A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE PROGRESS OF THE LODGE - THE FIRST 75 YEARS
PREAMBLE
Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren, I have called this talk ‘A brief account of the progress of the Lodge, the first 75 years’ as I have no wish to bore you with a minutia of detail, (which can be repetitive) as recorded in the minutes since we were consecrated way back in 1935.
The emblem of the Lodge is a blazing torch with the motto ‘Take and pass on’ and I hope to show as to how we have endeavoured to live up to this charge over the last three quarters of a century, copies of this presentation will be available to you at the festive board together with some of the documents to which I have referred.
However, before I do so I wish to take the opportunity to paint a short picture of what was actually going on in the world back then.
Nationally, it was the silver jubilee of King George V, there was a general election with Stanley Baldwin becoming PM as leader of the National Party, Clement Atlee became leader of the Labour Party and Malcolm Campbell raised the land speed record to 484mph but perhaps of more importance to our ladies, Nylon was invented.
On the road, driving tests became compulsory, the speed limit in urban areas was reduced to 30mph and ‘cat’s eyes’ were introduced.
Hit songs included Dancing cheek to cheek, The good ship lollipop and Lullaby of Broadway.
In the film world releases included Mutiny on the Bounty starring Clark Gable and Charles Laughton and Top Hat with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers.
Sheffield Wednesday won the FA cup beating West Bromwich Albion 4 goals to 2 and England lost the test series to South Africa 1 nil with 4 matches drawn.
The headline in the Daily Mirror for 23rd November 1935 read ‘BRITAIN FIRM TO MUSSOLINI’ this being a reference to the economic sanctions imposed on Italy by the League of Nations following its invasion of Ethiopia.
THE EARLY YEARS
Whilst our first meeting was held on 23rd November 1935, it will be appreciated that before this could happen, a considerable amount of work and organisation was required. The idea of forming a new Lodge was first mooted between Bros Alan Wilson and George Dowsett in the course of returning from a Chapter meeting to which they both belonged. Following a favourable approach to other local Masons, by the time of the first meeting we had a total of 21 founder members of diverse occupations such as a Retired Naval Officer, several Directors, a Civil Servant, Solicitors, an Engineer, an Optician, a Journalist, various Importers and Dealers, a Minister of Religion and even a Builder.
Before all this could happen a Founders Committee had to be formed which first met at the Bromley Masonic Hall (at that time actually in Bromley in Cromwell Road) on 21st March 1935 the main purpose of which was the allocation of offices in the course of which it was agreed that Bro Charles Nickols, a PM of Cornwallis Lodge No 1107, the oldest in Bromley and, ultimately, sponsor of Heritage, would be our first Master, another important decision taken that evening was that we would work the ‘Emulation’ ritual.
The Lodge name ‘Heritage’ was not the original name considered as it was initially proposed to name the Lodge after the Duke of Kent, permission for this was not forthcoming possibly because Duke of Kent Lodge 5818 was founded in Maidstone in the same year. As one of our founders was a member of Posterity Lodge 4979 it was suggested that a word having a similar import would be appropriate hence the name Heritage was adopted.
At the second Founders meeting it was recommended that ‘all future joining members should be informed that, should they become Past Masters of another Lodge, they should not hope to go forward to the chair of this Lodge’. Time and circumstance have ordained that our Founders’ wishes have had to be disregarded and we are grateful to those Past Masters’ of other Lodges who have occupied the chair.
Following the third founders’ meeting, Cornwallis Lodge agreed to sponsor us and arrangements were put in hand for the consecration on 23rd November 1935 which, due to the sad loss of our Provincial Grand Master, was conducted by Bro William Blay as Deputy Provincial Grand Master in charge, Heritage thus has the unique distinction of being the only Lodge formed in the period when Kent (which was one Province at the time) was without a Provincial Grand Master.
The meeting was attended by:
Consecrating Officers
Grand Lodge Officers
Founder Members and
Visitors (including 5 from Cornwallis)
Making a total of 151 with some 85 Brethren dining.
