also offered to pay for any alterations to make it suitable for Lodge

premises. It seems that this arrangement was adopted and the Lodge

rented the rooms in Churchyard Walk from September 1920 until October

1930 when the Lodge moved to its current premises in Church Street (more

of this later). So the deal was agreed and once more the Lodge still had no

permanent home. The whole episode is mysterious and reading between

the lines smacks of a certain amount of nefarious activity. Quite why the

Lodge, after going to all the effort of raising funds, should without protest

of any sort agree to the resale must raise some disturbing questions which

are unlikely ever to be answered. Whilst all this was going on, between

~ 29 ~

Horn Street Winslow – sometime between the wars

November 1918 to November 1920, 19 candidates were initiated into the

Lodge.

Not every applicant was accepted though and the Minutes of October 1920

show that of four applicants balloted; only two were elected the other two

being refused. No reason is given for their unsuccessful applications.

However, in March 1922 one of these applicants, Mr Harry Brookholding

Dawes, reapplied and on this occasion was successfully elected.

The 1920s and 30s were busy times for the Lodge. In 1921 the Installation

meeting was moved from October to November to prevent a clash with

Wycombe Lodge, the Mother Lodge of the incoming Master, W Bro T J N

Cannon, and in 1922 the Installation meeting was moved to November to

enable the PGM to attend, a practise that continued until 1953.

~ 30 ~

In December 1923 there was a proposal that a Ladies Night be held at

Christmas but to quote the minuted entry ‚the idea of a Lodge Ladies

Night or supper during the Xmas holidays is, for the time being,

inappropriate and the matter lie on the table‛

There is no record nor living memory as to when Ladies Night started but

it was certainly pre-1969. They were held for many years at Wilton Hall

Bletchley and including bands such as the Doug Dytham Band the man

himself famed for his renditions on a long saw with a violin bow!

In 1922 the Lodge became embroiled in the Hall Stone Lodge problem. As

is well documented, Buckinghamshire was one of only three Provinces to

achieve the status of Hall Stone Lodge, the other being Burma and Japan

both of which are now defunct. The Hall Stone Festival was instigated to

enable the English Craft to build a new headquarters to commemorate the

fallen of the Great War. The festival was known as the Masonic Million

Memorial Fund (MMMF). Contributions were voluntary and came in three

classes:

1. Personal - 10 guineas for which you got a breast badge

2. Lodge – Target was to give an average of 400 guineas

per Lodge and for this the Lodge got a gold jewel on a blue collarette

to be worn by the Master

3. Provincial – The PGM of qualifying Provinces received

a gold and coloured enamel jewel on a dark blue collarette.

~ 31 ~

Only the three Provinces/Districts mentioned above achieved Hall Stone

status and all the Lodges contained therein were entitled to be called ‘Hall

Stone Lodges’.

But in 1922 this nearly didn’t happen because Wineslai Lodge declined to

make the necessary contribution due to the state of the Lodge finances. The

PGM at the time Admiral Sir E J Inglefield was so concerned that he visited

the Lodge and explained the purpose of the fund and the need for all

Lodges to contribute.

Great pressure was brought on the Lodge members to support the MMMF

and the Minutes of September 1928 contain a long typewritten letter from

the Secretary Bertie Sanderson who had been appointed Special Collector

for the Fund in which he urges members to support the appeal referring to

the members of the five Lodges who had not by then signed up:

“I can tell you they are all of them splendid Lodges; the members are, every one of

them, good sterling masons, some being officers of the Grand Lodge and very many

holding high rank in our own Province. They are not parsimonious; not a bit of it.

Look at their Charity lists. They are not penurious; oh dear me. Ask their

treasurers and their stewards. They are not hard hearted. They are not illiterate;

some of them have been known to buy a copy of the Calendar and some can even

read it.”

By February 1925 220 guineas had been promised by members but this was

insufficient and Bro Sao On Kya agreed to donate half the required amount

~ 32 ~

to qualify. This obviously had the desired effect as the minutes of 23rd of

October 1929 record that the Secretary proposed a vote of thanks to Prince

Sao On Kya for his magnanimous donation to the MMMF enabling the

Lodge to qualify as a Hall Stone Lodge and assisting Bucks in becoming a

Hall Stone Province. It seems the Lodge owes a vote of thanks even now to

the Prince not only for the Banner which still hangs today in the Eliot Hall

but also for the honour of enabling the Master to wear the Hall Stone Jewel

which was presented with the collarette in December 1929.

Those same minutes also record the results of a ‘Business Meeting’ held the

previous day to discuss the purchase of new premises. It would seem that

the building committee on behalf of the Lodge had for some time been

looking for suitable premises to purchase and were now able to

recommend what is now Eliot Hall. The records show verbatim a long

speech by Bro P W Anderson in which he gives details including the

dimensions ‚44 feet long and 27 feet wide, ..... about half as long and half

as wide as our

present room‛.

The property

consisted of a

cottage (which

was to be let at a

rent of six

shillings a week)

~ 33 ~

and a large garden in which the new Temple building would be

constructed. It appears there was also a well on the property but its exact

location is not given.

He gives the purchase price as £300, a sum £100 less than that paid out for

the abortive move to the Infant School rooms in 1921. The purchase price

was to be financed by an extant investment of £158 in Lodge funds (this

was almost the entire funds held by the Lodge at that time as the accounts

shows a total balance of £174.4s.3d), £45 from forthcoming initiation fees

and the balance of £97 from a loan of £100 from a Brother (not named) to

be repaid out of Lodge funds at an interest rate of 5%.

The owner of the property was Bro Albert Rolfe and the Lodge proposed

that he should be the first tenant of the cottage.

The conveyance document which the Lodge finally located along with the

deeds in 2009 shows that the purchase price was £300, that the completion

date was 31st of March 1930 and that four trustees were appointed:

E A Illing, W G Wise, J W H Colgrove and A J Wickes.

