Chapter 6 - National History Reflected in the Lodge’s Records

National History Reflected in the Lodge’s Records

To any student of history it is always a matter of more than usual interest to find how national and, indeed, international events are mirrored in the lives of the ordinary people of the land, and the archives of De Shurland lodge are rich in references to our national history and throw a strong side-light on the social life of the times. One thing which is particularly noticeable from these past entries is the concern caused by the very real poverty which was the lot of many in those mid-Victorian days, before the coming of any real State Welfare schemes. Under such conditions one finds that often brethren of the Craft were not immune from hardship and trouble caused by poverty, for it cannot be denied that, in those days particularly, “among the thousands who ranged under our banners there were some who, from circumstances of unavoidable calamity and misfortune, were reduced to the lowest ebb of poverty and distress". On their behalf, therefore, great efforts had to be made by their more fortunate companions to relieve their necessities. The brethren of De Shurland Lodge were never chary in extending relief and consolation to those of their number who were in need. Thus from its inception the Lodge has participated in subscribing to masonic funds for charitable purposes and a great number of our members have received help of one kind or another. Annuities have been granted to members and widows, children of deceased brothers of the lodge have obtained places at the Royal Masonic Institutions for Girls and Boys, and many brethren have received treatment at the Royal Masonic Hospital, to which the lodge has regularly subscribed. Thus many who would have existed in penury or died from privation, because of the cruelty of the times in which they lived, had their lives brightened and their days lengthened by the timely

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help of those who so faithfully accepted their obligations and honoured their masonic vows.

The prevalence of poverty, and the powerful effect the thought and dread of it had on all ordinary individuals, is reflected in other ways, for we find that our members were equally anxious and determined that no one in their midst, even if not in any monetary difficulties, should have financial outlay as a consequence of his duties to the Lodge. Consequently even the Worshipful Master received help in carrying out his obligations. Here is an extract from the minutes which shows this feeling, and there are several notes of a similar nature. “It was proposed that a sum of £5-5-0 be placed at the Worshipful Master’s disposal to enable him to entertain his Lodge”. No doubt the brethren who accepted this proposition had an eye to their own future for the record goes on to say that “the Lodge was closed in harmony and the Worshipful Master entertained the brethren sumptuously. They departed in peace at 10.50 p.m.”. One hopes it really was as peaceful as the words suggest.

There was another occasion when, evidently, the Lodge thought it wise to defray an expense, for in September 1883 WBro. John Saffery passed to the Grand Lodge Above, and it was agreed that the cab fare to convey the brethren to the funeral be paid by the lodge.

Once, in 1904, a member fell upon such hard times that a sum of £5 was provided for his assistance, this to be paid at the rate of ten shillings weekly; a fitting reminder not only of the poverty of fifty years ago, but also of the changing value of money. Ten shillings in those days being quite a princely sum to anyone an straitened circumstances.

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While helping its own members the Lodge also frequently answered calls from other quarters, contributing to local funds opened for the relief of distress, such as the Sheerness Benevolent Fund for providing Christmas fare for the aged and needy, and the Soup Kitchens’ Fund, while donations reached national societies which dealt with sickness, accident or distress. One rather pathetic appeal was received from the Worshipful Master of Rutland Lodge who sent a letter asking for help for distressed brother, the Rev. John Francis Nash Eyre D.D. Vicar of Ilkeston, “who is ruined through allowing his name, or rather, entering by persuasion of other parties, to work the glebe lands, which proved a failure, and his living has been sequestrated by the Bishop of Lichfield to pay his debt, which has left him penniless and his income wholly gone”. This sad case was investigated and the brethren decided to send two guineas to help the unfortunate clergyman. Such an incident reminds us of the traps into which it is only too easy to fall, but it also recalls that the lot of clergymen throughout the ages has always been an unenviable one for those without private means, needing a great sense of vocation in the individual to accept such a responsible job for such poor pay. Memories of royalty are to be found periodically in the writings of the Lodge, particularly of those members of the Royal Family who have not thought it “derogatory to their dignity to exchange the sceptre for the trowel”. The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, and Grand Master of England, is several times referred to, especially when his health gave rise to anxiety. In 1871 he had a very severe illness and it was a great relief to the Lodge when a telegram was received from Sandringham which was read by the Worshipful Master to the brethren which said. “The Prince of Wales has passed a very quiet day, and progress has been in all respects satisfactory". Again, in 1901, just before the date fixed for his coronation, the king was taken very seriously ill and once more masons throughout the country welcomed the news of his recovery, which opened the way to the

