Bros Gilbert & Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the VictorianMasonic Lodge, I am incurring no duties era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. and responsibilities, and that my personS. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composal attendance is not expected. er Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900) and to the works they jointly created. The two men col- He never attended the Lodge and it is strange laborated on fourteen comic operas between as to why he did allow it other than he liked 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S. Pinafore, The the kudos! Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado are among the best known. Bro. Gilbert was initiated into Lodge St. Machar No. 54 in Scotland, while on manoeuvres with the Militia. In 1876 after his return to London he joined Bayard Lodge No. 1615. In 1871 Gilbert first worked with the man who would become his collaborator on what is referred to as the Savoy Operas, Sir Arthur Sullivan. Arthur Sullivan took his first degree in Harmony Lodge No. 255 on 11 April 1865, then meeting at the Greyhound Inn, Richmond, Middlesex. His friend Frederic Clay, the man who was to be instrumental in bringing about the Gilbert-Sullivan duo, was initiated with him. Although Arthur Sullivan limited his Lodge duties to becoming the organist for a few years and took no other office in Lodge or the Province, he was honoured as the Grand Organist of the United Grand Lodge of England for the year 1887. In January 1896, Sullivan joined the United Studholme Alliance Lodge No. 1591. He also gave his name to the Arthur Sullivan Lodge No. 2156, consecrated on 28 June 1886. The Lodge still meets in Manchester.
Sullivan, in accepting to have his name used also justified his absence, and his future intentions, in his letter of 15th March, to the Senior Warden designate Bro A H Williams: ... it is of course thoroughly understood that, in giving my name to the proposed
Cross Keys April 2021
My thanks to the PGL Warwickshire.
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