The building work begun immediately under the guidance of the Secretary

and now architect W Bro B Sanderson. The building cost was £600

consisting of £550 to the builders and £50 to install electric lighting and

heating. This cost was financed by a loan. The chairs and organ were

donated by the brethren. However, it would appear that not all were so

enthusiastic about the project as the records show that only 31 out of 80

~ 34 ~

members took out a £5 debenture and that £110 was loaned by ‘outside

friends’. Howsoever, the money was found and the work proceeded apace

and on the 28th of October 1930 Wineslai moved to the Eliot Hall (named

after the consecrating officer, the Rt Rev Philip Eliot PGM Lord Bishop of

Buckingham and the ‘modern’ era began.

Eliot Hall 1990

The entrance in Church

Walk to the ‘Hole in the

Wall’ Lodge

~ 35 ~

[Text reads] THIS FOUNDATION STONE WAS LAID BY BRO SAO

KHUN MONG ON BEHALF OF H.H.W. W BRO SAO ON KYA THE

SAWBWAGY OF HSIPAW NORTHERN SHAM BURMA JULY 9TH 1930

AND IN COMMEMORATION OF THEIR INITIATION IN WINESLAI

LODGE No2435

W.G.WISE. W.M. A.T.GOWER, S.W. V.CROFTS. J.W. B.SANDERSON

R.P.S.G.D. SECRETARY AND HON ARCHITECT

The Thirties continued to see the Lodge engaged in the normal Masonic

business with ceremonies and resignations. The entry on February 27th

1935 is of note as it was proposed and accepted that the Building Fund and

General Accounts fund be merged. The accounts also show the continued

redemption of Building Fund Debentures.

In 1935 the Lodge comprised some 75 members and was obviously very

~ 36 ~

vibrant. The accounts for the whole period of the 1930 contain many

references to their healthy state.

In 1936 the records note the death of the King, George V and on the 1st of

September 1937 the Bishop of Buckingham attended Lodge to announce

that the Master, W Bro the Rev St John Beamish, had been appointed

Provincial Chaplain.

However, by 1937 it was becoming evident that Europe was stirring under

the influence of a resurrected and now rampant Germany. Hitler’s

renowned rhetoric was once more forming the German peoples into a

highly motivated and patriotic society eager to right some of the perceived

and actual wrongs inflicted in post 1918 treaties. It was becoming obvious

to even the most peace-loving of the British peoples that war was coming.

The World at War – WWII

As with the first war, the Lodge Minutes contain almost no reference to

the outbreak of hostilities. Indeed in October 1939 ceremonies continued as

normal with the Passing of Bro H Connolly and the Initiation of Mr J

Hawkins and the proposal of three candidates for Initiation. However, the

records of that meeting show that the proposed Master Elect J G Bland

refused the nomination on the grounds of the uncertainty of his attendance

and Bro F G Doubleday was elected in his stead. Never let it be said that

Wineslai Lodge Secretaries get carried away by world events!

~ 37 ~

Nevertheless, by the November installation meeting, reference is made to a

letter from Bro A Hickes serving in France giving his apologies.

At this time the meeting days were changed to a Saturday and the Lodge

of Instruction suspended for the duration.

The war now began to affect even Wineslai Lodge and the January 1940

meeting was postponed until July 1940 when a Second and a Third Degree

were undertaken. The records now become a little odd. The Minute book

shows the record of the July meeting followed by a record of the March

and then the April meeting. Once more the reason seems shrouded in the

mists of time.

The following October Lodge business continued as normal with a Passing

and a double Initiation. A passing reference to the troubled times was

made in the October minutes that the Lodge room of St Martin’s Lodge

had been taken over by the military and that the Lodge would now meet at

the Eliot Hall until further notice.

In the November records, an entry shows that a request had been received

from Grand Lodge asking if any brothers would care to donate their jewels

to ‘help finance the war (sic)’. There is no record of the response.

Things were now starting to bite and the next meeting was not until March

1941 but Masonic business continued with a Third degree and an

~ 38 ~

Initiation. However, once again the July meeting is recorded prior to the

March and April meetings.

In November 1941 W Bro Illing was presented with an electric clock in

recognition of his 35 years as Treasurer, an office he continued to hold for a

further 12 years making a total of 47 years in office, a record unlikely ever

to be broken. He was made an honorary member in 1954 and died the

same year.

In March 1942 an illustrious Freemason joined

Wineslai Lodge introduced by his friend and

Chaplain of the Lodge W Bro the Rev St John

Beamish. Sir Ralph Verney, Baronet, K.B.E., D.L.

had been initiated into Caterham Lodge No2095

in Oxford but on joining Wineslai he became a

Buckinghamshire Mason and became Master of

the Lodge in 1956. The Verney family have a long

association with Buckinghamshire and Freemasonry. Sir Ralph’s brother

Sir Laurence was Founder and primus 1st Principal of Wineslai Chapter in

1989.

Sir Ralph went on to become Provincial Grand Master in 1970 and served

for six years in that capacity.

In 1946 Lodge meetings reverted to a Wednesday.

~ 39 ~

In the immediate post-war years Masonry became popular as men who

had served with their brothers for some years in the forces sought to

rediscover that fraternal atmosphere within Freemasonry. In the three

years after the First World War over 350 new Lodges were set up, and in

the three years after the Second World War nearly 600 new Lodges came

into being. This explosion in interest was reflected in that Wineslai passed

a resolution limiting new members to two a year and to one ceremony per

lodge meeting. This was rescinded in 1949 and in that year the Lodge of

Instruction was reformed.

In 1950 the April meeting became part of the regular calendar rather than

being used as an emergency meeting and in 1951the practise of reading the

Minutes of 50 years ago began.

By 1953 there was a significant contingent of Northamptonshire Masons in

the Lodge and in January on their behalf W Bro Blanshard presented the

Lodge with a carved oak cabinet for the Tracing Boards. In 1953 the

modern era began proper with the Installation meeting moving from the

traditional November to the September meeting as we know it today in

2012.

Also in 1953 there is a bare entry that W Bro F S Young had been re-elected

Master for the forthcoming year. The Minutes of that period give no reason

for his continuing in the Chair but it would appear that the Senior Warden

Bro E Rushen did not attend Lodge again after March of that year.

