Chapter 3 - The Lodge and Incidents from its History

The Lodge and Incidents from its History

Fo1lowing the founding of the lodge it seems rapidly to have become a very virile institution for regular meetings were held, usually in the Wesleyan Church near the Fountain Hotel or at the Fountain Hotel itself, many candidates being initiated. In fact throughout the succeeding years, so great appears to have been the demand, that at practically every meeting two or three degrees were worked. On more than one occasion ten candidates being dealt with at one meeting. There is a note even as late as January 1916 showing that two candidates were raised, five were made fellow-crafts and three were initiated in one evening. It must be remembered that in those days it was permissible for more than two candidates to receive a degree at any one session. Such mass entry could not have created the best working conditions, nor could it have enhanced the decorum and stately conduct of the lodge, and the practice has now ceased.

At first meetings were held continuously throughout the year, there being no summer recess, but in 1868 it was decided that meetings be from September to May, a programme which is again in operation, although for a great many years the installation meeting became an extra one, being held in June. Sometimes reading through the early minutes, one pauses to try to picture the men and times, and a great deal of amusement can be had from such thought wandering. For instance, after one meeting held at the Fountain Hotel is recorded the fact that “after partaking of refreshment the brethren departed in harmony, and picture comes to the mind of these very worthy top-hatted, bearded and whiskered brethren in their Victorian frockcoats wandering homeward by the dockyard wall, leaning unsteadily

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on each other and lifting their voices in the latest refrains while other Masonic bigwigs were safely hoisted into their traps, the sagacious horses trotted them off home in the usual manner observed among horses. As is always the case when a new society is born there was inevitably great emphasis on finance, the new De Shurland Lodge being no exception to this all-prevailing anxiety. Not only was it necessary to purchase regalia and furnishings but there were many outside appeals for assistance. So well, however, do the early brethren appear to have managed, that by 1870 the Secretary was able to declare the lodge out of debt, but there was nothing left in the accounts for the following took place at the April meeting. “Proposed by Bro. Irgleton, seconded by Bro. Middlewick, that, as we have no funds there be no installation banquet.” As an amendment Bro. Shrubsole proposed and Bro. Pannell seconded that a banquet be held and that every brother pay for his ticket. Strangely enough, both the proposition and the amendment were withdrawn at the next meeting, and an alternative proposition was carried that the installation banquet be held at the expense of the Lodge, the price not exceeding seven and sixpence, including half a bottle of wine to each person. The banquet was duly held at the Fountain Hotel, of which WBro Howe was the licensee.

Just about this time Masons throughout England were concentrating on the provision of new and better headquarters in London for Grand Lodge, their efforts culminating in 1869 with the opening of new premises in Great Queen Street. Since those days the much more palatial and magnificent buildings now in use have been erected in the place of this earlier, but no doubt equally useful building. In each of these ventures De Shurland Lodge played its part by subscribing to the funds.

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Leaving finance for a while, as that subject will occur at later stages of this document, let us return to other more normal though by no means less interesting incidents in the life of the lodge. It is, of course, only possible in the scope of this small book, to deal with a minute selection of such events. Thus we find that while the lodge was growing up and maturing it had several troubles which needed careful handling. There was for example the case of the lapsed Lodge of Instruction, a section of the Lodge’s works which had been formed soon after its inception. This Lodge of Instruction seems to have functioned without having recourse to any Lodge assistance and appeared almost disconnected from its parent, having its own secretary and arranging its own meetings. However, in 1871, the former secretary was ordered by the main Lodge to hand over the books of the Lodge of Instruction which he had retained, and it was decided to restart this branch of the activities which had ceased owing to the secretary failing to call any meetings. This action does not seem to have solved all the troubles for there is frequent reference to the poor administration of the Lodge of Instruction, until in 1874, a new one was started on lines which appear to have stood the test of time, for the Lodge of Instruction is still functioning at the present day on much the same basis as in those far-off formative years, although in 1894 there were again a few lapses. One would venture a guess from reading the old records that our Masonic ancestors were much more apt to air their grievances and to stand on their dignity than their present day counterparts, for many times can be found references to quarrels and disagreements such as the one just quoted, and yet a very warm feeling of brotherhood evidently pervaded the Lodge as other much happier, incidents could prove, some of which will he quoted later, but for the moment a look at one or two of the less happy occasions will not be out of place.

