Foreword
By W.Bro. Tony Saunders P. Prov. S.G.D. LGR – Secretary & 62nd Master of Heritage Lodge (1997)
This is the second in a series of articles using information abstracted from a bound book ‘Our Heritage’ written by one of our Founders L. H. Powell.
In this section I summarise how the Lodge moved on from its consecration in 1935, through the ‘dark war years’ and into the light once more.
In researching this section, I found reference to a library of some 100+ books kept by Heritage Lodge at this time which I believe may have been passed to another Lodge at Bromley for safe keeping and intend to pursue finding these as part of this work.
If any Brother has any further information on this I would be pleased to receive it and will report in further issues as to the progress of uncovering these books.
I would dearly like to start a usable Library for the benefit of the Brethren using such information which could be added to for future generations.
I have actually found one book in our own archives entitled ‘Freemasonry and its Etiquette’ presented to one of our past Secretaries, W.Bro. Raymond Gray by W.Bro. Powell P.Pr.J.G.D. as ‘a small appreciation of a very happy, enjoyable and outstanding year as Master (1967/8)’. In this book by William Preston Campbell-Everden printed in 1932, there are several sections making reference as how various Masonic rituals and / or parts should be conducted and it will certainly make good additional reading at a Lodge of Instruction Meeting which I intend to do next season!
The book also explains more complex rituals such as Consecration Ceremonies and Laying Foundation Stones on actual buildings.
In the meantime, on with the how the burning torch lit in 1935 by Heritage Lodge started to ‘Spread the Light’.
Tony Saunders
January 2018
Spreading The Light - Through the ‘Dark Years’
The first Installation meeting was held on November 28, 1936 and was attended by Bro. Arthur Atkinson, as representative of the Provincial Grand Master.
The meeting mustered 32 Brethren at which Bro. Alan Wilson was installed as Wor. Master by Bro. Nickols.
At this meeting a Charities Association was formed, and Bro. Mann appointed as its Secretary.
At the Lodge’s second meeting on January 23, 1937 the Deputy Provincial Grand Master attended to see how his ‘Masonic child’ was progressing and the Wor. Master had the pleasure of initiating his brother, Hugh Raynor Wilson, in the presence of the chief Consecrating Officer.
Wor. Bro Powell wrote:
This was the first ‘family’ candidate, if the phrase is applicable, to come in to the Lodge; he was the forerunner of several.
This tradition has certainly been ‘Passed on’ as Heritage lodge has had several ‘Family’ candidates beyond these early meetings and up to the time of these articles including my own Son Andrew, currently in the Chair as the 81st Worshipful Master of the Lodge of whom I had the pleasure of both initiating and installing.
Bro. Brook (Treasurer) also at this same meeting in January 1937, presented the Lodge with a Silver trowel, for use by the Wor. Master in directing the ‘fire’ at after-Lodge proceedings.
This trowel is still in use at our Festive Boards.
The first Emergency Meeting was held on February 22, 1937 which in those days could be summoned by the Wor. Master at his discretion.
At this meeting another ‘family’ candidate was introduced and Cyril Maddison-Roberts, a cousin of Bro. J. G. Lovering was initiated.
The Lodge was surely and soundly growing and there were evenings where all three degrees were worked at one meeting!
At the meeting held on September 11, 1937 Bro. Brook presented 20 Masonic books to the Lodge to form the nucleus of a library and later contributed a lot more which were housed in the Bromley Masonic Hall in a bookcase made and contributed by Bro. H. R. Wilson.
Wor. Bro Powell recorded in his book that;
This library now consists of over 100 volumes dealing with subjects of interest to Freemasons.
(It is these books that I refer to in the foreword above and which will hopefully be found in order that they can benefit current and future generations?)
Dark clouds however were forming over the country during this period and the Minutes of the meeting held on September 2, 1939 contain these significant words, written by Bro. Dowsett, the new Secretary:
Before opening the Lodge, the Wor. Master (Bro. Ford) made reference to ‘the unique circumstances under which the Lodge was met, the shadow of war being upon it.
The Lodge was then opened in due form and with solemn prayer.