The menu for the occasion was Oxtail soup, Poached halibut with shrimp sauce, Saddle of mutton, Sorbet au rhum, Roast Pheasant, ices and coffee. The wine served being Sherry, Bordeaux, Barsac, Hock, Burgundy, Liqueur Whiskey, Brandy and a fruit cup, all of which was apparently well within the Lodge annual dues which were set at 3 and a half guineas or in decimal money, £3.57.
In the course of the various toasts and replies mention was made of events among the great powers of Europe and the threat to freedom and democracy (it was in 1935 that Germany’s national flag was changed to incorporate the swastika) the feeling expressed by several speakers was to the hope that, among other things, ‘Heritage would prove to be a strong buttress and that it would make its members good Masons and citizens’.
At our second meeting held on 25th January 1936 it was necessary to report the death of King George V, I have reproduced a copy of the summons for what, in effect, was our first regular meeting, which I hope will prove to be of interest. It will be noted that what is now the October meeting was originally held in September, the Installation meeting being in November.
You may wonder as why the summons for today refers to the 299th meeting of the Lodge whereas, with a Lodge meeting 4 times a year over 75 years, one would have expected it to reach 300. The explanation is that with the original summons being un-numbered, when the decision to include the meeting number was made in October 1947, only the ‘regular’ meetings of the Lodge were counted thus excluding the consecration meeting. However as we have also had three emergency meetings, today we actually meeting for the 303rd time.
The Lodge made such good progress before the war that by the meeting of 2nd September 1939 we had a total of 43 members which is more than double the number of founders, unhappily the minutes record, prior to the opening of the Lodge, the Master made reference to the unique circumstances under which it met with ‘the shadow of war being upon it’, war being declared the very next day.
THE WAR YEARS
Although at the outbreak of war Grand Lodge suspended all Masonic meetings, this was soon lifted so that meetings could resume but subject to certain restrictions such as meeting in the morning and allowing the wearing of uniforms.
The Lodge was able to carry on but with everything on a much reduced scale. In order that no member should be unable to attend due to expense, the Lodge became non-dining, the dues were reduced to one guinea and the cost of the festive board was set at two shillings and sixpence which is £1.05 and 12 and a half pence respectively in today’s money. The requirement to meet in the morning seems to have only lasted to 1941, the minutes for September 1940 record that during the meeting there was an air raid warning accompanied by heavy gunfire.
In 1941 we initiated the first of three members of the Canadian army, also in this year the Masonic Hall was requisitioned for The Royal Observer Corps and we had to meet at the Greyhound Hotel. This arrangement lasted to mid 1942, as it was not possible to open the Hotel before 3.30pm which meant that our meetings could not be concluded before the blackout, we were then given dispensation to meet at the Bromley Public Library with a number of meetings being held in the summer months, the Installation meetings being held at Freemason’s Hall.
The installation meeting in 1941 was the last to be held in November the next such meeting being held on 27th March 1943 thus Bro Henry Smith served as Master for a period of 16 months.
In 1945 the Secretary was able to report that not only had the Lodge managed to meet continuously throughout the war but our membership had increased to 50, however, the roll of honour sadly records that, whilst on active service, two of our members lost their lives and two were wounded, in addition, two members were wounded in the home defence. In all a total of eighteen Brethren served their Country during the war.
Also in 1945 Bro James Lovering became our first initiate to become Master in addition, the Lodge considered itself sufficiently strong to sponsor the formation of a Royal Arch Chapter, 16 of our members became founder members of the Chapter.
The accepted wartime dress code of morning dress or uniform without white gloves seems to have continued for some time, this is not as odd as it may first seem as clothes were then rationed and clothing coupons were held in high value, thus a requirement to wear evening dress could have prevented a member from attending.
POST WAR TO OUR 21ST ANNIVERSARY MEETING IN NOVEMBER 1956
In October 1947 the Lodge returned from exile at the Public Library to meet again at the Bromley Masonic Hall which required a great deal of refurbishment, this work was undertaken on an unpaid basis by the members of the Lodges who would meet there. Some idea of the state that war had reduced the Country to can be gleaned from an order issued by the Ministry of Food to the effect that ‘no luncheon, dinner supper or any similar service for food should be supplied to a party of persons exceeding 100 in number’.
