7 minute read

Chapter 4 - Gifts to the Lodge and in the Lodge

Gifts to the Lodge and in the Lodge

A has been mentioned earlier, although bickering occurred on a few rare occasions, happier things usually predominated and, amongst these there are several instances which show how much good feeling and the real spirit of fraternity existed in the Lodge, which was ever ready to recognise true worth by some special mark of its favour, gifts being made to various brethren in appreciation of services rendered or to mark special occasions. In 1896 the secretary was presented with a handsome jewel and a gold pencil case bought by subscriptions given by the brethren so that no charge fell on the funds of the institution. At a later date in 1877, the secretary was presented with a time piece valued at six guineas which was procured for the lodge by that very well-known local watchmaker and jeweller, Bro. Highley. Twice in the history of the De Shurland fraternity the Worshipful Master has married during his year of office and, on each occasion the bridegroom has been presented with a suitable wedding gift. In 1907, WBro. G. Lutfoot received a silver-plated tea and coffee service, while in 1950, WBro. C. J. Woodley was the recipient of a clock. While thinking of WBro. Lutfoot's present one finds that a similar gift was the choice for presentation when, in 1904, the treasurer’s services were recognised by the brethren. There is one reference in a minute of March, 1874, which has a particularly naive but happy note and is, therefore, worth quoting in full. “The late secretary, WBro. Bourne, was presented with an engraved silver goblet. The presentation gave great satisfaction to the Provincial Grand Lodge Officers, who were pleased that the brethren of De Shurland Lodge appreciated and knew how to recognise worth. The brethren and visitors then adjourned to the Fountain Hotel, there to partake of a most sumptuous banquet prepared by Bro. Howe in that style which gave such 23

evident satisfaction to the visiting brethren that the representatives of several of the lodges gave the brethren of De Shurland Lodge a hearty invitation to their respective lodges”. After this evening there are several records of our brethren being entertained by other lodges, particularly in the Medway towns and in Faversham. Indeed Lodge No. 133 of Faversham, the Lodge of Harmony, appears always to have had a special interest in De Shurland Lodge, no doubt because of the initial link between the two associations.

The WBro. Howe who has just been mentioned, when he retired from his work at the Fountain Hotel, wrote to the Lodge in the following vein. "Dear Sir,

Having retired from the proprietorship of this hotel it will afford me great pleasure in presenting the lodge with its Coat of Arms and hope it will continue to occupy its present position where it was placed at the formation of the Lodge; and that every year the Lodge will increase in prosperity is the sincere hope of Yours Fraternally A. W. Howe"

This coat of arms is still in existence, hanging in the ante-room. Recently it was used as a specimen from which to form the basis of a design for a new Lodge banner which is the gift of several members to commemorate the centenary. While on the subject of the coat of arms another crest was made in oak in 1932 to be hung in the banqueting hall. Portraits always form popular presentations in all kinds of institutions and De Shurland Lodge has been no exception to this form of gift. Lord Holmesdale, in 1884, presenting his portrait, while in 1880 the retiring

24

Worshipful Master gave a portrait of HRH The Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII, in his full regalia of Grand Master of England. This regalia, a particularly handsome piece of craftsmanship, can now be seen in the museum of the Grand Lodge in Great Queen Street. Articles for use in the lodge room are naturally quite a good choice for presentations, combining as they do not only a thought of giving something useful but a sense of the affection and devotion felt for the Lodge by the givers, and many such tokens have been donated in the past. The Lodge of Instruction once gave a new pedestal; a new cushion and ribbon for the Volume of the Sacred Laws was provided; and, to mark his two years as Worshipful Master, WBro. W. Johnson presented the Lodge with its present magnificent cabinet containing the tracing boards, the craftsmanship of a brother of another lodge. But as a list of all the gifts that the Lodge has received would no doubt be too factual and make wearisome reading, only two more of particular interest will be detailed in this chapter. Firstly there was the presentation, in 1956, of a new volume of the Sacred Law with a new ribbon to replace the ones just mentioned above, in remembrance of the services to masonry of the late WBro. J. Turk who had been a member since 1908, serving as Worshipful Master in 1919, then as Treasurer and charity representative, and finally as Director of Ceremonies, in which tasks he showed himself ever ready to assist the Lodge and the brethren. He became a noted Provincial Grand Lodge Officer, gaining the rank of Provincial Grand Registrar, and was on the point of becoming a Grand Lodge Officer, a Past Grand Standard Bearer when he passed to the Grand Lodge above before being actually invested, an honour to which he was greatly looking forward. With this Volume of the Sacred Law a large sum of money was given by the brethren to be added to the Lodge Charity Fund. The other gift to which attention is particularly drawn is that of a complete set of working tools in a case which was recently presented by 25

Bro. R. S. Churchill, the Assistant Secretary, in appreciation of the happiness and companionship which he had always found in the lodge during his long membership. This set of instruments, a really beautiful collection, should for many years serve to remind us of a very devoted brother.

Jewels, collars, cuffs and other regalia have, at many different times been presented by thoughtful beneficent brethren, which have greatly helped to add dignity to the working in the Lodge: one of the latest being the gift of ten Stewards’ collars by WBro. C. J. Woodley and Bro. H. Easom and no doubt, in years to come, many more such contributions will be given by various benefactors so that, as time goes on, the Lodge will become even more enriched with the reminders and memories of its generous predecessors. Besides these more internal kinds of presents and donations that have been detailed, the Lodge has been associated with many efforts to mark great events and special occasions, not only in the lives of Masonic rulers, but in national and local life as well. Lord Zetland, the Grand Master, having completed twenty-five years in office in 1878, a commemoration fund was opened to which a contribution was sent. Similarly gifts were made to funds which were inaugurated at other times to mark the various landmarks in the Masonic careers of succeeding Provincial Grand Masters; and many were the sums allotted to commemorate notable public events, such as five guineas to the Grand Master’s Fund to signalise the jubilee of Queen Victoria's reign in 1887. Local needs were never forgotten and most appeals did not go unanswered. Thus a sum of money was given to assist in providing Trinity Church with a peal of bells. A donation to the town’s memorial fund was made. Sums were sent to swell the funds of the "Castle Memorial Hall” in Queenborough, and to provide an additional bell to the peal at Queenborough Parish Church in order to complete the set, the Vicar of Queenborough, the Rev. J. Castle, having been an 26

honoured and popular member of De Shurland Lodge for many years. Help was furnished in answer to an appeal by Minster Abbey for its Restoration Fund, £10 being sent. Nor was Canterbury Cathedral forgotten, various funds for the benefit of that historic centre of our church life being augmented by our gift. Masons of Kent must indeed be proud of the “Masons’ Window”, in that beautiful old cathedral which has played so large part in our national life. Besides all these objects which have been remembered, Masonic Charities were always, right throughout its history, in the forefront of the lodge’s special consideration., but enough has been described to show that the brethren have been ever mindful of the "dearest wish of a mason's heart, brotherly love, relief and truth".

27

This article is from: