Eighties

Out of the Seventies, and Into the Eighties 1976 - Events Outside the Lodge

January of 1976 saw the first commercial flight of Concorde, and June saw the end of the third Cod war between the UK and Iceland. In July in the UK, the ‘great heatwave’ reaches its peak. Bro. M. Towler was Installed as Master in the September meeting of 1976. Following the decision of Grand Lodge the previous year, one of the officers the Master appointed and invested was Bro. A.M. Brown into the new office of Charity Steward, an office he held for five years until he was succeeded by Bro. Sam Johnson in September 1981. One of Bro. Brown’s charity initiatives was a collection to be sent to Cancer Research following the death of Bro. Don George, who had been a member of the Lodge since 1958.

The Lodge continued its strong support of the United Masonic Club, with an interest free loan of £5,000 for three years to aid in extensive works to the building. Another name that appeared quite often in the minutes around this time was that of WBro. Harold “Snowy” Easom. WBro. Easom was a joining member from Adam’s Lodge No. 158. At the December meeting in 1977, WBro. Baxter presented to the Worshipful Master, on behalf of WBro. Easom, a beautifully-made pair of Ashlars and a block and tackle for use in the Lodge. Only five years later, he gifted the Lodge a new tripod for the Senior Warden’s Ashlar, which we still use today. It was at this meeting, following a recommendation from the Lodge Committee, that singing of ‘Fidelity’ was introduced when the Volume of the Sacred Law was closed, a practice continuing to this day.

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At the Provincial meeting in April 1978, WBro. Love was appointed as a Provincial Grand Steward.

Looking through the members list between 1974 and 1980, one can see family names recurring, with sons and brothers being initiated into the Lodge; proof that Freemasonry is indeed one big family. This has happened throughout the Lodge’s history, but a few names from this period are worthy of mention: Henry Forrest (Snr) proposed his son Henry Forrest (Jnr) as prospective candidate. R. C. Lambkin, proposed by T. J. Lambkin and seconded by D. A. J. Lambkin S. T. Owen, proposed by his father, G. T. Owen L. C. (Len) Whitehead JD, proposed his brother, L. H. (Les) Whitehead. At the December meeting of 1978, when Mr Steven Owen was initiated, his father Bro Trevor Owen, Inner Guard, delivered the Ancient Charge. The practice of family members performing part of the ceremony is something that has always been a feature, and still is today One thing that hasn’t seemed to change is the question of timely payment of dues. At the January 1979 meeting, the Secretary reported the unsatisfactory situation that one third of the members having not paid their dues. One third of approximately 171 members meant that nearly £700 (£3,600 at 2016 values) was overdue.

1979 - Events Outside the Lodge

On the 25th March 1979, the first fully functional Space Shuttle orbiter, Columbia, is delivered to the Kennedy Space Centre, to be

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prepared for its first launch. In May, Margaret Thatcher becomes the country's first female prime minister. December saw the eradication of smallpox, making it the first of only two human diseases that have been driven to extinction.

1979 saw a couple of changes to the De Shurland way of conducting ceremonies. At a Committee meeting in May, it was agreed that the Lodge should be closed in the Third and Second Degrees after working a Third Degree, a practice that still remains today, albeit only at Installations. At the Board of Installed Masters’ meeting that year, it was decided to cease the toast to “Masonic Charities” at the Festive board.

At the September 1979 Installation, it was reported that the Lodge’s oldest member had passed away, WBro. W.A. Penney aged 98, a Freemason for 60 years. At least as early as March 1966, and probably for many years before that, at every meeting there had been either a First, Second or Third degree, usually a double. In December 1979 that changed. In response to the decision made earlier in the year, that two meetings should be devoted to a lecture rather than working a degree. For some, a more momentous change was afoot. From the March 1980 meeting, there was no more beer! Until that time, flagons of beer had been placed on tables at the Festive Board, for brethren to help themselves. The Secretary had reported that in recent months very little of it had been consumed. In view of this the Committee recommended that beer should no longer be provided. Unfortunately this was agreed, and this meeting was the first at which brethren had to buy their own. From the very earliest days of the Lodge, it had been customary to read the Lodge By-laws at every April meeting. It appears that the practice

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ceased in April 1979. Certainly they were not read in 1980, nor does the custom appear to have been renewed in later years. In the December 1980 meeting, the Secretary reported that Grand Lodge had sent congratulations to HM The Queen Mother on the occasion of her 80th Birthday. Later he read extracts from letters from some of our widows, expressing thanks for the gift of purses and commemorative coins which the Lodge had sent to them, commemorating the Queen Mother’s Birthday. It always seems to be the case in Masonry that prices always go up. Perhaps the exception that proved the rule came at this same meeting, when it was announced that the cost of the meal after the following March’s meeting would be reduced to £2.50 (£11 in 2016 values; cheap indeed). The reason for this generosity was that the supper fund had accumulated a significant surplus.

On the Second Rising of the April 1981 meeting the Secretary read a letter from the Provincial Grand Secretary announcing the retirement of the Lord Cornwallis as Provincial Grand Master from 31st March. The Deputy Provincial Grand Master would assume control of the Province with the title of DepProvGM in Charge.