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In November, 1872, at a meeting held in St. Pauls School Room Bro. Smith refused to salute the Worshipful master in the three degrees and was rebuked. Later at the banquet he again offended, so at the next Lodge meeting he was dealt with under clauses 20 and 21 of the Book of Constitutions. He wrote letters of apology but, despite this, he was made to resign for "indecent and un-Masonic behaviour" A much more serious incident happened in 1895 over the election of the Senior Warden as the ensuing Worshipful Master; the name of this brother had better not be disclosed as it is a very well-known one locally, and there may still be descendants here who would not desire publicity. After the election a zealous brother rose in the Lodge and asked the Senior Warden not to accept the new office as "He was not a fit and proper person to be installed in the chair of King Solomon". This action naturally created a furore; the new Master Elect refused to withdraw, so the complaining brother told the brethren that, at one time during his service in the Navy, the Senior Warden had been convicted by a court-martial for inappropriate misappropriation of funds and had been sentenced to imprisonment and dismissal. This fact was not disputed but the accused Senior Warden declared that as he had already paid the penalty for his misdeeds, had lived a respectable and honest life ever since and had shown himself a consistently earnest Mason, he thought he was entitled to the indulgence of the Lodge. Since the Lodge committee could not reach a decision the case was forwarded to the Provincial Grand Master for adjudication, the result being that the Lodge was advised not to allow the Senior Warden to become Worshipful Master, advice which was accepted. Again in 1876 we find a little trouble brewing, for the secretary was instructed to write to a former secretary asking him to return the frame of the Grand Lodge Certificate and the Lodge die which he had not handed ever when he relinquished office.

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The same former officer was again “in the wars" when a member complained that, although he had paid his subscription, the secretary had failed to credit him with the payment. This led to a special committee meeting being held to investigate the complaint. Nobody was above being singled out for criticism, for sometimes even the Lodge committee or other officers came under fire from the more crusty of the members, who evidently were very jealous of their rights. When new collars were purchased for the Lodge without the sanction of the members, a brother voiced a strenuous complaint which was only soothed when the Worshipful Master, Bro. Pannell, said that rather than any unpleasant feeling should ensue he would defray the cost himself. On another occasion the Secretary, according to rule, excluded Bro. R.... from the Lodge for non-payment of dues. The latter retaliated by circulating rather libellous stories concerning the secretary, accusing him of having written to Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge slandering another brother’s private character. This, the incensed secretary, WBro. Pannell, denied most vigorously, and Provincial Grand Lodge was informed of the complaint and dispute. The Provincial Grand Master seems to have been somewhat of a Solomon for he not only upheld the Secretary’s statement that no slanderous communications had been sent concerning any brother's character, but he also placated Bro. R.... by allowing him to rejoin the Lodge, asking the committee not to apply the exclusion rule too rigidly. Once, the Worshipful Master himself was in “hot water" for being absent from a lodge meeting without having made arrangements to appoint a Past Master to take his place, and adding insult to injury, had taken his collar and gauntlets away when he attended Provincial Grand Lodge, which he had failed to return. He was accordingly asked for an explanation for thus ‘treating the Lodge with contempt”, an explanation which when given was adjudged satisfactory.

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Leaving the more contentious incidents, mention must also be made of the more usual happenings in the organisation. Brethren know that it is customary at meetings to read a portion of the scriptures, a practice which is not usual in all lodges, so it is interesting to note that this idea was started in 1873 and has continued ever since. Now, no doubt, if something caused its discontinuance the members present would be disconcerted to find such a landmark missing. While thinking of the scriptures and our accepted belief in the Great Architect of the Universe we discover that, in 1878, Grand Lodge sent an instruction to all lodges, including our own, not to admit visiting brethren, particularly those from France, who had not affirmed their belief in the Supreme Ruler. This was in consequence of a disagreement that Grand Lodge had, to new paragraphs in the Constitutions of the Grand Orient of France, which no longer required a belief in God as a qualification for membership. On another occasion Grand Lodge had to issue a warning to lodges to be exceedingly careful to examine all would be visitors, as many instances were coming to light of unqualified strangers gaining admission. Grand Lodge’s communications did not, however, always receive friendly reception, as was instanced in September, 1882, when the following request came from our Masonic rulers. “That for the purpose of extending the fund of benevolence all county lodges shall pay quarterly to the fund the sum of ninepence instead of sixpence per member as at present." After some heated discussion the secretary was instructed to write stating that “this Lodge does not see any reason for such increase.” There is no reference as to the outcome of this open defiance, but there is probably no doubt that later our indignant brothers “toed the line", although at headquarters they would almost certainly be classed with that race mentioned in the Lecture on the Second Tracing Board, the Ephraimites. “Who were always considered a clamorous and turbulent people."