~ 40 ~

Strangely there does not appear to be any further reference to Bro Rushen

in the Minutes post that date either to note his death or his resignation.

Despite extensive research it has not been possible to ascertain the

circumstances that led to W Bro F S Young being re-elected - the only

brother in the whole history of the Lodge who has ever served two

consecutive terms as Master.

The Principal Officers chairs were presented to the Lodge in October 1958

as a memorial to the late W Bro J G Bland who had served as Secretary for

ten years.

Decline of Freemasonry

The Lodge continued to prosper during the austerity of the 1950s but by

the time of the swinging 60s, Freemasonry was beginning to struggle in the

face of the great social changes of the era. The reasons for the decline that

took place at this time have been discussed at great length by learned

Masonic authors but the consensus revolved around the decline in the

religious and moral codes that had been prevalent in England since the late

Victorian era. Whilst Freemasonry does not and never has purported to be

a religious order, it nevertheless reflected the mores of the times up until

the early 1960s. Despite its claim not to require belief in any particular

religion, from at least the 1870s Freemasonry became a very effective

expression of the wider moral, cultural and political consensus which

underpinned the British Empire. Regardless of whether they were non-

~ 41 ~

conformist, Anglican, Jewish or Hindu, there was a strong understanding

of what constituted proper behaviour for a loyal British subject. The social

change from a religious to secular society that began in the 1960s

undoubtedly lessened the need of people for fraternal societies and the

advent of the NHS and the Welfare state lessened their need for the

insurance of such organisations. Masonry was not alone in the seeing a

decline at this time, indeed immediately post-war there was a complete

collapse of the Friendly Societies which were so popular in the 20s and 30s.

Freemasonry had to change and change it did. No longer did candidates

have to make the first approach, members were allowed and even

encouraged to actively recruit friends and family into the Brotherhood. The

ritual was revised and to some extent modernised and Freemasonry took

its first steps towards the 20th Century. These changes took time to affect

the membership and it was some years before the decline began to reverse.

The effect of the media should not be underestimated and even today

adverse reports continue to appear in the popular press. It is doubtful if

Freemasonry will ever be able to completely shrug off the negative impact

of the press but the Craft will continue to try despite the ever present

witch-hunt conducted on some of the more extreme sites on the Internet.

~ 42 ~

Modern Wineslai

In modern times Festivals have come and gone and the Lodge has

continued to play its role as a fund-raiser to a high level achieving Grand

Patron status on a number of occasions.

The Lodge also developed close ties with two other Lodges in the Province

Norman Arches 7761 and Windsor End 9361. It has become the custom to

send one of our Entered Apprentices to Norman Arches to be Passed in

their temple with its magnificent stained glass window which seems to

shine holy light on to the Candidate during the ceremony. At Windsor End

the Lodge has the opportunity to take part in their annual Firing Glass

evening, an occasion not to be missed with the experience of watching

members of both Lodges becoming confused as to when to speak and

when to drink often with unfortunate and hilarious results.

In the mid 50s a very young and talented apprentice carpenter was

involved in relaying the floor of the Temple in Columbian Pine which

remains in place today. Some years later this young man joined the Lodge

and Francis Collins has continued to utilise his skill with the wooden

fixtures of the Lodge that will bear fruit for many years to come including

making the Working Tools box and all the wooden tools therein and a

truly impressive lectern.

During the 1960s the Lodge continued to attract candidates at a rate of

between 1 and 4 a year, a trend that continued through the 1970s. In 1976

Joe Elmes joined followed a year later by Ron Jennings. Between the pair of

them they introduced more candidates to Wineslai Lodge than anyone else

~ 43 ~

to this day. A truly staggering 31 brothers, some third of the total

candidates between 1984 and 2009; a total made even more impressive by

the fact that Joe died in 1983. Ron, however, is still going strong in 2012 at

the age of 91 continuing to attend regularly and remains active in both

Craft and Royal Arch Chapter.

In 1984 W Bro Paul Green donated a new checkered carpet prior to him

emigrating to Jersey.

In 1985 it was decided to sell the little cottage adjacent to the Lodge which

we acquired in 1929 for £300. There was much animated and informed

discussion concerning the viability of converting it into a dining area but

the investment required was just too high so it was sold for £28,850.

Almost all of this money has been re-invested in the Eliot Hall by the

Trustees in order to maintain the high standard we see today.

In 1992 the Lodge celebrated it’s Centenary by holding the October

meeting on Saturday the 3rd at the Masonic Hall Queensway in Bletchley

exactly 100 years after the consecration. As can be imagined there were

many members and guests present including Lord Burnham the PGM, Sir

Ralph Verney the Past PGM and the entire Provincial executive. The

Worshipful Master that evening (and year) was W Bro Ron Morris, a

hugely popular member of the Lodge who sadly is no longer with us.

Following the reading of the original warrant, a centenary warrant was

~ 44 ~

presented which today is proudly displayed in the Lodge on the wall to

the right of the Masters chair. To commemorate the event, a Centenary

Jewel was struck which may still be seen worn by members of the Lodge

today.

The ‘entertainment’ for the meeting was provided by

presenting the 1st Degree lectures:

1st section Bros Chris Bird and David Savage

2nd Section Bros Francis Collins and Dave Beckett

3rd Section Bros Jim Barcock and Brian Lailey

4th Section Bro Mick Sharp and W Bro Maurice Rush

All under the direct supervision of the then PPAGDC

W Bro Brian Begley

The evening was completed by a banquet at which was served a traditional

Lodge Festive Board:

Cream of Celery Soup

Smoked Mackerel Fillet

Roast Rib of Beef and Yorkshire Pudding

Steamed Jam Sponge and Custard

Cheese and Biscuits and Mints

A menu which I suspect would not have been out of place in 1892.

~ 45 ~

1985 also saw the consecration of Wineslai daughter Lodge Claydon 9178

with whom the Lodge still maintains very close ties.