An unusual event occurred in 1948 when Lord Cornwallis, our Provincial Grand Master, got married. There being no precedent for such an occasion, when asked as to what would be an appropriate wedding gift he requested a donation to the 1950 festival in aid of the RMBI it being suggested the members each give one shilling or 5 pence in today’s money, Heritage contributed generously and the minute book includes a letter of thanks from Lord Cornwallis.
At the March 1949 meeting a resolution was passed that a Lodge of Instruction be formed, hitherto this had been held in conjunction with The Manor of Bromley Lodge.
When recently going through the locker box a number of black rosettes were discovered the purpose of which was unclear, I am now able to clarify the mystery as the minutes for the 27th January 1951 meeting include a letter from Grand Lodge regarding the mourning for our late Grand Master, The Duke of Devonshire, stating that, in lieu of Masonic mourning, a black rosette worn on the collar of each Lodge officer would be appropriate.
Sadly the rosettes were in use again following the death of King George VI, Past Grand Master, in February 1952.
As from 1st January 1952, the ban on the wearing of white gloves was removed by Grand Lodge it now being a matter for the Masters of individual Lodges.
At the October 1953 meeting Bro Nickols, our first WM, presented the Lodge with the chain of office now worn by our Master, the cost of which, including the engraving, was borne by the past Masters to date.
In March 1954, Bro Sidney Smith became the first joining member to be elected Master.
The lodge continued to progress so that by our 21st anniversary meeting in November 1956 we had a total of 62 members, at this meeting the Lodge banner (which had been made, at a cost of about £40.00, by Mrs Margaret Allen as a labour of love as her husband, four nephews and a grandson were members) was received, unveiled by the Deputy Provincial GM and dedicated by the Provincial Grand Chaplain.
One of the striking features when looking at the attendance book for the period after the war until our 21st anniversary meeting in November 1956 is the number of visitors we entertained which numbered in excess of 10 at 31 out of 45 meetings, the average being 14 and on several occasions was in excess of 25. The 21st anniversary meeting being attended by some 45 visitors.
It may also be of interest that our Lodge dues were then £4.4.0 which is £4.20 in decimal money, although in real terms this equates to about £170.00 today.
THE REST OF THE FIFTIES AND THE SIXTIES
At the January 1958 meeting the Brethren watched a demonstration of ‘Lodge Night 1757’ by The Bromley and West Kent Masonic Study Circle, a performance in which was produced and directed by our own Bro Cyril Maddison-Roberts, the charity collection raising £15.15.0 which would be over £600.00 now.
At the October 1959 meeting it was the sad duty of the Secretary to report the death of Bro Nickols, our first Master.
Sometime in 1960 Bro Charles Robson discovered a dirty old gold cup in the locker which, it is believed, was originally presented to the Lodge as a golf trophy by Bro Stansfield who became a joining member in 1937. This was cleaned up and, as the competition had lapsed due to lack of golfing members, offered to the Province as ‘The Heritage Cup’ which is still played for to this day.
In October 1964, Bro George Dowsett, whose conversation with Bro Alan Wilson in early 1935 can be considered as the conception of the Lodge was made an honorary member at the age of 90.
The Lodge continued to prosper so that by the close of the sixties our membership totalled 59 including 5 of our original founders, the Lodge dues however were now £7.7.0.
THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES
In February 1973 the Lodge received a letter from the Provincial Grand Master regarding the forthcoming division of the Province of Kent into East and West planned for 31st May 1973 explaining that, with 140 Lodges and 45 Chapters, the existing arrangement was considered too large for one person. Thus the March 1973 meeting was our last as a Kent Lodge and since October of that year we have met as a member of the Province of West Kent.
On 7th July 1973, to ‘encourage inter family relationship’ our Master, Bro Raymond. Gray, instigated the first of our ‘summer get togethers which have been held on a fairly regular basis ever since.
At our January 1977 meeting Bro Cyril Maddison-Roberts (on behalf of himself and his family) presented the Lodge with a 100 year old bible, a gift which was very much appreciated by the members.
Our March 1979 meeting was the last to be held at the Bromley Masonic Hall in Cromwell Road as in October of that year we met for the first time here at Oakley House where (apart from our 50th anniversary meeting which was held in Sevenoaks) we have remained.