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Music has always played a large part in assisting to provide the right atmosphere and tone at Masonic functions, so it is not surprising that early on in its development a Lodge organist was appointed. At first he played on a borrowed instrument lent by a member, which proved such a welcome addition that, finally, £10 was given for the purpose of purchasing it, provided the organist "thought the instrument was in tone and in other respects worth purchasing". This organ, or rather, harmonium, served its purpose from 1874 until it finally breathed its last in 1889, when a piano was bought. Maybe “breathed its last" is hardly accurate, for the minute says that it was sold. Almost without a doubt the one thing in our lodge room that has rarely been up to standard is the quality of the organs that have been or are in use. One day it may be found possible, when all other main wants are satisfied, that a fund may be raised for the purchase of a new electronic organ, which will give our long-suffering organists an opportunity to exhibit their skill and talents. A purchase whose purpose was not at first sight apparent, was the obtaining by the Lodge of an iron fire screen, until one realises that it was for use during the raising ceremony, to screen the bright light from the blazing fire in the lodge room at the Fountain Hotel so that the correct impressive atmosphere could be created. An item of quite unexpected expenditure was sanctioned by the lodge in 1888 when it was decided to pay for a new Grand Lodge Certificate for Bro. Gardner from Lodge funds, as, on the original certificate, his Christian name had been spelt Parrett instead of Parratt.

On rare occasions in any lodge’s history one can find instances of both fathers and sons and even grandsons being members, and De Shurland Lodge is no exception to this kind of family inheritance. Twice in the hundred years since it started, past masters have seen their sons installed as Masters of the Lodge. In 1889, WBro. Pannell, the secretary, installed his son, and in 1950 WBro. C. N. Woodley, who had initiated his son in 19

1940, presented him for installation. Some other instances of this trend may be of interest; WBro. P. Cook was allowed by the reigning Worshipful Master to raise his own son, while on another occasion a son was responsible for his father’s entry into the fraternity when the late Bro. Reg Whiddett was introduced by his son Roy. Both these brethren, in due time, occupied the Chair. Recently another father-son-brother relationship of peculiar interest has been established, for Bro. Hedge, the organist, in 1964 and 1965, saw his two sons initiated, passed and raised together at the same ceremonies, he himself assisting by presenting the working tools. The Lodge records also instance other occasions when two or more sons have become brothers of their fathers, for WBro C. Hooker’s two sons became members, while the three sons of the late Bro. F. Jack also joined the Lodge. WBro. Stupple, the present treasurer, has also seen his son initiated as a member of this lodge. De Shurland has shown great adaptability in moving with the times as can be seen from the number of occasions that the By-Laws have had to be changed, most changes being due to financial reasons. Rules concerning fees have often had to be altered to keep pace with the ever-pressing, everconstant burden of the increased cost of living, coupled with the diminishing purchasing power of the pound. In July, 1867, in only the second year of the lodges existence, the joining fee was raised to one guinea but, “in future”, to quote the entry, “members of the Army, Navy and Civil Service, because of their stay being temporary were to pay seven and sixpence joining fee”, while the annual fee for non-resident members was lowered from fifteen shillings to ten shillings. In 1874 all the By-Laws were again revised and, in 1878, an addition was made, when a proposition was carried which said that “an extra fee of one guinea be charged any candidates who shall require a Lodge of Emergency, and that the fee for initiation be seven guineas instead of five, while the joining fee should be thirty shillings. Many years later, in 1920, 20

the initiation fee was raised to £l5-15-0, a figure which lasted for several years. At the present moment the fee for initiation is twenty guineas and the joining fee five guineas. Before closing this chapter on the general life of De Shurland Lodge there are just one or two other fragments of interest which the reader may like to peruse. Weather can always play a big part in helping the success of any function and, in the course of time, the brethren have had to contend with downpours of rain, thick fogs, frost, snow, thunder-storms and even floods. What an incredible experience it was, for instance, to see our present building like an island standing in the midst of the flood waters of 1953, and to notice boats being rowed along the adjacent streets. Our brethren of an earlier age, on January 18th, 1881, could point to another time when the elements were most unkind for the annals state that “on this day we had a fearful hurricane which prevented the brethren coming from Mile Town to the Lodge at the Fountain Hotel, the result being that only four brethren arrived. Consequently no lodge was held, and as the railway to Sittingbourne was blocked with snow the Worshipful Master, Bro. Archer, could not arrive”.

Special ceremonies are also pointed out in the Lodge’s chronicles. It has often been the custom for Provincial Officers and past Masters to be invited to assume the various offices on specially selected evenings, or to invite other lodges to participate in the work. It would, of course, be impossible in the scope of such a short journal as this to enumerate many of these happenings, but there are one or two which merit more than passing notice. In February 1948, when Dr. Faulkner was to be raised to the Third Degree another Past Master, who was himself a doctor, H. Madwar PPGD, occupied the Chair and, assisted by other Provincial Officers, performed the ceremony. One of the brethren present, more curious than the others, discovered that the combined ages of those officers working the degree was 820 years, an average of 68 years per 21

person. In February 1950, the Lodge received a visit from its daughter Lodge, the Isle of Sheppey, whose officers then took over and worked the Second Degree to the great interest of all assembled. Such small changes in routine have always been considered of great interest, adding a zest to the meetings which benefits the Lodge in general.

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