The foresight of our forebears in providing funds was further appreciated

when in June 2006 following renovation work on the roof; large quantities

of asbestos dust were disturbed resulting in a fine covering of the material

over all the interior surfaces and furniture of the Temple. Luckily it was in

the close season so disruption was at a minimum causing only the Wineslai

Chapter and Nightingale Mark meetings to be cancelled. It was feared at

the time that considerable damage had been caused by the dust and that

the Temple would suffer significant financial loss. However, due to

prompt action by the lodge committee, professional help was engaged and

virtually everything was rescued and the Lodge restored to order.

Just as the dust had settled(!) and everything seemed in order, a heavy

woodworm infestation was discovered resulting in the loss of some of the

original oak chairs. The infestation was effectively tackled by members of

the Lodge donning coveralls and with brushes and chemicals at the ready,

the affected areas were treated. The chairs that were less badly affected

were repaired and in the process re-upholstered maintaining a vital link

with those early members for the chairs in the Temple had never been

purchased by the Lodge but had been lent in perpetuity by members and

their families.

~ 46 ~

Over the years that the Lodge has existed and prospered there were many

members who left their mark. We have already paid tribute to the

Founders and to some of those who were instrumental in the Lodges

success and to the efforts of brothers such as W Bro Illing who was

Treasurer for 47 years but there were other long serving brothers who

merit a mention. Amongst these are W Bro Stan Marriott who in ‘civilian’

life was for many years woodwork master at a local school (many of

today’s members were taught and chastised by Bro Stan but he was held in

great affection right up to his death). Mention must also be made of W Bro

Derek Noy who held the post of Assistant Secretary from 1981 until 1996, a

period of 15 years.

In the modern era many brothers have had a profound influence on the

Lodge and especially on the fabric of the Temple. Although perhaps

invidious to single our particular members, I am sure no-one would

begrudge acknowledging the extensive woodworking skills of W Bro

Francis Collins and the influence W Bro Harry Hodgson had on all the

brothers who passed through his ‘tender’ care during his 25 years as Tyler.

I can’t speak for anyone else but I can definitely testify that he scared the

living daylights out of the author as a young freemason on more than one

occasion but his help was always there for all.

However, there is one Brother who in recent years became synonymous

with the Lodge and who was held in high esteem and great affection by

those who were fortunate to feel a helping hand on their shoulder when

the ritual seemed just too hard or when the Lodge needed guidance.

~ 47 ~

Dennis Taylor was initiated into the Lodge in 1976, became Master in 1986

and just a couple of days before his untimely death in 1998 was made a

Grand Officer of the United Grand Lodge of England. Dennis epitomised

all that is good about Freemasonry and although no longer with us, his

spirit is still keenly felt in the Temple by all those who knew him.

The Lodge has seen some 384 members since inception and the trend in

recent years has shown that Masonry in Winslow is alive and well. In the

1960s eleven men joined or were initiated into the Lodge, in the 70s the

number was seventeen and in the 80s there were thirty six. This trend has

continued with thirty seven new members in the 90s (including the

Author) and since the turn of the century we have seen thirty eight new

members. Inevitably time and circumstance has seen many of these

members leave the Lodge but in 2012 we see a healthy Lodge of 74

members with a significant number under the age of 50.

This gives one a feeling of optimism for the foreseeable future for Wineslai

Lodge and we can look forward to seeing the Lodge continue to prosper

under the generations to come.

~ 48 ~

Roll of Masters 1892-2012

1892 W Weston

1893 The Lord Addington

1894 J King

1895 H Bullock

1896 Hon Evelyn Hubbard MP

1897 J Hedges

1898 C Colgrove

1899 Rev Miles W Myers

1900 C A Bennett

1901 F F Vaisey

1902 Rev Miles W Myers

1903 F Higgins

~ 49 ~

1904 E A Illing

1905 J C Hawley

1906 S F Jones

1907 W S Neal

1908 J Buckingham

1909 J H Webster

1910 R Rowland

1911 B Saunderson

1912 J W K Colgrove

1913 W H Stevens

1914 J F Colgrove

1915 E W Cross

1916 L G Lester

~ 50 ~

1917 A Rich

1918 T J Gadsden

1919 W Wise

1920 J W K Colgrove

1921 T J N Cannon

1922 A J Hartley

1923 J G Wynne

1924 F Horne

1925 L J Hawley

1926 M Lambourne

1927 I B Dawes

1928 N R Allen

1929 W G Wise

~ 51 ~

1930 A T Gower

1931 V Crofts

1932 H E Anstee

1933 J W Wilkes

1934 H B Dawes

1935 A Rolfe

1936 Rev St J H Beamish

1937 P W Anderson

1938 W H Chilver

1939 F C Doubleday

1940 J G Bland

1941 N Bennett

1942 W G Chowles

~ 52 ~

1943 A E Blanchard

1944 C D Morrison

1945 E V Trunkfield

1946 A L E Launchbury

1947 H R Langley

1948 R B Tomkins

1949 J G Bland

1950 G G P Eaton

1951 A T Meadows

1952 F S Young

1953 F S Young

1954 L H Blanchard

1955 A E Frost

~ 53 ~

1956 R B Verney

1957 T H Bowler

1958 F Barlow

1959 C H Clarke

1960 E F Gibbard

1961 J W K Colgrove

1962 T R Gibbard

1963 E Whatton

1964 I E Blanchard

1965 G Mitchell

1966 H Peachy

1967 C Harper

1968 S D Fish

~ 54 ~

1969 A G Dobbs

1970 K J Fuller

1971 T Burrow

1972 N G Bevan

1973 A L Costigan

1974 D R Noy

1975 W H Butt

1976 J W Hall

1977 D W Smith

1978 P C Green

1979 S Marriott

1980 B F Begley

1981 P F Savage

~ 55 ~

1982 D Day

1983 P W Duck

1984 E E Denby

1985 T T Dimmock

1986 D R Taylor

1987 A J Hills

1988 J W Elmes

1989 A J Comerford

1990 R J Jennings

1991 A C Knight

1992 R Morris

1993 Maj J Barcock

1994 A J Goodgame

~ 56 ~

1995 D J Savage

1996 M W Rush

1997 F A Collins

1998 M J Sharp

1999 D S Beckett

2000 P A Lovegrove

2001 C J Bird

2002 R R Bailey

2003 N F Hide

2004 R I Craig

2005 B J Mellars

2006 P Menday

2007 I P Bamsey

~ 57 ~

2008 H Hodgson

2009 C Walton

2010 I P Nicholson

2011 R S Hodge

2012 J Robinson Jnr

~ 58 ~

Lodge Members

1892 -2012 1892 FOUNDERS

W Weston –

Primus Master

The Lord Addington

J King

H Bullock

J Hedges

C Colgrove

Rev Miles W Myers

C A Bennett

John Marshall

G D E Wigley

W J Neal

William Warne

Edwin Kibble

Henry Dancer

G Marsh

J L Myers

John Marshall

Evelyn Hubbard

1893 Thomas Vaisey

(1st Initiate)