The move however was not without its problems as the condition of the premises necessitated major expenditure by the Hall Company so in 1981 we were required to contribute the not inconsiderable sum of £1230.00 for shares in the company, this sum being raised from a special ‘one off’ levy on the full subscribing members of £42.00 each or about two and a half times the annual dues, if such a levy were to be made today it would equate to approximately £400.00 for each of us.
At the January 1981 meeting our last remaining founder and 4th Master, Bro Cyril Ford, was made an honorary member, unfortunately he passed away on 10th June 1982 thus severing the final direct link with our founders.
In 1984 Bro Charles Robson, who joined us in 1948, received a long service citation and was also made an honorary member of the Lodge.
On 25th November 1985, we had our golden anniversary meeting to celebrate the 50 years since the consecration of the Lodge. The meeting was attended by the Provincial Grand Master, Bro Churton-Collins, and, due to the numbers attending (18 members and 54 guests) was held at Sevenoaks.
The meeting was much enjoyed by all and included a reading of the minutes of the consecration meeting held in November 1935; a talk by Bro Cyril Maddison-Roberts entitled ‘What is a Lodge of Freemasons? And parts of the first degree lecture were performed by a demonstration team consisting of the officers of the Lodge.
In December 1986 the Lodge received the most generous bequest of £12729.00 from the estate of Nancy, the widow of our late brother Charles Taylor-Cook our Master in 1975, which considerably bolstered our benevolent fund, by generally making charitable donations from the interest, we have been able to maintain a sizable sum to this day.
The Provincial Grand Master attended our March 1987 meeting for the express purpose of presenting Bro Cyril Maddison-Roberts with his 50 year certificate; he gave a review of Bro Cyril’s Masonic career and thanked him for services to freemasonry. Our Master also thanked Bro Cyril for his services to Heritage.
In January and March 1988 respectively, Bros Gordon Davie, who as Provincial Director of Ceremonies had often visited in an official capacity, and Henry Ross were received into the Lodge as honorary members both saying how pleased they were to accept the privilege.
In the early seventies almost every summons had contained a memorial notice for one or more departed Brother and the average age of the Lodge was increasing. Throughout the seventies and eighties the membership of the Lodge was in decline, by 1979 it had fallen to 45 members and by 1989 to 38 which represents a 36% fall from the end of the sixties. Unfortunately this was to be a portent of worse things to come.
THE LAST 25 YEARS
In January 1992, Bro Cyril Maddison-Roberts accepted our invitation to become an honorary member.
In March 1992 Bro Jeffery Fraser, who had been our Master in 1970, became the first Brother to be installed as Master for the second time, a distinction which has now been shared by a number of members.
In October 1992, The Charity Steward announced that the Lodge had donated the sum of £858.00 to the Cornwallis appeal for the New Samaritan Fund and, as a consequence, we are now Patrons of the Fund.
At the November 1998 meeting Bro Doug Long (who had been initiated into Heritage by his father, a founder) was presented with a 50 year certificate for services to Freemasonry by Bro Micky Cash Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master.
In the summer of 2001, a good number of members and their ladies had great pleasure in entertaining Helen, the widow of Bro Herbert Bland, at a restaurant in the Isle of Sheppey on the occasion of her 100th Birthday, an event that was much enjoyed by all.
In December 2001 Bro John Rutland was made an honorary member in recognition for his services to Heritage, in particular, his 9 years as our Secretary.
In October 2003 we were pleased to welcome into the Lodge Bro John Blew Assistant Provincial Grand Master to present Bro Jeffrey Fraser (our Master in 1970 and 1992) with his 50 year certificate. As Bro Jeffrey had at one time been Provincial Grand Organist and, additionally, Provincial Choir Master, the choir also attended. This was a ‘white table’ meeting so that our ladies and non-masons could also be with us on this special occasion which was greatly enjoyed by all. In addition, Bro Jeffrey became an honorary member.
At the end of 2003, the Charity Steward was able to announce that, in the previous 8 years, the Lodge had been able to donate in excess of £11,000 to the Provincial festival for the RMBI and had received a certificate to the effect that we are now Grand Patrons of the Institution.
We had a further ‘white table’ meeting in October 2004 when our honorary member Bro Gordon Davie, gave a most interesting talk on the subject of ‘Women and Freemasonry’.
