Trades House Lodge No.1241

The installation of the lodge took place last month along with the re-dedication to celebrate its 100th Anniversary. We have touched on the lodge in April 2019 Cross Keys.

The lodge was consecrated in 1920 (Covid delayed the anniversary last year) from a discussion on train in an attempt to bring the 14 trades of the House more closely together—an idea still important to the lodge and the House which has the 14 arrows on its crest bound together. The link with the city became obvious when Bro. Matthew Montgomery, Lord Provost of Glasgow, was installed as master only four years after its consecration. This was followed another four years later when Bro. Sir John Train MP for Cathcart was installed as master while serving as Deacon of the Incorporation of Masons and later became Deacon Convener. The master’s chain has the crests of all 14 incorporations as shown.

The installation on 13th November started at 10am which was followed by the ceremony of Rededication by Bro. Ramsay McGhee, Grand Master Mason and member of the Incorporation of Masons, again maintaining the link from 100 years ago. Just before the start of the ceremony, Grand Chaplain performed a short remembrance ceremony for Armistice which was thoroughly appreciated by the assembled brethren. Following the labour, a seven course meal concluded the day. From a visitor’s point of view, it was great to be back in regalia, to be welcomed warmly as a visitor and enjoy the company of so many brethren (young and old) which made the day very special.

The Trades House of Glasgow Lodge meets in the Trades Hall on the 2nd Monday of each of the months of October, November, December, February and March at 6.30pm.

Bro. Ramsay McGhee GMM with the master Bro. Hamilton Purdie PM

A collection of seventy-two miniature jewels formerly belonging to Henry Bladon, a Freemason and manufacturer of Masonic regalia in London. During the Victorian era it became the custom for Freemasons to wear jewels to demonstrate not only their various Masonic achievements but also their membership of Masonic Orders beyond the Craft. The enthusiasm for doing so became such that the only way of adequately achieving this was by wearing miniatures.

Henry (Harry) Bladon took over the family jewellery business in Clerkenwell when his father Joseph retired in 1894. Although the partnership with Frederick Humphries was dissolved in 1897, the company traded as Bladon & Humphries until 1910, when it became Bladon & Co.; it continued to manufacture and retail Masonic jewellery and regalia until Harry’s death in 1948.

Henry Bladon was born in 1867 and, having been proposed into the Duke of Cornwall Lodge No. 1839 by his father, was initiated on 13 September 1890. He combined business with pleasure by becoming what can only be described as a very enthusiastic and conscientious Freemason. He joined Roll Call Lodge No. 2523 in 1895 and was a Founder of Victoria Diamond Jubilee Lodge No. 2675 in 1897, of which he was Master in 1901. Over the next twenty years he became a member of twelve lodges, helped found nine, and was Master of seven. As a Provincial Officer in Middlesex and Surrey, he was part of the Consecrating Team on a large number of occasions, resulting in him becoming an Honorary Member of some twenty lodges. Awarded London Rank in 1911, he first became a Grand Officer in 1916.

This set of jewels can be viewed at the museum of the UGLE in London. Can you imagine walking into a lodge today . . . ?