Wor. Bro. Powell records in his book:
Those who lived through this time will remember the period which came to be known as the ‘phoney’ war. Enemy aeroplanes approached London, but did not drop bombs. The life of the Lodge proceeded, but everything was on a reduced scale. Many Brethren were severely affected by the curtailment of business and commerce.
The Lodge became non-dining with a subscription of one guinea but on the outbreak of war an order was issued by Grand Lodge to suspend all Masonic meetings in view of the National Emergency.
On September 4, 1939 – The Grand Secretary sent out another notification to the effect that it was not contemplated that the order need be more than a temporary measure to remain in operation while consideration could be given to the manner in which Lodges could meet in these abnormal times.
There followed special directions governing the resumption of Lodge meetings which included that Lodge meetings should not be held on a Sunday, meetings should be arranged in the morning and after-proceedings kept as brief as possible with Brethren allowed to wear morning dress or uniform.
Heritage Lodge, therefore was able to continue its meetings without interruption although we may have a different interpretation of ‘interruption’ today as in the meeting held in January 1940 the Minutes recorded:
The occasion will be memorable by the fact that it was the beginning of the intensive bombing of London by German aircraft but not withstanding the noise of heavy gunfire (there was an air-raid on!) Bro. C. F. Ford delivered a very interesting and instructive paper entitled ‘An Explanation of Emulation.
The Wor. Master (Wor. Bro. Powell himself) testified that Bro. Ford remained ‘calm and unflustered and that there was not the slightest sign of uneasiness on the part of anyone present, and the remainder of the Lodge business was conducted with the usual unhurried precision.’
… and some Brethren complain today if it is too hot or cold in the Lodge!!!!!!!
At the meeting held on January 25, 1941 a proposal for initiation was read for Mr. Robert Andrew Wyman, of Edmonton, Canada, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian army in England, the first of three ‘recruits’ to join the Lodge from the Dominion.
This meeting too, is noteworthy for the presentation of a special gavel made from the timber of Winchester Cathedral.
It was at this point in the Lodge’s history that they were first made ‘homeless’ as the Bromley Masonic Hall was taken over by the Royal Observer Corps.
A new venue was found in the form of a room in the Greyhound Hotel and the first meeting at this new home was held on September 6, 1941.
A problem however arose in so far as the meetings at The Greyhound’ could not start until 3.30pm and therefore could not finish before the ‘blackout’.
A proposal to hold the November and January meetings at Freemasons Hall in London was not met with general approval and so it was agreed to Hold the November Installation meeting in London and the remainder in Bromley, but in the summer.
The first of these summer meetings was held on May 23, 1942 but was overshadowed by the death of the Most Worshipful The Grand Master, H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught and Strathern.
The Lodge in common with others went into mourning for the prescribed period during which further difficulties were incurred involving having to move from The Greyhound Hotel to Bromley Library and altering the Installation meeting to March.
At the first meeting held at the Library on September 5, 1942 the death of a second Grand Master, Most Wor. Air Commodore H.R.H. The Duke of Kent sent the Lodge in to a second 6-month period of mourning.
At an Emergency meeting held December 16, 1944 at which, under special war-time conditions laid down by Grand Lodge, two brethren, Bros. W. G. Gridlay and N. H. Pelly were Raised at an interval less than prescribed in the Book of Constitutions between the Second and Third Degrees.
Hereafter having survived the war-years and within 10 years of Consecration, the Lodge felt strong enough to sponsor the formation of a Royal Arch Chapter and a resolution to this effect was moved on September 29, 1945 by Bro. Alan Wilson, Seconded by Bro. Dowset and carried by the Brethren.
Sixteen of the 21 Founders were members of the Lodge and at the meeting held on November 24, 1945 and on the occasion of the Lodge’s 10th Birthday the Secretary reported that the Petition to Form a Royal Arch Chapter had been approved by Supreme Grand Chapter.
It was also in this sense, another ‘family’ meeting at which Bro. W. G. Maddison-Roberts was initiated by the Wor. Master, his cousin and the charge delivered by his own blood Brother C. Maddison-Roberts.
And so, the Heritage ‘Family’ moved onwards with the torch still burning bright despite having travelled through ‘dangers and difficulties’ on a scale never seen before, and we all hope, will never see again?
In the next in the series the Lodge returns home to the Bromley Masonic Hall and forms its own Lodge of Instruction.
Tony Saunders