At the end of 2004, our membership totalled just 19 of which only 13 could be considered as ‘active’ a state of affairs that was a cause of great concern as our very existence was considered to be at risk.
With this in mind, in January 2005, Bro John Blew Assistant Provincial Grand Master again visited the Lodge to say how disappointed both the Provincial Grand Master and himself were to hear of our plight, not least of all in view of his most successful previous visit.
He introduced Bro Fred Halligan who spoke of the Provincial support team whereby Brethren who are not members would attend our meetings to make them worthwhile and hopefully encourage others to join. We afterwards had a series of meetings with the support team in attendance. As a result of their efforts, ably assisted by introductions from our guest organist Bro Joe Cole, Bro Charles Sesay and others , 13 of our members have joined in the last 5 years so our membership at the March meeting stood at 26 of which 22 are ‘active’ so it appears that we may well have ‘turned the corner’.
In January 2006, Bro Eric Culshaw (our 46th initiate and Master in 1968) received his 50 year certificate for services to Freemasonry, In October of that year he also became an honorary member.
In March 2008, Bro Charles Sesay was installed as our Master, I mention this because it was such a great occasion with 72 Brethren attending the majority of whom dined necessitating the use the main banqueting suite, which had never happened before, there were about five organists in total and many songs were sung and the event lives long in the memory.
We have always been fortunate with our music numbering 3 Provincial Grand Organists among our members one of whom, Brother Sidney Smith was Lodge organist for 35 years apart from the year he was Master. More recently we have been less fortunate so we were very pleased when, last March, our guest organist Bro Joe Cole became an honorary member.
Heritage has always prided itself on being a ‘family’ Lodge and over the course of the years this has frequently been demonstrated with sons, grandsons, sons in law, brothers, nephews, cousins, etc all becoming members, at present we have 3 sets of Fathers and sons as members ie Bros Fred and Colin Dell, Martin and Alex Tonge and Tony and Andrew Saunders.
Since our inception 173 Brethren have either joined or been initiated thus together with 21 Founders the overall number of Brethren who have been members now totals 194.
So there you have it, this report can now be viewed as ‘up to date’ However, in conclusion, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that our first Master was a Past Master of our mother Lodge Cornwallis No 1107, since then, no other Cornwallis Past Master has ever been Master of Heritage until this year with the installation of our present Master Bro Jason Pearson which I feel sure you will agree is quite fitting for our 75th anniversary.
Some of the Changes from the Early Days
The committee met before each meeting
Brethren receiving Provincial honours received a grant from Lodge funds towards their regalia
Past Masters’ jewels were purchased for each recipient rather than passing from one brother to another
Some Highlights
May 1942 - Bro Brook (a Founder) promoted to Grand Treasurer
27th March 1944 - Our initiate, Bro Wyman, now a Brigadier-General and also a CBE attended and gave an account of the campaign in Italy, the minute book contains an autographed photograph of him next to General Montgomery’s car whilst the General was addressing members of the Canadian Army
25th November 1944 - A visit of Bro Dvoulety, the Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Czechoslovakia (in exile) and Bro Korbel the Grand Secretary
24th March 1945 - A visit from the Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Secretary
26th January 1946 - A visit from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master
22nd March 1947 - A visit from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master
31st March 1951 - A visit from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master
4th November 1956 - A visit from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Grand Chaplain for the banner dedication
16th June 1959 - Death of our first Master, Bro Nickols
June 1976 - Bro Cyril Maddison-Roberts (our 7th initiate in 1937) appointed Assistant Provincial Grand Master
28th March 1981 - A visit from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master
26th March 1983 - A visit from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master
23rd November 1985 - A visit from Provincial Grand Master on the occasion of our 50th anniversary
28th March 1987 - A visit from the Provincial Grand Master
23rd March 2002 - A visit from the Deputy Provincial Grand Master
Presented in Lodge 27th November 2010
By Bro Alan Hossack P.Pr.S.G.D
Secretary
I gratefully acknowledge the assistance gained from:
The book ‘Our Heritage’ written by Bro Leslie Powell in 1956 to commemorate our first 21 years
The booklet produced for our 50th anniversary meeting on 23rd November 1985 by Bro Rutland and
An anonymous report produced for the same meeting.