1894 William Parrett

W H Walter

Frederick Kitto

1897 Percival Lovett

1898 E A Illing

1899 James Caleb Hawley

Rev A E Newman

1900 Stephen Jones

1901 John Buckingham

John Thornton Marshall

Herbert Bull

Rev Herbert Chilton

Tompkins

Frank Higgins

John Herbert Webster

1902 Sydney Hillyard Moberley

Richard Rowland

1903 Charles Garth

1904 Bertie Sanderson

1904 William Hall Stevens

Joseph Colgrove

George Pass

Richard Rowland

1905 Tredgold Bratton

(Serving Bro)

Rev James Caldecott

Leonard Lester

J R C Forrest

John Colgrove

1906 Walter Martin

Hugh Pitcairn

Alfred Rich

Thomas Gadsden

~ 59 ~

1907 Sidney Wigley

Rev William Wyatt

Holdgate

Allan Tomlinson

1908 John Guest

Frederick Lomas

1909 Edward Norton

1910 Edward Goring

Edward Young

J Neal

1911 William Whitehorn

JBell

William Wise

Rev StJohn Beamish

J W K Colgrove

J Carrow

1912 Walter Lodge

Ralph Carrow

1913 Leslie Hawley

John Mitchell

1915 Richard Harrison

1916 Arthur J Hartley

1917 Joseph G Wynne

1917 Rev Henry L Denny

Arthur Holdom

1918 Sao On Kya

Fred Horne

Sam Gillson

Albert Deeks

Thomas Loader

Norman Coleman

Inche Mohammed Zain

Ariffi

Charles Brown

William E Billing

Ralph Probyn

1919 Arthur Philby

Thomas Brookholding

Dawes

Henry Payne

Noel Allen

Edward Bone

1920 Bernard Cross

Henry Lambourne

Arthur Gower

William Wise

William Line

1921 Victor Croft

Edward Anstee

1922 John Wickes

Harry Brookholding

Dawes

Samuel Sharratt

Arthur Sharpe

1923 Walter Kelly

Frederick Marriner

1925 Walter Dibb

Rev Gerrard Kerr Olivier

~ 60 ~

1926 Richard Wallace Gibbard

George Taylor

William Smith

William Neal

Albert Rolf

1927 Harold Hollands

Arthur Walter

Robert Taylor

Alan Wickes

Robert Hucker

1928 Sao Khun Mong

Percival Anderson

R E Vaisey

Claude Dawes

Graham Phelps

Harry Gurnsley

John Rolfe

Frank Faulkner

1929 William Hunt

(Serving member)

William Chilver

John Bland

Arthur Goodman

William Smith

1930 Frederick Doubleday

Thomas Brown

Frank Richman

Rev James Monks

Frank Deverill

Philip Wood

Rev J Powell

Norman Bennett

Harold Morris

W Meanwell

Albert Colgrove

Wilfred Hillier

1931 Edwin Hillier

Rev Samuel Warrington

Sidney Hartley

Alexander Duff

McKechnie

Captain Chas Hall

Joseph Starbuck

1932 Bernard Garrett

Wilfred Telfer

1933 Thomas Barnes

George Bennett

Albert Heritage

1934 George Chowles

Victor Monk

Arthur Anstee

Charles Parker

Frank Stabb

Robert Maltray

Francis Brawn

1935 Arthur Blanchard

Archibald Launchbury

Thomas Biggs

~ 61 ~

A A Laight

1936 Ernest Gower

Frank Clarke

Francis Rhodes

Charles Morrison

Ernest Trunkfield

Henry Langley

H Burton

1937 James Lewis

Andrew Rock

Rowland Tompkins

Augustus Owen

Reginald Griffin

Reginald Northwood

1938 Frederick Hancock

Frederick Ainsworth

George Ingram

1939 William Connolly

J Hankins

1940 Norman Jones

Jack Burden

Henry Smith

Rev Edwin Edwards

Charles Pendrid

1941 George Prouse Eaton

Arthur Meadows

1942 Sir Ralph Verney

Frederick Sulston

John Ingram

Leonard Bushell

1943 Frederick Young

Joseph Hancock

Ethelbert Rushen

Leslie Blanshard

Edwin Mogg

1944 Alfred Illing

Percy Newbery

H Palin

Horace Allen

Albert Frost

Charles Bean

Arthur Barnes

1945 William Dale

John Hurn

Walter Hilson

J E Ellis

1946 Cyril Dickens

George Davenport

1946 T Bowler

1948 F Gibbard

1950 T Gibbard

R Nicholls

1952 G Whatton

1953 T Blanshard

D W Smith

B Maddison

1955 M Rolfe

1956 R Allen

~ 62 ~

1957 Archie Whatton

S Fish

1958 Derek Noy

Ken Fuller

1959 D Bowen

F Garrett

L Knight

1960 A G Kemsley

Tom Burrows

F Branson

N Bevan

1961 R Hartip

Larry Costigan

1962 R J Benyon

1964 J W Cockman

L Perkins

1965 W H Butt

E W Healey

R Healey

L Perkins

1967 G F Garrett

I E H Payne

I Perkins

1968 R Tow

F Davis

1969 Paul Green

1970 W Offord

J Kenton

1971 Stan Marriott

Brian Begley

1972 Peter Savage

J Harvey

H Perkins

1973 P W Duck

D Day

R Whatton

H Nurse

1974 Arthur Hills

T Gilder

1975 W Williams

Ernie Denby

Trevor Dimmock

1976 Dennis Taylor

H Fisher

Wallace Gibbard

Joe Elmes

1977 Albert Comerford

Ron Jennings

1978 Ted Dickinson

J T R Phillips

J Hope

R Green

1979 V Phillips

Ron Morris

Jim Barcock (Major)

