(The first in a series of articles using information abstracted from a bound book ‘Our Heritage’ written by one of our Founders L. H. Powell)
Foreword
By W.Bro. Tony Saunders P. Prov. S.G.D. LGR – Secretary & 62nd Master of Heritage Lodge (1997)
At the suggestion of one of our Honorary Members W.Bro. Jefferey Fraser P. Prov. G. Swd.Br. I have read and abstracted some of the information documented in a book owned and written by The Lodge entitled ‘Our Heritage’ A History of The First 21 Years of Lodge no. 5572.
The book, published in hard back by W. & J. Makay & Co. Ltd., Chatham in 1956, was written by one of the Lodge Founders L. H. Powell (Provincial Senior Grand Warden of Kent, 1950 – 1951).
It is not surprising to note that Wor. Bro. Powell was a journalist by trade and the book was dedicated To The Memory of R. Wor. Bro. Frederick William Blay, P.G.W. Deputy Provincial Grand Master of The Province of Kent, 1927 – 1946. who consecrated the Lodge on 23rd November 1935.
The original Foreword of the book was written by Wor. Bro. Arthur Atkinson, P.G.D., Assistant Provincial Grand Master, 1946 – 1956 who assisted in the consecration of the Lodge as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.
Wor. Bro. Atkinson penned this note in his Foreword;
When the centenary of the Lodge arrives, future generations of its members will rise up and call Wor. Bro. Powell blessed!
The Lodge’s centenary is in 2035 and whoever is in my position of Secretary at this point may wish to ‘Take and Pass On’ this sentiment in accordance with Wor. Bro. Atkinson’s comments?
Wor. Bro. Atkinson concluded by stating;
And so, may I, in thanking him for his labours, wish all happiness and success to Heritage Lodge, now and in the future, in full confidence that the torch its members have kept burning so steadily will be handed to their successors with undiminished brightness and warmth; and that through the portals of this Lodge, men may be brought by the light of Freemasonry more clearly to apprehend the One True light, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
At the Lodges’ 75th Anniversary in 2010, the Secretary at the time, W.Bro. Alan Hossack P. Prov. G. Swd. Br., P. Prov. Asst. G. D.C. (Surrey), wrote a comprehensive article entitled ‘A Brief Account of The Progress of The Lodge, The First 75 Years’ which took several references from the original ‘First 21 Years’ book and this article is also available to read on our website under ‘Articles’.
In creating this new series of articles however I hope that I can relay some more detailed notes of interest of our history and promote some discussion and research in to finding some of the ‘Missing Gaps’ referred to Wor. Bro. Powell’s original book and since.
Tony Saunders
November 2017
Lighting the Torch
Heritage Lodge has a blazon torch as it’s emblem and its motto, ‘Take and Pass on’ is clearly seen on the Lodge Badge.
In understanding as to why the Lodge was formed and why it was so named and illustrated as above I found reference to a letter addressed to Wor. Bro. Powell from Bro. Alan Wilson which shows that the idea to form the Lodge resulted from a conversation that he and Bro. George Dowsett had whilst returning from a Royal Arch Chapter Meeting.
The motives are recorded in W. Bro. Powell’s book as threefold. Firstly, the desire to keep within reasonable limits the numbers of an existing lodge, secondly to give Brethren living in a particular area the opportunity to meet together in Masonic surroundings and thirdly the hope of enabling those who have little prospect of advancement in the Lodges of which they are already members to achieve what should normally be the ambition of every Mason – the Master’s Chair.
Reasons one and two are certainly not applicable to most Lodges in 2017 but seems were in 1935 as the Lodge had little difficulty in obtaining 21 founders by the time the Lodge was consecrated.