The Secretary went on to recount information received at the recent Provincial Officers’ Mess relating to the retirement of Lord Cornwallis. He then read a handwritten letter from His Lordship. On a proposition by WBro. B. Baxter, seconded by WBro. A. Flisher, it was unanimously agreed to forward a copy of the letter to all Lodge members, and that the Secretary would send a suitable reply to His Lordship. The Junior Lodge of Instruction, seemingly a successful group, had hitherto controlled its own finances. Perhaps this independence was too

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much, for at the General Purposes meeting in September of 1981 it was decided that the Accounts of the Junior Lodge should become the responsibility of the Lodge Treasurer, and that the Building Society account of the Junior Lodge should be closed. It was agreed that the monies should be sent to the Royal Masonic Hospital in the name of the Junior Lodge. Another father and son connection emerged, as Bro. D.A. Prince proposed his son A.L. Prince as a candidate for initiation. The Lodge continued to support the United Masonic Club, with a cheque for £500 being presented in November 1982, followed by a further £1,000 in December 1983. However, the latter gift was clearly stretching Lodge resources, as it was accompanied by an appeal for £10 from every De Shurland member.

1983 - Events Outside the Lodge

In January 1983, the wearing of seatbelts becomes compulsory in the front seats of passenger cars, eleven years after they become mandatory equipment on all new cars sold in Britain. In April, the one pound coin was introduced in England and Wales and in June, the first episode of historical sitcom Blackadder is broadcast on BBC One.

In September 1983 an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro W.A. Wootton, was the Representative of the Provincial Grand Master for the Installation meeting. Another APGM was also the Representative the following year, WBro. Stutely. In October 1983 we see more evidence of family involvement. At that meeting, Mr A. Lambkin was the Initiate, the Working Tools were delivered by Bro. D.A.J. Lambkin (his uncle) who was then a Steward, and

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the Ancient Charge was delivered by his father, Bro. T. J. Lambkin who was Senior Warden.

At the January 1984 General Purposes Committee, there was a discussion concerning closing in the Third Degree. A proposal was passed that the Master could close in the 3rd if time permitted and he wished to do so. This may have been the end of closing in this Degree at all but Installations.

1984 was a year in which the Lodge showed its support for music in Masonry. At the March meeting, following a recommendation from the Lodge Committee it was agreed that a new piano be purchased for £500 and presented to the UMC in the name of the De Shurland Lodge. Later, in October, a recommendation to donate £100 towards new organ was approved by the Lodge. This was further evidence of practical support by De Shurland to the Club.

Yet more family connections came in February 1985, when Mr R. Wingett was initiated into the Lodge. Mr Wingett is son-in-law to WBro. Reveley. As we saw from the first volume of this history, when the new De Shurland Lodge was still only a proposition, it seems that the formation of a new Lodge is not always without grumbles, and occasional outright opposition. This proved to be the case at the February 1985 General Purposes Committee, when a letter from WBro. A.R. Harris was read out concerning a possible new Lodge in Sheerness. It seems that there were also reservations from some of those at the meeting. Despite this, though, the proposal for a new Lodge went ahead, and, as we shall see, Nore Command Lodge No. 9199 was Consecrated in 1987, bringing a sixth Lodge to Sheerness. In another change to the traditions of De Shurland Lodge, the General Purposes Committee meeting in April 1985, decided that Dinner Jackets 58

could be worn at the Installation meetings. The September Summons shows dress as “Officers Dinner Jacket and Others Dinner Jacket or Dark Suit”.

The Lodge had almost reached 120 years, and still doing exceptionally well. The last 10 years had seen a succession of new candidates, and with the exception of the newly agreed two lectures a year, every meeting conducted a double ceremony, whether Initiation, Passing or Raising. Despite the new candidates, Lodge membership now stood at 160, 14 fewer than 10 years previous. During that period there were 41 Initiates, but unfortunately, in addition to those who resigned, there were 16 exclusions, all because of non-payment of annual dues. Sadly, too, there were 32 Brethren who passed to the Grand Lodge Above. Except for one who was 43 years old, and two more at 56 and 57 respectively, the majority of these were in their 60s, 70s and 80s, with WBro. William Penney, mentioned previously when he reached his 60 years in Masonry, being the oldest. He passed away in September 1979 at the age of 98 years. The number of Masons attending meetings continued to be high. For the 1985 Installation meeting, there were 46 members of De Shurland and 47 visitors. This wasn’t unusual; the December meeting in 1985 had 126 in attendance. For the whole of this 10-year period, excluding the December meetings which were all over 100, the average attendance was 78 brethren. The highest attendance was the December 1977 meeting with 136 present. It seems December meetings have always been popular!

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Still Moving On –1986 to 1995

At the Committee meeting in March 1986, Bro. J. Harding expressed concern over “the lack of new candidates”. This does seem a bit strange considering there had been 5 new candidates in the previous 12 months, about as many as the Lodge could take. It certainly didn’t seem to be a problem in the ensuing years, with 39 further Initiates by the end of 1995. The April meeting brought more evidence of the family ties within the Lodge, when Mr Mark Lambkin was proposed as a Candidate for Initiation. His proposer was his father, Bro. D. A. J. Lambkin and Seconded by WBro. T.J. Lambkin, his uncle. In another innovation, the Board of Installed Masters’ meeting in July 1986 agreed that a custom of progression from Immediate Past Master to Chaplain would be established. The post had been vacant since 1968. WBro. Tom Lambkin, the then current Immediate Past Master, agreed to occupy the office for the coming year. For some years, Adam’s Lodge had a close association with a Dutch Lodge, Loge L’Aurore in Brielle. Sheerness is twinned with Brielle, a pretty Dutch town near Rotterdam. In October 1985 the formation of a new Lodge in Brielle was first mooted. They expressed a desire to be linked to De Shurland in a similar manner to the Adam’s Lodge connection with L’Aurore. This was raised by WBro. G.F.P. Herbert, and at the November 1985 meeting this proposition was put to the Lodge and unanimously accepted. Members of the proposed new Lodge welcomed the agreement in April 1986. The Consecration of Loge Arauna No. 281 in Brielle in Holland was set for November 1986. Five members of De Shurland, including the

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