1980 Bob Hart

J Piper

1981 Ken Oliver

~ 63 ~

David Savage

1982 Brian Layley

Harry Hodgson

S Hutchinson

Jack Wayte

Alan Goodgame

1983 Tony Knight

Francis Collins

W G K Piper

Maurice Rush

1984 D A C Wigley

J N Hanson

Clifford Pearson

1985 R D Johnson

R P Mills

A C Elmes

Bill Windsor

1986 Albert Gladwin

Mick Sharp

John Hooper

David Carr

1987 Ernest Griffiths

Tom Wright

Peter Lovegrove

Dave Beckett

1988 Michael Shea

Eric Ellam

Cyril Beckett

Chris Bird

Robert Otter

Graham Elmes

George Humphries

1989 Richard Bailey

1990 Bill Cook

Michael Stonton

Norman Hide

Bob Craig

1991 John Robinson Snr

Len Goodwin

1992 Ray Spooner

William Benkel

Roy Serle

Doug Boucher

Brian Spatcher

John Robinson Jnr

1993 Ivor Gethin

Lester Bromley

1994 Jim McLuckie

Barrie Mellars

1995 Harry Messenger

David Lattimore

Lynn Ridgway

Keith Perrett

1996 Chris Goss

Philip Menday

Richard Shadwell

Alec Terle

James Melrose

~ 64 ~

1997 Jonathan Dougherty

Ralph Martin

Brian Wells

John Robertson

1998 Andrew Sullivan

Barry Clarke

Ian Bamsey

Caleb Walton

1999 Ian Nicholson

Stuart Branch

Philip Wilks

2000 Bob Hodge

Paul Hillyard

2001 Carl Walker

Harold Price

Tony Ososki

Keith Mason

2002 Robbie Taylor

Peter Donsow

2004 Tom Wright

2005 Paul French

2006 David Moody

Frank Hurst

Andrew Codd

2007 Trevor Bonham

Peter Johnson

Kevin Tongs

Adrian Clarke

Simon Bignold

Nicholas Honor

2008 Michael Parsons

Anthony Lee

Graham Seabrook

David Hance

Harry Chambers

Paul Jones

2009 Jamie Robinson

Mark Golding

Vincent White

Brian James

2010 Anthony Majaika

Michael Meiris

2011 Gary Hipwell

John Dickins

Robert Cross

2012 Lee Cross

Sean Cross

~ 65 ~

The Ancients and Moderns

OF all the chapters in the long and varied history of our Craft not one is

more interesting or more important to know than that which relates how

there grew up alongside the first Grand Lodge a rival Grand Lodge,

how the two became bitter rivals, and how at last a union was brought

about

CAUSES THAT LED TO THE RIFT

It is absolutely impossible to work out a connected and detailed history

of all the causes that led at last to the formation of a new Grand Lodge,

and for the same reasons impossible to lay one's finger on a certain year

or place and say, here is where it began. The thing came about

gradually and out of many forces at work.

One of the main results of the formation of the first Grand Lodge

established at London in 1717 was that Operative Masonry was

completely laid aside in favour of Speculative Masonry. Such a radical

change in the inmost nature of the Craft could not but arouse

opposition. It is supposed, for example, that the difficulties into which

Anthony Sayer fell, after he had served as the first Grand Master, may

have been due to his dislike of the new regime, he having been an old

Operative Mason. How much trouble the great change caused, or how

long it lasted, is now impossible to determine, but it seems evident that

a resentment against the new order of things lasted long in some

~ 66 ~

quarters, and that whole lodges refused for many years to acquiesce in

so complete a departure from the old ways.

Another cause of trouble in the early years of the first Grand Lodge was

the adoption of the "Paragraph Concerning God and Religion" in

Anderson's Constitutions. Prior to 1717 the rank and file of Craftsmen

had been of the Christian persuasion and the Craft itself, to judge by its

own Constitutions, had been frankly Trinitarian Christian. The new

Constitutions, now associated with the name of Anderson, changed all

this; according to its somewhat ambiguous wording a Mason was

required to be only of that religion "in which all good men agree". This

did not please those who wished to see Freemasonry remain specifically

Christian, consequently they made trouble about it.

From the records of the first Grand Lodge itself it is evident that all was

not smooth sailing.

There was constant complaint of "irregular makings", but little was

done to head off that evil; also it appears that Grand Lodge affairs were

managed with laxness, if not sometimes with downright carelessness. A

fair example of this is furnished in the case of Lord Byron, who was

elected Grand Master April 30, 1747. That gentleman, sometimes

known as "the wicked Lord Byron", appeared before his brethren only

five times in five years, and seems to have paid little heed to his

responsibilities. The carelessness aroused so much feeling that "it was

the Opinion of many old Masons to have a consultation about electing a

~ 67 ~

new and more active Grand Master"; they "assembled for that purpose"

and would have carried it through had it not been for the intervention of

Bro. Thomas Manningham, M.D.

From this, and from similar instances that could be named, one may

judge that Grand Lodge did not keep a very tight hold of the reins, a

fact that will help to explain what came afterwards.

INNOVATIONS HAD BEEN MADE

A worse thing "worse", that is, from the point of view of the

conservative brethren at the time was that the first Grand Lodge

deliberately made a few drastic "innovations" in the old forms.

Freemasonry became popular in London and many men became

desirous of making their way into lodges without the troublesome cost

of a regular initiation. To meet their needs certain so-called "exposes"

were published, the most notable of which was Masonry Dissected, by

one Samuel Prichard, described as a "late member of a Constituted

Lodge". Upon this, secrecy became so rife that at last Grand Lodge, in

self-defence, determined upon making changes in the esoteric work that

would enable regular lodges to detect the frauds. It is now next to

impossible to learn with certainty just what these changes were, but

according to the enemies of the Grand Lodge of 1717 and to scattered

references in Grand Lodge records they were somewhat as follows: The

installation ceremony of the Worshipful Master was either abolished or

~ 68 ~

suffered to go by default; the Third Degree was remodeled; the

symbolism of the preparation of a candidate was changed; one of the

most important secrets of the First Degree was transferred to the

Second, and vice versa; some of the old "geometrical secrets" long

practiced among "ancient Operative Masons" were either entirely

omitted or else changed out of all recognition, etc.

Still another cause that contributed to the new developments has to do

with the Royal Arch.

THE ROYAL ARCH BECAME AN ISSUE

The theory here is that in the re-organization of the Ritual, the Grand

Lodge of 1717 left the Third Degree without its logical conclusion, so

that a certain vital secret was lost but not found; and that many of the

brethren, in order to complete the symbolism, either adapted or created

a supplementary ceremony to make good the loss. In doing so they ran

counter to the practices of the Grand Lodge of 1717 and thereby

became stigmatized as "irregulars". Firm in their belief that they were

right and the Grand Lodge was wrong, they persisted in their course

until at last they founded a Grand Lodge of their own.

Whatever the facts, it is certain that after the new Grand Lodge was

formed it made use of the ceremony known as the Royal Arch and

practiced it as a part of legitimate ancient Freemasonry. Mackey's

~ 69 ~

Revised History of Freemasonry, by Bro. Robert I. Clegg states:

"The Royal Arch Degree was not started by these 'Antients' [as the new

Grand Lodge came to be styled] but only adapted by them as an

authorized ceremony. In self-defence the 'Moderns' [as the Grand

Lodge of 1717 was dubbed], who had worked it before the origin of the

'Atholl Masons' [another name for the new Grand Lodge], but not

officially, gradually gave it more prominence. In 1767 they formed a

Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and issued Warrants for

Chapters, pushing the degree more even than the 'Antients', though not

recognized by their Grand Lodge; so at the Union of the two Grand

Lodges in December 1813, the way was prepared for the inauguration

of the 'United Grand Chapter' in 1817, the ceremony being adopted as

the completion of the Master Mason's ceremony, not as a separate and

independent degree."

Despite what has been written it seems now clear that the "Antient"

Grand Lodge grew up, not out of a split-off from the Grand Lodge of

1717 but from independent causes, and that in a day before the doctrine

of exclusive jurisdiction had been adopted there was no illegality in

such a step.

~ 70 ~

The primary inspiration in the founding of the "Antient" Grand Lodge

came from Irish Masons who had settled in London, and who had not

been recognized by the Grand Lodge of 1717. The majority of the

members of the first lodge warranted by the "Antients" were Irishmen

who closely copied the usages and customs of the Grand Lodge of

Ireland, and were accordingly dubbed "Irish Masons". Most of these

men were of the "lower" classes, painters, tailors, mechanics, labourers,

and so on, thereby standing in sharp contrast to the membership of the

lodges working under the Grand Lodge of 1717.

After the new Grand Lodge was once under way, and after it had begun

to come into conflict with the older body, of course the defenders of the

"Antients" began to make up arguments to defend their own position. It

was said that the Moderns had set up their Grand Lodge illegally by

Masonic law which was nonsense. As time went on this argument was

replaced by another to the effect that the "Antients" had set up house for

themselves because the older Grand Lodge had been guilty of

innovations, which, though it was doubtless true enough, could not very

well stand up because the "Antients" themselves had been guilty of

many innovations of their own; for they had brought into the Masonic

system an entirely new degree, an innovation of the first order.

II. FORMATION OF THE "ANTIENT" GRAND LODGE

It is time to give an account of how the "Antient" Grand Lodge came

~ 71 ~

into existence.

Laurence Dermott figures large in all that happened. Dermott was born

in Ireland in 1720 and was initiated in Ireland in 1740, and went

through the chairs of Lodge No. 26, Ireland, where he was installed

Worshipful Master June 24, 1746. It appears that he was fairly well

educated for those days, and he probably knew a little Hebrew, which

will account for the fondness he had of covering his papers with

Hebrew characters, an ancient and difficult language! He moved to

London, probably as a youth, with little in his pocket but many schemes

boiling in his head, which head was tireless, alert, witty, sarcastic, and

often a bit unscrupulous in waging war on his foes, of which his energy

made him many. It seems that he engaged himself as a journeyman

painter and that he prospered so that in after years he spent much

money in charity and in his Masonic activities. In late records he was

described as a wine merchant, and it appears that he enjoyed the luxury

of gout. Once made a Mason he never rested but devoted himself to it

as to a mistress, with passionate earnestness, never permitting himself

to become discouraged, and always in the front line of battle.

THE "GRAND COMMITTEE" IS FORMED

The extent of the "irregular makings" so often complained of in the

records of the Grand Lodge of 1717 may be shown by the fact that

because of these the Grand Lodge erased from its list at least forty-five

lodges between 1742 and 1752. Brethren so dealt with, along with

~ 72 ~

many freelances, and also some independent, or "St. John's lodges,"

came together and formed a "Grand Committee" of "the Most Ancient

and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons"; this

Committee formed itself into "The Grand Lodge of England according

to the Old Constitutions," which Grand Lodge afterwards came to be

called the "Ancient" Grand Lodge in contrast to the "Modern," as the

older Grand Lodge became dubbed. The earliest record of the Grand

Committee is of date July 17, 1751; on that day Lodges No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

and 7 "were authorized to grant Dispensations and Warrants and to act

as Grand Master." The office of Grand Master was left vacant until a

"noble brother" could be found to accept the position; and the place of

Lodge No. 1 was left standing to be occupied by the Grand Master's

Lodge, a thing suggested no doubt by the Grand Lodge of Ireland

having done the same thing. John Morgan was elected Grand Secretary

in 1751 but it appears that he was lax in his duties, therefore Laurence

Dermott was elected to take his place Feb. 5, 1752, after which time the

Grand Secretary's most bitter enemies could not complain of any

laxness whatsoever, because Dermott became the leading spirit in all

that followed, and it was to his genius that a group of malcontents,

drawn from what at that time were the lower or middle classes, were

able to forge ahead and to grow more rapidly than their rival Grand

Lodge.

