Past Grand Secretary UGLE Although a Secretary to the Grand Lodge was appointed in 1723 (becoming Grand Secretary in 1734) and the premier Grand Lodge had a permanent building in Great Queen Street from 1775, it was not until 1838 that the Grand Secretary’s Office came into being. From the of the two Grand Lodges in 1813 until 1838, the Grand Secretaryship was a joint office shared by William White, who had held the same office in the premier Grand Lodge and Edward Harper, who had been Deputy Grand Secretary of the Antients.
United Grand Lodge of England, the governing body of Freemasonry in England and Wales, from 1892 until his death, making him the longest serving Grand Secretary to date. In 1838, Harper ‘retired’ and White was During this time asked to take on the role of Grand Secretary. he took part in the foundation ceremonies of He agreed but on one condition: that Grand over 400 lodges. Lodge employed two full-time clerks to assist Sir Edward stated that the lodge’s purpose with paperwork. As a result of the expansion was ‘to meld the clerks into greater harmony’. in members and lodges in the Victorian periIt would also assist Grand Lodge by bringing od, by the time Letchworth became Grand into Freemasonry suitable candidates that Secretary in 1892 the office had grown to might become clerks in the office; and get seven clerks. As they had to be Master Mabrethren through the Chair in a reasonable sons it was suggested they should have a time for additional duties. The latter was imlodge—Letchworth Lodge No.3505. portant, as many lodges had more than 100 Sir Edward Letchworth (1833–1917) was the members and it could take 15 or more years Grand Secretary, or Chief Executive, of the to reach the Chair.
George Cockerill Jewel The George Cockerill jewel can be found in the Museum of Freemasonry in Riga, Latvia,. He was a long time Parliament member, Deputy Director of Military Intelligence and Director of Special Intelligence with the rank of Brigadier-General. In 1926 he was knighted, shortly after he was master.
Cross Keys March 2021
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