The names and callings of these original founders were recorded as follows:
| Name | Occupation |
|---|---|
| Frederick Benjamin Brook, P.M. | Solicitor |
| George William Edward Dowset, P.M. | Contractor |
| Edward Joisce | Lt.-Cdr. R. N. (Ret) |
| Alfred Knight Croad, P.M. | Consulting Engineer |
| Leslie Hughes Powell | Journalist |
| Cyril Frederick Ford | Civil Servant |
| John Barker Prefect | Fruit Importer |
| William John Tatnell | Optical Manufacturer |
| William Alan Wilson | Shipowner’s Clerk |
| William John Ernest Marshall | Departmental Manager |
| Charles Nickols, P.M. | Solicitor’s Manager |
| Ernest Mark Cottell | Marine Claims Settler |
| George Edward Hammond | Wholesale Optician |
| Gilbert Wood | Company Director |
| Harold George Hawkes | Company Director |
| Henry John Smith | Agent |
| High Edward Mann, P.M. | Retired |
| Fredrick Henry Long, P.M. | Salesman |
| Philip Hall | Minister of Religion |
| James Alfred Norman Webb, P.M. | Flour Factor |
The first meeting of the Founders was held at The Masonic Hall, Bromley on March 21st, 1935.
At this meeting W.Bro. Charles Nickols, a past Master of Cornwallis Lodge was appointed as the Lodge’s first Worshipful Master.
Cornwallis Lodge no. 1107 was the oldest Lodge in Bromley and was the sponsor for the newly formed Heritage Lodge.
At the same meeting Bro. Knight Croad was invited to become I.P.M. and Bro. Cottell as the Lodge’s first Secretary.
The decision to work ‘Emulation’ ritual was made and if possible to name the Lodge after the Duke of Kent however permission was not given for this nor a reason why and after further long discussion the name ‘Heritage’ was agreed and to adopt a lighted torch, with the motto: ‘Take and Pass on’.
At the third Founders meeting held on May 16th, 1935 the Lodge was gifted with the following regalia, most of which we still have today:
| Item | |
|---|---|
| Bible and cushion | by Rev. Philip Hall |
| Ashlars | by Bro. Wilson |
| Warden’s Columns | by Bro. Marshall |
| Working Tools | by Bro. Parfect |
| Tracing Boards | by Bro. Long |
| Officers Gauntlets | by Bro. Brook |
| Compasses and Squares | by Bro. Knight Croad |
| Gavels and Sounding Boards | by Bro. Wood |
| Poniard | by Bro. Joise |
The Lodge was hereafter consecrated on Saturday November 23rd, 1935 at Bromley Masonic Hall by The Deputy Provincial Grand Master (in charge) Wor. Bro. William Fredrick Blay, P.G.D.
In his address the Deputy Provincial Grand Master said:
We meet today under the shadow of a great loss in the death of our beloved Provincial Grand Master. Of a creative mind, nothing gave him greater pleasure than to bring into being a new Lodge, with all its possibilities of usefulness to mankind; and today’s proceedings are more than usually interesting from the fact that this new Heritage Lodge will unite under its Banner members of no less than twenty-one Lodges. Brethren resident in the Shortlands district who, perhaps were not acquainted with each other will now meet under the agreeable atmosphere of a Masonic Lodge, with its natural introduction into the social life of the District. Friendships made in Masonry are often the best and strongest of all.
This Lodge is very fortunate in its Founders, and the Provincial Grand Master had the greatest of confidence in recommending the Grand Master to accept the petition and grant the Warrant. There is a great responsibility attached to the Founder of a Lodge; its future very largely depends on the Masonic skill and zeal of those Brethren who control it during the first years of its existence.
May I suggest that it will be the endeavour of the Lodge to commence at the time stated in the summons; unpunctuality is a waste of time, and leads to discontent. With regards to ritual, the Masonic authorities do not recommend any particular one, but it is far more convenient to adopt one of the recognised workings. And lastly, I need not mention the care necessary in the admittance of candidates, and feel perfectly sure that the first Lodge it has been my privilege to consecrate will be one of which I shall be proud. With these thoughts, I call upon the Provincial Grand Chaplain to give the opening prayer.
The Festive Board that evening enjoyed the following menu:
Oxtail Soup
Poached Halibut, with shrimp Sauce
Saddle of Mutton
Sorbet au rhum
Roast Pheasant
Ices
Coffee
The wines to accompany were: sherry, Bordeaux, Barsac, Hock, Burgundy, Brandy, Liqueur whisky and fruit cup.
All this was supplied for the annual subscription of three and a half guineas and it is obvious that there were no ‘drink drive’ rules in those days!!!
The above sets out the manner in which the Lodge was conceived, formed and consecrated and in the next in the series I will show how those early Founders ‘Spread the Light’.
Tony Saunders