One of the expedients hit on by Dermott was the warranting of military

~ 73 ~

lodges, a thing not done before, and which accounts for the rapid

growth of Ancient Masonry in the American Colonies, for owing to the

use of warrants to army lodges the British forces in this continent

became Masonic missionaries. The Modern Grand Lodge afterwards

followed suit in this. Another expedient was the frank and open pushing

of the Royal Arch Degree; it is easy to understand that a system

offering four degrees would make more appeal to the majority than one

offering only three. Also the Ancients were able to secure formal

endorsements from the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland and in

addition thereto a certain amount of active support from those

influential bodies.

It will be observed that of the sixty years during which the Ancients had

a Grand Master a Duke of Atholl occupied the throne for thirty-one

years; it was for this reason that the Ancients were often called "Atholl

Masons," and for a corresponding reason that the Moderns were

sometimes called "Prince of Wales Masons."

The zeal and energy of the Ancient leaders, in addition to the superior

attractiveness of their degree system, is shown in the rapidity with

which the new Grand Lodge made headway. In 1753 a dozen or so

lodges were on the list; during the next four years, and largely owing to

Dermott's activity, twenty-four were added; between 1760 and 1766,

while the Earl of Kelly was nominally Grand Master, sixty-four more

~ 74 ~

were taken in charge. By 1813, when the Union was effected, the

Ancients claimed a grand total of 359 lodges.

The Ancients adopted as their Book of Constitutions the Ahiman

Rezon, largely the work of Dermott, though he closely followed in the

main the lines of the Constitutions of the Grand Lodge of Ireland and at

the same time borrowed with a free hand the Anderson Constitutions

used by the Moderns, first published in 1723; the first edition of the

Ahiman Rezon appeared in 1756. By closely following the

Constitutions already in use Dermott was able to avoid the appearance

of too wide a departure from Freemasonry as already practiced, and at

the same time, though unwittingly, prepared the way for the Union that

came afterwards, a fact of happy augury for the Craft at large.

The existence of two Grand Lodges, both with their headquarters in

London, naturally caused a great deal of confusion and

misunderstanding among ordinary Masons; in many cases such brethren

held no brief for either party, so that in some cases it is of record that a

man held office in lodges under both constitutions; but for the most part

there was a good deal of bitterness among the partisans, though it must

be said that the Ancients were more avid of controversy than the

Moderns, and that in almost every instance when an olive branch was

extended it was from the latter rather than the former.

~ 75 ~

In 1797 a move was made looking toward union but the project fell

through. Two years afterwards, however, the two Grand Masters, the

Earl of Moira for the Moderns and the Duke of Atholl for the Ancients,

acted together to have the Craft specifically exempted from the Act to

Prevent Secret Societies in England. Also, as another step that paved

the way for a merger, the Modern Grand Lodge succeeded in securing

the endorsements of the Grand Lodges of Ireland and Scotland in such

ways as to place the Ancients on a somewhat doubtful footing, a thing

that completely reversed the original situation so far as those two Grand

Bodies were concerned.

THE UNION

As early as 1809 committees met to consider the "propriety and

practicability of union." On Oct. 26 of that year the Earl of Moira (for

the Moderns) warranted a special lodge to serve as a means for bringing

about a merger; this lodge held its first meeting on Nov. 21 and then

resolved to call itself "The Special Lodge of Promulgation." On April

10 of the year following the Earl of Moira informed his Grand Lodge

that both he and the Grand Master of the Ancients "were both fully of

opinion, that it would be an event truly desirable, to consolidate under

one head the two Societies of Masons that existed in this country."

These proceedings were sent to the Grand Lodge of Ancients and were

cordially met, so that following concessions that were made by both

~ 76 ~

sides (though it has to be said more heartily by the Moderns than the

Antients) it was agreed that differences should be ironed out, and a

union be made. "The Grand Assembly of Freemasons for the Union

of the Two Grand Lodges of England" was held Dec. 27, 1813. With

due and solemn ceremonies the merger was consummated, all Grand

officers showing, almost without exception, a fine and statesmanlike

spirit. During the month preceding the Duke of Atholl had resigned the

Grand Mastership of the Ancients in favour of the Duke of Kent, the

latter being placed in the chair on Dec. 1; at the time of the Union the

latter nominated the Duke of Sussex as "Grand Master of the United

Grand Lodge of Ancient Freemasons of England" and he was

unanimously elected.

Each of the two Grand Lodges participating appointed a committee of

nine expert Master Masons or Past Masters and these were then formed

into a Lodge of Promulgation, the purpose of which was to work out a

form of ritual acceptable to all.

The work of preparing a new Code of Regulations for the United Grand

Lodge was referred to a Board of General Purposes; its work was

approved by a Special Grand Lodge Aug. 23, 1815. Meanwhile, and in

order to bring about the closest relations possible between the new

United Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodges of Scotland and Ireland an

International Commission was formed and began its deliberations June

27, 1814, continuing until July 2 following. As a result it was declared

~ 77 ~

that "the three Grand Lodges were perfectly in unison in all the great

and essential points of the Mystery and Craft, according to the

immemorial traditions and uninterrupted usage of Ancient Masons;"

and eight resolutions, called the International Compact, were adopted.

CONCLUSION

There is no doubt that considerable confusion occurred amongst fused

Lodges after the merger and that it took a good many years for the

situation to normalise. Not the least of this confusion was caused by the

alteration of some of the Lodge officers. For instance the duties

originally assigned to the Senior Deacon were transferred to his Junior

colleague and the entrusting of the proof from the first to second degree

altered.

To clarify the situation, Lodges of Instruction came into existence,

some of which grew to be permanent institutions; it was as a result of

the influence of these that the various "workings" came into use in

England, "Emulation," "Universal," "Taylors," etc.

It seems obvious now that the merger was vital and produced

Freemasonry in a far stronger form than either Grand Lodges could

hope for. It is to be fervently hoped that this strength will continue to

increase and help find a way to unite and unify Freemasonry the world

over.