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crowning of this very popular monarch, whose death in 1910 was deeply mourned. In April 1884 the death of another royal prince, the Duke of Albany took place, the lodges of the country being placed in mourning for three months as a mark of respect to departed merit. The deaths of Queen Victoria, King George V and King George VI were also occasions for masonic mourning, and were not passed over without proper tribute being paid. When the Duke of Connaught, a previous Grand Master died, many messages of sympathy and condolence were sent from the lodges of the world. Royal weddings have also become opportunities for demonstrations of loyalty to the Crown, their wedding present funds, often initiated by Grand Lodge, being subscribed to not only by De Shurland Lodge, but by Masons throughout the country. When the Duke of Kent, a Mason like his brothers, whose premature death was such a shock to the nation, was married to Princess Marina, a lady who has endeared herself so much to the people of Kent, a present was given from the Masons of the country to which De Shurland Lodge contributed. Even foreign royalty comes into the picture now and again. A specific case, to which a slight reference has already been made earlier, being when the Emperor Napoleon III of France, was deposed following the tragedy of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, and the abortive interference by the Emperor in 1875, in Mexican affairs. A new French republic was then proclaimed and, as was the case with Napoleon Buonaparte's first Republic, the belief in God was actively discouraged by the state. This process has often been noticeable after revolutions in other countries, when the Masonic fraternity has been pilloried for holding to its beliefs and tenets. Thus Grand Lodge had to issue its warning that no masons should be admitted who had not affirmed their belief in God.

The news of various disasters also points out other detail of our national life, happenings which afford further opportunities for masons 35

everywhere to show the real reason for their existence, charity, "which blesses him who gives as well as him who receives". Funds opened after the "Princess Alice" disaster and the “Abercorn" pit explosion, both in 1878, were answered; in 1912 the news of the loss of the “Titanic" had great repercussions throughout the land, and was the subject of special mention in the Lodge. The blowing-up of HMS “Bulwark” and HMS “Princess Irene” in Sheerness harbour, with the loss of so many lives, was a matter of great concern. Landmarks of the two great wars are recorded in our archives, forming a constant reminder of those terrible days of strife and discord. When Lord Kitchener was drowned with the sinking HMS "Hampshire”, a real national disaster in those gloomy days, a memorial fund was opened to which the Lodge was invited to subscribe, but decision on the point was postponed until a later date. During the 1914-1918 war the Lodge managed to continue practically without any interruption, three degrees often being worked in an evening, with many service candidates becoming members, particularly men from the aerodrome at Eastchurch, and thus the lodge became connected with a new phase in British history, the birth of that service, which starting as the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps, eventually developed into that wonderful Royal Air Force whose unconquerable spirit in the Second World War was to pave the way to final victory.

Sheppey can well be proud of its connection with the cradle of British flying, and De Shurland Lodge must honour those early pioneers who joined the fraternity in Sheerness. In l917 the new era of war in the air and the fact that civilians at home were equally in the front line with servicemen, was vividly demonstrated to the members of the Lodge, when on the 19th December, after the 36

meeting had just opened, an air raid warning was sounded, and it was considered advisable to adjourn the meeting. Because of the menace of aerial activity and the general uncertainty prevailing at the beginning of the Second World War, in 1939 the Grand Lodge requested that, for a time, meetings be suspended until the pattern of the war emerged and until certain safeguards and provisions could be made. One recommendation was that the Lodge Warrant should be photographed and the original then deposited in a safe place. This was accordingly done. Meetings recommenced in February 1940 and, although on several occasions the air raid warnings were sounded while the lodge was in session, work sometimes being punctuated with the sound of Anti-Aircraft fire, enginedroning, bombs exploding and such like hostile sounds, all meetings were carried to a successful conclusion. The writer himself well remembers his own Initiation when, at a most impressive part of the ceremony, the sirens sounded, but the meeting continued its work without fluster or hurry before dispersing. In remembrance of those Masons who had given their lives that others might live, a memorial was placed in the temple, the cost of which was shared by the lodges using the building, this memorial being unveiled in 1922. In 1949 an additional tablet was provided in memory of those who died in the Second World War.

The claims of our wartime allies were also of paramount importance in those anxious days of strife, so whenever an appeal was made for their assistance, the Lodge was ever willing to respond. Such funds as the “Belgian Relief Fund” and the "Help for Russia Fund” being two of such efforts to be supported. Remembering the strong alliance this country had with Russia during the 1939-1945 conflict in Europe, it is sad to realise the present strained relations between our countries, and one can he forgiven hope that one day the spirit of fraternity and brotherly love will overcome

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national boundaries and prejudices, tearing away the “iron curtains”, to establish a reign of goodwill and co-operation throughout the world. History is now entering a new era which may perhaps be called in future books the Atomic Age and here again, as in the case of the beginning of the Royal Air Force, De Shurland can claim to have some small connection with this inception of a new phase in the progress of mankind, for in January 1950 there appears an entry in the minutes which reads. “W. Bro. Penney was congratulated on the Knighthood conferred on his son, the atom scientist”. Worshipful Brother Penney had joined the Lodge in 1919 and his son, who has won international fame for his work in atom science, received his early education in Sheerness. In fact the present Secretary of the Lodge, WBro. Woodley, was one of the school masters who taught this amazing genius. Thus it can be seen that the documents of associations can be valuable hunting grounds for historians, so well do they reflect national and international happenings. Therefore it is most gratifying to find the whole of the Lodge’s minute books intact, containing such well-written, full descriptions, which give such vivid insight into the lives of people of past days. The Lodge has indeed been fortunate in its choice of secretaries, many of whom have occupied the office for long periods, during which their work has been of the highest standard, a great help to the reputation of this ancient institution.

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